Saturday - In the Loop

I'm doing the Honda Run on Saturday so I'll be at In the Loop Cafe from 10-1:30ish if anyone wants to venture out after shoveling out!

My 15 Minutes

I'm going to get my 15 minutes on Monday, February 4^th!! I will be on the local (omg - LIVE!!!) Rogers Cable Daytime show, talking about and demonstrating my knitting speed. It's channel 10 in the Barrie, Alliston, Angus area and channel 53 in the Collingwood area. I won't be able to PVR it since I'm with Bell, but I'm hoping that they'll give me a copy!

I'm hoping that this will kind of warm me up for the Knit Out - live, audience, you know. The hostess, Deb James, is one of the DJ's that I wake up to on Kool 107.5. Her co-host, Dale Smith, saw me knitting at the spelling bee (I was volunteering) where he was the celebrity Spell Master a couple of weeks ago and mentioned it in passing on the radio "... you wouldn't believe it - I can't believe that there wasn't smoke coming off of those needles". I called in and spoke to them about it and told them about the Knit Out. So Deb mentioned it to the Daytime producer and - don't blink or you'll drop a stitch - I'm going to be on the show.
They want me to knit on something that I can finish in an hour so a scarf it is! I'll be using my Signature Needles and Beth is sending me a couple of balls of Vero so I'll be getting my knit on in style.

I'm Bringing Sexy Back

I'm no Justin but I'm about to kick it up a notch 'round here!



I have loved the Honda Ridgeline since it came out 2 years ago. The Sienna has been an excellent minivan, but maybe it's an early mid-life crisis - I've been coveting a truck. The Ridgeline is just the sexiest truck out there and it's packed with safety features and rugged usefulness. There's also a great in-bed lockable trunk with a drain (top left) which makes is a massive portable beer cooler!!! I know!!!

So anyway, it's been one of those "one of these days" kind of things. It was definitely going to be our next vehicle but it comes down to when the "right" time is. Apparently it's THIS WEEK!!!
Honda has 0.9% financing on and we have a major service coming up next month on the Sienna so Kerwyn says to me Saturday when I came home "We need to get a Ridgeline this week." Now, Kerwyn is not known for his impulsiveness or his practical jokes, but I'm like, "Really? You're not teasing me are you?" and he's like, "Really." and proceeded to tell me all about it.
Yeah, it occurred to me, but I don't care what he did - I'm getting a Ridgeline!!!

We've He's done his homework (and explained it all to me) and we're going in tonight to get a fair trade-in for our van and negotiate our best deal on the my truck.

And there's lots of elbow room for knitting!

And how much do you want to bet that Kyle get his G1 next week? He's going to have a stroke when he sees my Ridgeline in the garage!! He's been out a lot lately, and while Amanda's in on it Kyle doesn't have a clue. He'll be lucky if I let him get out of 1^st gear! LOL

Signature Needles

They came, they came!!! I love them - they are absolutely works of art in and of themselves. The tips are remarkable! On the bottom is the Stiletto, then the Middy and on the top is my favourite (old favourite?) Aero. Yeah, I use it a lot.
Then the lovely teardrop shaped end. It fits perfectly into my hip and slides effortlessly in and out for quick row changes. I feel a small teardrop of my own - I'm getting a bit verklempt.

And they are so light and well balanced. I do believe that these may be my ultimate needle. I'm off to the local big box yarn store to buy a ball of Red Heart to practice with. My training is kicking into high gear now.

Maybe I need to take Mischief with me - she's been working on her hypnotizing.

progress

I know, it's a lame title but my brain is on automatic and blog titles would require a gear shift. Fortunately knitting is, for me, an automatic function.

I finished my Autumny Opal socks!! Totally fraternal - as anal and detail-oriented about every other aspect of my knitting, I just can't do it with socks. (Except when that's what the client is paying me for - Elise's socks were as identical as I could get them!) Maybe it's because I'm an identical twin and I've had my fill of it.
Ada's happy because that means that I can swing by tomorrow after I'm done my class at the Winter Workshop and we can start our new socks together.

I've also finished the back of Beth's CPH and it's blocked. I know - sucky picture!! I'll try to take a better one tomorrow.

I Think That We've Been Dissed

I don't think that Kate has seen how some knitters can party - she'd think twice about using knitting as a gateway hobby to boredom!!

She wishes that she could be as cool as knitters.

Spring!!

Even though Winter has come back with a chilling vengeance, IK is giving us a taste of Spring things to come!

4 Things

Kristina knows how I like quizzes, and I guess, if you free-associate really hard and take your answers and twist them like pretzels, then crush them and mix them into a cake batter you could make a même into a quiz. sigh But never let it be said that Wannietta Prescod is a party pooper!!

Four Jobs I've Had

Burger King slop-slinger (actually I really like most of their stuff, especially when it's fresh)
Nanny (nope, not quite Mary Poppins)
Real Estate Secretary
Bus Driver

Four Movies I Watch Over and Over
Only 4 - awwwww c'mon!!!

Casino Royale (the new version) (any Bond film actually)
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Original Sin
the Lara Croft movies

I've got a bit of a crush on Sean Connery & Angelina Jolie

Four Places I Have Been

Jamaica
Going to Bloomington, MN next month!
Note to self - get a fucking life!!


Four Places I Have Lived

This is going to be quite boring...

Durham, Ontario
Orillia, Ontario
Milton, Ontario
Angus, Ontario

Four TV Shows I Watch

Dexter
CSI (all of its iterations)
The Grand Slams of Tennis
A lot of reality TV (not the dating, dancing or singing ones)

Four People Who E-mail Me Regularly

Ada
Jocelyn
Joan
Cindy


Four Favorite Foods
Only 4 - YOU GOTTA be kidding me!!

Pasta
Chocolate
Curry (sorry, not goat)
Bread

Four Places I Would Rather Be

In a hotel, somewhere tropical, with wi-fi and a drinkie, knitting.
At Ada's, with a drinkie, knitting.
Home alone, with a drinkie, knitting.
At Cindy's, knitting.

Hmmmm - even I detect a bit of a theme/trend there. Piss off - I don't have a problem!!!

Four Things I'm Looking Forward To

Being done the knitting competition at the Knit Out.
Being alone again with Kerwyn.
Authoring a book. Yeah, probably about knitting.
Seeing my children succeed.

Four People to Tag

I'm going to slack off on this one and take the losers easy way out - if you wanna do it, knock yourself out. If not, we'll still be friends tomorrow.

Watching TAR with Wannietta - part 12.11 the finale

Thank God for PVR - Amanda has been struck down with the flu since Saturday and nursemaids don't get a lot of alone time with the TV. I swear, she has caught up on all of the sleep that she has ever missed and then some!! Poor 'ittle girly.

How many flights out of Taipei can there be to Anchorage? I have a feeling they'll all be leaving together.
Maybe it's because I live in Canada, but why would anyone really want to go to Alaska?
What are those 2 up to?
Clever, very very clever.
And yet the TK & Rachel & Nick & Don don't wonder what they were doing?
Hmmmm, 6^th Avenue Outfitters. Perhaps there is a clue to it's whereabouts in the name? I mean, how big could 6^th Avenue be in Anchorage? Could there even be 2 6^th Avenues?
Am I the only one thinking, "Up Ship Creek without a paddle"?
Cut the Cod - a bit disgusting ...
Grab the Crabouch!! Those things would pinch & how would you keep track of which ones you've checked?
Cut the Cod it would be.
That was fast - at least Ron didn't have to be careful about cutting the fish open. Better to be lucky than good.
OOPS!!! I guess you're the one playing like a (stupid) bitch this week Nick. Remember his comment last week?

You're a bit fucked Don, but really, you're a team!! Did it occur to you, on the most important leg of the race, to read the clue yourself to make sure that nothing was missed? Yeah, I didn't think so.
The crab task sucks!
They didn't quit just in time!!
Well Nick, I guess you could use your toes or mouth, but I'd use my hands.
Don rocked that gutting!
I love TK & Rachel's attitude!!
I'd've thought that the water would be more clear or blue, not quite so muddy.
Cabbies & airlines - the great TAR equalizers.
Nick's "... gotten to see all kinds of the world."
If it doesn't scare you a little it's just not worth trying.
Ron's really working those ice picks!
C'mon Christina!!

I think that once she can get her legs over that edge she'll be fine.
You're wearing a harness - it's not like they'd let you drop into the water!
That would be an awe-inspiring ride!!
You called it Ron - exhilarating!!
Funny how Ron & Don rocked that ice face while Christina & Nick struggled.
I'd suck at this - I live so much in the moment. I have trouble remember yesterday, let alone last week or the whirlwind that has been TAR!!!
I guess it's a strategy. Put everything on the scale, then start taking things off.
I don't think that people are animals.
See - I'm not the only one that TAR is a big old blur for.
Whoever gets this totally deserves to win! Even if it turns out to be Nick by some freak accident.

Chill Chris - you can do this!
OMG!!! Well done Rachel!!
Alright!!
Don looks totally gutted. He knows Nick isn't up to this task. Not that Don would necessarily have fared any better.
Salmon Hooker?!? I wonder if the salmon are all over Anchorage like the moose in Toronto?
I wish that we knew how far apart the teams were!
I think that you have become a better person Ron. I really do.

I'm dying here!!!

- they really earned it & deserve it!!
I would have been happy to see Ron & Christina win, but I was really pulling for TK & Rachel. Their attitude throughout the whole race was excellent (except for that blip in the camel milking, but I can overlook that).
I'm really glad that Ron & Chris made it all the way to the end, that Ron really learned from the experience and that they are closer for it. Who's your Daddy?
No shame Don - you rocked it out!!
Don still looks pissed - I wonder how many times he'll remind Nick about forgetting that bag of gear?

Bring on TAR 13!!!
Until then, Big Brother 9 starts Feb. 12th !!

See ya on the flip side!

Lego my Yarn

Très cool - but I wonder if the resulting cord will be too loopy/lacy to be of any use. Still, very cool!!



ETA - I found this via Kristi.

Alone with my Husband

The title pretty much sums it up. Both of the kids had sleepovers at other kids' houses!!! Mostly when one of them gets invited to sleepover at a friends house the other one comes asking to have a friend over - like they're responsible for maintaining the adult:child ration in the house. Perhaps there was a rare - like once in 5 thousand years type of rare - planetary alignment that allowed for a child-free Prescod house without causing a cataclysmic disaster.

I swear, I didn't know quite what to do!! We've had a child or two under foot for the last 16 years. We'd sometimes get out for dinner & a movie but they'd still be there when we got home.
I started getting nervous - what the hell would we do? I mean, no kids to hear, see or have wake up or wander around. We used to have complete privacy and freedom - what was that like? I was starting to feel like a virgin bride on her wedding night!!!

I had a quick shower and put on clean clothes and did my hair and face before Kerwyn got home. Too nervous to knit - I know, the horror!!! - I cleaned some stuff up moved stuff from some places to others, surfed Ravelry and had a little drinkie (just to take the edge off).

So Kerwyn took me out for dinner and it was wonderful! We didn't even fall into that inevitable parent trap of spending the entire dinner talking about the children.
We decided to watch a movie at home and on the way back I started a mental checklist.
Candles? check
Something sexy to wear? check
Movie that's romantic but not a total chick flick? check (Next with Nicholas Cage)
Wine? double check

It was awesome! Just out of habit - I swear!!! - I knit for a bit, but then I realized that we might not get this chance again for months and I reluctantly put it aside and just lived in the moment with my man.
We even got to sleep in without the sound of little feet pitter-pattering sweet child-like laughter wretched children fighting over the last egg.

Of course, once I was awake I had to take off for the Passport Office - which wasn't the day of waiting that I thought it would be. I was in & out in less than ½ hour and all of that was in the initial line-up to tell them what I needed & get my waiting number. All because I filled out my form online!!! I love online, it's the greatest place in the whole, wide world and this is just another example of why.

Anyway, it was a wonderful evening and it's nice to know that we've still got the connection that we had when we first met, dated & got married. It's nice to know that we still have more than just the kids keeping us together and that we won't be bored with each other when the kids are gone. Kyle's 16, Amanda's 10 ... I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!!!

1, 2, 3 ...

I'm a counter. Even when I was little I counted the steps from here to there, number of a specific letter in a paragraph, tiles on the floor, whatever was there.
Nowadays, I will count the stitches as I knit them even if it's just stockinette stitch. I don't do it out loud (I'm not weird or anything!) but I do it. I know, why can't I think of these things when those memes come around? For this CPH, I k40, p2, k6, p2, k14, p2, k6, p2, k6, p2, k14, p2, k6, p2, k40 on the RS. I didn't look this up - it's memorized because I count. So I really don't understand how I didn't notice this for 9 whole rows!!! And the Tahki Donegal Tweed is such an excellent wool that I had to actually to rip it out to find & fix it - it didn't unravel any further on it's own!! It just sat there, waiting to be missed and brought back into the mix. Which I did. All better now.

What does this look like to you? Just a soccer ball or a target? A target that is taunting you, daring you to give it your best shot. It took all of my self-restraint to not run it over. I really wouldn't be that mean, but it was really fun to just imagine the BANG!!!

ETA a title - !

No, I didn't sit at the back of the class

Yeah, I've still got it.

You paid attention during 86% of high school!

85-100% You must be an autodidact, because American high schools don't get scores that high! Good show, old chap!

Do you deserve your high school diploma?
Create a Quiz

Another Imaginary Friend

Joan & I finally got out to Cindy's. Ill health and busy schedules conspired against us but I'm nothing if not persistent!

Cindy was camera shy, but she had no problem documenting her stash!! It's not that she's all that anal (but I am put to shame by her organizational skills!), but it's a farm house and some of God's little creatures are looking for shelter from the cold.

Mostly sock yarn.


Other yarn.


Operations Central.


More other yarn.


Knitting library.

She stroked my ego, "You're the best finisher that I know!", plied me yarn , homemade & hearty soup for lunch and the most comfortable chair in the house. How could I not finish a few baby sweaters for her?!? Don't tell Cindy, but I would've done it without the the foreplay!! I really do like seaming so it wasn't all that onerous of a chore. And if Nancy Wiseman can be conned into convinced to finish Cindy's sweaters, I'm in pretty good company! And Cindy's a friend and if you can't help a friend ...


Joan had a great time. She browsed the library, fondled yarn (Cindy sent her home with some souvenirs too!) and knit the day away.

What I'm up Against

I've got my work cut out for me!

Watching TAR with Wannietta - part 12.10

Oh yeah, he totally pushed her!
If anyone can go ripping over a speed bump it's TK & Rachel!

How many "Who's your Daddy?" shirts can one man own (and wear)?
When did they start playing "Nice Jen & Nate"?
You're doing just fine Donald - you do old guys everywhere proud.
That's a mighty high building.
Poor Nate, stuck at the back of the elevator. Kinda sad that Jen is kicking your ass at the running so far.
Quite the trash-talkin' mouth you've got there Nick. I guess we'll see who plays like bitches tonight.
OMG - Thai food comes from Taiwan. His Taiwanese friends are probably from Korea. Does Nate dye his hair?
let there be only one set of seat on the 1:00 flight and let Kristina & Ron get them!!
Oh Kristina, bad Karma.
Poor Jen again - maybe everybody should just let you in front of them and make it easy today since it's your birthday.
I know baby, it sucks to be cute & blonde and not win/get everything that you want.
- they caught up!!
Could Jen look any more miserable and pissed off? I think that she's forgetting that they have an entire extra task to perform.
Well Nick, I guess TK & Rachel aren't playing like bitches so far.

Acrobatics Jeep - I can't wait to see what that entails.
Jen should consider seeing someone to work through some of her entitlement & resulting anger issues.
Awesome - that was nice.
By a slim margin but still in 2nd!
Good one for Ron - he doesn't actually have to do anything. And I'm sure that TAR wouldn't show someone .
I think that Kristina is enjoying this a little too much!! Payback's a bitch!!
I love that Kristina is so fluent in Japanese!
As speed bumps go this is kind of cool and I totally think that they'll be able to do it with .
You're covered in protective gear - no worries.
See - easy-peasy!

Jen will go absolutely thermal if TK & Rachel make the train!


TK & Rachel slack off?!? How do you figure? They had to do an extra task man!
Oh I see. Because you're a high-strung, uptight, entitled (which reallydoes have to be a lot more work) and they're actually enjoying this experience
And on your birthday too!

Fire or Earth ?
Fire looks like fun! THAT is supposed to reduce stress?!?
You made the call Ron - just you remember that.
Crazy white bitch screaming at the will almost certainly make him want to go faster.
Jen should really see a I'm sure that there are medicinal remedies for those moods swings.
Ron was really into that.
Kristina & Ron have got it going on today!! He's even being nice. I'm so glad that Kristina persevered and kept her cool with him. It's really paid off.
You made the call to take the subway Jen - it's on you. Nate's asked you twice now about taking the cab.
Oh, now you want him to make a decision.
Alright Nate - don't let her bitch slap you on this one.

THIS is the self-destruction that I was hoping for last week.
Way to go Kristina & Ron!!!
Way to work it out TK & Rachel!
Nick & Don right behind them.
Jen & Nate are a bit lost ... they found the stone path.
TK & Rachel and Nick & DOn are having a hard time finding an English-speaking cabbie.
- amazing!!!
C'mon Nick & Don - you cannot let Jen & Nate win!
This is just too much ... Jen and Nate are GONE!!!
What's this sappy drivel? Your relationship had no hope on this race - you had way too many issues coming into it! Suck it up buttercup.

Given that Ron has really made some changes and is fairly likeable now I'm kind of torn over which team that I'll be rooting for. Maybe I'll just be one of those mostly impartial reporters. Yeah, that's it. I'll cheer for TK & Rachel and Kristina & Ron and may the best team win!!