Winter Blues?

I like the shoes!! The sweater is cute, too... I think you just need a better shirt to wear under it... although I'm not sure what...keep trying! :) Not much new here.... I went on a date this past weekend that was really nice. We went and saw a live jazz band in this place called the Artists Quarter in St. Paul. Its in the basement and its just a little place with a circle bar in the middle and black walls and a small stage, and the jazz was really good. Dad would have liked it. As far as the guy, he's really nice and funny and easy to talk to, blah, blah, blah... I really like him, but I don't know. For some reason he seems to think he can't really go out on a date or hang out unless it is to drink, and he's had some bad luck with drinking lately, so he thinks its better to not do anything. Its kind of depressing. What else is depressing is the fact that the news tells me that we will have 60 consecutive hours of sub-zero temperatures this weekend. This time last year I was swimming in the ocean at midday and midnight and watching the southern cross migrate across the sky.

I'd love to come there for my spring break, which is by the way, March 10 - 18. But only if we do something exciting. How busy will you be then? Because I hate to say it, but Huntsville just doesn't attract me very much. But first, I need to figure out how I'd pay for a ticket there. There are also this trip through the Center for Outdoor Adventure (like the Everglades one) to Okefenokee in Georgia-- two days backpacking Cumberland Island and three days paddling. $325 for everything... I was thinking about doing that, too. We'll see.

So here's my new bulletin board... and the scarf I am making out of yellow yarn and the kool-aide dyed yarn you gave me. Its going slow because I wasn't sure how I wanted to do it and ended up starting over a good way into it like four times. But I think I've got it down now and I like it so I want it to be done...

As far as my big decision... The biggest problem is, I know what I have to do, and I know that right now I am ok with it, because I'm making new friends and enjoying my geology classes and job...its all very new and novel. But I also know that no matter how much I get to travel this spring and summer (which is actually a lot, I know) I will still have to spend all winter here next year. I will need a change of scene and I'll get sick of this job and these people and want something else. I know I will wish I went if I don't go. And I hate that feeling, but how could I leave and risk losing everything I'm establishing here now? Arg. I'm looking at it like a lose-lose situation, when it really should be a win-win situation.

But I have a feeling that I will have to deal with this type of dilhemma for the rest of my life just because of how I am.

Twinkle Toes!

New shoes!!! It is a rare find for me. I hardly ever find shoes I like. But I really like these. And they're comfortable. Double yeah! What do you think?

No luck at the yarn store yesterday. I was looking for yarn for this sweater, the Venus, which I told you about yesterday. But nothing. All the bulky yarn is wool and I don't want wool because I live in ALABAMA, the land of hot. So I will look online, I think. I'll let you know how that goes.

And here is me wearing my sweater-tank yesterday. Bill said it looked like I was wearing a basketball jersey, so I took it off mid-day. I didn't think it looked that bad, but I know that my sense of style isn't what it once was. The sweater is very warm though, perfect for an Alabamian mid-winter day. It will be in the bottom drawer from now on.

So, any thoughts on that spring trip to the Heart of Dixie?

Knitting Overload

Okay, I'm getting a little over excited. I have too many projects I want to do. I want sweaters. but I want instant gratification. my patience is waning. i want to make this sweater. Here is another view. I also want to make a Sizzle. Gorgeous, no? A similar sweater that I like is here. I want that one too. Let's see... I also like the adorable skirt and the cardigan in Knit 2 Together. I bought the book this weekend. There are a ton of fabuouls projects in it. I also like this t-shirt and the Karalund from this book (scroll down). I am also in the process of a sweater for Bill. It will take forever, I know. Oh yeah, and now that I've got my sewing machine up and running, I want to make this.
So I am off to the yarn store. I must buy yarn for some incredible project. I'll keep you posted.
PS. I'm wearing the tank top I made. its okay.

Conundrum

Here is a picture of how far I am on the entrelac scarf. I'll send you the directions whenever I get around to sending you the rest of the stuff I have been intending to send you for about a month now... The scarf is coming along quite nicely, but I am starting to wish it was finished. I have been working on it incessently for weeks now. Its my only project. Except for the quilt for Bill. I finally brought my sewing machine back yesterday and upgraded to a nicer model. It works much better and I am ready to have a sew-a-thon so that I can get the quilt done by V Day.





Now, about your conundrum. It seems to me that you are leaning towards just staying in MN. I think it would probably be the best career decision... what with your new job and everything. Stuff like that always has the potential to lead to bigger and better things, especially if publications are involved. Let me think some more though. I do think that either way, you should probably take a trip to the dirty south this spring so we can hang out. Looks like Mom & Dad are backing out and aren't coming anymore. Something about having to work....





Hope you're enjoying your below-zero weather up there. Bill is keeping me up to date on your weather situation & boy am I glad I am in Alabama. Its cold here, too, though. Like, 25 degrees. It got down to 14 last night. Thats darn cold for here! If only it would snow.





I'm off to the post office to mail 2 reserach proposals I have been working on all last week and this weekend. Wish me luck!



But the boys wanted to tell you they're ready for you to take them on their walk:

-7 degrees outside.

Here's what I have had in the back of my mind for the past couple weeks, and as I am looking at my calendar, I realize that I need to make a decision on it soon! Should I go to Montana or not next year and for how long? I have to apply by February 9th, and with the application, a $200 non-refundable deposit is required.

Important points in the decision include:
a. The new job with the petrology lab I have only had a chance to work a few time so far, but I really like it a lot... I like the guys I'm working for/with, I like learning about what I'm doing, and I actually like the work itself, and I've only been doin the minor stuff so far. They say I will progress and learn more and get to do my own experiments, and get to maybe contribute to papers they publish. If I leave for the next year, the chances of coming back and being able to start up again where I left off isn't too good.
b. Things like I hate Minnesota winter and it's making me crazy...I want to travel... I want to live in a town like Missoula... I want to be able to step into the mountains out my back door... I want to be able to bike all winter because it doesn't snow in the valley... I want to move away and experience something new and make new friends and all that jazz.
c. But I am actually making a lot of friends in my classes here that I am getting along with really well and I really like the geology department here. I actually don't mind my classes, I like my proffesors, yada yada yada. When has THAT happened?! Why would I want to jinx that!?
d. I miss Sarah and I wish that I would/could have another opportunity to live with her... or at least in the same city! Along the same lines, if I stay, Vicki will be here and as much as I love Vicki, I find that she really stresses me out a lot. I don't know how I'd tell her that I don't want to live with her next year. And I don't know who else I'd live with.... although that I could figure out somehow.
e. I will have a chance to go out west this summer with the two field camps, but I probably won't be able to see much besides exactly where we go since the transportation is given and the time is all planned out. Also, even if I wanted to stay out there the rest of the summer and find a job, Sarah is planning to get a job elsewhere so she probably won't be there in the summer.
f. Financial aid isn't guaranteed going to Montana OR going here. I got a lot last year but it could be a fluke or it could be the plan again. Who knows what I'll get. What I do know is: tuition is lots cheaper in Montana, and so is an apartment. But, I'd also have to get there and get home. But since I know people it might just be a matter of chipping in for gas which wouldn't be so bad. g. One of the big things about going to Missoula was the community that everyone says is there. And the town is really cool to live in. But, the longer I live here, the more I know about the cities and know the cool places to go and cool things to do. And, I really have started to experience the whole community thing with the Geo dept even if that isn't quite the same...

So what do you think the evidence suggests here? I know what I'm leaning towards but I'm curious what you think. I bet I know what you think.... but maybe you're thinking of something else in addition... hmmmmmmm.


You know that bulliten board we covered with photos? I covered it with staples and fabric and then photos. It looks lots nicer now. Can I have the pattern you were making that scarf with? I am working on a scarf made out of yellow yarn and the yarn you gave me that you died. I'm excited. Its very bright and springy and a little retro. It's made of squares of each color and kind of slanted sideways lke diamonds. I'll show you a picture when I get a chance.

Rainy In Mexico

This week is going well. I saw an old friend from camp Manito-wish randomly on campus and made plans to meet up with another old friend from freshman year. I entered the new friend market last week and my investments are doing rather well if I do say so myself. There is a lounge in the geo building that is quite cozy where everyone seems to congregate between classes, which is nice because I used to always go home for breaks and I don't have to anymore. It has old comfy couches, darts, candy and pop to buy, lockers, large windows, and even an old beer can collection (not as big as dad's though!) Anyway I've already had some pretty interesting discussions in there with people about relationships, love, and stupid high school stories.... good way to get to know people, no? And they're having a "geology people" party this weekend that I will probably go to at one guy's house.

Julia, Tessa and I started a new tradition that I really think I'm gonna like, as well. Yoga class for free at Boynton Health Services every Tuesday and Thursday evenings. I had never done a yoga class before and I like it a lot... Maybe not the same as Conditioning but definitely a good way to start out I think.

The chair is an exciting find... and so is the tea! I actually just had a cup of it myself the other day. I've been hoarding it for a long time now! I found this little hat at a vintage store in Uptown and took a picture with it because it looked rediculous but actually I think it kind of is a cool photo. To clarify if you can't see, it's made of feathers. Classy.

Have you read Siddhartha? I am just finishing it now. Everyone who's read it says its a must-read, but I'm not so sure. I wasn't too impressed. It is about the life of this guy who lived during Buddha's time and how he isn't ever satisfied and so as he goes through life he goes from a very spiritual man to a hobo to a rich man to a simple, wise ferryman. It is true, but I don't think its anything new or says exceptional. And I didn't really like the style of writing. It was very simple and didn't give you much to visualize. I have a long reading list for after this so hopefully one of these will be better: The Sun Also Rises, A Farewell to Arms, Cat's Cradle, Tales of A Female Nomad, The Stranger (one of my favorites-- I have a copy I want to read in French though!!) and still to finish Zen & the Art of Motorcycle maintenance...

And, lastly, I heard from my friend Michelle the other day and she is safe and sound in Mexico, but still adjusting. And she said it's rainy where she is, which incidentally I have no idea how to spell so I won't include here, but that's where my heading came from.

Things Found

You are absolutely right, you are crazy. But then I have always thought that. I can hardly get myself to take the dogs for a walk once a day. But run around a track in a gym? No way. Ah, but science fields are way more demanding than all the others, in my opinion of course. I always had class all day, every day, while the majority of my friends had at least Friday off completely, if not Monday too. No fair indeed, by hopefully all the work will pay off, or at the least you'll be smarter than them...

So, looky what I found at the bottom of my tea

box this morning... Its vanilla-coconutty deliciousness was lovely. I enjoyed it throughly while folding laundry early this morning. And I have you to thank for that (the tea, not the laundry).

And another found item: I found this chair on the side of the road this weekend, waiting for the trash. A perfectly good chair, all I had to do was recover the seat, which consisted of stapling a piece of fabric to it. Love it. I wish there was another one! Its perfect for right by the front door as a place to throw my purse and keys when I come in. And of course, to hang my knitting bag on, when I'm not knitting.And if I ever get my sewing machine to agree with me, I will be sewing. So there is fabric, not so much found as it was purchased, but on clearance...The bright orange and yellow flowered fabric along with the rust colored fabric is going to be an apron and the tan/white fabric will likely be a halter top. Hancock Fabric had patterns for $2, so I bought a few... I'm not sure what I will do with the blue flowered fabric, but it was cheap and I thought it was cute. Maybe a pillow?

And lastly, the tank top I finished. I may never wear it, but it is the first piece of clothing I knitted, so its kind of exciting!

Family pictures

I do love that we finally got around to taking a family roommate picture, and since i have no adorable pups to share with you this is what you get....

Not lot of news but I am going snowshoeing next weekend with Environment House which I am excited about because it gives me an excuse to like the snow.

Other than that, it never ceases to amaze me that everyone I talk to seems to have have multiple days of the week where they have only one or two classes, or even days off....My easiest day has two classes, and from there it jumps right on up. I think that in keeping with my normal tradition of setting my goals way too high at the beginning of the semester and slowly but surely lowering them until just below the limits of sanity, I will drop my phy ed class, conditioning. And create an elaborate work out plan that I can freely ignore without any threat to my gpa. Really, I was crazy to even think I would get up at 8am twice a week to go run laps in a field house gym.

Poor, poor puppies

I finally found the picture of Sophie. She's cuter than she looks in this picture, but its all okay because she found a home!!! But, now I just got an email that there is a mother and 8 puppies that are starving and have been abused that they need a home for. I want to take them, but I just can't handle 9 more dogs!!! Its so sad that people can treat animals like that. The guy that had them said he was going to shoot them if someone didn't take them. It makes my heart break...




I am still on my container kick, but I thought I would show you a picture of what I have so far. The blue one is made from one of the sweaters I bought at Goodwill when I was home, the middle one is a felted bowl, and the far one is made from string with wool trim. If I do another string one, I will use 2 strands instead of one because I think that will make is sturdier.







I bought a sewing machine the other day, nothing fancy, but I am excited to start using it. Unfortunately, I haven't had the time. I want to finish the quilt for Bill in time for Valentine's Day. I don't know if that is realistic or not. I also want to make some curtains and maybe a pillow or something. You can see in the background of the picture my blue box at work.


As for my knitting, I have to rip out part of that tank top and redo it, and more containers, and start the other sock from Mom. But its the beginning of the semester and there's limited amount of time. Spring is especially busy for me, you know.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Snowstorm and Sunny Skies

The weekend before the start of the semeter brought 6 inches of blizzard and as much as I love the make-over it has given the city, it really makes it difficult to get places that take more than an hour to walk or bus to, for example, Julia and Tessa's house. Frustrating.

But even so, the sun has been shining since it stopped snowing and sunshine IS something I've needed. Anyway not much time before the semester starts actually swingin so I've got a lot of reading, knitting, and sewing to do. My project list goes something like this: ...several coin purses ... one hat ... two sets of leg warmers ... one painting ... several head bands ... line my felted bag ... and finish the felted bag for sarah!

What I did finish were two needle holders which were pretty easy. I sent one to Mom and she liked it I think. And, I made an apron out of the scrap material to make cooking dinner fun!

Number ONE

Well, here I am trying to do my first post. how exciting. So I am trying to think of news...

Oh yes, Sophie got adopted! A very nice lady with 3 cats and a huge yard adopted her. I was kind of sad, but she will be very happy in her new home.




I was going to put a picture of Sophie b/c I know you never saw her, but I couldn't find one so I put one of Porter instead. I don't know if you've seen a picture of him, either.



In more crafty news, I have feverishly been making containers... felted bowls, felted boxes, not-so-felted boxes, and I even put my new crocheting skills to use making a box out of string. Very cute. I am going to send you one, along with other things when I get a chance. I also made a tank top from this pattern ( http://alison.knitsmiths.us/pattern_spring_fling.html). But the straps weren't long enough, so I shall have to rip them out and do-over. I'll let you know how it goes.