This is one of those posts...

One of those "WTF?" posts.

Tonight Dave and I went out tonight with his dad and grandma to a Mexican restaurant. While we there eating dinner, we were approached by a kid (maybe 8 years old) who said he was selling calendars for a "home-school field trip" and we said no thank you. The kids (think there were two or three) were in the restaurant going from table to table for about half an hour. Then they started to leave and the kid's mom sent the one who'd originally asked us BACK to our table. Well...suffice to say that one of the members of our table said something way too harsh and I hope the kid is okay. Looking back, I should have said something, but I was flabbergasted. My point though...

What the F*** is wrong with the parents? Why would you bring your kids into a RESTAURANT where people are trying to enjoy a meal and make them solicit? And what is a "home-school field trip"? I have no issues with home-school, but parents who send their kids to public/private schools have to pay for those field trips. Why are home-school ones any different? I could understand if the kids were going door-to-door a la Girl Scout Cookies or some other fundraiser, but in a restaurant?! And then sending your poor child back to a table that already said no, when it's clear he feels awkward enough? Talk about a woman needing a bitch-slap.

I also can't believe the restaurant allowed it.


Moving on...

-I think I have an ear infection, but benefits don't kick in until December 1

-The VEC sure is quick to send me a "fact-finding statement" letter for returning to work last week but still hasn't paid me for my three weeks of unemployment benefits prior

I started my sister's Christmas present (the 19 year old). It is the Meret, and I'm doing it in dark purple to match her Fetchings. Not too far in despite starting yesterday as I had to un-knit 3 rows cause I failed at reading instructions.



Ready for the weekend. Getting up at 7AM sucks :P


Oh I've also started my parent's quilt. Thus far it's close to 3000 pieces, if not more, and I haven't cut into the dark fabrics yet. All 1.5" x something. Log Cabin block variations. I hope I finish in time.

Finished a few more things!

If I finish a few things, does that mean I can take the weekend off?

Unfortunately no :P

First thing (which I technically finished last):
Only one more vocal part to go! And I really need a haircut.

Second thing (finished last night around midnight because I thought my class was today and it's actually next weekend):


Last thing (which I finished first!):
Dave's mitts. Details at my Ravelry page.

The question is what do I want to do next. I should start cutting fabric for my parent's quilt which has close to 3000 pieces...but I really want to cast on my version of the Snapdragon mitts to match my hat. I also have this urge to bake pumpkin bread. And the urge to play Shadow Hearts: Covenant. DARNIT.

Any suggestions? :P

New job tomorrow!

Thought I'd post while I wait for dinner to finish simmering (crab veggie soup, yum yum!). Didn't get as much done this weekend as I wanted to, but I never do, so I'm going to happy with what I did accomplish!

I finished piecing my Christmas/wintery version of the Thimbleberries blocks. Not quite what I pictured, but that's a good thing. I like it better. It is square and will be more of a lap quilt than a bed quilt, but it's for the couch (will match the Christmas tree decorations).


Almost done with piecing the next round of my Sampler quilt, just working on the pinwheel stars.

I also finished my Snapdragon Tam on Friday night, and I'm going to take pictures of it as soon as I look decent enough not to ruin it :P Shallow? Perhaps. I commenced on finishing up Dave's mitts, but not done with the second one yet. Will be a good small project to take with me tomorrow since I have a two hour break from when work ends and choir starts, which is too long to not do anything and too short to come home and go back.

Oh and the camellia I planted in spring that never bloomed and I thought was dead...it's alive!! And blooming no less! Beautiful white flowers. Love camellias, just wish they weren't so delicate. Still it'll be nice to have one bloom in spring (the pink one) and this one in autumn.


Off to do more getting ready things. Have a wonderful week!

Christmas BOM

Complete! At least the individual blocks.




I also picked up some lovely yarn today, and when I got home, the JoAnn's coupon for 20% off entire purchase was in my mailbox to start tomorrow. Figures.

WHOO HOO

I got a job!!! The one I interviewed for back in September at VCU/MCV that I thought I didn't get cause I hadn't heard from them...I got the call for the job yesterday and I start Monday. EEEEEEEE!! This is such a load off my mind.

That said, it spurred a surprising amount of getting things done :P Maybe cause now I know I don't have everyday to work on it.

I am 60% of the way done with my Snapdragon Tam. Hoping to finish tomorrow or Friday.


Last month's Thimbleberries Christmas version.


November blocks.



December blocks (received in advance along with finishing instructions so we can have the quilt for the holidays)



My goal for tomorrow is to get the Christmas version of those two blocks done, and hopefully get the normal quilt pieced together this weekend. And I don't have pictures, but I did some more canning with my remaining Jonagolds (the skins were starting to get *very* waxy). Got 3 pint jars of Vanilla Apple Butter. There was about 1/3 of a jar leftover so I stuck that in the fridge and Dave and I enjoyed it on toast this evening. After we enjoyed Korean food (celebratory!).

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone. Be safe in all trick-or-treating endeavors.

I went with my mom to Pittsburgh on Thursday. My aunt is at Carnegie Mellon University for grad school and her master's in directing. We saw "Three Days of Rain" directed by her and it was a beautiful show. Very dialogue-heavy and only three actors. I quite enjoyed it. Beautiful place too.





We came back Thursday night/Friday morning since Mom had to be at work; getting in at 5:30AM SUCKED and I was able to fall into bed. She had to get ready. Blech.

My car wouldn't start when I tried to leave to come back to Richmond. Luckily our neighbor's have a truck and let me use that. No idea why the car wouldn't start either, I don't remember leaving the lights on, but that battery was DEAD. I had to wait two or three minutes to have enough of a charge to get it started. Seems to be fine now though.

I finished one of the mitts I'm making at Dave's behest. Have the yarn and needle stuff up on Ravelry. Not very complicated though, pretty much all stockinette stitch with a couple purl rows.


I also started Ysolda's Snapdragon Tam. Details of my work-in-progress here.

I love this pattern, not sure about the yarn yet. It's knitting beautifully and easily, but it's not spun very evenly so I have some very large nearly-unspun areas and some areas with a very high twist. However, it's not bothering me in the grand scheme of things; I still grin as I complete every new row!

We're headed over to Joel's and April's tonight. Our friend, Brian, is moving back to Florida and it's his last weekend here. Trying to decide if I want to sew or knit (though my left forearm is killing me from the knitting I did yesterday).

Accomplishing things....?

I don't know, every time I feel like I get something done, five more things have popped out of the woodwork. Took me way longer to finish pinwheels for the sampler round from Saturday and I still have stars to do. Fortunately I *do* have a month to finish that round.

Finished my normal Thimbleberries blocks for this month (seeing as how that meeting is Sunday), but not the Christmas version.


I may do the Christmas version on Friday when I get back from Pittsburgh, PA.

Yeah, going to Pitt with my mom Thursday morning to see a play my aunt's directing at Carnegie Mellon. Nice break from the job search/sewing/doing not much else. I'm gonna take some knitting with me though. Finish Dave's requested handwarmers perhaps, start on mine.

Found out Holly got accepted to go to Carnegie Hall as well. Yay for having a roomie to help cut costs!

I've started working out again. Trying to do it every morning: today was day 3. Feels like so much more -_- I'm trying to make it more interesting to do by mixing up the various DVDs but really working out just isn't that interesting. But I don't want to be chubby for Carnegie Hall, as shallow as that sounds.

Ugh, am so tired and I don't know why. I worked out, then spent all day sewing. What do I have to be tired about?

Other than the feeling of never being done, life is good! :P