Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Safe and sound
Just a quick post to say, I made it to Bozeman. It only took 26 hours! Which is definitely a gain on covered wagon days. Less chance of suffering cholera, too.
Well, maybe not really less chance of suffering a bizarre disease, given that some unspecified "weather issue" had affected travel on Thursday, causing United Airlines to throw up its hands in a drama queen tizzy-style and delay all (ALL) of its flights on Friday. Everything was full. O'Hare was filled with people sitting on the floor and leaning on their suitcases and drinking beer in the hallways. Also changing children's diapers in the waiting area. Which: gross. Also: disease. I almost started to cry while waiting for the second standby flight to Denver and I realized I had lost one of my double-pointed needles, rendering me unable to knit. Since I had, you know, four hours to kill, I literally retraced my steps, then visited all shops in the terminal to find a substitute. "Think like MacGuyver," I told myself. I could only come up with wooden coffee stirrers (no plastic ones to be found), and briefly considered deconstructing a ballpoint pen to use the ink cartridge inside. Why don't airports have yarn stores? I make a terrible MacGuyver. When I finally got on the flight to Denver, I had to just sit there and watch Deal or No Deal, which is the people yelling at briefcases show. It may cause disease. Of the brain.
After a restful 5 hours of sleep, I was back at the airport for my final flight to Bozeman. My parents have been very nice and let me take naps all the time! It's beautiful, mountainous, warm, and fun here. Also, they have great yarn stores and I saw a celebrity, who actually said "Excuse me," to me! (They're just like us!) You may know him as Barry Zuckercorn. Or the Fonz. Know who I'm talking about?
Well, maybe not really less chance of suffering a bizarre disease, given that some unspecified "weather issue" had affected travel on Thursday, causing United Airlines to throw up its hands in a drama queen tizzy-style and delay all (ALL) of its flights on Friday. Everything was full. O'Hare was filled with people sitting on the floor and leaning on their suitcases and drinking beer in the hallways. Also changing children's diapers in the waiting area. Which: gross. Also: disease. I almost started to cry while waiting for the second standby flight to Denver and I realized I had lost one of my double-pointed needles, rendering me unable to knit. Since I had, you know, four hours to kill, I literally retraced my steps, then visited all shops in the terminal to find a substitute. "Think like MacGuyver," I told myself. I could only come up with wooden coffee stirrers (no plastic ones to be found), and briefly considered deconstructing a ballpoint pen to use the ink cartridge inside. Why don't airports have yarn stores? I make a terrible MacGuyver. When I finally got on the flight to Denver, I had to just sit there and watch Deal or No Deal, which is the people yelling at briefcases show. It may cause disease. Of the brain.
After a restful 5 hours of sleep, I was back at the airport for my final flight to Bozeman. My parents have been very nice and let me take naps all the time! It's beautiful, mountainous, warm, and fun here. Also, they have great yarn stores and I saw a celebrity, who actually said "Excuse me," to me! (They're just like us!) You may know him as Barry Zuckercorn. Or the Fonz. Know who I'm talking about?
Friday, July 14, 2006
Shrug
It's over 90 degrees and humid here, but that doesn't mean I can't wear wool. Hence:
a shrug! I have been somewhat neutral to anti in regard to shrugs, but I saw this one in the spring Interweave Knits (second from the bottom, "Streakers Shrug") and thought it looked pretty cute. I had four skeins of Rowan Cashsoft DK in a minty green color. I should have had enough yardage to do the whole thing, cuffs included, but I used almost all of it by the time it was time to pick up stitches for the cuffs.
I used part of a skein of Plymouth's Suri Merino that I had planned for a scarf. Very soft...I find that the white cuffs add a delightful Founding Fathers dandyism to the shrug. I tried to explain this observation to Mr. Cupcakes and he just gave me a vague smile and went back to the computer. Mr. Cupcakes is generally not on board with the concept of shrugs--not a cardigan, not a shawl--but has been very nice to me about this one.
The whole thing is made like a big plus sign and then sewn together to make the two sleeves and side seams. The construction adds nice curves to the stitch lines.
If it ever drops below 67 degrees, I will most certainly wear this in the cool evening breezes. Tomorrow, Mr. Cupcakes and I are going to Brooklyn for a birthday party for my college roommate and another friend of ours. I'm so excited to see Bitsy again! (Bitsy is my pet name for her, one which I would frequently use in an effort to cajole her into buying me cookies. Also: cutest name ever.) We probably won't have time for a good game of scarf fashion, which was what we spent many a happy hour doing in college, i.e. using her extensive collection of gauzy scarves to fashion risque tops for ourselves and then dancing around. Also, the chances of us drinking amaretto sours and devouring Bust magazine have probably declined a great deal since 1998. But it will be great to see her and Noah, the originator of Mr. Cupcakes's devilish nickname, "Sexy Lexy." Say it in a hiss if you want the right effect. Sehhhhxxxy Lehhhhxxxy.
Anyhoo, yay, another trip!
a shrug! I have been somewhat neutral to anti in regard to shrugs, but I saw this one in the spring Interweave Knits (second from the bottom, "Streakers Shrug") and thought it looked pretty cute. I had four skeins of Rowan Cashsoft DK in a minty green color. I should have had enough yardage to do the whole thing, cuffs included, but I used almost all of it by the time it was time to pick up stitches for the cuffs.
I used part of a skein of Plymouth's Suri Merino that I had planned for a scarf. Very soft...I find that the white cuffs add a delightful Founding Fathers dandyism to the shrug. I tried to explain this observation to Mr. Cupcakes and he just gave me a vague smile and went back to the computer. Mr. Cupcakes is generally not on board with the concept of shrugs--not a cardigan, not a shawl--but has been very nice to me about this one.
The whole thing is made like a big plus sign and then sewn together to make the two sleeves and side seams. The construction adds nice curves to the stitch lines.
If it ever drops below 67 degrees, I will most certainly wear this in the cool evening breezes. Tomorrow, Mr. Cupcakes and I are going to Brooklyn for a birthday party for my college roommate and another friend of ours. I'm so excited to see Bitsy again! (Bitsy is my pet name for her, one which I would frequently use in an effort to cajole her into buying me cookies. Also: cutest name ever.) We probably won't have time for a good game of scarf fashion, which was what we spent many a happy hour doing in college, i.e. using her extensive collection of gauzy scarves to fashion risque tops for ourselves and then dancing around. Also, the chances of us drinking amaretto sours and devouring Bust magazine have probably declined a great deal since 1998. But it will be great to see her and Noah, the originator of Mr. Cupcakes's devilish nickname, "Sexy Lexy." Say it in a hiss if you want the right effect. Sehhhhxxxy Lehhhhxxxy.Anyhoo, yay, another trip!
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Notes to self
1. Next time you go to New York, get your camera out and ready at all times. Otherwise you risk missing an otherwise normal looking woman wearing a dirty apron backwards. Thank the lord for Dr. Hectic/Mr. Cupcakes.
2. Next time you go to New York, do not make the trip from your home and back again in 27 hours. That is not enough time to savor the stank that is New York City in July.
3. Next time you go to New York, do not go on a national holiday when all you can do is make a Titanic-style hand press against the glass window of the Rescue Beauty Lounge.
4. Next time your boss falls in a horrifying accident and breaks her arm, do not offer her water unless you actually have water on your person.
5. Always have water on your person.
6. You need to finish L.A. Confidential. I don't care that it's given you nightmares and had to be returned to the library because you ran out of renewals. I'm asking you to do it. For me.
7. Do not be ashamed that you renewed your subscription to US Weekly. It provides critical information on the vital currency of our day: celebrity. Also, where to get a cubic zirconium engagement ring just like Jessica's. And you read it ironically. And voraciously.
8. Please stop feeling so sorry for stray cats that dart in the road and are clearly in danger, because you might take them home and then they swat and hiss at you for coming anywhere in a six foot radius of them. And you'll get scratched for trying to, say, pick up your shoes.
9. You've bought five pairs of shoes in the past month. You might want to slow down.
10. Vacation is just two weeks away. HOORAY!
2. Next time you go to New York, do not make the trip from your home and back again in 27 hours. That is not enough time to savor the stank that is New York City in July.
3. Next time you go to New York, do not go on a national holiday when all you can do is make a Titanic-style hand press against the glass window of the Rescue Beauty Lounge.
4. Next time your boss falls in a horrifying accident and breaks her arm, do not offer her water unless you actually have water on your person.
5. Always have water on your person.
6. You need to finish L.A. Confidential. I don't care that it's given you nightmares and had to be returned to the library because you ran out of renewals. I'm asking you to do it. For me.
7. Do not be ashamed that you renewed your subscription to US Weekly. It provides critical information on the vital currency of our day: celebrity. Also, where to get a cubic zirconium engagement ring just like Jessica's. And you read it ironically. And voraciously.
8. Please stop feeling so sorry for stray cats that dart in the road and are clearly in danger, because you might take them home and then they swat and hiss at you for coming anywhere in a six foot radius of them. And you'll get scratched for trying to, say, pick up your shoes.
9. You've bought five pairs of shoes in the past month. You might want to slow down.
10. Vacation is just two weeks away. HOORAY!
