A Northern Yarn

One Day of Pretty

2008-04-17T11:55:00.000-07:00

My folks came for a visit last weekend. Somehow, each time they come up they manage to have a beautiful Saturday. Sundays usually are rainy or are cold. But, Saturdays somehow turn out to be beautiful. Such was the case last weekend. We went to the Bellevue Botanical Gardens- the weather was fantastic, it actually hit about 75 I think. There were only a few clouds in the sky and all the cherry blossoms were out. I have such a hard time picking my favorite time of year. I love the Spring, when everything is starting to bloom, and it is just gorgeous. I love fall too - when all the leaves turn crimson and gold and it starts to get cold and I can bust out the sweaters and boots. But this last Saturday was just plain pretty.

Of course, this week we are back to crappy weather, there is talk of snow this coming Saturday, and I am really wondering where the heck Spring has gotten to?? Don't get me wrong, I love the cloudy, rainy weather here. But I am ready for some sunshine. Some Spring time. I'll be down in Los Angeles and San Francisco in three weeks, so I guess I will have to wait until then!

New posts with pics of the townhouse to come...

It's.....Spring?

2008-03-30T13:35:00.001-07:00

On the drive home last night it started to sleet. Then it turned to big, fat snow flakes. And by the time I got home and changed into comfy clothes this was happening outside:

Um, it is nearly April, right? It was pretty though!!

I've Always Been Too Old For This Shit

2008-02-14T23:47:00.000-08:00

I ventured out tonight, the night of all holy and horrid nights for those of us who are unattached. As NPR coined it "National Singles Awareness Day" a.k.a Valentines Day. I figured what the hell, I'll go out with a few other co-workers who happen to be unattached. So we did. We signed up for a singles mixer and paid our (ridiculous) fee to attend tonight's event at a nice Seattle bar/restaurant. Now, don't get me wrong, these types of events are fine, may even lead to something. However, tonight? Not so much. Tonight four beautiful women walked in and soon realized that we were knee deep in desperate. And not the fun, funky, hip desperate of your twenties, where you could at least count on getting asked out/made out/got laid at the end of the night. Oh no, this was the horrible, jaw dropping, almost (but not quite) humorous desperate of the thirty to forty somethings. The kind where you wonder what the hell you are doing in this room, with all these people, with a half-assed DJ playing semi-decent hits from the 80s, and then want to kick-yourself-for-actually-paying-money-to-attend kind of desperate.

I was talking to a woman who seemed to be in her early forties, and she said she was considering moving because while she had met many very fine women here in Seattle, the men had little to be desired. And, while I am sure this was not exactly a great cross-section of men to base an opinion on, being that it was Valentine's Day for god's sake, still I had to wonder if she didn't have a point. For example: One of the gals bought the first round when we arrived. I then asked everyone if they needed a second round, in front a guy who had been chatting us up for the past 10 minutes. Said guy, turned to my friend after I walked away to place the order and said "Oh, I guess I should have gone to get you all drinks." Um, hello? Yes. You are the man. Pay for the drinks for the women you are trying to chat up. I know, it's not cheap, and maybe you aren't sure if you want to invest in drinks for 2-3 women at once, but for fucks sake, be the man, grow some balls, and at least OFFER to buy them. Or place the order. Or make some sort of gesture that verifies that you produce testosterone. If you see a woman that you have been talking to that is holding a nearly empty glass, realize that perhaps she could use a fresh libation. Think about it. The very least is you waste $8-$10, the most is you liquor her up enough that she may actually want to continue talking to you. Or, *Gasp*, she may even think you are a gentleman and say yes if you ask her out. But when you watch her friend walk away to the bar to get a drink, and you do nothing, then don't be surprised when we move on. I'm sure there is some anthropoligical explanation somewhere about it, but women (and when I say 'women' I mean 'me') want you to take the damn lead and pretend you know more than the 21 year old bartender that I am now ordering my drinks from behind the bar. For Fuck's sake.

Happy National Singles Awareness Day.

Holy Cow- It's Been a While!

2008-02-02T14:23:00.001-08:00

It's been over a month since my last blog posting, life just gets hectic sometimes! I just got back from visiting Payal and family in Hawaii. Wow, what a great place to live! It was lovely and sunny and warm (well, we had a nice debate about that- Payal would get cold and when it hit 68 degrees. Hmmm.... it snowed a few days before I left Seattle, so I think we have different views of 'cold').

I got to spend quality time with her, which is by far more time than we have spent together in the last 10 years. I got a fantastic shot of the girls, who I adore:

And this is the beauty of Oahu:

Maya decided that I had to teach her to knit, so we went out and got her a little starter kit. She would see me knitting and run and get her needles and 'thread' and sit next to me. It was one of the cutest things I have ever seen, and the best part was that she took her knitting in for show and tell to her kindergarten class the day I left. She is such a great kid, I love her with all my heart. Her little sis, Kayla, has a smile that warms your heart, and I was there just in time for her 2nd birthday party, which was all kinds of fun. I miss hearing them coming down the stairs calling "Masi???" (Aunt in Hindi).

Got back to Seattle and had a lovely weekend- went to the Pike Market on Saturday and had one of those rare gorgeous days where there is hardly a cloud in the sky and the water was sparkling. I wished I had my camera with me, but it was sadly at home. Sunday night we had a few inches of snow, which meant I was stuck at home since I couldn't get my car up the driveway. I tried my hardest, but just managed to get about halfway up and then lost traction and started sliding backwards. Let me tell you how much fun that is!! Since I am a So.Cal girl originally, I have NO idea how to drive in snow. And, I have found, not many people here in Seattle are that great at it either. So I got to work from home on Monday, and then it was back to the normal grind as usual this past week.

On the knitting front, for those of you who are keeping track, I am about to start a sweater for Dad. My first full sized sweater, so this should be interesting. I just have to seam the tank top I made for Kayla, then I can mail that to her. Of course, I have about 3 other WIPs on the kneedles, and a dozen other projects that I have waiting in my queue of things I want to make. My next start will be a felted bucket hat. Perhaps I can get that done prior to my parent's visit in a few weeks. It's been so cold lately that I think that will help my mom stay warm. :)

Anyway, I hope to post more often, but that is the latest update!

An Almost White Christmas

2007-12-25T15:37:00.001-08:00

Happy Christmas! Today in Bellevue it snowed, briefly, just enough to give the forest outside our windows a dusting of white.

This is my first Christmas in Washington, and it has been just lovely. Last night I went out to dinner. After we finished, we got out just in time to see the show in downtown Bellevue where they play holiday music, have a light show, and a drum core dressed as toy soldiers comes out and plays to the music. It was like Disneyland, without the scary 8 foot mouse! I then went and saw Atonement, which was fantastic, if a little on the sad side for xmas eve.

Today I am simply staying at home, relaxing by the fireplace, and watching the snow melt. It is a perfect holiday. I'll be doing a little knitting, of course, and some eating, and I will be making a yummy dinner later tonight of chicken with mushrooms, garlic and olive oil accompanied by baby broccoli and creamy polenta. Mmmmm! And I even have a little bubbly that I may bust out!

Happy Holidays!!!

Johnny Bird

2007-10-28T22:32:00.000-07:00

Johnny Bird, my roommate's little 7 year old cockatiel, passed away on Saturday morning. He was a funny, sweet, cantankerous little boy who went unexpectedly, and way before his time. I was lucky to have 10 months with him, and I am so glad that he had gotten to the point that he would let me rub his head and kiss his tummy. He was well loved, and is hopefully up in birdie heaven with my beloved little Boo Bird. I miss you Mr. B!!

Oh, She's Crafty!

2007-10-21T18:40:00.000-07:00

We have a new partner on our team at work, who is expecting pretty much any day now. The team bought her a gift, and I was the lucky one who got to go get it and put it all together. Normally, when you have a group contribution, you can get a pretty big-ticket item. However, the registry listing didn't really have many of those listed, so I went with Plan B, which is my favorite shower gift in the world: A Basket of Never Ending Cuteness.

Exhibit A, before wrapping:

Exhibit B, after wrapping.

So many cute things, so little time!

Today, This Is Happiness

2007-10-21T18:09:00.000-07:00

It is a dreary, raining Sunday. It's getting darker sooner, and it is definitely Autumn. It really is my favorite season. Some people love Summer, with the heat and long days and beaches and barbecues. Not me, I love Fall. You get to pull out all the scarves, hats and coats that have been stuck in the back of the closet. It's cooler out, with a crispness in the air that is so clean that it feels like your lungs are being cleansed with every breath. It hasn't gotten to the point where it is so cold it snows, but you still get to bundle up. Fall is all about the warm clothes, the warm drinks, and all of my favorite colors start showing. Chocolate browns, crimson, golds, burgundy, and dark green. There is a fire in the fireplace every night, and the lights are on low. And, yes, it is knitting season!!

So, tonight, on this dreary, raining Sunday I am happy. Today this is what is making me happy:

It's All About the Memories

2007-10-04T23:08:00.000-07:00

I've not been much in the mood for blogging lately. My grandmother passed away, and while it wasn't unexpected, it still seemed to happen quickly.

There are so many things that I remember about my grandma, so many little parts of me. Swimming in her pool, even when the water was only 65 degrees. No matter what time of year, she would let me go swimming. And we always started my visits with trips to the grocery store. Oh, she used to load me up on Oreos, or Toll House cookies, Chunky soup, and roasted chicken; Mc Donald's was usually a stop, and there was a See's Candy right next to the market and we would usually stop in for a lollypop. More often than not it was Butterscotch.

And she would read to me, Go Dog Go and The Emperor's New Clothes. She would let me color with crayons and pastel chalks, finger paints and acrylic paints. Then there was the whole craft stage in jr high, which was always a trip to Michael's to get supplies. I loved going to her house- because no matter what, I could just be me there. For some reason I recall watching The Monkeys and parts of the Thorn Birds, being scared to sleep when the NightStalker pyscho was loose in Southern California. Polishing her big wood coffee table wih Pledge and watering her plants in the livingroom. Playing with my barbies.

I remember she had a whole box of the same color of lipstick. I don't remember if she was trying to sell them, or if she just liked the color so much that when they discontinued it she bought a whole box. She had this weird stationary bike that I would ride every so often. It made a strange whhhooooshing sound when you got it going.

She loved to talk to people, especially the last few years of her life. She would talk to anyone, as long as they talked back. And she loved to learn. She gave me my very first journal to write in when I was 11. I wrote in it every day, and then came the stories, the teen-angst poems, the teen introspection. She encouraged it all. She always felt bad that she didn't have much money, but it never mattered to me cuz she always had a smile and laugh and hug.

She was a wonderful grandmother, and I miss her. RIP Doris Oseplan, I hope you are looking down on all of us with those big blue eyes and that happy laugh!

Ruffles

2007-08-31T15:22:00.000-07:00

Short post- here is what I am working on at the moment. It's the front of the tank for Miss Maya, whose favorite color right now is purple. I am hoping with the long weekend that I can get the other half done and start on the matching one for Miss Kayla, her little sis.

Sweaters, Oh My!

2007-08-17T13:00:00.001-07:00

I have completed two very cute little sweaters. The first one, I added a little pocket and the flower buttons. It was originally supposed to be a baby sweater, but I think the pattern was off. Once I completed it, I took it to a store and compared it in size to other shirts/sweaters in the kids section, and it’s about a size 2T. So much for a baby sized sweater! Since no one I know has a kid who fits in that size, I have let the shop use it as a display in the window until I can find someone to give it to.

In the meantime, I played around a bit and created this little number. I’m not going to put on buttons, but I do want to add some embellishments, maybe embroidery or something cute to spice it up a bit. It’s the smallest little thing I have done, and darn right adorable. It may actually be too small for a newborn, but if that’s the case it will make a great sweater for a teddy bear. It’s a win-win. I am sure the cute couple who I have in mind for this will love it either way. They are due in about 3 weeks, so I have to finish it this weekend and get a little box to put it in.

My next project is a raglan sweater that has embroidered detailing. We’ll see what size it comes out. And, I need to make something for my friend Payal’s two girls. Maya just started kindergarten (Holy cow how did that happen? I remember holding her when she was only two days old!) and little Kayla is about 18 months. Since they live in Hawaii, I can’t very well make them sweaters. But, I can make them skirts. My next mission is to find a cute pattern and get knitting!

One Green Globe Newletter

2007-07-31T08:36:00.000-07:00

I have a little plug for my friend Marie's business- if you are interested in Green efforts, please sign up for her FREE newletter here : http://onegreenglobe.com/news/category/the-green-page-enews/. Feel free to pass the link on as well.

Coming Up for Air!

2007-07-26T11:35:00.000-07:00

Hello! Contrary to what you may believe based on my recent blog activity, I have NOT fallen off the face of the earth. I fell into a crack, but not completely off! I have been quite the busy bee lately- between gearing up in the new job which is amazing and stressful and caffeine filled, and trying to have some sort of personal life, my old car dying a slow death, getting a new car (meet Lulu, pic below), and trying to be supportive of my family from a trillion miles away while my grandma deals with brain tumors... well, let's just say that blogging sorta fell down on my to-do list. As did knitting. As did emailing people back, let alone calling...

So, with that. Here are some updates.

1) The new job - Working at Starbucks in their corporate office is quite amazing. I have never worked at such an upbeat, hard working, fun-loving company. I have had the opportunity to do many coffee and tea tastings, make my own personal versions of what is sold in the stores (mmmm... caramel macchiato....), shake hands with the CEO, and yesterday I got to listen to Michelle Obama speak to the company. Yeah, I work at one of the best companies in the US. And I actually mean it!

2) Meet Lulu, my new little car.

Ok, so this is not MY exact car, but it's the same model and color, so you get the idea. The evil VW Jetta all but stuck it's tongue out at me after finding out I had plans to trade it in. So, rather than having a little dignity and grace, it decided to leak the entire contents of it it's engine coolant all over the place. That was a fun $700 repair just so I could then turn around and trade the darn thing in two days later. But, little Lulu here is a great car, and I am happy to have her! And, she is RED. Whoohooo!

3) Grandma - for those of you that I haven't told, we found out a few weeks ago that she has 2 tumors in her brain. She goes in and out of lucidity, and she is currently in a hospice unit. My poor parents are about to lose it, and I can't even talk about it. My grandma is very special to me, and I am so very sad that this is going on. So, please send good thoughts/vibes/prayers her way. It isn't something that is going to get better, but hopefully it won't be something that drags out and causes her pain.

4) Knitting - I am trying to do a cardigan for my downstairs neighbors who are expecting a little girl in Sept. I think I may have to scrap it and start new because the pattern I have, while easy (moss stitch) is not working out for me. So, I have printed a new pattern, will try it using the same yarn, and hope for the best. If that doesn't work, they will be getting a pair of booties and maybe a hat instead! I have about 4 other projects that I have started and are on hold, and once I have completed them I will post pics here.

5) Books - I met a lovely gal via email, and we are going to start a book group together. I am very excited at this prospect as I have not been able to find a group I really liked since I was in San Francisco. Not sure if it's going to be just a book group, or possibly what I am calling a 'cook & book' group. It will start sometime in the fall and I am just putting together the guidelines and thinking about where to post it. And, of course, I just stayed up until 2am last night finishing the last Harry Potter book. Wow. I am amazed at how well the story wrapped up, and greatly bummed that there will be no further Harry stories to come. What will the world do without more Harry Potter? I woke up thinking about the story and the characters, and not many books can make me do that. J.K. Rowling, you are phenomenal. Thank you from the bottom of my fantasy-loving heart.

That's it for now friends! Hopefully I'll get back on the blogging bandwagon and have more frequent updates.

Happy Happy

2007-07-05T14:56:00.000-07:00

I have survived my first two full days on the new job. The universe aligned itself perfectly for me to start at this exact time- new boss is on vacation for the week, 4th of July fell right in the middle of the week, thus allowing me a 4 day work week, and Mother Nature here in Seattle got a little confused and apparently thinks that we are actually somewhere closer to the equator because it is HOT and crystal clear outside.

My new job had a little pre-requisite reading. Since I am now a Starbucks Partner (read: Employee), I read the Chairman's book called “Pour Your Heart Into It”. I was reading this book last week, and kept coming across some very interesting tidbits that made me say to myself “If this is even remotely true about the company, I am going to LOVE working there!”. Now, I’ve only been here 2.5 days, but my experience thus far has been incredible. I mean it. I feel like I am back in the heyday of the internet boom when I was at Netscape- the people here are super nice, they are all very social, and there is nary a bad vibe to be felt. I have been introduced to a great many people (many whose names I will not recall 10 mins after I meet them, but that is expected when you are new), and I am scheduled to meet with at least 10 other people in the dept. The office décor is wonderful- very artsy, and there is so much natural day light that I don’t even feel remotely sad that I have an inside cube. I received my official badge today and my ‘partner card’ which is the most important thing to have- that is how I get my discount!!

I have also learned how to use the happy espresso machines that are in the break rooms, and OH. MY. GOD. I have full access to every flavored syrup, including my fav- the caramel sauce used for caramel macchiatos- all the teas, and much more. I made a lovely latte this morning, and am happily bouncing around after the double shot of espresso that I added to it. I am sure the novelty will wear off at some point, and I will go back to drinking my normal Americano, but for now, I am trying it all. I may even have a mocha tomorrow, with some peppermint syrup added. Or maybe Hazelnut. Or….hmmmmm….. maybe I will COMBINE some and create an altogether new drink. You just never know.

In other news- I showed Daisy, my pot-bellied baby dragon, to Shannon at Cultured Purls, and she liked it so much that she is thinking of having me do a class on it! How cool is that?? So at some point in August I may very well be leading others down the path of hatching their very own baby dragons. I’m working on a second one which has a metallic yarn for the tummy, spines and wings, and once I am done I will post more pics. I think this one will be a male dragon. Maybe he will be called Jake.

Oh, and in other news, I will soon be the proud owner of a Macbook- I am so excited I can hardly wait for it to arrive. I want to play with all the fun stuff that comes with it, and finally synch all my iTunes in one place. And, the absolute best thing about it is the little webcam that is built right in that allows you to video chat with people. And since Payal and her family use this all the time I will be able to see them while we talk- this will help the girls not forget what their Erica Masi looks like. And I will try to figure out how I can get others to jump on that bandwagon too- It will be just like the Jetsons- The future is now folks!

Is it christmas, already?

2007-06-27T13:55:00.000-07:00

I received two very happy surprise presents the other day.

1. Yarn. From Peru. Lots of it.

My friend Astra went to Peru and as a thank you for looking after her kitty, Pico, she brought all that back for me. There is baby alpaca in there, very soft, and some of what they call "Maybe Alpaca" as they are not sure if it's alpaca or man-made. And she talked a woman into selling her two spindles, so I could see how they spin the yarn. So very cool. So, I have yarn for days and days and days and days..... And the tote bag is awesome too!

2. Then, after picking up my new addition to my stash, I got home and found this waiting for me:

It had a lovely note from my new boss welcoming me to the team and to the company. How nice is that?? I love this company already and I haven't even started!!

I'm So Cute!

2007-06-24T19:04:00.001-07:00

I’ve been quite the busy bee lately with the knitting. I figure I should get in as much knitting as I can in the next week, before I start my new job. I have the feeling I'll be busy and exhausted for the next few weeks and won't have much time or energy to tackle much more than a garter knit scarf, if I'm lucky. As a result, I have made my very first stuffed animal- a tiny little baby dragon. Her cuteness just makes me giggle. The places where I read the pattern incorrectly, made a small little mistake, or tried something new, all those little imperfections are exactly what make her so darned adorable.

She still needs teeth, possibly eyelashes, and a name. I got this pattern from Knitty.com and if you'd like it too you'll find it here.

First Day of Summer- A Comparison

2007-06-21T09:08:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the first day of summer everyone! This time last year I was in the midst of what LA likes to call the "June Glooms", where it is overcast and weird in the morning, and around noon or so, it melts away and is sunny and beautiful, and usually warm.

This year, I have come to learn that Seattle weather is a bit different. As shown by the comparison below:

Yup, we are in for some rain showers, possible sun breaks (that's what they call them here, sun breaks. However, I don't think it is like a coffee break, you can't run for the door when you see one coming!) and general blahness. And, true to form, I love it. I love that I am not sweating by 11am. We had a beautifully sunny and clear day yesterday, and today, not so much.

Also, today is the longest day of the year, and the sun actually doesn't go down here until about 10pm or so. It is something that takes a little adjusting, I must admit. By the time my body feels like it is time to go to sleep, it is about midnight. But damn, it's so nice having at least 4 hours after work where I still get to see daylight. Not so great on the shortest day of the year, where the sun is setting at 4pm, but that is another post entirely.

And, just to add to the crazy which is where I live, last weekend was the Fremont Summer Solstice Parade and Pageant. This is the an event to help people in need, and all donations go to a good cause. You may well be asking "Erica, what is so crazy about that? That sounds like a great thing!" and indeed it is. However, what you don't know is this- people strip down to nothing, paint their bodies, and ride bicycles in the parade. Seriously. I have to laugh, because my friend Lisa sent me an email before I moved here, that was a slide show of people painted riding bicycles. When I asked her where they were, she said Seattle! I knew I would be right at home.... Not that you will see me participating, but just the idea that people are so nutty makes me laugh. Sadly, I missed the parade this year, but I am for sure going next year. I never made it to Bay to Breakers in SF, and I think this has the same feel, minus the long distance run/walk.

Enjoy the first day of summer, where ever you may be!

Caffeine Highs and Employment

2007-06-13T15:27:00.000-07:00

I finally landed a gig- at Starbucks (corporate)! It's a support position, working with one of the VPs there, and I have no idea of what the group actually does, because, hey, I get a pound of free coffee a week plus all the coffee I can consume in the break rooms, and who cares what you have to do when you have that much caffeine in your system! All I heard when I talked to the recruiter was "You'll be suporting...blahblahblah...in the blabblahblah group....which does blahblahblah....oh, and you get free coffee." (Um, just kidding. Sorta.)

Yay for the full time, permanent, coffee perk-filled job!! Whoohooo! I am officially now part of the Seattle area, having worked at both Microsoft (aka Ginormo Software Co) and now Starbucks. I think I'll shoot for either REI or Amazon next!

The Poncho Lives

2007-06-11T11:59:00.001-07:00

Diane finally got Delaney to wear the poncho I made her. So cute. She still doesn't love it, but I am happy that she finally wore it long enough for Diane to get a picture of her in it. Yay!

The Police, a Baby Blanket, and a Birthday

2007-06-07T09:57:00.001-07:00

Hmmm.... sounds like the begining of a twisted hollywood movie! Nope, just that it is officially my 35th birthday today, I saw the Police in concert last night, and I have pics of the baby blanket.

The concert absolutely rocked last night. Not to date myself too much, but they were RAD! Sting is so great live, and he is the only man I know that just gets better with age. Thank you again to Matt for giving me one of the best b-day gifts I have received in a long time.

And, as promised, here are pictures of the baby blanket I made. I put in the little hat and made it look pretty. I can't wait for my co-worker to get them. I can't believe I actually made this!!

It's My Birthday Week!

2007-06-04T12:44:00.000-07:00

Well, technically, it's my birthday month, but hey, who's counting? On the 7th I am turning 35, a major milestone. While I am not doing anything fancy like going to Vegas (ahhh, fond memories of my 30th), or getting rip roaring smashed (ahhh, again, fond memories of my surprise dinner party for my 30th!), I will be having a fabulous brunch at Salty's, a Seattle institution known for their amazing views of water and city skyline, as well as seafood and steaks. For all of you who can't join me, I'll be raising my glass of Champagne this Saturday in a toast, to myself! Not sure what I am going to do after the massive intake of sustenance, but most likely will involve much walking and exploring. I’ll have pictures to post, I’m sure.

More posts to follow of :

· The fantastically beautiful baby blanket that I FINALLY finished for a co-worker
· My Ballard Locks exploration photos and stories
· General hoo-ha and falderal.

In the meantime, here is a great picture of yours truly- from about 34 years ago. Yes, I looked like a big-eyed alien.... but darn I was cute!!

De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da

2007-05-23T12:19:00.000-07:00

I am going to see the POLICE in concert on June 6th!!! YAY! Thanks Matt, you seriously ROCK! I can't even tell ya'll how excited I am for this.... :)

Happy May!

2007-05-22T14:26:00.001-07:00

May so far has been pretty uneventful- except for the surprise visit I paid my Mom for Mother’s day weekend. She nearly ran over the curb pulling into the drive way. Little did she know that Dad and I were in cahoots ( I love that word, and even more so when I actually get to use it in a sentence!) to have me come that weekend. We had a lovely time, Mom took the day off to tool around town with me. She purchased an amazing new Persian rug for the entry way in the house. It’s amazing. It’s beautiful. She blames me for her spending the money. Hey! Don’t shoot the yay-sayer!

The rest of the visit was great- I got to see my friend Tamar, who I haven’t seen since I moved to Seattle. Her garden is amazing- she has done a tremendous amount of work and has the prettiest lettuce already growing. I can’t wait for her to send me pictures when everything is in full bloom. She has so many fruit and veggie plants, it will be a cornucopia when all is said and done. I took a picture of her lettuce, specifically to put up here, but unfortunately, it was better in person, and thus deleted from my camera. I’m thinking of maybe going back to LA in August (hello heat, yuck!) for a fiber and bead festival, so maybe I can get some better pictures by then.

I also got to see Payal and her two girls. I got to help with the Kayla's bath portion of the visit and got this great shot. I love her little smile. I miss them terribly but can’t wait to visit them in Hawaii as well! Aloha! (Hi Payal, miss you!)

I finished knitting the baby blanket I have been working on for the past 2 months. Yay! I just need to put the satin edging on, with the help of a friend who has a sewing machine. It is beautiful. It’s soft and snuggly. Pictures to follow once it’s done… and also working on making a stuffed dragon, cuz, you know, I'm like that. I'm doing it in a brick red color for the body, and a lime green for the tummy and spines. I hope mine comes out as well as the picture!

Oh! And I nearly forgot- I went out to dinner with my new found friend Matt, and we got to talking about an oil painting he purchased for $25 at the local thrift store down the street from his apartment. He did some research, and lo and behold, that painting is worth $4000!! Holy crap! I actually know a real life person who could go to the Antiques Roadshow and have that stunned and shocked look on his face when the auction house person tells him he did good on a $25 investment!! Whoohooo! That is QUITE exciting. (yes, hi, I am 90-trillion years old, such things excite me).

And, lastly, my birthday is in two weeks. The big 35. Don’t know what my plans are, as it’s a Thursday, but I will be celebrating somehow. Eventually this year I would like to do a spa/wine tasting trip to Napa, where I can see all my friends and do the wine thing. But, alas, that dream is for when I am earning more money than my current contract position at Ginormo Software Company is willing to pay. Keep your fingers crossed that something comes along so I can have some fun!

Sockcess

2007-05-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

They are DONE!! The second one was pretty much as painful in the gusset as the first, but with a co-worker's help (thanks Astra!), I have completed my second sock. Sparky now has a mate, Lulu. Sparky and Lulu McSockerson are done and happily ensconced on my feet!!

Cutest Baby Hat!

2007-05-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

I made it. Cuteness goes without saying....

This is for a co-worker who is expecting in June. Hopefully I'll be able to get a shot of said baby wearing said hat. If not, take my word for it, it's adorable!

Gargeese, Socks, Green and More

2007-04-24T13:50:00.000-07:00

I finally finished the sock from hell, who I have now re-named Sparky McSockerson. Yes, Sparky is done, and I have to say, once I got past that darned heel part I really enjoyed making it. Here is a pic of Sparky, looking oh-so-fine on my foot. Watch out, socks may actually be the new scarf, and friends and family may be receiving said items for the holidays this year after all.

On a new note, today I got to work at Ginormo Software Inc and there was something making a terrible honking sound. When I determined that it was coming from the roof area, I saw this:

Upon further movement towards the entrance I then noticed that my building now had Gargeese.

Yup, Gothic churches have Gargoyles, Ginormo Software Inc has Gargeese. Heh.

I am also officially helping out my friend’s company, Greenlifepixels. If you or your friends/family/co-workers are part of the Green movement, please go to this site. It’s cool. It’s got a newsletter (Edited by Moi!). And hey, if you’re reading this, you have time to surf the web a bit, so go there! (Did I mention I am the editor of the eNewsletter?)

And, since I am having so much fun plugging things, let me plug my newly set up storefront, www.twitterpated.etsy.com, where I will be selling some of my hand-made items. It's a bit bare at the moment, but perhaps I shall sit down tonight and make it really pretty. So much yarn, not enough time....

Sock Love/Hate

2007-04-17T15:56:00.000-07:00

I started a new class at the yarn shop three weeks ago. I was eager, and happy, and all fluffy around the edges to work on something other than a scarf. So, I pick out my yarn, a lovely Neapolitan ice cream colored sock yarn that I had been eyeing since I started working at the store. One ball is enough to make two socks.

Week 1- The first class goes swimmingly. I am in love with socks. Socks are my friend. Socks are the new scarf. Everyone gets socks for Christmas!

Week 2- Socks are still pretty rockin’. Having a bit of trouble. But hey, it’s my first sock, so a little trouble is ok. I’ll be fine once I figure out what I am doing. Tra-la-la.

Week 3- I HATE socks. Socks have turned against me, I am boycotting the sock. Stupid sock. Who does it think it is? It’s not the new scarf, it doesn’t even compare to the scarf. Scarves are my friend. Socks just sit there and jeer at me, scorning my non-sock making abilities. I thought maybe I could channel my great-grandmother, who rumor has it could make a set of argyle socks in a day! Argyle! No such luck. Instead, my sock is just sitting here at my desk looking oh so cute, but unfinished, and I have ripped out half of it twice now because I can NOT figure out what I am doing wrong. Luckily, I have class tonight. We are supposed to have finished the body of the foot, and get to the toe tonight, but I think I will be sitting in the dark corner of class frantically ripping out again to see if maybe the third time is the charm.

Spring has Sprung!

2007-03-27T13:08:00.000-07:00

It is officially Spring here in the Pacific Northwest, although you wouldn’t know it today since it is overcast, drizzly and altogether dreary. The perfect day to be at home with a nice roaring fire, a cup of tea, and a good book (or in my case, knitting needles clacking away!). I had a good friend come to town at the last minute and we had a fabulous day at the Arboretum. We couldn’t have asked for better weather- it was sunny (yup, you read that correctly) and not too chilly. All the cherry blossom trees were in full bloom, as well as some magnolias and a bunch of other stuff that I don’t know the name of. It was gorgeous. We walked around for about 2 hours, and of course I took about eleventy-eight billion pictures of everything. I had completely forgotten to bring my tripod, which bummed me out, but I still managed to get a few good shots.

We then headed to get some lunch in the Madison Park area. It’s a very cute little neighborhood with amazingly beautiful homes. And you can actually walk down to Lake Washington and just enjoy the view, whhich is exactly what we did. We were visited by two very inquisitive, and brave, ducks. They literally came to within about 7 inches of us. It was amazing. Clearly, they were thinking we had food for them. Too bad they couldn’t read the big sign that said “Please don’t feed the ducks” or they wouldn’t have bothered. But it was cool to see them in their little ducky glory waddling around. Of course, I wanted to kiss their tummies, but I don’t think they would have let me.

And, just to make sure all you folks out there in the blogosphere know, there are some CRAZY people here. There was a man who went swimming in the lake wearing only a swim cap and his speedo. I was cold, and I was bundled up in my jacket and scarf. He was simply insane!

***********************

In other news, I think I am about to become the official photographer for my friend’s newsletter. She is launching a Green company and since I love taking pictures anyway, it’s a good deal. As she said, I won’t get Green paper, but I will get recognition for the shots. So I am happy with that.

Ant Thoughts

2007-03-08T11:28:00.000-08:00

You know those times when your brain is so overloaded, and you are so frazzled, that you start out to go somewhere and within .003 seconds you completely forget where you were going and why? I was walking down the hall at work the other day at Ginormo Software Co, Inc. watching someone walking in front of me. The person stopped mid stride and stood there for a second. Then started up again. And, being at Ginormo Software Co, Inc. I had an odd thought- Do ants forget where they are going and why? I mean, if you looked at my work location from space we would all look like little ants on the surface of the planet. Much like how we look down at ants carrying on their daily duties and things. But do they do it too? Say John Ant, busily heading out to find food, or water, or whatever ants are so busy doing, suddenly stops and has to stretch his antennae a bit to recall just what he was doing. Or do they always know what they are doing and why? Cuz if they do, then I think they may just be higher on the food chain than we think.

Fuzzy Catepillar

2007-03-07T09:05:00.000-08:00

I am sure you are expecting to find a picture here of a multi-legged little insect. Nope. Sorry. It's the latest addition to my scarf collection!

My First Ferry Ride

2007-03-05T11:07:00.000-08:00

I went on my very first ferry ride on Sunday. I took the ferry to Bainbridge Island, where Patricia and I then drove to Poulsbo, a quaint little Nordic town. The weather was great- it wasn’t blue skies, but it wasn’t raining and it got to be about 50-55 degrees, so it was warm (by Pacific NW standards, that is). The ferry ride took about 30 minutes to cross the sound, and then we drove another 15 minutes to get to Poulsbo.

We started out with lunch at JJ’s Fish, where we had the best Halibut fish and chips. Mmmmmmm. I ordered a Pyramid Hefeweizen, and actually drank 3/4s of it! I’m not sure where this new found appreciation of beer is coming from (I had a whole pint of Guinness last week), maybe I’m just a slow learner. Or, maybe it just seems like the thing to drink here. Who knows. Either way, it was very nice with the fish and chips.

We then browsed around the town, all the little boutiques and antique shops.

By the end of the day we just sat at a little park overlooking the water and watched the herons and seagulls and ducks. The view was amazing. I still can’t believe I am living in such a beautiful place.

Later in the evening we had dinner with a mutual friend who was in town on business ( Hi Harry!). We got home around 10:30 to find our neighbor’s dog greeting us at the steps. Since I haven’t formally met said pupster, I was a little concerned cuz I think she may be a pit bull mix. But she was super sweet, and just wanted to get some love. I knocked on their door but didn’t get any answer, so we brought the dog up to our place and left a note on their door letting them know where their dog was. She came inside and started sniffing and exploring, as dogs tend to do. Then she decided she wanted to play, so I chased her around a little and gave her some ear rubs. Finally, I brought her into my room and shut the door so she would calm down a bit. She snuffled at the door for a few minutes, then jumped right into bed with me. Such a love bug. She was a little restless for a while, but finally calmed down and curled up next to me and proceeded to warm my bed like an electric blanket on high power. I have never met a dog who throws off so much heat! Holy cow.

At about 2:30am, she started to bark a little, and then I heard a knock at the front door. The owner was there, very apologetic. She had no idea how her dog had got out, maybe when her boyfriend went out side the dog had slipped out and he hadn't seen her. She hadn’t heard me knocking on the door, and must have been very freaked out to wake up in the middle of the night to find that her pup was not there. They were very lucky that she stayed close to home and didn’t run off. I was happy that they were reunited, and I have officially gained a little more good karma in my karma piggy bank. Of course, I’m a little tired from not getting much sleep last night, but very happy that I could have a warm, fuzzy pupper keeping me company last night. Hmmm…. I seem to have the animal aura that my parents have- which is not a bad thing. Just not so much fun at 2:30 in the morning!

Super Cute Poncho

2007-02-22T18:55:00.000-08:00

I made Delaney, 2 year old daughter of Joe and Diane, a cute poncho. Diane loves it. Delaney hates it. Unfortunately, Diane can't get Delaney to wear it, or go near it. I don't know if it has bad poncho mojo, or if it's just a 2 year old's prerogative. I'd love a shot of her in it, but this will have to suffice for now. This was my very first poncho, and I adore it. Had I made it a little bigger I would wear it myself. I'm making my next one for my friend Keri's daughter, Kyra, who is 4. Hers will be pink with pink eyelash borders. So cute. I wish I was four again.

A Few Odds and Ends

2007-02-07T18:36:00.000-08:00

I discovered a cool new way to hang the handmade scarves that I create. Not only is it practical, but it’s pretty too!!

I used an over the door towel hanger. I'm sure they make really pretty, fancy ones but this was a la Tarjay and it works just fine. Too bad they haven't invented touch-o-vision yet, cuz the best part about all of these is how they feel!

*******************************************

I went walking around the neighborhood the other day. There are a bunch of paved little trails that go all around the area. So I went exploring. The best part is that the park area is behind a strip mall. You sure don't see that in LA! So here is the entrance to the park area:

It was beautiful when it was all covered in snow. Now it's merely pretty.

I started on the trail and came across this:

Now, if that isn't a sign that I am on the right path, I don't know what is. Seriously, this was just on the ground as I started on the trail. (For those of you that don't know, I collect dragons).

Next I saw this and just thought it was gorgeous. There were only a few spots left at 4pm that still had frost on them.

This was a shot that I got, just as the sun was going down and the light was hitting the Cascades. I wish I had a better camera cuz this shot did not do it justice.

And, just so you all know, this was my view walking back up the hill to the apt. It was clear and beautiful, and the sky was actually that blue. I am a very lucky person to be living here.

Something New to Knit

2007-02-01T13:58:00.000-08:00

Guess what I made?? Betcha can't! Give it a try... give up? Ok, well, I made......a SCARF!! Surprise. But, this particular scarf involves an actual pattern. I did more than just garter stitch. It took me 5 starts, and 5 frogging of said scarf, before I actually got the hang of it. Here it is in all it's beautiful glory:

I used Nashua "Creative Focus Chunky" which is 75% Wool and 25% Alpaca. I weaved in some silk embroidery ribbon for a little extra umph. It's super warm, super soft, and would make an excellent throw blanket. If I had about $120 which is what it would take to make it with this yarn. Hence the scarf!

The best part is that I was following a pattern, but when I talked to Shannon at the shop to help me with a mistake, I realized that I was actually adding in a stitch. Originally it was supposed to be K1, YO, K2Tog. However, what I was actually doing was K1, YO, K1, K2Tog. Funny how mistakes in knitting turn into 'design elements'.

My next project may be a cabled hat - I will learn two new skills, hat making and cabling. Two things I am very much looking forward to doing.

A Few Things I Have Learned So Far

2007-01-23T23:23:00.000-08:00

Having never lived in any other state than California, I am finding that I have a lot of things to learn about Washington and the area where I am living. They aren’t major things, but little tiny things. For example:

*None of the streets make sense – There is NW this street and SE that Avenue. And then they have the audacity to change names without you being any the wiser. What? Where is my familiar grid?

*The DMV experience does not always have to be painful. No! I am serious, I know you are probably laughing sardonically, but it’s true! I had the nicest DMV experience ever when I went to get my Washington State Drivers License. I only had to waited a half hour in a well-lit, clean, prolifically seated room, while a very nice bell would serenely ring followed by a very nice woman’s voice that would announce “Number 237 is now being served at counter number 4.” And then, this is the kicker, the person who helped me was not only efficient, but actually asked me questions. Like if I had ever lived here before. When I told him I had just moved from CA he then started telling me about his sister who just moved to Santa Ana, CA. We had a lovely conversation, and I was then given my paperwork and sent to get my picture taken. The gentleman who did the picture was nice, he smiled, and he told me to wait about two minutes until my temporary license was issued. At which point, having spent about 30 seconds, he then called me over and handed me my very first Washington State Drivers License.

*Before I ever visited this area I always thought that when people said you can find a Starbucks on every corner that it was exaggeration. Um, no, not really. It’s actually very modest in fact. Yesterday when I was at a strip mall (granted, a large one, but still) there were actually TWO Starbucks in the same strip mall. Two. Separate. Starbucks. OMG. I am not sure whether to be really scared by that fact or really excited that I can get a hot beverage pretty much anywhere I go. Twice if I so wished.

Those not interested in knitting, skip this next one

*Knitting is fun. I am trying a new pattern that I actually have to pay attention to when I work it. And as most of you know, I swear I have adult on-set ADD. That is why I love scarves, using just knit stitch. I don’t have to really pay attention; I can multitask by watching TV or talking to someone. But this new pattern is driving me nutty. I have so far gotten about 20 rows done only to make a mistake and have to rip the whole darned thing out cuz I can’t figure out how to fix it. I am going to have to bring it in to the shop to see what they say. I may as well gain as much knowledge as I can while I am there.

**************

I came across two quotes last night that made me laugh and also made me think that maybe I am not seeing things through rose colored glasses as I was beginning to wonder. I was reading a guide book to Seattle and came across the following two items (quoted from Seattle Survival Guide, 4th Edition, by Eric Lucas).

“…Seattle’s Famous Automotive Courtesy is both real and baffling to outsiders. Cultural anthropologists believe it may derive from the courteous , orderly ethos brought by the area’s early Scandinavian settlers; wherever it came from, it is definitely not OK to honk your horn in an unseemly fashion, if at all, and cutting in line is also not OK. But stopping to let people into a line gets you brownie points…Courtesy is the story on city streets. On the freeways just about anything goes – or stops, depending on traffic and weather conditions.”

And, under the heading “How Many Animals Can I Have?”

“Inside Seattle proper, however, the limit for a single-family home is three small animals, including pot-bellied pigs. Chickens do not count against that limit, so a person can have up to three chickens along with his or her other pets. Whether roosters are included in the mix depends how tolerant your neighbors are about crowing at the crack of dawn.”

So the people here are friendly, the DMV is not Dante's 4th circle of hell, and I can get a dog, a cat, a pot-bellied pig, and have 3 chickens as well. What more could a girl want?

Scenery

2007-01-16T12:56:00.000-08:00

This is what my commute home looked like yesterday:

And this is the view from the balcony today:

Happiness

2007-01-15T15:53:00.000-08:00

This is the time in my life that I should be the most stressed because holy shit, I have no income! Holy crap my benefits are gone as of February! What the hell was I thinking moving two whole states away from everyone I know and love??

But then, for the first time in so long, I feel happy. It is a happiness that goes all the way down to my toes. I look out the window and see snow and ice; bare branches and green, green trees. To have quiet outside the door and windows, not helicopters and noise from cars and radios and TVs. To see birds. Not just pigeons, starlings and sparrows, but hawks and geese and ducks, and a whole slew of other kinds of birds that I can't name. I'm so excited to have walking trails that I can walk on right from my front door. This is ridiculous, but I feel like I should be saying "Where have you been all my life?".

I have a real sanctuary. The best part is that I don't even have to drive to get there. I think I’d been looking for this for so long that I forgot what exactly it even was. I love it here, and I have the feeling things are about to change...for the better. I can't wait!

Heaven

2007-01-15T09:43:00.000-08:00

Yarn heaven, that is. I was finally able to get out of the apartment and started my part time job at Cultured Purls. So much fun! I spent the day looking at all kinds of fabulous yarns, helping customers, and realizing how much I do not know about knitting! Holy Cow! So much to learn! I can't wait to take a few classes and really get my teeth into some new projects. I'm currently working on a very pretty scarf (yes, another scarf. Hey, when that is all you know how to do it works!) that is made of mohair and soy wool. It's gorgeous. And warm, which is a good thing as they are forecasting yet another 3-6 inches of snow for tomorrow morning. Which means I will be home bound for at least one more day. Not that I mind, it's so beautiful. It's supposed to warm up to the low 40s by Wed/Thurs, so hopefully it will not turn to ice. Just in time for my parents to visit this weekend- Mom, bring those hand and foot warmers I gave you for Christmaka. :)

Oh, and I was serenaded by Johnny Bird this morning. He is a cutie. Reminds me of my little Boo when he was young. Here is a cute pic of JB from this morning:

The Long Tale

2007-01-10T20:01:00.000-08:00

Friday morning I went to take my grandmother out to lunch. I get in my car, only to find that the 'check engine' light has decided to make an appearance. So, after much cursing at the Nazi car, aka my Jetta, my dad and I were able to squeeze in to the dealer so they could check it out. 4 hours later we find out it wasn't anything major, but that was 4 hours I had set aside to pack up the car. So Mom and I organized all my stuff (thanks Mom, you are the goddess of packing!) and once the car was back and I had stopped cursing it, we loaded the biggest suitcase you have ever seen into the trunk. By this time it is dark and we decide to do the rest in the morning.

Morning comes, we finish packing the car. I have a new respect and admiration for my mom. There is NO way I would have gotten all my belongings into there without her. It looked like a clown car, minus the clowns. After a teary good-bye I hit the road.

I was blessed with fabulous weather to SF, and arrived with plenty of time to spare. I was greeted by Diane and Delaney, her nearly 2 year old. Delaney yelled "aunty!" and immediately wrapped her arms around my legs and hugged them. Needless to say, my heart melted!

We had a wonderful dinner at Ton Kiang, even though the service was not nearly as good as it is when you go in the morning. Dim sum is GOOD. Mmmmmmmmmm.

Sunday morning brought sunshine and smiles all around. I got in the car, headed to pick up Martina, and we hit the road! We had good weather all the way up. Not a cloud in the sky until we went over Mt. Shasta.

Then we only had fog for about 1/2 hour. We kept waiting to get to Grant's Pass, where it was supposed to be the pass to Mordor or something. But, we hit it, kept driving, looked at each other and said "Is that it??". The rest of the ride was great.

I did learn something new right after we crossed the Oregon border. Did you know that it is illegal to pump your own gas in Oregon??? I had gotten out of my car and tried to pump my gas and the attendant came over and said I couldn't. At first I didn't believe him. I mean, hello? I have been pumping my own gas since I was 16. Don't tell me I can't pump my own gas! But, lo and behold! It's a law there. Neither Martina or I could figure out why you can't do it yourself, but whatever. It's actually kinda nice to have someone else do it.

We hit Eugene, OR at about 5:30pm, checked into our hotel and went to get dinner. After dinner we went back to the room, showered, and hit the sack. Unfortunately, neither of us got much sleep! It turns out that while I was laying in bed wanting to throw a pillow at Martina for snoring, she was doing the same thing while I was snoring! So, we both were awake at 5am, and when I asked if she was awake she said yes. I then told her that I was never going to share a room with her again! She started to laugh, and said she was thinking the same thing! So we got up, and hit the road again. We finally arrived in Bellevue at 1pm on Monday. We unloaded the car, which was a whole other story! Note to anyone trying to get a 50lb box up a flight of stairs: It is much easier to ROLL the box UP, than try to lift it! We then had a fantastic dinner at my new favorite Thai restaurant, came home and after a very funny conversation, went to bed.

I took Martina home on Tuesday afternoon. Luckily she made it out before the snow came down. Here is what the view from my apt looked like on Wednesday morning:

It then started to really come down around 4pm. I, being the So Cal girl that I am, had no clue what to do when it starts snowing. I was driving home, going super slow, and since no one was honking at me, I figured I was on the right track. I turned left into the driveway for the complex, and proceeded to get stuck. After 15 minutes of trying to get some traction, a very nice guy came up and asked if I needed help. Uh, yeah. He tried to push my car to see if I could get it moving, but no luck. How nice though? In LA, I would have been run over, cursed at, flipped off, and then probably would have had something thrown at me. Not here. People are actually NICE here. It's so amazing. So, long story short, my car is still stuck in the driveway. Hopefully I can move it later today.

I am supposed to start my part time job at the yarn shop today, but since the weather was so bad, the owner called to tell me that the mall was actually closed. So hopefully tomorrow I can do it. I'll keep you all updated!

So that is my first few stories of my adventure. I am so happy here. It's so beautiful, and once I figure out where everything is I think I will be a very happy camper.

I'm Finally Here!!

2007-01-09T22:48:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!

Just a quick hello to let ya'll know I made it to Washington safe and sound. I have pics and funny stories to tell, but won't be able to update this until tomorrow. I'm happy. Really, really happy. They are expecting snow tonight, so hopefully I can update my blog tomorrow while sitting in front of the fireplace.

My Chiropractor Rocks!

2007-01-03T17:07:00.000-08:00

My Chiropractor, Dr. Oatey, is the best! I will totally miss him. Not only because he is a fantastic chiropractor, but because, come on, look how good looking he is!! Don't you wish you had such a good looking doctor? Thanks to Dr. Oatey, Maria and the entire staff at ChiroSport - I will miss you all!

Happy New Year!

2007-01-02T15:28:00.000-08:00

You are what you eat. If the saying is true, then I am now this:

My mom's friend Geneva surprised me with a home cooked meal that brings me back to when I was young. Every Christmas Eve we would go to their house and have a fantastic dinner: fried chicken, mac and cheese, candied yams, green beans and lemon cake. All home made. All so good it made you want to dance around with joy, except for the fact that you were too full to even breathe. So when she called and invited us to go for New Year's Day dinner, we all cleared our calendars, didn't eat all day, and headed over to her house. It was just as good as I remember it to be. What better way to start the New Year than with friend chicken and mac and cheese? Mom said I had a shit-eating grin as soon as I sat down, and she was right. I rolled out of there carrying all the leftovers (thank you Aunty Geneva!) and will be enjoying them until I hit the road on Saturday. While my waist may not be pleased with all the food, my heart certainly is! Geneva's food = Love.

I hope everyone had a happy new year - I think 2007 is going to be a good year for us all.

Support of my Yarn Habit or, Retail Therapy

2006-12-27T15:42:00.000-08:00

My adventure to Bellevue has already begun! I think the universe has nudged me in the right direction. I sent a job inquiry to a local yarn shop and they called me back. I spoke with the owner, Shannon, for a few minutes and she is going to give me a trial run working there on the weekends! I start on January 11th. I don't think I have been this excited about a job since I graduated college. So this will be my fun money, my money to support my knitting 'habit' and I will be able to learn on the job! I can't wait to get my hands on all the fun yarns they have there. While this won't be my main source of income, I think this will the most fun I have had at a job in a long, long time. Once I get up there I will have pictures to post of the store, and me in the store!

Moroccan food, celebrities, and a happy tummy

2006-12-20T10:02:00.000-08:00

Well, it's not everyday that you get to meet a celebrity. And shake his hand. Even in LA. But, that is exactly what I got to do last night. Mom took me to Tagine, by far the best Moroccan food I think I have ever had. If you are in LA, or planning to be here, don't just think about going there, get in gear and RUN! We had so many yummy things - started with home made humus and pita bread, followed by a fantastic broccoli soup, an amazing bastilla, and then shrimp in a divine sauce. Our main course was amazing- Mom had the fish tagine, and I had the lamb shank. All the while sipping sweet Moroccan mint tea. I am drooling just thinking about it. Lucky me, I have leftovers for lunch tomorrow! Oh, and the celebrity? Ryan Gosling, who is part owner of the restaurant. You would know him from "The Notebook". Thanks to Ben (the other owner) for such great food, and Yusef for keeping the food coming and the conversation flowing. On a scale of 1-10, I give it a 15. Seriously, if you are in LA, or plan to be in LA soon, go to this place. Your tummy will thank you! The address is 132 N Robertson Blvd, at Wilshire.

Let the Festivities Begin! And, Moving Sucks!!

2006-12-18T11:45:00.000-08:00

So I am officially out of my apartment. It took all my energy this weekend to move. Holy cow! I even had help from 3 nice movers. I did a final walk through of the empty space, said goodbye, and took my exhausted self to my parent's house. Tonight, I get to organize all the stuff that I thought I would need in Seattle until I settled in. I may have to buy a truck to take it up there! Geez, I swear, after this move I am either abandoning all my belongings or hopefully buying a place so I don't have to do this again. At least, not for a while. Whew!

My mom threw me a fantastic brunch on Sunday. I now have enough salt and cream cheese in me to last through winter. Mmmmm.... there is really nothing more comforting than a good bagel with lox, cream cheese, smoked fish and various veggies. Some people like mashed potatoes, me I like the good Jewish comfort foods. Kugel. Blintz. I think I ate a cucumber slice and a tomato slice. So it wasn't totally bad for me. Ahem.

The next few weeks will be very busy- seeing everyone before I go, gearing my car up for the long road trip. Stay tuned!

My Apartment Used to Be Pretty

2006-12-12T16:08:00.000-08:00

So I was sitting on my lovely couch last night, taking a break from the never ending packing, and I was so sad to see my once pretty apartment in such a state. Boxes everywhere and all my decorative touches gone. It's a very empty place now, even though I am still in it. Strange isn't it? I am so excited to move to Seattle, but so very sad to leave this apartment. This is the last place I lived where Boo Bird was still with me. This was the first apartment that I was actually allowed to paint. This is where I have met some fabulous and wonderful friends. I am looking forward to the next stage of my life, but it is always a little sad to see your home stripped bare and hear the echo in the rooms.

Welcome to My Little Blog

2006-12-11T14:26:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome to my very first blog! With so much changing in my life in the next few months, I figured it would be a fun way to keep everyone updated on what is happening. My move from Los Angeles to Seattle is a mere 3.5 weeks away. I am right in the middle of packing, changing addresses, purging, and stressing. I will be much calmer next week, but for now, I'm just a stress bunny!

It seems as though I am not the only one making big changes though. I have a friend who is also moving to the Pacific Northwest (yay!) and another friend (Hi P!) who is moving to Hawaii. I think 2007 is going to be a good year for everyone.

I plan on posting at least once a week, so check back! I'll have pics of my adventurous road trip up to Seattle. My friend M will be joining me for that, thank goodness! So expect some pretty funny pics and stories. Going forward I hope to post about all the new and fun things I find up in the Seattle area.

Now, back to packing...