A little shopping excitement.

So... I went out of town for dinner with a good friend last night. I had a couple of free moments so dropped by a gift shop. They had great buttons and I'm ready to be Cool Auntie Knittinchick... Aren't these adorable?

And then I found the motherload of a great Auntie gift... an educational book!

Won't I be popular at an eight year old's birthday party?

30... again!

Today is brought to you by the number ... 60! That's because my Mommie Bargainista is 30 for double luck! So... happy for you Mommie. Remember when you turned 50 and we put a sign on your car and you drove all around your small town of 2200 people+200 dogs that said, "I'm 50 today!" That was fun wasn't it? Good thing you're not going to be mortified today by your loving children. Even though I was a bad daughter and didn't fix your tank top, there is a little package that should be arriving today. Here's a hint... it's good!

Hope it's a great day... if I was there I'd cook for you. On second thought, it might be better that I'm not there.

All a flutter

So... I knit my mom a sweater for her birthday and for Mother's Day. BUT... I didn't do the armholes exactly right for her. This is not good. It's always nice to have both arms sticking out of your sweater. So, I'm supposed to be fixing it right now. However, the thought of fixing something is just not as exciting as starting something new. So, I've started on another sweater instead. How do we spell procrastination? Procrastination, thy name is Flutter Sleeve Cardigan. The good thing is that it has been raining outside (both for my lawn and for the sake of pursuing my procrastination project!) Maybe I should reward myself with a new project if I fix the old one? What will motivate me more?

Klutzy alert!

If you happen to be cycling, running, walking or hanging out in the fabulous provincial park by my place, you might want to keep an eye out for me. I'm the one that is probably sprawled on the path with a bike sitting beside me. I guess doing a sharp turn on the only patch of gravel on the pathways is not the most intelligent move ever. The good news is that when you talk to seven year olds, they can identify with you!

• Anyone have a child who needs to learn to ride a bike? I'm available tonight and would be a good teacher that identifies with their children. I'll also give them good advice about not kneeling too much after your massive wipeout!

Love Letter #4

Dear men- I just want to let you know that I celebrate spring along with you. I am excited about less layers, sunshine, more exercise at least most days and being outside as much as possible. However, please keep your shirts on. I hate to break it to you but it isn't something that I appreciate. My averted eyes are not because I'm impressed-clothing covers up a multitude of sins. If you insist on wearing no shirts while mowing, running, cycling I will be forced to call Stacy and Clinton! Sincerely, Knittinchick

Exciting times for Knittinchick!

So... in an effort to be an eco-conscious, exercisin' (insert: hopeful to tone up some cottage cheese on the upper thighs) and a budget savvy girl (have you seen the price of gas lately?), I rode my bike to work this morning. I know that I'm one of the lucky people who is able to ride a bike to work so I'm going to take advantage of it. BUT... you must be way more organized. Case in point:

• KC has to pick two outfits last night-exercise duds not the hard part and then her dress pants, sweater and underwear that will compliment her curvy body. Do those clothes wrinkle badly? Nope... they can go in the backpack.
• KC makes a pot of coffee first thing in the morning and then realizes that her travel mug of coffee will not be sloshing over her backpack clothes I'm sorry but I do not trust those 'leak proof' lids and holding a travel mug while biking might not be the best.
• KC packs her dinner leftovers (lunch today), essentials from the purse, cell phone, work keys and swipe card into her backpack and is just about out the door when she realizes that she doesn't have dress shoes... runners always wipe out any style statements that your pants should be making.
• KC bikes through a residential neighborhood instead of on the busy street with no shoulder successfully and then finishes off her bike ride across a field that isn't too muddy. She doesn't get enough speed on the final hill and just about eats tumbleweed but rights herself in time!

KC gets to work, changes and worries about her helmet hair. Thankfully she shows up before others so when they get there she can calmly say that she's trying to be as green as possible! Overall a success! We'll try for perfecting the backpack system tonight!

It's a wrap!

So... after a few long days and later nights I finished the Woodland Shawl. It was so fun to focus on a friend struggling for more a few seconds here and there so I wasn't hurting! I came home on Tuesday night after an intense committee meeting re: budgeting and blocked the lace and it looked fabulous. It just goes to show that a beautiful pattern can make the most elementary knitter look great. Let's hear it for generous and gifted designers that post their patterns for free on the internet. Huzzah for Thrifty Knitter!

Just so you don't think that I'm altogether on my way to becoming a saint (I can hear my mother snorting her tea out her nose), I cast one on last night for me... because you know, it would be perfect for summer time dresses to cover up the upper arms. On second thought, maybe that is saintly to not ask people to see those bare white upper arms!

What didn't work!

Shannon is hosting a What doesn't work for me Wednesday. I can get on board with that. Knittinchick's Life Lesson: Do NOT believe all the hype about skin care products. Case in point:

1. Knittinchick is depressed about her January skin and sees a great offer on tv (trust me... this never happens) for Proactiv and remembers several friends talking about how it worked for their teenage sons.
2. KC gets excited and orders the starter kit.
3. Three weeks later it arrives. Success!
4. I will use it before I go to work after reading the instructions. Did I mention that I was working in children's programming at the time? Did I also mention that I was in charge of leading the music and dancing part of the program for 70 hyped up Saturday night grade 4/5 kids?
5. No problems. I use the product all the face to be all cleansed and fresh feeling for all those lovely children hyped up on sugar and Saturday hockey/dance/entertainment venues.
6. During rehearsal I feel rather hot. I take off my sweater (don't worry, there was a tee underneath) and ask everyone if it is hot in there.
7. No... but have you looked in the mirror lately? You don't want to hear this!
8. Upon a rather depressing look in the mirror, I realize that my skin is having a massive allergic reaction to this skin product.
9. By the time the children arrive, I'm fully in the allergic reaction... as in eyes almost swollen shut, troubles talking and massively red bloated skin.... if you want to know how sympathetic a grade 5 boy is... present him with this situation!
10. SO... after leading all the music and dancing, KC goes home to bed with significant antihistamines. My roommate was a nurse and she kept me doped up all night-I had my very own Hitch moment.

Moral of the story: only use stuff on your skin that is for hyper sensitive skin. Don't try new products before an event. And say Thank You to the very kind Proactiv person when they reimburse your fees and apologize that you reacted so badly.

Wrapping up a li'l love

So... I have been hearing other knitters talk about prayer shawls in podcasts and on other places. I decided to start a prayer shawl for a lady who I respect and love who is battling pancreatic cancer. I saw a beautiful lace pattern for a Woodland Shawl in handpainted, soft and beautiful Smooshy yarn (insert: no scratchiness at all!) I decided to just go for it.

In typical Knittinchick fashion, this lace pattern takes a bit of concentration to make the leaves turn out... one is starting while its neighbor is finishing. It is very pretty but is not a traveling project. You have to focus to execute the pattern well. Note to any of you that might be tempted to do this: It is highly recommended that you not take it to a coffee shop when you are talking to people about leaving behind painful pasts and leaving with freedom. It tends to take away some of the sincerity when you announce proudly after someone has poured out their hearts, "Knit five, yarn over...what was that you were saying?" Or while watching a heart pounding mystery or talking to someone on the phone.

While I knit away, I am praying for peace and healing for this friend. My more-curvy-than-normal body, hair that sometimes doesn't work and lack of cooking inspiration really seems small and insignificant compared to what others are facing these days.

Can you hear me?

So... in my work, I deal with people a lot. I meet at Starbucks often (insert caffeine high perk!) to talk to people and use the phone A LOT! Often about confidential matters as well. So lately, I've been having some issues with my work phone. I bring to you the past two weeks of conversation:

• Knittinchick: How are you doing? (normal voice)
• response: I am having problems hearing you!
• KC: Sorry, can you hear me now? (clear voice, a bit louder)
• response: It's a bit better, but it's like you're talking through big static.
• KC: My phone has issues. I'll make it quick. How is your cancer or heart attack or 'health' issues? Can I help you? (now yelling into the phone)
• response: I can hear you now but there is something wrong with your phone.
• KC: I'll email you about the rest of my thoughts. Have a great day (still yelling)

So after two weeks of yelling and rather infuriating frustration with my phone, I insist on the admin who does phone stuff at work replacing my phone. She and another coworker replace the headset but tell me that someone went into my phone and taped over the mouthpiece (as in they took it apart, used up some good quality tape and put it back together).

I'm taking ideas of ways to get back at my coworker. I'd appreciate something that has two weeks of pain for this coworker.

Shopping mall escapades

So... I am a short person. This creates unique situations such as always having a stepstool in your kitchen, wearing heels to look professional (ha, ha... just to be seen) and being the end of funny jokes. But as I was at the shopping mall last night looking for a pair of pants-now that's depressing-looking at the 'junk in the trunk' with the abysmal lighting of change rooms-I was wondering about capris and long shorts. I know that the British What not to Wear girls would say no but what say you? Capris/long shorts?

• Do they work for business casual?
• Will they make me look shorter?
• Where should the capris end? I know that they shouldn't look like flood pants but other than that, I'm at a loss.
• Are they ok if you have curves?
• Should I just avoid and get petite sized skirts for the spring?

I ended up getting a pair of pants on sale at Cleo and being surprised by an additional 25% off at the till so I forgot about my height restrictions until this morning when I started thinking about my spring/summer wardrobe. Hmmm... maybe I should just focus on that additional 25%.

The magnet's forcefield is in action!

So... I seem to attract all sorts of 'interesting' situations to myself on a regular basis. I affectionately refer to it as the magnet in my head that creates fodder for my blog, the voices in my head and sometimes even parties. Case in point: trying to have a phone conversation with the new female Asian student who is supposed to be staying with me as of Saturday.

• She calls me while I'm at a noisy chicks party last Friday night and she could barely hear me because of the laughter in the background.
• I put on my sensitive hat and tell her to email me with her information so we could talk through email.... because you know, the phone is the hardest thing to conquer in a new language.
• She doesn't have phone or email access where she's staying. I tell her "No worries." which promptly causes dead silence as I've used an idiom. I tell her to email on Monday.
• Wednesday rolls around and I haven't heard from her yet. I think that I'll call the hosting agency on Thursday morning to get the email address or some way of confirmation.
• The student calls last night (I cannot get her name because it is so difficult to understand) and is crying, telling me that she has no money and cannot afford to pay for homestay and needs me to call the hosting agency and convince them to be nice to her and even though she can't pay, let her stay at my home.
• I try to calm her down. I tell her to not worry, it will be ok. I tell her that I will call the hosting agency but they will have gone home already. "No, no, they are there."
• She will call me back. I call the hosting agency. They are gone. The receptionist says to reassure the student to not worry. I mention this is when it would be helpful if the student had good English to reassure her without having to explain it three or four times before she gets it... never helpful when you're hyperventilating.
• When the student calls back, I tell her that I'll call the agency in the morning and she responds that she'll call me at 9:00. internal voice: they open @ 9:00... that won't be good.
• "No call me at noon." dead silence "Call me at lunch" dead silence "Call me at 12:00." Bingo-we got a connection. "Do not worry. We will be kind." I think that the hyperventilation has calmed down enough to just be tears.

Wouldn't life be boring if it went the way it was supposed to? Instead of my life being a road map, it's more like a mapquest map of a new neighborhood... totally messed up but rather scenic and a good way of seeing the neighborhood. I don't need an entertainment budget... I have the magnet in my head to attract good times to me!