Why haven't I been writing?

It's easy. I got stuck. Then I got the yarn blahs. Not that it's a bad thing, but it's the fact that I just wasnt' inspired--and I think it was due, in part, to my getting stuck. remember my enthusiasm over Teva Durham's yoke vest? I was going along well, doing my increases every fourth round (I managed to figure out the decreases, and that got a lot of fun...so I'm there with my clicking Clover row counter (gosh, how I LOVE that thing...) and then I read...

"Cont to inc every fourth rond as established" (ok, I'm doing this)" for a total of 6 times, AT SAME TIME, beg working Front and Back in rows as foll:

'DIVIDE FOR ARMHOLES

Row 1: (RS) *Sl 1 (Selvedge st at armhole), left-slanting dec, k33, right slanting dec, k1, (39 sts dec to 37 sts), leave yarn hanging, ready for WS row on Front; join new ball of yarn, rep from * for Back.

Cont to work Front and Back with separate balls as foll:

Row 2 and all WS rows through Row 8: Sl 1, purl to end (this one I can figure out. I'm not that stupid.)

Row 3: Sl 1, left-slanting dec, knit to one st before next marker, inc, sl m, inc, knit to last 3 st. of this side, right slanting dec, k1-37 sts.

This may sound totally stupid. But...I had done all this increasing stuff before I got to the part that told me "AT THE SAME TIME" which totally got me discouraged. Normally, I could be fine, but after painstakingly ripping rows back and trying to figure out just when I am supposed to start increasing? I mean when do I start increasing? And maybe I'm dumb, but I got really confused when I was also reading all these increases in the instructions written in the part under the heading, "DIVIDE FOR ARMHOLES"

First lesson Stacey repeatedly learns over and over again: Make sure she reads the instructions ALL THE WAY through. Not just once. Or twice. But something like 100,000 times would be good. That way, she knows exactly what she's supposed to do (and at this point, Stacey is not sure why she's referring to herself in third person...but anyway...) And that she doesn't skip over the part where it says, "AT THE SAME TIME."

So...I threw the the knitted parts I have in my bag. It's still there, and frankly, the thought of looking at the work I've done makes me think I'm crazy sometimes, like why the heck did I do this...well, I read the instructions, but maybe my mind glossed over the "AT THE SAME TIME." Or maybe I was watching Ugly Betty at the same time, when I started doing all the increases. I'm sure that's why.

Which brings me to point number 2. I should only be allowed to knit boring things, i.e., 1x1 or 2x2 ribbed scarves, entrelac squares, or just good old stockingnette stitch while watching TV. Especially if it's Ugly Betty. If it's news, I can knit all the lace and complicated stuff I want, because I'll stop paying attention to the news, especially after they repeat the same story about the same 18 people dying in some remote area and how sad everyone is and isn't that a tragedy? for the 50 millionth time.

Third point. It's okay to knit something else instead to get out of a knitting funk. So I did. But only at SnB because I was just so...yarn-blahed. So back to the Noro Aurora scarf (still not done, but very pretty).

Fourth point. In addition to working on a rather simple, but yoga-like project, such as the Noro Aurora scarf I'm working on, it's perfectly okay to start a new, but VERY small project to get out of the aforementioned knitting funk.

So I have started a NEW project. The inspiration? If a cold, windy, Artic walk from the East end of campus to the West end of campus isn't inspiration, I dont' know what is. I never thought I looked good in hats with earflaps, but at this point, I could care less about the way I look, as long as I dont' end up with frostbite on my ears. The scarf department is fine, because I've a million thick, lush scarves (including all the furry scarves that were in vogue a year or two ago), and my gloves, well. They could be warmer, but I can handle that. Worse come to worse, i can just wear mittens over my gloves, right? Right.

So once my hat is finished, can you guess what my next project is? Unless it's 75 degrees out? Pictures of the hat in progress coming soon! I'm too lazy to actually take pics--but since I have my knitting group tonight, perhaps I'll actually have better ones when I come home!

New project!

While finishing "Palace", I knitted. I had this green yarn (that I bought from Michaels about 2 years ago for 50 cents a skein) and had no idea what to make with it...then saw a pattern in Loop-De-Loop that I thought would work with it.

Its the yoke vest pattern.

So far, good progress. Let's see how long it takes me to actually finish this project. I think I'll look cute in the vest when it's done.

In honor of January

Since it's January, and some people live in Manhattan, I give you a song that warms the soul.

Decisions

I am hopelessly addicted.

To Korean soaps/melodramas. Well, not all of them. But I am watching one called "Palace" (AKA "Princess Hours") which is completely adorable. I'm also watching "Hotelier" which I love so far. I think I have about 8 episodes left.

But the problem is this: Do I watch another disc of "Palace" or do I do work? Sigh. Decisions, decisions.

And I'm starting to look like Ugly Betty's dad in front of his Spanish language telenovellas. (Actually my dad's an even worse fan of Korean soaps).

Starting 2007

Well, now it's a new year...and hopefully one filled with lots of happiness and good things...

New Year's Resolutions:
1) Do a very good job with finances. ;) Essentially, no needless spending (outside of a limited, budgeted amount.
2) Finish various knitting projects. Including sweaters and/or vests. Anything that's not a scarf.
3) Cook one new thing each week. Meaning: Trying out new recipes, whether they be for cookies, entrees, potato dishes (my weakness!), complicated pasta sauces, Indian food (like Biyrani) etc.
4) Learn to juggle. Okay, so this was my resolution from last year. Not yet accomplished. But a whole 'nuther year to complete this task. Right?

And my boyfriend got me some nice stuff for Christmas and some things that just have me scratching my head. Nice stuff include: a hilarious William Wegman video (with the dogs and human hands), a trivial pursuit game that actually requires me to have tons of people over to play, and one of the oddest gifts was a $100 gift card to an aquarium store. Because I love fish. And I'm allergic to his cats (and I think he felt so bad that I was allergic to his cats, that he wanted to get me pet fish?) But you know, I have one fish named Seven (or maybe it's Nine, I'm not sure--the companion fish died some time ago) which has been a pet since 2000. And where will I put about 20 other fish?

But knitting content:
My friend NK gave me this awesome yarn for Christmas. She got it at a fair out in the LA area, and it's this gorgeous hand spun, hand-painted yarn, and I can't wait to knit something with it. I have to find a good pattern or inspiration for it.

Thanks NK! I LOVE this yarn!