Not WORKING Update

For those of you who might be interested in what my Gracie kitty looks like, here she is in all her lazy glory. She is a 5 year old calico who I adopted from the shelter after my lovely dog Holly died. She mainly was brought home to help my elderly Siamese cat to get over grieving for the dog. She died over Labor Day so now it is just me and Gracie. Although, there is a possibility of a new puppy in the Spring, depending on what I am doing at the time.



This is the middle of week 2 not working. I could really get use to this if it paid better. Next week I will start unemployment if something does not come up this week. I have been making good use of my time as you can see. The dining room wall is ready to prime and them paint. I just have a little spackle to to do tonight then I am ready. It has been 15 years since I have addressed this room. I definitely think it is time. I think the color is going to be a light sage with a lighter value of the color in the ceiling inset.

Next comes the kitchen followed by the living room. Eventually, the main bathroom and bedrooms will get some attention also. This all is going much slower than it used to as it is more difficult for me to repeatedly go up and down the ladder.

This is the first finished Coriolis sock. It will make a good slipper sock but I think I would like it better done on smaller needles and single thread. I really like the concept.

I could not wait to start on the Hemlock Ring blanket. I really like it and if goes fast but I need to look over my last round. I am off one stitch in one repeat and as I really want to go strictly by the pattern I must correct it. It is going to be really pretty when I get it done. I am on row 35 and the center of the ring goes to row 47 then starts the fan and feather to complete it. That part is pretty straight forward to it should not take long. So stay tuned for up dates.

Lovely Fall Sunday Afternoon

I am sitting here enjoying the wonder Fall day. I think this is my favorite time of year except for Spring. I especially love the cooler crisp air. As I have gotten older I find I just cannot take the heat. Someday I guess I will have to move where the temps are more moderate. Alas, I am not in a position to do that just yet. Maybe in a few years I can accomplish that.

It was a very cool evening so I did have to break down and set the thermostate to heat so the furnace would come on in case the temp dropped dramatically. Last night I did light the gas logs for a bit just to take the chill off in the living room so the furnace would not come on. My Gracie kitty took full advantage of that. She just have been really chilly in the middle of the night because she came in and got under the covers with me for a snuggle.

On the job front. I may have something starting this week if things work out. It would be long enough to get me through the rest of the year to a time when there are new contracts and new budget money to go with them.

Only as Old as You Feel

I have always felt like an old soul. This I guess proves me wrong

My New York age is 23

This New York age puts you-generally speaking-into the young category. That's what you were hoping for, right? Run and tell your friends. Then get drunk (as usual). Then sleep it off. Then pop an Adderall. Then come back and consider experimenting with a more mature type of New York life (just once in a while). Have you ever been to the Village Vanguard or the Living Theatre? Eaten at Elaine's? Taken a date to Michael Feinstein? Before you laugh, check 'em out and see what old-school NYC experiences you can add to the new.

What's your New York age? Take the Time Out New York quiz and find out!

Still not working but that may be ending soon. I think I am going to look for a real job. Meaning a permanent job. I have been working on a contract basis for a long time. So if any one know of a Business Analyst Job in the Kansas City area, let me know.

Day 2 Not working

Although day 1 was everything I had hoped it would be day 2 is in the running. I slept unti 8:00 today...that is real sleeping in at my house. Did some laundry in preparation to a quick run to my Mom's. Have a couple of things to do for her then return home for the rest of my week.

Many job submissions are in the works and more to come I am sure. I have a couple of perm things I want to submit for on my own. Not sure I would remember how to be a perm employee but I could probably work into. After consulting for 14 years, most of the time, it would be a novelty. I have felt pretty much like a job gypsy with makes it difficult to form close work relationships. This has been more apparent with my last contract, I think because I worked with several consultans from my company.

Normally, I am the only consultant from my company on my team. I think I was able to come much closer this time also because all of the consultants were officed together. Unlike on my other contracts, I miss the rest. I think we are going to do something soon after work. That will be nice to see them.

I have been able to get some good knitting time in. I finished the red ON Line socks last week so I started a new pair last night from JAWoll for the road. Sock one is almost done so probably the second one will be done this week. That will be another one off of the sock list.

I think I am ready for something totally new and different. Have not decided just yet what it will be but I think I am interested in maybe some mitered squares and rectangles then maybe some lace. I still have a shawl to do so maybe I will start that too.

My First Day Off

Today was my first day not to work. What a glorious day. I actually enjoyed cleaning. I know I know, but when I have the time that I feel I can really devote to cleaning and I don't feel rushed it is not that bad.

Tomorrow is my day to start removing wallpaper in the dining room and kitchen. Hopefully, it will not take long. The walls were sized and I use Downy in warm water to saturate the paper. It released the past and makes it much easier to remove.

I realized today that I had the plan to paint the rooms post-wallpaper but I had not selected colors. So, this afternoon I went to Lowes and took care of the selection. I selected a Laura Ashley paint which of course is more expensive but the good news is it will not take a whole gallon to do both. I went ahead and picked out the color for the living room as well.

I have been working at getting some things put on my Ravelry. I have loaded some of the books in my library. Next come the queue. I have to get my list finalized. Progress is being made.

I need to finished one item that is almost done so I can start something else fun. As usually, I do have another pair of socks started. I seem to finish one pair and move on to the next. Some are for presents and some are for me.

Another Pair Bites the Dust

The red socks are complete. I started them last Friday when I was at the Speaking of Women's Health conference. Really didn't have a lot of time to work on them or would have had them finishes sooner.

I like these a lot. One thing I did without noticing is the stripes are in the same order but the patterning is reversed. I evidently started the heels on opposite sides so where the stripe might be wider at one point in the sole it is on the instep on the other sock. It is a design feature and in the long run no one will know but me.

Well tomorrow is my last day to work on my present contract. Not sure where I will go next. My consulting company is looking for something. I am hoping to have a few days off to get some things done at home. I have gotten so disorganized this last year. I really need to remedy that quickly. It has made me feel at such loose ends.

I may not always be organized at home but I usually am at work, but not this last year. I will take the weekend to get a game plan together then hit the ground running on Monday.

This weekend I am dog sitting for some friends. They have a wonderful dog Gracie. Not to be confused with my cat Gracie. Gracie, the dog, is a mixed breed. I think she got the best of each. She is such a neat little friend. I am staying with her so she can be in her own home. Besides I am not sure she would enjoy getting to know my Gracie. Also, I have the dogs next door who play in my back yard a lot. I am not sure she would like getting aquainted with them either.

Of course, I am knitting while I am sitting. Althought I already have some socks started, I started another pair. The reason being that today was my day attend the Speaking of Women's Health conference. I wanted something that I could take with me to work on there. The coriolis socks were not a good candidate for this event. So I started a pair for another person on my Sock List.

Getting back to the Speaking of Women's Health conference. If you have not heard of it or have been to one you need to check it out. http://www.speakingofwomenshealth.com/Events/ This the 10th year and I have been to all of them. It is an all day conference for must women's stuff. It is a lot of fun and you come away with arms loaded with goodies. If you are interested in going some day you need to order your ticket early because it is so popular now that it sells out very quickly. I highly recommend it.

Other than the sock I have not knitted much this week. Not sure why but I guess I just was not in the mood. This mood does not usually last very long until I am off and knitting again.

My friend Chelle is into crochet now, have just learned to do a granny square. I am very proud of her for developing this new skill. It can be very helpful even in knitting. I have not crocheted in some time but I may be inclined to so some soon. Who knows.

Here is my card

You are the World

Completion, Good Reward.

The World is the final card of the Major Arcana, and as such represents saturnian energies, time, and completion.

The World card pictures a dancer in a Yoni (sometimes made of laurel leaves). The Yoni symbolizes the great Mother, the cervix through which everything is born, and also the doorway to the next life after death. It is indicative of a complete circle. Everything is finally coming together, successfully and at last. You will get that Ph.D. you've been working for years to complete, graduate at long last, marry after a long engagement, or finish that huge project. This card is not for little ends, but for big ones, important ones, ones that come with well earned cheers and acknowledgements. Your hard work, knowledge, wisdom, patience, etc, will absolutely pay-off; you've done everything right.

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

Not sure but I think it is suome what accurate. Will have to give it some thought.

I am slowly but surly working away on all of my WIPs. The Coriolis sock is coming along. I an not really happy about the heal on this one the I am not frogging it. I will fix it late and it will look just fine. Will do better on the second one. This is my first time doing a short row heel and I did not do a very good job on hiding the wrapped stitches. I know now where I went wrong so that will remedied.

The baby sweater just needs sleeves which I am working on. Maybe I will have time to do them tomorrow. I am not sure now that I have enough yarn to do socks. Will have to see later. I think the sweater will be really cute.

The computer bag has been felted and I need to sew on the strap. I think is going to be a good fit. I want to line it and construct some pocket in the lining. Should be very nice to just throw the computer in and go.

Little by little I am getting used to Ravelry. I am trying to get project loaded that are compete as well as some to go in the queue. It is just fun to look around.

What I have been up to lately

Well, here I am once again trying to get caught up I have not blogged since 9/21 but that does not mean that I have not been knitting. I have a few things in the works that are progressing fairly well. I started this bag for my laptop. I have a rolling bag for it but sometimes I just want to take the laptop and not all of the other stuff. It is ready to felt and I am anxious to see if I got the size correct. Stay tunes for the finished product.



This is a baby sweater that I am using one of my Socks that Rock yarn. I am working on the sleeves so it should be ready soon. The baby is not due until January so I have plenty of time. My cousin and his wife are having a girl so I thought this would be cute.

My most recent start is the coriolis sock, by Cat Bordhi. I have been extremely interested in this pattern. I goes really fast. I started this yesterday and I am ready for the heal already. This is my first toe up sock and I can hardly wait to see how it comes out. It is done with two strands which makes it very cushy. I was thinking of giving for a gift but may need to keep them for myself.

I have been spending some time playing in Ravelry. It is very cool but I have not gotten a lot of my stuff loaded at yet. I think it is going to take some time.