Happy Birthday to Me!

During my wonderful birthday celebration I didn't realize that yet again someone got a hold of my corp credit account (Diners MasterCard) and shopped accordingly:

Sep-20-2008 ROSS STORES #125 SAN FRANCISCO CA $ 176.72
Sep-20-2008 NORDSTROM #0427 Q18 SAN FRANCISCO CA $ 250.00
Sep-22-2008 RADIOSHACK COR00138552 SANTA ROSA CA $ 410.39
Sep-22-2008 SAFEWAY STORE00015628 SANTA ROSA CA $ 200.00
Sep-22-2008 SAFEWAY STORE00015628 SANTA ROSA CA $ 209.18

I traced it back from a phone call I made to a seedy Indian restaurant; they overcharged my card for a meal I had there the weekend before. That was my going away present for being up there one more time for the client. "Tandoor" restaurant charged me for the base and then again including my tip on the charge slip - those bastards!! I called them 9/12/08 and referred to the invoice # transaction and whalah! Fraudulent charges. No wonder our economy is the way it is. Diners closed the card, my work is aware of this event for the second time on their corporate card!!!


On a lighter note, I completely enjoyed my past weekend Knitting Retreat away with the knitting ladies of Ventura County (and one from Huntington Beach). We rented a huge house for the weekend (back in April) for this wonderful gathering. I wanted to be in a sleeping room where nobody snores since I am very light sleeper. Ended up in a room with 2 other twin beds. One night the latest person to join the group woke me up snoring, the second my other roomate. Both claim they didn't know they snore...LOL Anyway my feedback after the 2nd night is that if we were there a third night, I would be the one snoring. So instead of calling it the "no snoring room"; I call it the "part-time snoring room".

2 acronyms for knitting:
SABLE
Stash Accumulation Beyond Life Expectancy

SEX
Stash Enhancement eXpedition

Both very much in my real of this knitting addiction. I proceeded to buy even more yarn: Noro Blossom in Cambria. This is discontinued yarn that I thought I would never see any more of. So what do I do? Scoop! We enjoyed the different knitting skills that was brought to the table as we shared different techniques/idea, etc. The enthusiasm is great that we will get together again same time next year. Since Stephanie doesn't want to facilitate it again I volunteered for this undertaking next year.

Will Work for Quilts

Look what Flo has made me! How beautiful is this? This was the loving return of making the Blossom pullover top for her. I owe her big time. As you can see, I am not the only fan of this warm quilt. Ditto posing in this photo.



Freckles on the opposite corner. They both were originally laying close together until I had to get up and get the camera for the rare moment. All 3 of us love the quilt! Thanks Flo!

Knitting UFO with a Bonus

Work hiatus has allowed me to focus on my knitting mojo; not that I am asking to do nothing for work. Finished my Cherry Blossom pullover that took me 5 months to finish. Looks better on someone than on this hanger.

Meanwhile I knitted another Clapotis shawl wrap that is a perfect color match for the Cherry Blossom.



Just because I finished the Clapotis in less than 2 weeks, I rewarded myself by starting another "Champagne Leaf & Acorn" wrap with the same rayon yarn as the Clapotis. I am still working 4 project simultanesouly - will I ever learn to finish one at a time? No Way!


For the shawl wraps I am thinking of selling them in a local boutique specialty store in town. If one place doesn't like the idea of selling hand knitted items, then there are other means of marketing them.

Another Summer - Another Turning of the Page

It's been a while since I posted here as I have been through a hiatus of "psychological realignment". I realized that I have been trying too hard to win over others that are truly out of my league; at the same time I am trying to keep others that are trying too hard to win me at arms length. Strange balancing act. No wonder I love animals, they are much easier to be around and there is always the unconditional love that is predictable. I do know who my friends are and I have to admit that I am not a social butterfly yet an event organizer with friends.

Been distracted in knitting in the summer with this hiatus but now I am back into working 3-4 projects simultaneously. I decided that I am going for apparel where I can try selling them in local boutiques. You think, who would pay that much money for hand knitted items when the yarn is already expensive? Well, I will try to give it a shot based on my favorite items: cables and shawls. Sock knitting was fun while working with size 0 needles but I need to get back to items that will be marketable. Socks are more of a personal item; like underwear :)

I saw "A Chorus Line" this past weekend with my friend Camille in Orange County - nice production but the orchestra was over bearing at times for the performers' solo singing. I also had lunch with Flo, Nancie, Terry and Preita at the new location of Brophy Brothers in Ventura Harbor.


The weekeend before that I ran into Beatriz at Cold Spring Tavern. What a cool historical place in a Santa Barbara canyon. It's a great place for people wathcing with all the bikers; both motorcycle and cyclists.

Hey - kinda boring but who is really reading this for fun anyway? ;)