Got Gauge

Back From Zurich

Back from Zurich and I'm only slightly jet lagged. I landed on Saturday afternoon and today seems a bit worse than yesterday. The trip was fabulous. Got a good bit of work done, learned a huge chunk of my job and managed to see quite a bit of Zurich.
 
This is one of my favorite pictures from the trip. This is St. Peter, the oldest parish chrich in Zurich. The clock face is Europe's largest.

It was a good point for me to use to get around the city. There was only one time I got a bit turned around and that's because I couldn't see the clock.

















My flights were great! I really like flying United. Both crews were really wonderful. On my flight back, I was upgraded to first class. I think they got me confused with some long, lost princess or oil heiress. It was a great treat!

I didn't knit the Lace and Cable top, each time I went to pick it up, I was a bit too tired to be sure I wasn't going to mess it up. I ripped and restarted the Smock Top. I decided to knit it in the round. I have a good start on it, about 5 or 6 inches.

Happy Memorial Day and a special thank you to all of the women and men serving our country!

Sally Sells Shoes By the Seashore

I leave for Zurich in a little over 8 hours. I haven't started packing yet. I have organized what I'm taking in my head and put some of it out beside the suitcase. It will be fine. I think I can do it with just 4 pairs of shoes. I normally average 1.5 pairs of shoes for every day I'm on the ground. I know, it's a bit of a problem. I'd wear the same outfit for days as long as I could change my shoes. And my under things, of course.

I had my workout with Mark this morning. We went over my travel workout and I have my two set of tubes and my workout outline. I'm good on the weight/strength training. I'm a bit concerned about my cardio and burning calories. One pair of the shoes I packed are my running shoes. Maybe a brisk run/walk in the mornings? Not sure what the neighborhood is like around my hotel. At the least, I know it has multiple floors so I can run the stairs.

I'll wear my cute new shoes on the plane.  I'm going for comfort. I'll wear my J. Jill athletic ensemble. Sweat suit. I will not have word across the bum, so I think I'm pass travel inspection. I do hate seeing people in their pajamas. Although this is an overnight flight and I'm a bit concerned. I'll take pictures and pass them along if I see any outrageously over-the-top travel ensembles.

I also packed my Easy Spirit Mary Janes. And my pink and white Timberland cute sneakers. I'd like to pack my Confetti Felt Danskos but that would be 5 pairs of shoes and I'm there 4 days with 1 travel day on each end. It's not like I over pack shoes. I actually wear all of them. My feet like change. I'm rather tickled with myself that I don't have any heels packed. I usually don't like to wear the Mary Janes other than to travel through the airports.

Clothing, I'm so much better packing. I have loads of mix and match. Space-wise my clothes always take up far less space than my shoes. This trip I'm having a bit of an issue with jackets. But I think the key to their weather is layers so I'm not stressing too much. Yet.

I'm taking the Cable and Lace Top and the Smock Top for knitting projects. The Dreamsicle Lounge Jacket is ripped. I simply could not get the gauge or a gauge that would work with the Pima Tencel. So I need to buy the Bam Boo yarn in tangerine. It's a gorgeous color and I'll be happy with the "right" yarn for that jacket. However, I can't see to locate it online to order right this second to have shipped to me in Zurich. And I couldn't find a yarn shop in Zurich. What's up with that? Whose the Classic Elite rep? I need to know. I need to call them and find out which shop in my area carries it, in that color.

Off to go pack! Happy Traveling! Happy Knitting! Happy Health and Fitness!

Tickle Me Teal Take Two

I wanted to show you what has me just tickled teal!

It's the start of this:

A pattern by  Kristen TenDyke in Vogue Summer 2008. I mis-read the pattern earlier in the week. (I know, imagine that!) I thought I was going to have to write out a little cheat sheet. I was thrilled when I sat down to dig into the project and realized "DUH!" So I did a swatch. Garter stitch only and after 4 rows, it looked good so I cast on. If it's too small, it's just the type of holey sweater my friend in SC has been wanting me to make for her for quite some time. And if it fits me, I am not taking it to Maine for fear it might be lost and, oddly enough, be found in SC when she gets home.

I'm using stitch markers to identify the cable bits. The other parts are 8 stitch lace pattern. I got lazy with the increases and started another lace repeat once I had all 8 stitches on the needle. I got confused try to add them in otherwise. I know I'm easily confused. I embrace it.

I'm a bit tickled by my Orange Dreamsicle. I enjoy working with the Pima Tencel. Good thing because I have 34 balls of it!

There is about 3 more inches as of this afternoon. I had a couple of calls that I had to knit while I was on them. I love that about my job. Knitting really helps me stay focused. Otherwise I'm tempted to check email, work on my presentation for the beginning of June or check to see if I'll ever hear from the eBay seller who sold me a bad heart rate monitor.

Tonight the Husband has band practice for a charity gig on Sunday afternoon. So I'm either going to stay home and watch a movie and knit or knit, stay home and watch a movie or watch a movie, knit and stay home.

Happy Weekend! Happy Friday! Happy Knitting! Will someone pack for my trip next week. I've done nothing to prepare.

Tickle Me Teal

Is this not the cutest darn puppy in the world? He melts my heart every day. Bosco is so happy I'm working from home. Now if it would only stop raining so he can go outside. He HATES to get his feet wet. Maybe I should switch out his Coach collar? Perhaps he knows it shouldn't get wet?

Today was weigh-in day and as you all know, this has been a light workout week for me. I was a teeny bit worried. In addition to not hitting it as hard as I normally do, I am was at a sticking point. You know that area were you lose those same 5 pounds over and over and over yet again?

I stepped on the scale this morning and lo and behold the little thing didn't pop up when I went to the number where I last weighed in. I dropped almost 2 full pounds. 1 and 3/4. Hooray.

One would think that my trainer would celebrate with a nice, easy workout. Not so. Since I'm headed to Zurich Monday afternoon, he wants to make sure I get in two really good workouts before I leave. What does he think I'll hate him less when I return because I will have forgotten the pain?  I complain now but I love it. I'm also drinking my coffee through a straw because I can't seem to lift my coffee cup.

My trainer pushes me harder than I'd ever push myself. Seriously I would have never, ever done the shoulder work that I did today without him. He's very encouraging. And a bit demanding. He does a fabulous job pushing me with just the right about of "get off your ass" and "you're doing great!"

Today we were doing some endurance sets and he had me moving the whole time because HE had a busy morning. What a crack up. Yeah, right. Blame it on that. Instead of saying "we need to get your flabby butt moving this week!" I adore my health club. Have I told you that 5011 times yet? A very buff woman whose evidently just getting back to the gym (I heard her talking to someone else, I am nosey like that) said, "wow! you really are working hard!" It's statements like that that give me a boost and keep me going.

This all has nothing to do with my original post about Tickle Me Teal and I've run out of time. I'll log back in later with why I'm Tickle Teal.

Happy Friday! Happy Knitting!

Must Get Organized

I have yarn with no pattern and patterns with no yarn and 2 patterns for some yarn and 2 yarns for some patterns. And I'm not talking about the stash, we all have those organizational problems with the stash. I'm talking about what I'm working on now or planning to work on. Writing out my workout plan helped me stick with it so I'm going to try to do the same thing with my projects.

Today, I made it to the gym for a very short workout. I'm still feeling rather yucky. I don't like working out with tissues hanging out of my nose which was replaced with a faucet. Seriously, who knew one person could go through so many tissues. No, I'm not often sick and I just think it's weird. I decided to go for 1/2 hour cardio, push-ups, sit-ups and planks. I burned about 300 calories so I feel like I did something. Even if it's half of what I normally do.

So here's my outline and plan to help me try to get some Spring and Summer knitting completed before fall comes around.

What's on the needles and making progress:

• Smock Top in Soft Green
• Bam Boo Lounge Jacket in Dreamsicle

On the Needles but sitting idle:

• Soleil is hibernating until she loosens up a bit. She's stiff and uptight. Once she relaxes, she'll be finished in about 20 minutes.
• Curlicue in Kuyreon is just hanging out and I work on it every now and again. Good TV project.
• Wrap Sweater in Dark Horse Fantasy is hanging out waiting for the Fall.

Waiting Patiently to be Cast On:

• Green Calmer, this yarn has been cast on so many times it deserves to grow up to be Dayflower. I'll cast on when I return from Zurich.

• Purple Premiere and the Teal Pima Tencel will battle it out to become these. The Swing Top from Classic Elite and the Lace and Cable top from Vogue Summer 2008. Any suggestions? I'm leaning towards the teal for the Lace and Cable.

• Cream Pima Tencel the Medallion sweater in Vogue Summer 2008. I couldn't find a good picture of it by itself. Here's a close up of the pattern.

It's not a lot of knitting but I have to stay focused and not get sidetracked. I think it will be a good amount to get me through until Fall Knitting. With perhaps a side project to make a sweater in Noro Silver Thaw that I saw and fell in love with! It will be a perfect throw on sweater for me that I might just live in, I'm sure!

I have to run. Washington's Green Grocer just dropped off my delivery and I want to go check out all the yummy veggies. Can you believe I am actually really bummed I missed Spin Class yesterday? It's because of the people. Kind of like I miss making time to sit and knit. I have to do that again soon!

Happy Knitting! Happy SUNSHINE! Happy Day!

Decide Already!

I have a cold or it might be allergies. Either way, when I talk it sounds like it's underwater. I'm hoping this goes away before I get on the plane on Monday. I'm already a bit grossed out by planes. You know with the whole Legionnaire Pneumonia the Husband picked up on our trip to Sarasota. I skipped Spin Class today. I feel a bit like I have a fever. Not good. Not good at all. If I'm not better today, I'm going to get drugs. I am going to buy stock in Kleenex. Did you know the first coffee shop opened in Constantinople in 1475? It says so on the bottom of my Kleenex box.

I am knitting or at least I'm casting on quite a bit. I'm on a quest to find a good travel project. I need something that will keep me occupied on the however many hour trip it is to Zurich. **shush, don't tell me, I don't want to know.** I'm thinking there will not be a great deal of knitting time on the ground.

The Smock Top in pretty green is good, for now. That has a LOOOOONNNNNGGG stretch of st st that will be a good, no-thinking project. My Webs order arrived and I cast on last night for the Dayflower Camisole or Dress in Orange. It looks just like a Dreamscile. Isn't there a pattern by that name?

I didn't work out so well. I was having trouble with the chart and the numbers working out. And the yarn was NOT happy. Not even a little bit. So I cracked open my two new CEY books because the Pima Tencel is a good match for many of the yarns.

It's from book 9087 Summer Book 1. It's a twisted st st so there is a little interest. I think this pattern shows off the sheen of the yarn wonderfully. The orange is fun and I think I'm on my way to a staple in my wardrobe. I might even go buy a sun dress.

I was having a small issue with gauge. The gauge that's recommended of 17 stitches over 10 cm, is TIGHT. As in cut off your finger circulation tight. As in make another Kevlar Poncho tight. So I'm going with my own thing. I started with the sleeves so I can adjust the body accordingly. I will be able to do the math to determine which size to knit.

Who watched the Bachelor? How happy was I for Shayne? I really liked her. I hated the way Chelsea totally zoned in on slamming Shayne on her exit. Fake? Oh sweetie, please. If that's not the pot calling the kettle, I don't know what is. Did you see her at his parents? Where was that girl the whole show? At least Shayne has the common sense to act like a nut all the time. "Does England have palm trees?" I think she's hilarious. She knows darn well they don't. But who didn't laugh? I enjoy being with people who make me laugh and she's all about fun. I thought Shayne's gift to him was brilliant! Brilliant. Best one I've seen. Yes, I love trash TV. Can't wait to see Deanna next season.

And DWTS? If Miss Piggy wins, I'm not watching any longer. She looks ridiculous out there. She's not the best of the group. Simply not and I don't care if she's a size 1, 12, 22 or whatever. She just looks clumsy. Now Jason Taylor, that's a dancer.

Happy Knitting! Happy Hope You Are Able to Work Out today! I am going to have another cup of tea.

Blame It On The Rain

I'm going to Blame It On the Rain. And, yes I was the BIGGEST fan. I wore out two cassette tapes that summer. Anyway, I didn't cast on for Bella Paquita on Friday night. I printed the instructions and promptly decided it was not something I wanted to do.

On Saturday I caught up on some blog reading and stopped by The Knitting Nurse. She's knitting the flirty tank. I needed the flirty tank. I desparately needed the flirty tank. I called Carol and she agreed and locked me in to meeting her to buy the flirty tank. I did not buy the flirty tank. Instead, I bought 4 pattern books, yarn for two sweaters and a new bag. And I caught up with some friends that I forgot how much I missed. It was good for the soul, even if it was not so good for the wallet!

I'm making this

In Cotton Bam Boo in a pretty soft green.

I think it's the far right one. And I'm making this one

In a Premiere in a pretty purple.

I couldn't find a good picture of the color. In addition to these two books, I got two others to try to help use up the stash of Jaeger Sienna in my closet. 48 balls to be exact.

And, of course, I needed something to carry all my new purchases in, right?

In the yellow stripe.

And my Webs order should arrive today. Decisions, decisions. What to cast on for first? I cast on for the Smock Top and I've knit about 5 inches of the back. I'll probably cast on for a bunch of other projects so I can decide what to take on my trip to Zurich. I'd like to take just one project. I have to go search to see if there are any yarn stores there.

I hit the gym this morning for a workout with Mark and some cardio. I rowed for a little more than 30 minutes. I walked the course yesterday and my feet weren't feeling up to running. Tomorrow is spin class! hooray! I actually look forward to that class.

Happy Rainy Monday! Happy belated Mother's Day! Happy Knitting!

Itchy Fingers

I have set aside Soleil. I don't like her. She's itchy, she's tight and the armholes are a mess. The neckline doesn't seem to be in the right place and overall I just simply think she's ugly. Maybe it's the rain and she's a sunny sweater? I don't know. But she's currently a nice little ball shoved in the corner of the couch. I think she'll consider behaving herself when I decide to pull her out.

I know she'll relax and get softer after a little dip in Ecualan. Maybe I'll go dunk her now. **sigh**

No, I'm going to read the pattern and cast on for Bella Paquita because it looks pretty and I have Calmer in stash that has been cast on for at least 5 other sweaters only to be ripped and re-stashed. Seriously, I think I could probably have 20 balls of different yarns and be happy forever. What do I finish? I do not have good knitting mojo for anything larger than a scarf. Goodness, grumpy much?

The pattern looks rather complicated but I need something to capture my interest.

Happy Knitting!

The Presidential Fitness Award

The Husband and I had a nice dinner tonight from Dinner Done! It was good. My plate looked like this:

I try to load my plate with fresh veggies so my 3 oz of meat and 1/4 cup of brown and wild rice don't look so lonely on the plate.

I told the Husband I'd run another 1.5 miles again today and he asked if I remembered running that for the Presidential Fitness Award. I don't remember  1.5 miles. I remembered doing the sit-ups. They were the full sit-ups and you did as many as you could in 2 minutes. The dreaded flex arm hang. Hated that! The Shuttle Run which we did with chalkboard erasers. And a 600 yard dash. And I thought we did some sort of long jump or it might have been a flexibility thing. I don't remember. I searched online and couldn't find anything about the "old" program. Do you remember doing this in school? If so, what activities do you remember doing? Favorites? Most hated?

I'm going to finish Soleil. I got an email saying I should have my Webs order on the 12th and I want to get started on a new project as soon as it lands on my doorstep.

Happy Knitting! Happy Health and Fitness Month!

Making Life Easy

I'm all about taking short cuts to have more time to sit and knit or watch great, trash TV.  I don't like to spend a great deal of time in the kitchen, in the yard or cleaning my house. Or doing laundry. Which is the one thing I can't seem to be able to find someone to do for me. Oh life was good in college. One time, I came home with laundry in tow. I stopped by Granny's and dropped off some there for her and Mom. Auntie said she'd take a load, too. So off I went with some more to see my Brother, his wife at the time and the kids. His wife did the remaining loads and I went to say hello to the kids. Well, we got into a game. My Mom called over to see what I was up to and they all figured out that I was playing and everyone else was doing my laundry. I've never been able to get away with that again.

I would prefer to dream about exercise and have it burn the calories. That would certainly make life easy. Virtual exercise that shows results would be cool. It wasn't until I started my new job working from home that I would really commit to a health and fitness routine. When I worked in a traditional office environment, my excuse in the mornings was sleeping in/have to get ready/play with the dogs/make our lunches/make the coffee. The list was rather long and would sometimes include "sorry! got these sacks."  After work I was tired/it was late/I had dinner plans/I had no dinner plans and had to plan dinner/it would cut into possible knitting time. Again, the list was even longer than the morning list of excuses.

I was rather committed to my yoga classes. I think you make time for what's important to you. So when I got my job working from home, I gained slightly more than 2 hours back every day. This includes the commute, getting myself presentable to go out in public, making my lunch and the general nonsense of traditional work hours. Instead of working longer hours, I decided to commit to going to the gym and getting fit and healthy.  They say it takes 28 days for a habit to develop. While, I think it's become a habit and that makes me happy.

I ran again today for 1.5 miles. I'm so tickled I could just giggle. Actually I am giggling. I started on the treadmill and went to the elliptical next. I was just about to say mercy when when one of the trainers walked by and said, "You are working so hard! Good job!" I adore my gym. It's full of nice, normal people. There isn't a vibe of you aren't fit, you don't belong here. People stop and say "good morning", "where have you been?", "how was vacation" or "look it you go!" My fitness center/club/gym makes my life easier.

Tomorrow I want to write about Let's Dish and Dinner Done! Both of these make my life so much easier.

My first body wrap at Total Body Design was beyond fabulous! BE.YOND.  It's not like all of the sudden I can run out and buy a pair of skinny jeans. But I feel great! My skin is looking nice and firm and my hiney is looking less lumpy. I think someone might need to consider a few treatments herself.

Hey, did I tell you a ran 1.5 miles two days in a row? Did I? Hooray! It got me all sidetracked from my original thought to tell you all the things I do to make my life easy. Oh well.

One thing that's not easy. Waiting for my yarn from Webs!

Happy Knitting! Happy Running!