a plan

Part of my job is covering reception from time to time. Since I can’t do most of my normal work at the front desk, I tend to do a lot of tootling around on the internet. Of course, I still have to answer the phone, do the mail, etc. but still, there’s usually a few minutes where I can look at whatever I want.

Today I looked at the infamous Noro Stripe Scarf and wanted to make it. Wanted, wanted, wanted. My hands itched to knit it. I immediately plotted going to the yarn store and happily plunking down $50ish for supplies. Then a responsible-sounding voice in my head reminded me that I am suppose to be saving money and I don’t get paid until next week. Plus, I have SO MUCH yarn that I bought on impulse, when my hands itched to be knitting, and then never used or worse, started a project and then never finished it.

I do this a lot. It’s shameful, really, it’s wasteful. It takes up so much room when I should be getting rid of stuff. I admire Kristin’s goal of using up her fabric stash this year. I think I could do something similar. So here’s the rules:

1. Only use existing yarn from my stash to knit or crochet projects
2. I can buy notions like buttons or fabric for lining BUT
3. I can’t buy new needles or tools – I have more than enough of those, too
4. I have to frog any half-way finished project that has live stitches and reuse the yarn

I have a few projects, like my family’s Christmas stockings, that aren’t going to count – I have a lot of work to do one those and I know I’m going to need to buy some stuff to finish them. I’m also not going to frog a few scarves and socks I’m verrrrry slowly making for people, I need to finish those badly. I will also need to get some sort of yardage counter since I don’t have ball bands for 99% of my yarn, including a HUGE amount of Alpaca that would make a great sweater or shawl if only I knew how much of it I actually have.

part of my stash - yes, my Nativity is still up - yes, that's Mulder, Scully, a dead alien-human hybrid & Pinkie Pie witnessing the birth of Jesus

I confess, I am a brony or whatever it is ladies are who love, love, love My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

I love cartoons. I always have. I especially love kids cartoons that are smart enough for parents to enjoy as well. I think this is because my mom ran a daycare in our house until I was 17. I had to sit through a lot of kid’s TV as a young adult and I actually appreciated when shows gave me a nod here and there.

So, I love MLP:FiM. It’s smart, it’s funny, it’s something familiar to me. It cheers me up when I’m depressed.To honor it, I’ve invented the best cocktail ever invented on a Sunday in January when you want a drink but haven’t gone shopping in a week because food bores you right now.

THE PINKIE PIE

1 jigger mixed berry Skittle-infused vodka
splash lime juice
splash lemon-lime soda

Mix vodka & lime juice in a cocktail shaker, pour over ice into an old-fashioned glass, finish with a splash of lemon-lime soda.

 

You are welcome.

 

Well, look at that, it’s 2012.

2012.

Wow. So, if you had asked me in 2000 where I thought I’d be in 12 years, I’d probably say acting or writing and definitely married and a mother and super happy and everything would be all sun-shiny and wonderful and little birds would sing me awake every morning.

So here I am now; with two degrees I’m not using, in debt, living in some craptastic apartment, working at a job that is the opposite of what I want. Jack lives far, far away. My cat is clearly annoyed with me. I just dropped $400 on a Buick. A BUICK of all things.

So. Anyways. I have resolutions this year. I don’t feel like sharing this year because they’re really personal. Not some generic resolution that everyone else is going to make, just things that I need to fix for a multitude of reasons. I’m working on them even though they’re annoying and boring and make me wake up at unreasonable hours to do unreasonable things whilst nursing unreasonable hangovers.

I hope everyone had a good Christmas/Hanukkah/Solstice/Yule. This year Jack got me a Kindle. The thing (one of a million) that I love about Jack is that when he gets me something and I become absolutely absorbed in it, he just looks at me with a pleased smile on his face and nods. Oh, it’s fine you’re not listening. You’re happy and that’s all that matters. It’s a lovely sort of freedom. It’s the kind of thing that doesn’t get angry when I spend the next week breezing through The Hunger Games trilogy (holy crap) and several Sookie Stackhouse novels.

 

see ya later, alligator

G’bye 2011. You were . . . awesome?

Okay, I know this sounds bad but I don’t really remember this year too well. I usually don’t remember previous years until that magical week between Christmas and New Year’s when everyone starts running their “best of” lists. Then it all hits me and I’m like “Yeah, 1999 was killer, can’t wait for senior year!” or whatever response is appropriate.

This year I: lost some weight by eating 1000 calories a day (do not recommend); worked out to Richard Simmons (totally recommend); ended a one-sided friendship (so worth it); ate a ton of veggies; learned how to interview people for jobs (turns out I love doing it); realized that your family is composed of the group you’re born into and the group you pick for yourself; obsessed over Downton; yipped and/or yapped; learned how to paint my nails properly (now if I could only stop painting them); realized I’m way more pagan than I thought; saw Dolly Parton in concert (amazing); failed NaNoWriMo (and HOW!!); began blending my and Jack’s lives together; unwittingly bought my nephew the perfect Christmas presents (resulting in a rare triple hug Christmas day); made 10lbs of po-tay-toes and used every last bit of them.

 

 

 

christmas sweater pageant

christmas sweater pageant

my little experiment to wear a Christmas sweater every day until Christmas – check it out!!