Siriusly Luna

jungian types yada yada

2008-04-09T10:20:00.002-05:00

Your Personality is Very Rare (INFP)

Your personality type is dreamy, romantic, elegant, and expressive.

Only about 5% of all people have your personality, including 6% of all women and 4% of all men

You are Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Perceiving.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

Depending on the test, I can also turn out INTP. I guess that explains why it took me 7 years to decide between majoring in art or science in college.

How many times can I use "week" in a sentence?

2008-04-02T12:53:00.011-05:00

I just got some free All Seasons yarn when I subscribed to Rowan, and it's calling to me. It wants to be a sock. The question is what kind of sock? I want to enable the yarn to reach its full potential. I'm not even sure this kind of yarn is right for socks. It seems a little thick.

I have become fascinated in my head with sock knitting but I haven't actually knit one yet. And as usual I want to jump into the deep end of the pool. I'm trying hard not to buy Cat Bordhi's New Pathways book, but I think my gotta-have-it-now-inner-four-year-old might win this battle. I'm thinking it will make knitting seem new again. And I've always enjoyed puzzles and math (specifically math puzzles).

I haven't knit in over a month. I just haven't wanted to. I think it's been a side effect of a too-long winter. More than a month of gray skies and snow forecasts make me want to hibernate. The weather has improved during the week for several weeks (until a couple of weeks ago) just to bring surprise cold fronts with flurries over the weekends. But the sun is finally showing her face again, and I'm starting to feel rejuvenated. I'm feeling the knitting urge again. The first project of spring will either be socks or a cardigan from the new IK. I have yarn ordered for the latter.

And I'll have plenty of time to knit soon. Well, five days, but that's a long stretch of time for my short attention span. I'm having gall bladder surgery in a couple of weeks. That so sounds like something you expect your grandmother to say. The pain that I've been attributing to too-tight underwire isn't the fault of my bra afterall. I'm relieved. I'm just not ready to wear those ugly Playtex all white, thick elastic, seamed Jane Whatserface bras yet. I mean, now that I finally have breasts I want to keep them wrapped with something passably pretty.

Anyway, I'm deluding myself that the surgery will remove an unwanted 20 or so pounds from my torso. That would have to be some big gall bladder. I know I will wake up to the truth and be very disappointed, torso still intact but a little punctured, but there will be good drugs to temper my disappointment with.

I also have 10, yes 10!, new paranormal romance paperbacks to read while on gall bladder hiatus. God, that's so embarrassing. But they are really fun! I don't buy the ones with the supposedly hunky guys (usually with a mullet) on the cover. I just can't get all dreamy about paranormal beings. Hell, I just can't get all dreamy and sappy about romance books period. Harry Potter book? No problem. Why do I think that's any better? But if a book cover is illustrated in a fun chicklit kinda way, I'm there. If only I could knit one-handed and hold the book with the other. Maybe a nurse or a candystriper will hold the book for me if I let him/her read over my shoulder. Right.

Note to Self: No trying to knit a Cat Bordhi sock while on good gall bladder surgery drugs. Talk about knitting new pathways!

Lesson learned.

2008-01-10T17:46:00.001-06:00

I haven't been busy at work since the holidays so I've been surfing ravelry forums and websites like Free People and Etsy. Treehouse28's stuff rocks. I'm itching to sew. We'll see if that itch lasts through the drive home. If not, I'll continue the gloves I'm knitting for my daughter. She lost hers, so I deviated from the to-craft list I made in my last post. Let's face it. I'm just a craft in the moment person. Ha. So I am going to listen to Ari's comment to my last post. She's right. If I put too many deadlines on myself my crafting won't be fun anymore. That's why I don't freelance graphic design outside of work. That's my job. Thanks Ari!
Here's a polar bear my daughter and I saw in the Memphis Zoo over the holidays. The Northwest Passage addition to the zoo is awesome. I could have watched that bear all day. They had all these Native American sayings carved into the walls there. It's too bad Giff couldn't have gone, too. He would have loved it. Sure was nice to get back there to see family.

See how I procrastinate planning to quit procrastinating?

2007-12-23T14:43:00.000-06:00

In 2008 I'm determined to become a person who creates as often as I plan to create, and I want to frog fewer projects so that I can actually finish them. I'm putting my list out there for the world to see. May the gods of intention listen and help me make this stuff happen. Here are projects for which I've purchased stuff or that won't leave my brain alone.

quilt for Julia

Clyde plushie for Julia

applique t-shirts for Julia

socks for Giff

t-shirt recons for me, including one shoulder design floating in my head

cover for sewing machine

self-patterned skirt for me

charity knitting knitch pattern pages in notebook

messenger bag, maybe from cut up felted sweaters

needle roll

backpack for knitting

cushions for patio furniture

And, our space at home needs to be more organized. I would like storage to be the focus of tax return season. Not only do we need more trash cans for the house in general, I need attractive storage for all my fabric and yarn since I use part of the great room for my crafts. I want to clean out the garage so that I can finally park in it. And I need to help Julia organize her room in a way that she could possibly keep it clean if she was so inclined.

Maybe if I can set out a plan that breaks it all down into managable steps then I can make it happen. I'll take my notebook with me to my brother's house this coming week so that I can work on that when boredom sets in.

And of course I have the inevitable resolution of losing weight. I want to focus on the other stuff first. Who knows. If I work hard at the other stuff maybe the activity of doing so will help me achieve the latter. ;-)

What a cool way to start the day...

2007-12-21T07:35:00.000-06:00

I started the day with a birthday greeting from attimania over at Ravelry. She lives in Germany, and I have never met her before. How nice is that? A simple little email like that. The world would be a happier place if we all wished someone we don't know a happy birthday on their day. I'm hoping I run across some birthdays on Ravelry today so I can pay it forward. :-)

This will be a cool day. I am going to work and taking my daughter Julia with me, since she is on winter break. I have no work to do. Hmmm, maybe I should take some knitting. :-) My co-worker Allison and I are going out to lunch. Then we are going to check out a fiber store. When I get home Julia, Giff and I are going to Hereford House . Then we'll be seeing National Treasure .

That's all for now...

Who makes up these things anyway?

2007-12-13T21:52:00.000-06:00

Your Passion is Pink!

You're the type of woman that would never get described as passionate...

Oh but you can be passionate at times - you just don't let it show.

Your passion most shows through in your sweet and optimistic attitude.

And chances are, most people are very passionate about you!

What Type of Passionate Woman Are You?

You Belong in New York

You're a girl on the go, and LA's laid back lifestyle isn't really your thing.

You prefer a city that never sleeps, and people as ambitious as you are.

Cultured and street smart, you can truly appreciate everything New York has to offer.

Are You an LA Girl or a NY Girl?

You Are a Centaur

In general, you are a very cautious and reserved person.
However, you are also warm hearted, and you enjoy helping others in practical ways.
You are a great teacher, and you are really good at helping people get their lives in order.
You are very intuitive, and you go with your gut. You make good decisions easily.

What Mythological Creature Are You?

Your Superpower Should Be Manipulating Electricity

You're highly reactive, energetic, and super charged.
If the occasion calls for it, you can go from 0 to 60 in a split second.
But you don't harness your energy unless you truly need to.
And because of this, people are often surprised by what you are capable of.

Why you would be a good superhero: You have the stamina to fight enemies for days

Your biggest problem as a superhero: As with your normal life, people would continue to underestimate you

What Should Your Superpower Be?

You Are Catwoman

"Life's a bitch. Now so am I."

What Superheroine Are You?

Your Personality Cluster is Introverted Thinking

You are:

Objective, honest, and credible
Intellectually curious, with many diverse interests
More inclined toward ideas than people
Fiercely independent and unapologetically unconventional

What's Your Personality Cluster?

You Are an Orange Rose

You represent desire and enthusiasm

Your vibe: Sexy yet familiar

Falling in love with you: happens instantly - it's a fast ride

What Color Rose Are You?

Hello again

2007-12-05T19:12:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I feel like I'm sending out messages to those scientists that listen for radio messages from alien beings, like in the movie Contact. I know nobody reads this. I'm just not interesting enough, and I don't update enough.

Anyway, I got my Uniquely You dressform. The measurements listed for the size I ordered were almost perfect. I just had to let out the sleeve a little on the lower hips. I can't wait until I'm done with all my Christmas knitting so I can start using it!

This is my second day of a killer migraine. It's been a long time since I had one last this long. It's almost gone, but almost doesn't really count in the world of migraines, because the slightest trigger brings them back screaming. That's what happened this morning. Everything was cool until I went outside to drive to work, and then it was like "THE LIGHT, THE LIGHT, SOMEONE TURN OFF THE SUN!" I feel like a vampire.

The weird thing about migraines is they make me talkative and playful. I sent emails today to people on ravelry.com whom I've never met before, something I normally wouldn't do. I sent out many multiple group emails cracking jokes, something I rarely do. And everything has been striking me as amusing. Maybe it's because the migraine is on the left side and the artistic, whimsical side of the brain is the right side. Maybe the left side has rolled over like a dog in the submissive pose, saying "I give up, I'm not gonna second-guess or censor anything today."

If I could just get rid of the pain in the left side of my neck I'm sure it would be banished. Damn neck.

Anyway, my Christmas knitting is WAY behind. I've only completed about 2 3/4 hats. Only 12 more to go!!! UGH. Good thing I'm accepted as the irresponsible baby of the family. New Year's hats for everyone, woohoo! Valentines hats for everyone, woohoo! They'll get them eventually. I won't be able to get away with this kind of thing much longer. The next generation is creeping into adulthood, and I'll have to reform so that I can tsk tsk about the next irresponsible baby of the family.

That's all for now. If my head didn't hurt I'd probably put in photos and stuff, but I just can't get motivated when I feel like this.

I wish they would put me on a pager.

2007-11-13T10:44:00.000-06:00

I've been SO bored at work. I'm supposed to be ridiculously busy getting an entire campaign ready to be uploaded Wednesday, but we STILL don't have client feedback. I'm having awful visions of working a 14 hour day tomorrow. What a waste. I wish they would give me a pager and let me go about my business because I'm OVER surfing the net. I don't have the guts to knit at work. I've asked if I can help other teams with their stuff but my team is very territorial and they don't want to share me. UGH.

So, ALL day yesterday while waiting I researched dressmaker forms. My husband and I are celebrating our 13th anniversary this week and the dressform will be my combo birthday/anniversary gift. After a whole day of research and I may be more confused when I started. It looks like if you can't spend upwards of $600 then you aren't going to be completely happy with what you get. I don't have those kind of bucks to blow. I'm leary of getting an adjustable form like this because, according to the measurements, I'll have gaping spaces once I've adjusted it, unless I get a large one. But if I lose a single pound that will be too big.

I'm thinking I'll get a Uniquely You form. It's made of foam and comes with a cover that you alter to your measurments. Then you shove the form into the cover and zip it up. It's soft enough to pin and use for corsets with (not that I ever would). My measurements are actually pretty darn close to one of them but the waist is an inch smaller. You are supposed to get it slightly bigger than you, but I don't know if I have the strength or skill to alter a bigger one down to size. Plus, I'm hoping to lose weight (aren't we all). So I'll probably get the one that is closest to my current measurements and maybe pad it out a bit. Maybe I'll leave it alone since we're only talking an inch.

I never did post a photo of my daughter in her costume, so here she is! I consider it a big success. It's the biggest sewing job I've taken on and it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be, sewing-wise of course.

This is my latest FO. My writing partner is having a baby any day now. She's a rocker, so her baby has to have a rocker hat. :-) it's made from Lion Brand chenille, which was a total b**** to knit with, but I liked the way it turned out. Very soft for little ones.

I guess that's all I have for now. I'd rather be sewing or knitting or something at home, but in the meantime I wait at work…

knitting kizmet

2007-11-09T10:10:00.000-06:00

Lots of synchronicities have been happening to me concerning my knitting lately. It's making me feel very at peace with the world.

After I survived all the layoffs at work still employed, I feel a need to give something back to the world at large. I am attempting to set up a knitting charity knitch at work. I will leave needles, yarn, patterns and charity information so that employees can knit or crochet items to donate during their breaks. I will collect the items and send them to the charities. A few weeks after I thought of this idea I bought the book "Knitting for Peace." A couple of days after I bought the book I was watching Knitty Gritty, and Vicki Howell had one of the authors on the show talking about knitting for charity.

At the same time that this has been happening, I've developed an itch to design my own knitwear. I bought a few books on the subject and started sketching. The very next morning I read in a blog that it's National Knitwear Design Month. That afternoon I get my IK magazine in the mail and it has reviews of knitting design books (including the ones I bought) as well as an article about determining sleeve caps, which has confounded me.

Of course the spiritual side of me wants me to believe that this is because the knitting charity knitch and designing knitting patterns are things that are "supposed to happen" to me and the universe is providing – the whole power of intention thing. The logical side of me thinks that there must be a lot of us out there thinking about this stuff, and the media is just responding to our needs. That I'm just one person and the idea that the universe responds to me is ridiculous. Or maybe I've seen stuff on the subjects in the media before and I've forgotten about them, and now I think there's some great coincidence going on.

My brain's right and left sides would battle continuously if I let them. So I'm trying not to think about it. I'm just gonna go with the feeling that I am at harmony with the universe. Couldn't hurt.

Which Tarot card are you?

2007-10-25T23:26:00.000-05:00

You are The Wheel of Fortune

Good fortune and happiness but sometimes a species of
intoxication with success

The Wheel of Fortune is all about big things, luck, change, fortune. Almost always good fortune. You are lucky in all things that you do and happy with the things that come to you. Be careful that success does not go to your head however. Sometimes luck can change.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

What kind of soul are you?

2007-10-25T23:18:00.001-05:00

You Are a Hunter Soul

You are driven and ambitious - totally self motiviated to succeed
Actively working to acheive what you want, you are skillful in many areas.
You are a natural predator with strong instincts ... and more than a little demanding.
You are creative, energetic, and an extremely powerful force.

An outdoors person, you like animals and relate to them better than people.
You tend to have an explosive personality, but also a good sense of humor.
People sometimes see you as arrogant or a know it all.
You tend to be a bit of a loner, though you hate to be alone.

Souls you are most compatible with: Seeker Soul and Peacemaker Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?

Today is going to suck.

2007-10-23T10:21:00.000-05:00

We just heard from our executive creative director that there will be a lot of layoffs in creative today. My hands won't quit sweating. Everybody is shellshocked. No work is getting done. And some of the higher ups have the nerve to go around asking of the work we are doing for them will be finished today, like that should be our priority rather than collecting samples of our work so we can get another job. I hope my closest colleagues and I are still employed at the end of this. I'm so sad. :-(

How do I get myself into these messes?

2007-10-22T12:02:00.000-05:00

Halloween is 9 days away and I'm making this for my daughter.

I also just ordered 41 skeins of chenille yarn to make hats, scarves, etc. for Christmas gifts. I'm not a huge fan of chenille, but it was 99 cents a yard and our budget is tight this year. How could I resist? I'm also making a quilt for my daughter out of old jeans and I need to finish before it gets too cold. I'm also making the sweater vest from Stephanie Japel's Fitted Knits. I siriusly need to stop adding projects to my list! And to top it off, I just joined ravelry.com. Way too much temptation!

I really do know how to spell seriously. Sirius is our newest dog. We adopted him from Animal Haven about a month ago. He is a mix of German Shepherd and "various other herding breeds" according to our vet. He is the perfect companion to our other dog Luna, a German Shepherd/Border Collie mix. We adopted her from Wayside Waifs. They are named after the astrological terms, but my daughter likes to tell everyone they were named after Harry Potter characters.

On Saturday my husband, my daughter and I went to watch bullriding. It was a PBR Enterprise event, which isn't as good as a PBR BFT event, but I was pleasantly surprised. The bulls were fairly rank. It took us forever to get there. My daughter was saying it was the worst day in her life while we tried to interpret the driving instructions to Kemper Arena. We were lost for about an hour. Once we got there she said it was the best day of her life. We used to call her bipolar baby when she was an infant. :-P

If you met my family, bullriding is the last thing you'd expect us to be interested in. My husband studied art history and music history in college. Our house is full of books on history, art history, music history, politics, film, etc. My daughter plays the piano and the violin (not the fiddle). We don't like country music. We don't even watch football, much less Nascar. But we are religious PBR fans.

The PBR finals are starting in a week or two in Vegas. We aren't going, but we'll be watching it on tv every night. My poor daughter will throw a fit. She likes bullriding live, but not on tv. Here's hoping Guillherme Marchi finally wins his title. Go Guillherme!