Dainty Kitty

Underneath My Being is a Road That Disappeared*

Waking up this morning was a little weird - knowing I didn't have any plans and my phone wasn't, for sure, going to ring.

Speaking of that - you know, I called my mom twice yesterday and finally got a hold of my Dad.  They were helping my uncle move so they were busy but my Mom didn't call me at all today.  I finally called her after my brother called to talk about Christmas plans.  She hadn't mentioned the break up at all.  I was beginning to think maybe my dad had forgotten to tell her or something.  No, she'd gotten busy and Dad had said I was doing okay so - no call.   I know I'm not a sobbing mess but...I was just really surprised not to hear from her at all. 

Anyway, I've been thinking a lot about who I was with Jake - like, who I became and what I let go.  A lot.  I didn't mean to but I think I may do this in every relationship.  I'm like a shape shifter and I take on the appearance of my significant other.   I like what they like and end up doing what they do.  Yeah, I'm not going to do that anymore.  I'm going to reach back out to my friends - the few that I have - and remember what it was like to have friends and go out and have fun.  I became more of a homebody than I meant to.  I mean, sure, there's a certain amount of that that takes place but...too much of that took place for me. 

And I'll never date a non-drinker again...as odd as that rule sounds.   No non-drinkers or men who have no interest in having babies - merely in makin'  'em.

Blog etiquette: what do I do about the fact that several of my posts are grouped in a "jake" category there on the left?  Do I go back and change them all to merely "relationship" or do I leave it as it is?  I mean, I don't want to create a category by name for the next man I date and make my category cloud a running list or anything (I have my fingers crossed that , in the future, this will not be the case).  I think I'll proablby just go back and change them to relationships...or not.  I don't know.  What do you think? 

Anyway, I've been cleaning today.  I've really not been myself lately and my apartment was really showing it.  I even went so far as to clean out my bathroom medicine cabinet and closet - throwing away old make up and things.  It's not like I need to purge Jake from my apartment - he only has a few things here, books he'd loaned me - but I want to feel good again and opening a fridge that hadn't been cleaned out in an embarrassing length of time every day wasn't helping.   

I bought myself roses, too.  I wouldn't have done that normally (I don't even like roses) but they were on clearance at the grocery store for three dollars and who doesn't want to give pretty three dollar roses a home?  They burst open overnight and are now the size of the palm of my hand.  It's sad to think they won't be around by the weekend (that's one reason why I don't like roses) but for now they look good on my coffee table. 

I went to see Into the Wild Friday night and tomorrow I'm going to track down a photo of the crocheted toboggan that played a minor role.  I think it was actually made by someone with an online shop but I'd like to make one.  It's not an uncommon pattern - it's pretty much like the cap I made my dad on the way to Nashville only a little bigger and little longer.   Anyway, it's a great movie - much more uplifting than I'd expected but still a tremendous tearjerker.  I bought the soundtrack last night - all Eddie Vedder.  It's really good, too but only about thirty-three minutes long.  I have a lot of trouble buying a cd that short but I did it anyway.

I'm in the midst of Knocked Up right now.  Cute - and a big Freaks and Geeks reunion.  And working on the Noro Hat  for my dad for Christmas.  I love Saartje's patterns.  The wine cork gnome I made this summer was one of hers and I'm working on a pair of her booties right now for a baby shower next month.

Anyway, back to the movie and the Ben & Jerry's I didn't polish off last night....

Endnote: Hooray - it was cold enough to wear my Jayne hat when I carried out the trash this morning!

* From "Guaranteed" on the Into the Wild soundtrack

Now That I'm Back at Work....

Now that I'm back at work I'm finding that I'm overflowing with things to blog about.  I just want to go home and take a photo of the giant bare space above my couch because my mom and I are rearranging the living room tomorrow and I'm finally going to start filling that space (I've lived in my apartment for nearly two years and have never hung a thing there - I wanted a giant mirror or an old door but never came across either [or spent much time looking for that matter]).   

I also want to take a picture of the tiny painting I found that a thrift store on Sunday for ninety-nine cents.  It won't go over the couch but I already know where I'm going to put it.    It makes me so sad to see someone's artwork on the shelves of a thrift store (even though it's good for me).  Whoever painted this one actually went to the trouble to have it framed at Hobby Lobby. 

I finally want to post about my trip, too. 

But that'll have to wait.  I'm going to Cafe Therapy downtown to meet up with some fellow knitters tonight after work.  Finally! A group that meets somewhere where alcohol is served!  Although, I'm to the toes of my first sock so maybe I should stick with one glass of shiraz...

Until then - isn't this ribbon pinecone cute?  Now that fall is finally coming to Ohio, I might spend an afternoon making some of these to put on Christmas packages. 

Side note because I'm pretty excited about the sudden change in the weather: we're going to Fulton Farm this weekend.  Hayrides!  Pumpkins!  Apple cider!  Oh my!

Pre-Vacay Crunch Time

Lots to do before leaving for Nashville and Destin, Florida on Friday.  Jake and I met for hot apple cider (delicious) and a bit of reading (I found a new author I like quite a bit, Rite Ciresi - I finished Blue Italian last night and am going to pick up at least one more of hers to take on vacay) last night and I made a list of things to pack and things to do (I took tomorrow off to get ready - I always have to have the day before to get organized and the day after to re-cooperate).  I love making lists - I love columns and crossing things off and feeling accomplished.  I also seem to like parenthetical phrases....

I have pictures to hopefully take and post before I leave - I started my first sock and I also received some really cute crochet stitch markers in the mail the other day. 

Ah I hope the work day flies by today. 

If anyone would like a postcard from sunny Destin, Florida, send me your address - sushichickATgmailDOT com.  :-)

The Prize Winner of Dayton, Ohio

Awesome, isn't it?  A knitting tote, a knit bias scarf, frilly armwarmers, stitch markers, sock yarn, posties 'cause E is for Emily (or Excellent - whatever), strawberry black tea (I love strawberries and can't wait to try it), Morehouse Farm - Merino Knits by Margrit Lohrer and Knitorama by Rachael Matthews.  Both books are awesome but about Knitorama she said, "The only thing I made a conscious match to was the Knitorama book; that seemed like you."  Totally!  Such cute kitschy patterns - I can't wait to try a few of them out.

A close up of the scarf and tote.

Kitty stitch markers for Dainty Kitty.

So, again, a bazillion thanks to Kim for running such a fun contest and putting together such a great prize package.  And smooches to Alan for being so damned handsome! 

(She sent the photo with her note - isn't that cute?)

Great Mail!

Egads I got the best prize package EVER in the mail today!  My prize from Kim of Hand Eye Crafts for winning the Knitter's Hunk contest!  The goodies were never ending!  Our mail carrier, Donna, even stuck around to see the booty and even she was overwhelmed by the amazing gifts included in the package (and boy was it more fun to open with someone around to get excited about it with me).

Pictures when I get home (as long as the sun sticks around), I hope.  I complained to Jake that he goes out to dinner with the (female) freind he was having coffee with last night so he's taking me out for Thai tonight.  He's even picking me up (about an hour and a half earlier than we normally get together which is really something)!  I feel like I should wear a dress or something. 

I wonder if he's going to try to kiss me when he drops me off at the end of the night....hee hee!

Then we're going for coffee and a bit of reading and crocheting.  I'm almost finished with my first scarf from the Mr. Funky book (the one that I finished and then frogged) - one more row and a few more flowers on the petals and I'm done.  Should be a really nice night.   We need it.  Or at least I need it. 

Welcome to My Disjointed Thoughts

I've only ever made cheese dip in my slow cooker but this morning I tossed my precut onions, green peppers, garlic, spices and cider vinegar in with kidney beans, pinto beans, chickpeas and crushed tomatoes and left it to stew all day.  Instead of being excited about the wonderful smell that will greet me as I walk through the door, I have the nagging, absolutely silly paranoid feeling that my apartment building is on fire as I type this. 

Well, at least the standing water in my kitchen sink might prevent the fire from spreading throughout the entire building.  I dropped a shot glass into the garbage disposal a week or so ago and it was, of course, running.  The shot glass - thankfully not one of my nicer ones - shattered into a million pieces.  Since it was my fault and I'm also more than a bit paranoid about having strangers in my apartment ever since the February Drywall Incident (when it seemed I could never tell when strangers were going to be in my apartment)...I never called to have it fixed.  I dug out all of the glass (or at least as much as I could feel/let cut my hand) and was very careful about not getting any food in the sink but I failed miserably, I guess - now it's clogged.  I would have called eventually but, seriously, even though I know the maintenance person I'm still incredibly uncomfortable.  She was in on Friday to (finally) hang my blinds (which have been down since the February Drywall Incident) and I wasn't given any notice.  Gah, I hate that.  Thankfully, my usual pit of a craft room was actually clean. 

How's this for coincidence?  A few weeks ago one of the guys that works at the video store next to my complex asked if "we" lived in said apartment complex.  Well, not "we" but, yes, "me."  Turns out he lives there, too, which really isn't all that weird.  What's funny is that we discovered that I went to high school with his older sister and he went to the same school three years later with my brother. 

Anyway, there was a thought process that linked the last two paragraphs but  I can't remember for the life of me what it is.

We're finishing Battlestar Galactica (we started with the miniseries) tonight over chili and asiago cheese bread.  I really didn't think I'd like Battlestar (sorry, Delly) but I found that I did.  I could do without any of the awkward/unneeded sex scenes (I've heard that gets better - right now it's just irritating and I'm certainly no prude) but that's my only complaint.  I've been crocheting or knitting while we watch television for the past few weeks but I took a break to actually cuddle and pay full attention because I think Jake kind of misses that.  I have a lot of trouble sitting still through a movie or even a television show.  I have to have a magazine or book to read during the commercials and slow parts (unless it's a good commercial like the Mastercard one with the three little boys dancing to "We've Got the Funk) and my hands need to be busy doing something.  I've found I have a shorter attention span the older I get.  Sometimes I can't even finish a book and have to stick to magazines and short story anthologies for a period of time. 

Speaking of books - I'm going on vacation soon and need some car/beach reading.  Any suggestions?

Some News and Links to Love

 

Don't these look fantastic?!  Coffee Cupcakes and Homemade Doughnuts topped with whipped cream by the Cupcake Bakeshop by Chokcylit.  I'd really like to get into baking - I make a mean chocolate chip cookie followed by my yummy snickerdoodles - and give these and a few other cupcake recipes I've found recently a try.  Some day, maybe. 

He won!  Alan Rickman is the Official Knitter's Hunk!  Thanks to anyone who may have wandered over to Kim's blog to help me out by voting.  :-)

And this is a link that I've been meaning to post for a couple of weeks now.  The web craft world has recently gotten a little bit bigger!  Meet Miss V of Miss V's Hobby Adventures: a brand new, self taught knitter, a maker of dishtowels, a lover of cats, a fan of the Cubs and someone I just like a lot.  I also have to point out that her very first project was a dish towel made using a basketweave stitch!  Click over and say hello!

Totes, Stardust, David Brent et al

I just ordered the Total Tote on the left there (in lime) from Joann's - a late birthday gift to myself.  The Krafter's Purse (below, on the right - mine is purple and oh how I hate it when people spell "craft" or "country" with a "k") I currently carry is just a little too shallow and a little too small.   It's cute with a "c" but not very good for carrying a crochet or knitting project. 

Monday night I finished my first Kolenya and found that thumbs aren't so hard after all!  I cast on the second one last night and if the weather ever brightens up around here I'll take a photo. 

Last night I went over to Jake's and we tackled the graphite mess left from the fingerprinting process.  That stuff comes up a lot easier than you'd think it would.  Oh, and someone logged on to his MySpace account at some point on Sunday - how weird is that? 

We went to see Stardust on Friday night.  It was very good but it would have been better if Claire Danes didn't use a British accent...and maybe if they hadn't dyed her hair blonde.  I mean, I realize that she's a star therefore the blonde hair makes sense but it just looks really weird.  And Robert DeNiro didn't put on an accent - I don't see why she had to.  One more negative remark - I've decided that Ricky Gervais has one character and one character only.  I loved him as David Brent on The Office but after watching him in Stardust and the series Extras (it wasn't very good so we only watched one disc) I realized that David Brent is all he has which is really too bad.

Anyway, I read the book, Stardust,  by Neil Gaiman this weekend and actually found that I liked the movie better.  So I now have a list of Movies That Are Better Than the Book because two things makes a list, right?  I also read Dances with Wolves and it was horrible.  Anyway, Stardust - very cute movie. 

Have I Mentioned...

that, Keith, my ex from several years ago, is getting married at the Greek Orothodox church on Saturday?  Well he is.  And I'll be scraping paint off Jake's patio mere blocks away.  Seriously.  It's not even a mile away.  It's blocks...like five or six. 

Not that it really matters whether he's getting married around the corner or on the other side of the world.  He was a great boyfriend but he's an even better friend and I wish him all the love and luck in the world. 

But still...it's just funny.  I'm sure I'll think of him in a tux with that unbearably happy yet terribly goofy smile on his face as I sit in my cut offs and tank top, running a heat gun over layers and layers of paint alongside the boyfriend who makes me unbearably happy and terribly goofy. 

Such Things Weigh Heavy and Then Go Away

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