Apparently, I gnash my teeth toghether when I sleep. This is making me very unhappy, since every time I do it, I hit that bad tooth, and wake up in pain.
So. The dentist. They were actually able to put in a temporary filling, which should cut down on the pain (and has, with the exception of the middle-of-the-night teeth gnashing). Sadly, I need a root canal. A $1800 root canal. Yeah, we're still working that one out.
Going to the dentist made me think, though. I got the work done with just novacaine this time - no nitrous. After the disastrous way I reacted to it last time, I didn't want to deal with it. And it was kind of scary, and just a tiny bit painful. But it was really no more scary or painful that when I had the nitrous. So I wonder about that.
I know a whole lot of people are afraid of going to a dentist. Strangely, I'm not particularly. I think perhaps that might be because going to a dentist (or a doctor) means pain, most of the time. But the only time I've ever gone to the dentist, I've already BEEN in pain. Going to the dentist or doctor for me means a RELEASE from pain - they're going to fix whatever it is that's wrong. Maybe that's why I don't have that fear.
And, of course, I'm been thinking about fear lately, too. I ahve one huge overriding fear that actually interferes with livng a normal life, and causes me problems on a nearly daily basis. I'm probably <--> this close to becoming agoraphobic because of it. And yet, I don't have all these other fears that people normally have. I'm not afraid of doctors, dentists, or needles. I'm sure I could come up with other things I'm not afraid of given time. It feels like before this lifetime I said "Look. I'll take all my fears rolled into one REALLY BIG fear, okay? Just give me that one, and skip all the rest." But, you know, I think I'd rather be afraid of all the little stuff.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Liquid Diet
Well, I've been pretty silent about my attempts to lose weight, mostly because my "attempts" are half-hearted at best.
But even those half-hearted attempts have been temporarily derailed by my teeth. I'm getting a tooth extracted on the 7th, so I can't eat on that side of my mouth because it hurts ... and now I've managed to chip a tooth on the other side of my mouth. (In a very stupid way, too - a friend of mine brought me some salt water taffy. On a diet, with fragile teeth, I ate some anyway. *sigh* Willpower? What's that?)
So, maybe I'll start losing weight on a liquid diet, since I can't chew at all until one or both of those get fixed.
Maybe not the healthiest of choices, but I don't have to chew
I have yet another dental appointment today to get it looked at, with the caveat that they may not actually be able to do anything for it, just look at it.
Ah, well, at least I don't have school tonight.
But even those half-hearted attempts have been temporarily derailed by my teeth. I'm getting a tooth extracted on the 7th, so I can't eat on that side of my mouth because it hurts ... and now I've managed to chip a tooth on the other side of my mouth. (In a very stupid way, too - a friend of mine brought me some salt water taffy. On a diet, with fragile teeth, I ate some anyway. *sigh* Willpower? What's that?)
So, maybe I'll start losing weight on a liquid diet, since I can't chew at all until one or both of those get fixed.
I have yet another dental appointment today to get it looked at, with the caveat that they may not actually be able to do anything for it, just look at it.
Ah, well, at least I don't have school tonight.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Knitting Yarn Related Content
I promised knitting content, and I will deliver. Please turn your head aside if you can't bear to look at crochet content, since that's in here too.
Let's see. What I did this weekend.
I made a coaster, since my water bottle keeps flooding the tray table with condensation: (It's actually a cute little pattern. I found it here.)
True to my word, I finished some Christmasknitting crocheting:
White Sapphire finally completed. Gee, I've only been working on this for, what, 8 months? But now it's done (okay, I have to weave in the ends and block it, but I didn't have time - or a clean place to block on).
Are you sick of the boring pictures yet? I tried to spice this one up:
The first of the Yarrow Rib socks in my new yummy koigu, apparently destined for exotic adventures.
And because it was so uproariously funny, I had to do the book meme that's been floating around. Just so you have an idea what my life is like:
1. Grab the nearest book. Don’t think, just the nearest book…
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog (Please include the book and author) along with these instructions.
5. Don’t you dare dig for that “cool” or “intellectual” book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest.
Ahem. And the grand winner is:
"Also, many states take part in the Combined Federal/State Filing Program, which enables employers to file information returns with the federal government and authorize release of the information to the applicable state."
From Payroll Accounting (Chapter: Income Tax Witholding)
What? You don't like it? Okay, how about this one from the book that's next closest to me:
"That is, all documents must be closed that are in the folder."
From Office 2003: Course Two
Let's see. What I did this weekend.
I made a coaster, since my water bottle keeps flooding the tray table with condensation: (It's actually a cute little pattern. I found it here.)
True to my word, I finished some Christmas
White Sapphire finally completed. Gee, I've only been working on this for, what, 8 months? But now it's done (okay, I have to weave in the ends and block it, but I didn't have time - or a clean place to block on).
Are you sick of the boring pictures yet? I tried to spice this one up:
The first of the Yarrow Rib socks in my new yummy koigu, apparently destined for exotic adventures.
And because it was so uproariously funny, I had to do the book meme that's been floating around. Just so you have an idea what my life is like:
1. Grab the nearest book. Don’t think, just the nearest book…
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog (Please include the book and author) along with these instructions.
5. Don’t you dare dig for that “cool” or “intellectual” book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest.
Ahem. And the grand winner is:
"Also, many states take part in the Combined Federal/State Filing Program, which enables employers to file information returns with the federal government and authorize release of the information to the applicable state."
From Payroll Accounting (Chapter: Income Tax Witholding)
What? You don't like it? Okay, how about this one from the book that's next closest to me:
"That is, all documents must be closed that are in the folder."
From Office 2003: Course Two
Friday, August 25, 2006
My Days are numbered
As a temp, that is. Soon, I will be a certifiable permanent part of the workforce. Even in my chosen field!
Two months after applying (during the jobless black hole of July)I got a job at a local bank as an "Accounting Specialist." It sounds fancy, but it's really just bookkeeping. However, it does have at least something to do with Accounting, so I can feel like I'm working toward my degree as I, er, work toward my degree! I also get to work with (at least, near) a good friend. And it's downtown, so I'll be taking the train to work. Hey, more time to knit, right? (Knitting behind the wheel? Never really worked that one out...) I had to take a paycut, but it will be soooo nice to finally have benefits. I haven't had health care in, oh, since I left home 11 years ago.
This weekend, I hope to get some more Christmas knitting done, and actually have a knitting post again on this-here knitting blog. As a side note to Christmas knitting, I'm looking for a very nice yarn that a)is fuzzy-ish (mohair or something like it?), b)is very soft, c)comes in a very pretty shade of grey for some Christmas knitting. What are your recommendations? Just this once, price isn't as much of an object, since the person I'm going to be knitting it for is just tiny. Like extra small tiny.
Two months after applying (during the jobless black hole of July)I got a job at a local bank as an "Accounting Specialist." It sounds fancy, but it's really just bookkeeping. However, it does have at least something to do with Accounting, so I can feel like I'm working toward my degree as I, er, work toward my degree! I also get to work with (at least, near) a good friend. And it's downtown, so I'll be taking the train to work. Hey, more time to knit, right? (Knitting behind the wheel? Never really worked that one out...) I had to take a paycut, but it will be soooo nice to finally have benefits. I haven't had health care in, oh, since I left home 11 years ago.
This weekend, I hope to get some more Christmas knitting done, and actually have a knitting post again on this-here knitting blog. As a side note to Christmas knitting, I'm looking for a very nice yarn that a)is fuzzy-ish (mohair or something like it?), b)is very soft, c)comes in a very pretty shade of grey for some Christmas knitting. What are your recommendations? Just this once, price isn't as much of an object, since the person I'm going to be knitting it for is just tiny. Like extra small tiny.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Um, what?
(HEY KNITTERS! I need help - my DPNs keep falling out of my bag, falling to the bottom of my bag, or poking my bag. I need those DPN sleeves that look like cylinders and have caps on the ends? So they're all closed up? I know I've seen them around, but my mighty Google-fu is apparently low right now. Anyone know where I can buy some online?)
Not much new going on here at Chez SilverRose, or at least, not much I know about! School started on Monday, and I've been in a constant fog of "where do I need to be right now? What am I supposed to be doing?"
Since I'm an Accounting major, here's some fun math (I know, I know. Math is never fun. How about funny math?):
Number of hours worked per week: 40
Number of hours driving to or from work, or eating lunch: 10
(Total number of hours need for work: 50)
Number of hours in class (in theory): 18 (yes, that's 18 credit hours)
Number of hours of homework (in theory: 1 hr of class = 3 hrs of homework, they say): 54
(Total number of hours needed for school: 72)
Number of hours driving to, attending, or driving back from CR: 3
Number of hours of sleep needed per week: 56
Number of hours in a week: 168
Number of hours needed just for obligations: 181
Miracles needed: Just one, so long as it's 13 hours long
Um. You know, it's scarier written down like that.
In all honesty, I don't really need that much time for school. I've always had an easy time with school, and I multi-task well. So those homework hours (that could really be cut in half) get done while waiting for class to start, over lunch, or while watching the desk at work.
Still, though. Anyone else think I'm insane?
Not much new going on here at Chez SilverRose, or at least, not much I know about! School started on Monday, and I've been in a constant fog of "where do I need to be right now? What am I supposed to be doing?"
Since I'm an Accounting major, here's some fun math (I know, I know. Math is never fun. How about funny math?):
Number of hours worked per week: 40
Number of hours driving to or from work, or eating lunch: 10
(Total number of hours need for work: 50)
Number of hours in class (in theory): 18 (yes, that's 18 credit hours)
Number of hours of homework (in theory: 1 hr of class = 3 hrs of homework, they say): 54
(Total number of hours needed for school: 72)
Number of hours driving to, attending, or driving back from CR: 3
Number of hours of sleep needed per week: 56
Number of hours in a week: 168
Number of hours needed just for obligations: 181
Miracles needed: Just one, so long as it's 13 hours long
Um. You know, it's scarier written down like that.
In all honesty, I don't really need that much time for school. I've always had an easy time with school, and I multi-task well. So those homework hours (that could really be cut in half) get done while waiting for class to start, over lunch, or while watching the desk at work.
Still, though. Anyone else think I'm insane?
Monday, August 21, 2006
The 8 Day Fest Special
I finished. Yes, this was the 8-day Fest Special. I bought the fabric on Friday, and finished the final touches on the next Friday. (The first half of a birthday party was spent sewing. Luckily, the birthday girl is also a sewer, so she understood).
So you want pictures? Alright. The completed 8-day Fest Special (as always, click on the image to see a larger one. There's a lot of detail that doesn't show up on the small one):
For the most part, everything worked out, although I did have to do some emergency fitting on the bodice. The chemise I made did not mesh well with the line of the bodice, so I ended up wearing an old one. The sleeves worked, but I'm not sure I like how they look with the gown - I think they make me look even frumpier than usual. And boy, do they add warmth! I've never been too worried about heat at Fest, but those sleeves really made me feel it. So, this is probably the only time the sleeves will get worn, unless I go out when it's cold and rainy. (However, that means I need to make yet another chemise where the sleeves are nice enough to be seen, but I digress...) I also forgot sunscreen, so I have a very nice "bodice burn" going today. I am very aware of everywhere my shirt hits right now. *grump*
Dan being broody while Ryan looks on:
The entire group:
School starts today, so I'm just as glad that I'm not sewing any more!
So you want pictures? Alright. The completed 8-day Fest Special (as always, click on the image to see a larger one. There's a lot of detail that doesn't show up on the small one):
For the most part, everything worked out, although I did have to do some emergency fitting on the bodice. The chemise I made did not mesh well with the line of the bodice, so I ended up wearing an old one. The sleeves worked, but I'm not sure I like how they look with the gown - I think they make me look even frumpier than usual. And boy, do they add warmth! I've never been too worried about heat at Fest, but those sleeves really made me feel it. So, this is probably the only time the sleeves will get worn, unless I go out when it's cold and rainy. (However, that means I need to make yet another chemise where the sleeves are nice enough to be seen, but I digress...) I also forgot sunscreen, so I have a very nice "bodice burn" going today. I am very aware of everywhere my shirt hits right now. *grump*
Dan being broody while Ryan looks on:
The entire group:
School starts today, so I'm just as glad that I'm not sewing any more!
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Fest 2006: Day 6
Down to the wire now.
Last night I pleated the ridiculously small skirt and attached it to the bodice, making the darn thing officially a kirtle. The skirt is knife pleated instead of box pleated, which adds to the whole feeling of not having enough fabric in the skirt. Frankly, when I tried to eyeball the box pleats, I got so fed up that I just decided that knife pleats were easier. I'll not do that again unless I have much more fabric. And I left too much of the front unpleated.
Front
Back
Close-up of hem guard
It's about time to say goodnight to my sewing machine. At this point, there may be one or two small things I can do on machine, but it's mostly handsewing from here on out:
Leia helps:
I have one more evening left to work on this. What do I have left to do?
Hours worked: I have no idea at this point. 20-ish? 25-ish?
Hopefulness Level: strained
Last night I pleated the ridiculously small skirt and attached it to the bodice, making the darn thing officially a kirtle. The skirt is knife pleated instead of box pleated, which adds to the whole feeling of not having enough fabric in the skirt. Frankly, when I tried to eyeball the box pleats, I got so fed up that I just decided that knife pleats were easier. I'll not do that again unless I have much more fabric. And I left too much of the front unpleated.
Front
Back
Close-up of hem guard
It's about time to say goodnight to my sewing machine. At this point, there may be one or two small things I can do on machine, but it's mostly handsewing from here on out:
Leia helps:
I have one more evening left to work on this. What do I have left to do?
- Chemise: Lengthen sleeves; possibly hem
- Corset: Done!
- Kirtle: Add grommets to skirt opening; add shoulder treatments; add sleeve points.
- Sleeves: Hand hem cuffs; add points
- Belt: Um. All of it: Cut trim to length; attach to ring; add bead tassel
- Caul: Finish gathering; attach band; attach loops to put bobby pins through
- Jewelry: String a simple pearl/amber necklace and earring set.
Hours worked: I have no idea at this point. 20-ish? 25-ish?
Hopefulness Level: strained
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Fest 2006: Day 5
Yet another 8 7-day Fest Special update. Yes, that's right, I miscounted the scant number of days I have available. Since there's a birthday party on Friday night, I only have today and tomorrow to finish up. Yikes!
Yesterday's handwork ('cuz I'm just so darned proud of it):
Dan pounded on my bodice, and now it laces:
The damn thing is going to be too short. *grumble* I can't do much about it now, at any rate, but the "waist" seam is going to be closer to an empire waist than a dropped waist.
Last night (after some fiddling) I cranked out some sleeves (as always, click for bigger, better pictures):
Top: inside out; bottom: how the sleeve will be worn
I dunno. They look pretty plain to me. I don't think I'm trimming the dress enough. Maybe if I put guards on the bodice... Er. If I have time, of course. I was going to hand hem them today at work, but I left them at home. *sigh*
Willow helped:
Tonight, if the gods are kind, I'll finish the actual gown (skirt, shoulder treatments, and sleeve points). That leaves my belt, the sleeves of my chemise (which need to be lengthened), and my caul for Thursday. And maybe some guards for the bodice...
Hours: I lost track. About 15?
Hopefulness level: Straining
Yesterday's handwork ('cuz I'm just so darned proud of it):
Dan pounded on my bodice, and now it laces:
The damn thing is going to be too short. *grumble* I can't do much about it now, at any rate, but the "waist" seam is going to be closer to an empire waist than a dropped waist.
Last night (after some fiddling) I cranked out some sleeves (as always, click for bigger, better pictures):
Top: inside out; bottom: how the sleeve will be worn
I dunno. They look pretty plain to me. I don't think I'm trimming the dress enough. Maybe if I put guards on the bodice... Er. If I have time, of course. I was going to hand hem them today at work, but I left them at home. *sigh*
Willow helped:
Tonight, if the gods are kind, I'll finish the actual gown (skirt, shoulder treatments, and sleeve points). That leaves my belt, the sleeves of my chemise (which need to be lengthened), and my caul for Thursday. And maybe some guards for the bodice...
Hours: I lost track. About 15?
Hopefulness level: Straining
Monday, August 14, 2006
Fest 2006, Day 4
Edited to add: It only occurs to me, after taking 20 minutes to painstakingly hand sew the straps together, that I have absolutely no idea how to attach points or a shoulder treatment to an already lined bodice. Arrrgh! More research (and possibly some seam ripping) is in order.
Am I boring you yet?
I came home to reclaim my fabric from Leia:
And then I had to reclaim it again from Willow:
Bodice is looking good. Drafted, fitted and sewn:
Back view
I'll sew the straps together today at lunch, and Dan agreed to put the grommets in for me tonight (I really stink at putting in grommets). The second casulty of expedience: metal grommits instead of handsewn eyelets. I'm sure more casulties will crop up in the remaining three days I have to work on it.
I cut and ironed the main fabric for the skirt:
Hours worked: About 13
Hopefulness level: Still high, with some tension
I also, in non sewing news, finished two books (both read on my lunch hour):
The Treasured One & Crystal Gorge, by David and Leigh Eddings
Second and third books in The Dreamers. We are introduced to another player in the game of keeping Dhrall safe. In the second book, she's simply known as "Unknown Friend", and in the third we find out a little bit more. I don't want to ruin it for anyone that decides to read them, so I'll just say that these two books each cover another Domain in the Land of Dhrall. There's only one Domain - and one book - left. Sadly, it's just been released in hardcover, and I don't want it so much that I can't wait until it comes out in paperback. (Hm. Amazon seems to be having problems this morning. I'll get page counts later.)
Am I boring you yet?
I came home to reclaim my fabric from Leia:
And then I had to reclaim it again from Willow:
Bodice is looking good. Drafted, fitted and sewn:
I'll sew the straps together today at lunch, and Dan agreed to put the grommets in for me tonight (I really stink at putting in grommets). The second casulty of expedience: metal grommits instead of handsewn eyelets. I'm sure more casulties will crop up in the remaining three days I have to work on it.
I cut and ironed the main fabric for the skirt:
Hours worked: About 13
Hopefulness level: Still high, with some tension
I also, in non sewing news, finished two books (both read on my lunch hour):
The Treasured One & Crystal Gorge, by David and Leigh Eddings
Second and third books in The Dreamers. We are introduced to another player in the game of keeping Dhrall safe. In the second book, she's simply known as "Unknown Friend", and in the third we find out a little bit more. I don't want to ruin it for anyone that decides to read them, so I'll just say that these two books each cover another Domain in the Land of Dhrall. There's only one Domain - and one book - left. Sadly, it's just been released in hardcover, and I don't want it so much that I can't wait until it comes out in paperback. (Hm. Amazon seems to be having problems this morning. I'll get page counts later.)
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Fest 2006, Day 3
Corset completed, including handwork. Crappy pictures (no, you don't get to see the corset on - I'll model for y'all when I'm done, but I'm NOT taking pictures in my underwear):
Fabric washed (more crappy pictures...):
Some breaks taken:
Fabric washed (more crappy pictures...):
Some breaks taken:
Day 2
Have I mentioned that my first day of school is next Monday, and I really ought to be preparing for that instead?
Saturday, Day 2:
Chemise completed with the exception of hemming. Pattern comes from Margo Anderson's Historic Patterns (The Elizabethan Lady's Wardrobe). Fabric is, uh, well, white cotton from my stash, so it's almost certainly 45" white muslin. And sacreligious as it is, if I run short of time, the chemise simply won't get hemmed. I cringe, but I have to be prepared to make sacrifices, right?
Corset designed, lined, and boned. It merely awaits a little fine tuning, and bias tape around the edges. I drafted it using this site, just like I have for the last three Elizabethan corsets. I highly recommend it. :)
Hopes for today: get gown fabric washed, finish corset, work on accesories while gown fabric dries. Possibly draft bodice.
Hours worked: about 6
Hopefulness level: still high
(Note to anyone that reads me and is a costumer (and even those who aren't): This should not be construed as being period costuming, nor should it be assumed that I don't know any better. I do. This is period costuming, mashed together with my tiny budget, trimmed down to what I think I can actually accomplish in 8 days. Which means no petticoats, no stockings, no gloves, no fan, and no hat. And if I really get down to the wire, no sleeves.)
Saturday, Day 2:
Chemise completed with the exception of hemming. Pattern comes from Margo Anderson's Historic Patterns (The Elizabethan Lady's Wardrobe). Fabric is, uh, well, white cotton from my stash, so it's almost certainly 45" white muslin. And sacreligious as it is, if I run short of time, the chemise simply won't get hemmed. I cringe, but I have to be prepared to make sacrifices, right?
Corset designed, lined, and boned. It merely awaits a little fine tuning, and bias tape around the edges. I drafted it using this site, just like I have for the last three Elizabethan corsets. I highly recommend it. :)
Hopes for today: get gown fabric washed, finish corset, work on accesories while gown fabric dries. Possibly draft bodice.
Hours worked: about 6
Hopefulness level: still high
(Note to anyone that reads me and is a costumer (and even those who aren't): This should not be construed as being period costuming, nor should it be assumed that I don't know any better. I do. This is period costuming, mashed together with my tiny budget, trimmed down to what I think I can actually accomplish in 8 days. Which means no petticoats, no stockings, no gloves, no fan, and no hat. And if I really get down to the wire, no sleeves.)
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Saturday Sky, and Day 1
My sky is slightly less boring than usual, though I would be really happy if it were to rain some Saturday afternoon:
A few days ago the mailmain brought me a nice little surprise: my Knit sock kit swap package!
My swapper was Rachel, of Stashmonkey. She has a much better picture of it than I do, so go look (for one thing, in the intervening day or two since I got the package, the candy seems to have disappeared. *ahem* And I just maybe couldn't wait to get my hands on that marvelous Koigu...)
Remember the craziness that was Reconstructing Wonka? I seem to have recovered, because here I am, ready to blog my hectic 8 day odyssey to get garb done in time for opening day:
Day 1 (that would be yesterday, y'know):
Buy fabric, and round up the troups:
A salmon-colored brocade picked up at S.R. Harris for my gown, cotton lining, gold brocade for my corset, sleeve lining, guards, and girdle, and rust and gold (NOT metallic, praise gods)trim for the girdle.
If all goes well, my chemise from previous years will still fit. And, in a perfect world, I'll be able to finish the corset today and get started on the gown tomorrow. Wish me luck!
A few days ago the mailmain brought me a nice little surprise: my Knit sock kit swap package!
My swapper was Rachel, of Stashmonkey. She has a much better picture of it than I do, so go look (for one thing, in the intervening day or two since I got the package, the candy seems to have disappeared. *ahem* And I just maybe couldn't wait to get my hands on that marvelous Koigu...)
Remember the craziness that was Reconstructing Wonka? I seem to have recovered, because here I am, ready to blog my hectic 8 day odyssey to get garb done in time for opening day:
Day 1 (that would be yesterday, y'know):
Buy fabric, and round up the troups:
A salmon-colored brocade picked up at S.R. Harris for my gown, cotton lining, gold brocade for my corset, sleeve lining, guards, and girdle, and rust and gold (NOT metallic, praise gods)trim for the girdle.
If all goes well, my chemise from previous years will still fit. And, in a perfect world, I'll be able to finish the corset today and get started on the gown tomorrow. Wish me luck!
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Am I neglecting you?
Huh. Lose one assignment and the blog goes to hell.
Okay, some actual knitting related content coming up. Ready?
A little while ago, I completed my very first ever toe-up sock:
Full specs when I actually finish a pair, but this was a number of firsts for me, so I thought I'd share some notes with you:
Non-knitting content:
Renn Fest is one week and a few days away. I have not sewn since finishing the Reconstructing Wonka massive project. I need new garb for fest.
I am now convinced that I can make myself garb in approximately 8 days (if I'm lucky).
Y'all should have a grand time watching this...
Okay, some actual knitting related content coming up. Ready?
A little while ago, I completed my very first ever toe-up sock:
Full specs when I actually finish a pair, but this was a number of firsts for me, so I thought I'd share some notes with you:
- The sock pattern is Wendy's very famous toe-up sock pattern. I did the toe completely as directed, and I'm really pleased with it. Note to self (and anyone else without the good sense to realize this on their own): do not attempt your first toe-up sock using black yarn that splits easily.Your sanity will thank you.
- Instead of having 14 live stitches remaining on the heel as the pattern suggests, I worked until there were only 10 live (unwrapped, unturned) stitches. The depth of short row heels has been bothering me since I made the Oompa Loompa socks, and I'm trying to combat that. This one seemed pretty comfortable.
- Despite what everyone says, I find a toe-up sock much harder to try on than a cuff-down sock. I had a really hard time getting the DPNs to fit over my ankle, for instance. No idea why.
- Another note to idiotic self: If you are going to make socks that you know will have turned down cuffs, you've got to put the ends on the RIGHT side of the cuff, which will be the hidden bit. Yeah, that should have been self-evident. It wasn't.
- I got to the end of the cuff, feeling pretty damned full of myself for having suceeded when I realized that I had no idea how to cast off a sock. It's always been kitchenering the toe closed around here. A quick google search turned up someone who had written a bunch of stretchy bind-offs down for me. :) I used Elizabeth Zimmerman's sewn cast-off, which had so much resemblence to kitchener that I'm going to point to it the next time someone says they can't graft a toe. "Can you do that? Great. You can graft."
Non-knitting content:
Renn Fest is one week and a few days away. I have not sewn since finishing the Reconstructing Wonka massive project. I need new garb for fest.
I am now convinced that I can make myself garb in approximately 8 days (if I'm lucky).
Y'all should have a grand time watching this...
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Stillborn
This is the sum total of my knitting progress for the last two days:
And it might not live very much longer. I'm having severe concerns about that garter ridge top. I dunno - do socks stay up without ribbing? And it looks awfully big, although I didn't cast on more than I usually do. Thoughts? Unless I feel better about it once I get home, it's getting ripped and I'm added some ribbing. (Oh, and it's "Welt Fantastic" from Sensational Knitted Socks.
Meh. At least Leia is staying amused:
And it might not live very much longer. I'm having severe concerns about that garter ridge top. I dunno - do socks stay up without ribbing? And it looks awfully big, although I didn't cast on more than I usually do. Thoughts? Unless I feel better about it once I get home, it's getting ripped and I'm added some ribbing. (Oh, and it's "Welt Fantastic" from Sensational Knitted Socks.
Meh. At least Leia is staying amused:
Monday, August 07, 2006
More books
Summer Reading Stats:
Books read: 11/14
Nonfiction: 3/5
Pages: 4026
I’m closing in on my Summer Reading goals … just 3 more books to read, 2 of which have to be non-fiction to meet my auxiliary goal. Here’s today’s haul (just 2)
Although school is starting soon, I’ve discovered that I absolutely must reread the six original Dune books again. Why? Because Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson are finally writing Book 7!
On the knitting front … well, there hasn’t been too much of a knitting front, lately. It seems that everything I pick up either fails to interest me, or I discover some mistake that causes me to tink back until I find it, so I put it down.
And, ya know? I had something else I wanted to put here –a link, I think – and damned if I can remember what it is. Oh, well.
Books read: 11/14
Nonfiction: 3/5
Pages: 4026
I’m closing in on my Summer Reading goals … just 3 more books to read, 2 of which have to be non-fiction to meet my auxiliary goal. Here’s today’s haul (just 2)
- The Elder Gods, David Eddings (480 pp)
The first book in a four-book series called The Dreamers. In a Land called Dhrall, there are two sets of gods who alternate looking over the world. It’s near the time for one set of gods to sleep and the other to awaken to take their places, but a force called, well, That-Called-the-Vlagh is getting ready to invade. The people of Dhrall are not warriors, so each of the four gods – one each for each cardinal direction – go out to other lands to find reinforcements.
This series seems to be getting a lot of flack (lookin’ at you, Amazon) from Eddings fans. They all seem to believe that this is not one of his best works, and that it is therefore of no consequence, and better left unread.
Perhaps they are not his best works. It’s hard to hold an author up to the spotlight of the Belgariad, after all – even if (or especially if) he wrote it! My views on Eddings are the same as my views on Mercedes Lackey – if you have read and like this author, you will want to read this book. And you will probably like it. This is not high literature, nor does it pretend to be. The Inchoatus Group for example, would not consider this genre changing. But for light fantasy, Eddings is still one of the best. (And, if you really want to pick apart the books, look for all the similarities you can find between this book and his others. I’ll give you a hint – there are more gems. :) ) - Witchcraft Today, Gerald B. Gardner (224 pp)
I will attempt to be both respectful and polite, but I’ll warn you – it may be difficult.
I wanted to like this book. Well, that may not be true. But I at least wanted to respect the work, and its author. Gerald Gardner is responsible for either single-handedly creating the religion of Wicca, or simply rediscovering an old practice, depending on which side of the fence you sit on. Regardless of which opinion you hold, I thought, you have to respect a man that can do that. I was wrong.
Gardner is a self-described “anthropologist” (without all the baggage that getting degrees in anthropology, of course). In this book, he sets out to prove that the religion of “the Wica” has been practiced since the stone age, and that all indigenous religions are merely reflections of this “witch cult.” He examines religions throughout the ages, pointing to “evidence” in the similarities all religions share.
His work is shoddy, poorly written, and abominably researched. In the first two paragraphs I realized that not only was he not a scholar, he wasn’t particularly well-written. The rest of the novel was mostly a painful experience, punctuated with periods of rage as something he said made me particularly angry.
However, he did start – er, rediscover – his own religion, so this is at least a good read from a historical standpoint – the history of Gerald Gardner, that is, NOT the history of religion, which he manages to mangle at nearly every turn.
Although school is starting soon, I’ve discovered that I absolutely must reread the six original Dune books again. Why? Because Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson are finally writing Book 7!
On the knitting front … well, there hasn’t been too much of a knitting front, lately. It seems that everything I pick up either fails to interest me, or I discover some mistake that causes me to tink back until I find it, so I put it down.
And, ya know? I had something else I wanted to put here –a link, I think – and damned if I can remember what it is. Oh, well.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
A generous dose of fiction
Apparently it’s back to work, back to blogging, eh?
Time to catch up on the Summer Reading program that I did while jobless. I’m behind enough that I don’t think I’ll catch up, but here’s hoping.
Summer Reading Stats:
Books read: 9/14
Nonfiction: 2/5
Pages: 3322
I'm still a lot behind, and who knows if I'm going to make it, but here's hoping.
Time to catch up on the Summer Reading program that I did while jobless. I’m behind enough that I don’t think I’ll catch up, but here’s hoping.
- Dragons of a Fallen Sun (548 pp), Dragons of a Vanished Moon (629) , and Dragons of a Lost Star (458) , Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Together, they make up the War of Souls trilogy. After the Dragonlance Chronicles, after Legends, after the Chaos War, when every lovable character is dead, comes the Age of Mortals. The ever-intrepid Tasselhoff has used the Device of Time Journeying again to go forward in time to say his respects at Caramon Majere's funeral, before - er, after - he meets his own fate during the Chaos War.
The rest is fairly predictable if you're already a Dragonlance fan. The way I see it, you're either a fan, in which case you'll read - and probably like - this trilogy, or you're not, and you won't. Very few people sit the middle fence. People like me. :) I've long considered Dragonlance to be primarily aimed at young adults.* The books are uncomplicated and direct, with a very predictable plot outline if you're familiar with the fantasy genre. I did like the War of Souls trilogy, but it became obvious to me that maybe Weis and Hickman are getting a little tired of visiting Krynn. These novels seem to lack the sparkle and shine of some of the others. Granted, this may be because my most-loved characters (Kit, Raistlin) put in only a cursory appearance, if at all. Still, they were worth a read, and I'd suggest them if you're already a fan. If you're not, give these a miss. If you want to be, start with the Chronicles trilogy (Dragons of Autumn Twilight being the first book), and move into my favorite trilogy, Legends (Time of the Twins is the first one, I believe.)
*Which those of you who know my tastes in reading know is not an insult of any kind, just an observation. - Danse Macabre, Laurell K. Hamilton (483 pp)
Okay, let me be perfectly upfront about this (the spambots are going to love this post...). I have a weakness for a certain ... genre of novel. It's not polite, and I don't generally talk about it, but there it is. I really like ... well, my father calls it "Renaissance porn," but I usually just summarize it by saying "vampire sex." Perhaps someday we'll get into why I love these books, and why I feel like I shouldn't, but not now, m'k?
The point is, because of this, I've followed the Anita Blake series pretty faithfully, watching as the novels morphed from supernatural crime thriller, through single woman dating hell, into the cops don't understand me anymore, and into. Well. There's no nice way to say this, but these aren't mysteries any more, they're porn. This isn't to say that they've gotten worse, just that they've changed. And if you want to know what case Anita solves this book, it's going to involve many, many male supernaturals ... and her. There is no cop story in this one, not even as a secondary plot. That said, it's a damn good read ... preferably in private. Because Laurell K. Hamilton is the only author I've read that puts my writing to shame. As for plot, this one involved Jean-Claude inviting a slew of other Masters of the City to St. Louis for a ballet. Yes, a ballet. Where they meet more ancients, and a couple of things are set up for (presumably) the next book. In the meantime, Anita is facing an unexpected pregnancy - and doesn't know whose it is.
Summer Reading Stats:
Books read: 9/14
Nonfiction: 2/5
Pages: 3322
I'm still a lot behind, and who knows if I'm going to make it, but here's hoping.
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