Posts for category ‘Exercise’

I have been pondering (obsessing is more like it) the definitions of the word “compromise” and the power that they yield. In one respect we come to an agreed status such as a battle where the opponents come to a cease fire. Another aspect is when self values and beliefs are held back between parties to ensure one another’s happiness such as a pair of lovers who do not share similar feelings about certain habits or tastes. Upon hearing the word, it is easy for some folks to feel angst.

For myself, personal situations arose in which I would staunchly compromise even though doing so would go against my internal gut feelings. The first is my battle with type 2 diabetes. I am constantly having to compromise what I cannot eat with what I want to eat. The deciding blow was the realization to perform more cardio exercise in order to burn up more of the sugar in my bloodstream. I love food and have accepted what I need to do in order to have more of it in my life.

The second was when I discovered Rufus the Rough had been beating up my Mischievous Julius so badly that Jules was terrified of leaving his sleeping spot outside my bedroom. I was blind to when I placed food in front of both of them in the kitchen — Jules would take his dinner and run back to his spot while Rufus stayed put on his side of the pen. My deciding blow was when I saw Rufus actually lunge and bite Jules in the same shoulder that was previously torn open. Needless to say, Rufus is back home with his warren.

The last personal situation I will mention was realizing what I was doing in order to have friendships. The past few months have shown me that I do not have to force myself in staying with an unhappy relationship just to look good for others’ eyes. I want to be friends with the folks who appreciate me and I do not need to compromise every single personal belief in order to do so. Constant compromise in that respect will lead to resentment, fighting, and overall a bad atmosphere.

As for being compromised in social media, so far the only issue is when I discovered I was being stalked recently. It scared me because I took it for granted that I do not publicize where I live or even the addresses of my friends whenever I visited them. The shock is slowly wearing off, but I am more cautious now of what I share on Twitter and Facebook. So please forgive me for not updating as I normally have, but I am a bit shy at the moment. Sometimes compromise can lead to wake up calls. In my case a few of them were screaming nightmares. =:8

To those folks who have not figured it out yet, I have many interests that run the gamut in sports, hobbies, technology, food, and drink. In the last six months I have been more determined to have no regrets because I want to try all that I can even if doing so causes pain. A few recent events have happened, and each offers its own lesson.

• Getting back in the saddle has more meaning now than falling off the mechanical bull I rode with @ShepherdSusie. I have started back into yoga and aim to lose the weight I gained since moving here plus the ten pounds required by my diabetes. I am also doing all I can to overcome sudden financial barriers that have appeared to blindside me. At least my new career has developed into a dream job that I absolutely love, and that I am grateful.
• Folks whom I had thought are friends were never ones in the first place. I now am surrounding myself with people who are worthy of my trust. These local friends and acquaintances are fellow professionals that I cherish in my private circle with my fiber arts pals, bunny-loving friends, technology fans, social media cronies, and fellow sports mates throughout the world.
• Seeing death calmly and peacefully does not allow the emotional and mental anguish to pour out. The passive cuts are slowly bleeding my soul. I am addressing each one in my own way — nurturing and repairing constantly. Each healed piece fills the jigsaw puzzle of my normally “hoppy” self. In time what I feel inside will match the energetic smile I always share in public.

Recently to lift up my spirits I have been alternating “The Princess Bride” with “For Love of the Game” (another one of my favorite movies). Kevin Costner is the starring lead as the MLB Detroit player Billy Chapel who is pitching against the New York Yankees. During his game, he shows the same drive and selfishness that I require of myself to achieve my goals. In my favorite scene, it is towards the end when Billy feels that he cannot continue with the game, his catcher replies:

“Chappy, you just throw whatever you got — whatever’s left. The Boys are all here for you. We’ll back you up; we’ll be there. ‘Cause Billy, we don’t stink right now. We’re the best team in baseball right now right this minute because of you. You’re the reason. We’re not going to screw that up. We’re going to be AWESOME for you right now.
Just THROW.“

Still on the edge between failure and heroics, Billy Chapel pitches poorly in the inning. He notices that his manager has begun warming up the bullpen and gets antsy. He then hears his father’s words in his head:

“Billy… Billy, you can do it. Just calm down. Throw the ball to the glove.
Just play catch.”

Whenever I am feeling down, I recall this scene. The two words “Just throw” could be applied in so many ways. “Throwing” is a technique in both knitting and crocheting. “Throws” are also known as blankets or shawls. Marketing and public relations speakers “throw” out pitches and ideas. Weekly I “throw” darts at a board with my awesome Blacksburg Area Darts team, Perfectly Awful. My goal this spring is either to find a team to play softball or to play rugby (lots of throwing there!). I constantly am “throwing” out my thoughts and feelings on Twitter, Facebook, and Plurk. It is when I step back, think, and not “Just throw” but also “Just play catch” that I finally relax. =:8

Many thanks to everybunny who has been sending all the well wishes and good vibrations. The classic Beach Boys song in the title has been ringing in my head since Friday, and I welcome it. In following up on why I am not attending the Boston Job Fair, I realized that the companies I wanted to see were going to be in Dulles, VA, and not Boston. Hmmm… I see a road trip in my future!

Lately there has been a Meme going around Facebook, and I was tagged by a few folks. I decided to participate and post the results here on da’ blog. If anybunny feels like writing up his/her 25 things, feel free to link me up. =:8
—————————————————————
Rules in Facebook:
Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you.
(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)

01. I grew up watching television mysteries, thanks to my mother — Quincy, Barnaby Jones, Ironside, Charlie’s Angels… We watched it.
02. My favorite television cartoons are Scooby Doo Mysteries and Johnny Quest — I give them full credit for keeping me young.
03. I watch “Murder, She Wrote” almost every weeknight — I love JB’s observational skills and how she uses them to catch the murderers.
04. I still own my first car, a 1970 Ford Fastback. It popped out of Dearborn 3 months after I was born. One of my lifetime goals is to restore my baby back to nearly new for street driving.
05. I still sleep with my giant Paddington Bear, Skipper — a Christmas gift from my sister.
06. I learned to surf during the summer of my junior year in high school — I became addicted and constantly sought for that “high” when dropping in on a wave for years.
07. Surfing inspired me to purchase one of the “Apocalypse Now” surfboards (has not happened yet) and also gave me three of my favorite movies: “Big Wednesday” “Endless Summer” and “Gidget”
08. While in college, I was in the VA Tech Corps of Cadets (VTCC). I went from USAF, to USAA, to Corps only, to dropping out completely.
09. Thanks to the VTCC, I learned how to spout “Monty Python’s Holy Grail” and “The Princess Bride” word-for-word.
10. Also, thanks to the VTCC’s seats in Lane Stadium, I became hooked on college football, and have since brought my husband into the fold of NCAA Bowl Games. (GOOOO, HOKIES GO!!)
11. I can be very ADD to the point that I get overwhelmed and have no idea what I should be doing first — that is why I make lists. (FOCUS!!)
12. My OCD for perfection can frustrate me if I cannot finish everything of my task in one session or sitting. (IE, do not come near me when I am occupied or I might bite something off.)
13. My blog posts tend to be long since each generally takes a week for me to write from idea to finish — the Yarn Harlot’s visit to WEBS in May 2008 took months to write.
14. Like most Filipino kids in my hometown, I studied classical piano and took karate — I stopped after 10 years of the piano, 6 years for the karate.
15. I am hooked on knitting — the working of the hand/eye coordination, deciphering charts/instructions in multiple languages, finishing the project, and the seeing joy in the recipients’ faces completely enraptured me.
16. Because of knitting, I am somewhat obsessed with my yarn stash — it is now a nice-sized collection that necessitates an insurance rider.
17. I am in my second marriage — the first happened a week before I turned 29, and lasted 10 months before I walked out.
18. Because of my ex-husband, I became hooked on having a warm towel after a shower/bath and bought a standing towel warmer as my “engagement” present for my second wedding.
19. In Virginia, I played flanker in a local woman’s rugby league for three years before work started taking over my life. I truly do miss playing and the camaraderie.
20. I worked four years at one of the largest hospital networks in Virginia — 2 years as an administrative associate on the graveyard shift at the ER and Maternity wards, 2 years as desktop/helpdesk support for information systems.
21. It does not take much for me to pull close to an “all-nighter” but I will crash at 8AM sharp after staying up for so long — drinking tea and soda just might be a bit of a factor.
22. I have the following contact lenses colors: sapphire blue, turquoise, honey, and lavender — I wore the sapphire ones as my “something blue” for my second wedding.
23. I have 3 photographs I keep of my favorite dog in the world, Natasha, my Golden Retriever who left us on April 27th, 2000 — one of us two on the 3rd Street Jetty rocks, one of her and Penelope Lane Bunny, and one of her in an Elizabethan collar on October 31st.
24. At one point, there were 10 rabbits in the house — our 3 houserabbits plus the 7 that I rescued from a backyard breeder.
25. Currently there are four houserabbits living at home — all are “fixed” and two of them are a bonded husbund/wife pair.

While browsing through Facebook, I discovered one friend was tagged in a photo. The tag was for somebunny’s funeral. Blinking my eyes and shaking my head twice, I clicked into the photo set and matched familiar names with unfamiliar faces — faces that have aged within the past 2 decades. These folks were ones that I might have run into had I stayed in Virginia Beach and kept up in the social scene.

Whenever anybunny that I knew from high school dies, the death never fails to make myself ponder my own life, what I have accomplished, and if I am close to being satisfied with myself. We seem to find ourselves always reaching for some kind of goal running the gamut from a particular yarn to own or a pattern to make, then to graduating with a particular degree or a highly titled career. This week has been quite an adventure.

In our country’s political news:
Sarah Palin still opens her mouth (bad because her voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me) spars with President Barack Obama being sworn into office.

At my beloved VA Tech:
That gruesome graduate student’s decapitation spars with the Men’s Basketball team beating number one ranked Wake Forest.

As for myself, I was “pink slipped” on Friday at noontime — I no longer work at Verdasys as a Support Engineer for their Digital Guardian product. The exit interview was a positive one. When I discovered that management had been trying to find another position for me in the company so as to keep me, it offered assurance that I would be welcomed back when the economy turned. This turn of events makes life a little crazier now that Richie and I are both at home. Unlike his last job, our relief is that I was given severance with leftover vacation and I can receive unemployment funds. Since he worked as an IT contractor, he did not get any compensation for all his hourly time at the pharmacy chain’s home office. I am so glad he was able to put away money to cover his time while he was out. Crossing paws, we are hoping he lands one of the positions for which he interviewed, while I take some much-needed mental health time.

In my package, I have until March 31st for Verdasys to cover any medical/dental items. Due to a fear of dentists, I avoid them but have been extremely lucky with my dental health. My teeth are still perfectly straight and cavities are nowhere to be found. I do miss getting my teeth polished and wonder if all that free soda, tea, and coffee has affected them. Since my eyeglasses are showing their years of wear and tear, replacing them and ordering contact lenses seem like a good idea. Guess what appointments I am making on Monday?

This stunning event has awakened opportunities in one of my former fields, 3-phase power engineering. While chatting with a friend from The Corporation, he mentioned that various resellers were seeking folks of my caliber. I then chatted with a reseller friend who worked along The Corporation about my current career status. His response? “If you can relocate, I have a job for you.” Stunned, I asked where — Las Vegas, NV. I tried to imagine Richie in the desert heat, giggled at the visual, and became sad. The only way I could ever leave Rhode Island for better pastures in my career would be if we divorced.

Another positive effect is the obviously increased spare time. For the next few weeks I now can:

• Finish the knitting WIPS and queue that have been on my radar for so long (I laugh like Val Kilmer in Real Genius to my Roanoke buds about the Bias Fair Isle Pullover like Marnie had made — Hahahaha!).
• Finally address the condition of the House. Whenever I became emotionally upset I avoided dealing with it, something that I had always done as long as I can remember. Now that my sister will be up for the Boston Marathon, getting the house ready for her visit is a huge motivation. Plus, I will be back to cooking soon enough. First item to make? Lasagna and garlic rolls!! (FYI: Bread is one of my favorite foods to make. I used to knead up lots of honey wheat bread every winter.)
• Review everything I have learned career-wise from the past 10 years in order to ready myself for any job opportunity that pops up. I had been called a “Boy Scout” at one position because I was always prepared for any mishap or situation; I am kicking it up to a new level to include various skills.
• Continue teaching myself the rudimentary basics of the languages I want to know — French, Danish, Italian, and Japanese. Although since I had found this lace website in Russian a year ago, I might add that to the list.
• Revamp my exercise routine to include my Wii Fit and Dance Revolution. One goal to address is running the Gaspee Days 8K in June. Another goal is to play in the local women’s rugby league. Whoa, I just realized that I can be playing my Wii again! Baseball or Kniittiing anybunny?
• Participate at my various affiliated organizations. I am putting back the hours into Sweet Binks Rabbit Rescue that was lost while I was working in Waltham. Ravelry has always been my after hours no-pay job, but I am addressing the more tedious administrative work in my groups and am increasing my time the Ravelry Help! chat room on Lingr. Goody bags and prizes for the Paw Sox “Stitch and Pitch” on May 17th need to be jump-started. Knitting meet ups and LYS visits are being scheduled — I believe no explanation is needed on why.
• Start job hunting, which will involve a job fair in Boston this Tuesday. This also involves updating my website, resume, LinkedIn page, and then networking with my contacts. Where I will be applying is to be determined in three weeks after my mental health break.

Oy, I think I have enough items to keep sparring with the disappointment for awhile… For now I will finish the WIPs that I had started for my friends at Verdasys. =:8

Finally I am sneaking in time to enter a blog post! For the past couple of months I have been occupied with work and found myself feeling detached to everything else. Sure, I managed to make it to special guild meetings (courtesy of Guido Stein and the Common Cod Fiber Guild), knitting SNBs/circles, and conferences (Stitches East with the awesome Ravelry Helpers). However there are little bombs inside my head that want to explode. I am wrestling with them during my daily drive, and sometimes hourly at home.

Every year I make resolutions and then immediately break them. They all fall in the same line: weight loss, driving more at work, turning WIPs into FOs, fixing up the house, volunteering more charity work, saving money, and then blogging about it all. Last year of 2008 was full of surprises — both good and bad. I hope to make 2009 a bouquet of sweetness whenever possible. Doing so may involve in closing off harmful relationships (all are muggle ones) to my psyche. If these old ties were true friends, they would understand. For now I shall sharpen my skates and sprint across my icy network as fast as I can. I may even bunny dance during my run!

In the knitting realms, Ravelry has definitely kept my attention — and the attention of over two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) members. Though the membership seems small, Ravelry made its debut to a very select handful on April 11th, 2007 and has skyrocketed membership like a “hockey stick” in a graph. The niche of “internet crafting” is amazing to behold, and Ravelry caters worldwide primarily to knitters and crocheters who are also spinners, sewers, weavers, and jewelers. The site can be very overwhelming to those not familiar with forums, but the information and social networking aspect can be harnessed into powerful business connections.

A few examples are presented in the following:
1. All members are given a Notebook to track their projects, yarn stash, needles/hooks, library, friends, and other items. The organizational aspect helps leash each member’s tigers of piles.
2. Local yarn shop owners on Ravelry have found that when customers come into their shop and are fuzzy on pattern material details (“I think the pattern’s name is ‘Wavy Wimple’ but I am not sure.”), the LYSO can go online and look up the pattern and suggest the yarn and tools necessary to make it.
3. For events like Rhinebeck S&W, TNNA, and Maryland S&W, vast information including what vendors to check out, which hotels to stay/avoid, where to find the best eateries, and when the meet ups occur were communicated in specific forums.
4. Designers have the ability to create their own shop in which members can browse their patterns and decide to buy/download after seeing how other folks did in following them. There are future works that will allow Dyers and Spinners the same ability.
5. Specific guilds, groups, and shops can communicate with their friends, members, and/or customers. Kate, the president of Massachusetts MetroWest Knitting Guild’s group posts messages about upcoming meetings and sponsored events. The “Cuppa Tea?” group brings folks from all over the world to profess their love of tea types and where to find them. The “Ocean State Crafters” group discusses items like where to shop or local events. Gina’s Mosaic Yarn Shop Maniacs host various knit-alongs, list classes, and updates on their fellow members.

These lines of communication have networked folks around the world together. Digesting all of this information is a constant work of art, but I love it. Adventurous stories to come soon — I promise!! Meanwhile, please note the other social webs that I live and feel free to include me. Now, I leave you some of Richie’s chocolate cake with white vanilla “almost buttercream” frosting… Bunny hugs! =:8

Well maybe not everywhere, but this crazy bunny ended up playing in our fourth softball game Thursday night because of the “3 women must be on the playing field” rule in our league. What? I never mentioned that I play softball? Teehee, nobunny is missing much. I had never played before until a month after I started working at my new job and was told about a team being formed. Knowing that I lack the hand-eye-coordination to catch or bat, I warned folks that as much as I would like to play, I would not be a good player but would be a good cheerleader. With the first two games postponed due to rain, somehow I ended up in the batting line-up in the third game. I surprised myself by actually hitting the ball for a base hit and out-running the throw to first! Wow! Excited from being able to get on base, I called my (high school jock) sister “Ace” after the game. I could tell she was proud for me. Admittedly I think losing the extra weight helped in running around the bases. Now if I could only lose those last additional pounds…

Clicking the photo of myself on base will show how badly I felt during Thursday’s game. I kept coughing up a storm, and my misery was evident. We did win 24 to 17, so at least my pain amounted to something! One of the coolest shots is of us after we said “good game” to the other team when everything was over. The three men in the middle consist of one of my co-workers Ron (#11), my boss Jerry (grey cap), and QA extra-ordinaire Mike (with glasses). The photos above are from a friend from work, Misha. He has a fabulous camera and is one of our team’s “official” photographers. The photo below shows the other photographer Rich M. in the background and Misha in the foreground. I remember taking the photo, but was getting agitated because I could not find it. Later I realized that I was using the coach’s camera, not mine. DUH! The other photo happened when I drove home on Thursday. Right after the game, it began to rain, then it downpoured. Driving on the newly grooved Route 128 highway was not fun. Attempting to Kinnear a rainbow in the downpour is also not fun! Please excuse the blurriness, but it was the only shot of many that shows the colors best.

Now with the title mentioning bunnies, I just had to post some recent photos that I took of my fur-children in action. Today Zydeco kept flopping on his side, so I just could not resist snapping the camera at him. The other is his “giving disapproval” look on taking his photo the other night.

For the crazy part, Julius is still pining for a girlfriend and keeps hoping Jessica Bunny will give in and be his. Unfortunately for him, this middle-aged biddy has other thoughts. By the way, that photo of her and him together is her biting him in an attack!

Teehee! Time for the Secret Pal 12 Question of Week 8!
What is your favorite supper for a hot summer evening? (For added “flavor”, post a photo or recipe link)
With this SP12 question, I had to think for a bit but only for a short time. My favorite meal ever during the summer was just over (gasp!) 13 years ago. My sister Ace, our room-mate Anita, their (now husbands) boyfriends, my “puppy” (that was what my rugby teammates referred to the hapless creature), and I cooked a bushel of blue-crab along with a couple pounds of butter. Pair that with cases of cold beer and white German wine, and that is a feast to remember! Lately I have a tendency to pick up 2-3 pounds of King crab legs or large shrimp. Somehow those and lobster salad sandwiches seem to be the summer treat in the house. However, since showing a photo is mentioned, I will happily show everyone what I eat about every morning. A two-egg omelet (well that day it was a frittata) of bacon, cheese, onions, and tomatoes paired with a parfait of fresh fruit, granola, and yogurt. Add my cup of tea and loads of water, that is what I eat daily for my diet! =:8

Too many assignments to finish, too many projects to make, too many errands to run, too many posts to write, too many yarns to play with — not enough hours in the day. So goes life for most of us, eh?

In being frank, I do need to get a better handle on my spent time. I have been trying to reorganize my bedroom (Rich gets one, I get one, and we share the master) so that I can work out and knit upstairs in peace. I have a crunch appliance/tool/gizmo that my best-friend-in-RI let me have, a medium-sized Pilates ball, yoga mat, assorted sizes of weights, and now all I need is space to use it. I may have to tackle that bedroom on Sunday during the nice lovely weather that is hitting the area. I would tidy up tomorrow, but I am going to see Carol Sulcoski at WEBS for the signing of her co-authored “Knit So Fine” book. I also need to see if I can find more of a blue cotton/wool yarn for my friend of (GASP) 21 years, Eric. We dated for a bit during and years later after college, and are smart enough to know that we are better off as pals. When I asked if he would like a knitted item, he requested a cabled v-neck pullover. I finally found the yarn and have 3 patterns to decide upon. I am hoping to finish the sweater by Christmas. He is in great shape and could get away with a women’s design. Just thinking about the whole bit gives me shivers. =:8

Shelby‘s SP12 Question #3: *What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?*
Is she giving us tough ones to answer or what? Here is my short and sweet response…
*From the Ravelry Helpers Birthday Swap Questionnaire*
What is your name? What is your quest? What is your favorite color?
Some Bunny’s Love, I mean, Kimberly.
To acquire all the yarn in the world.
Ummm… Not neon?

Slowly I am gaining control of my life. It first started when I decided to cut my hair, then I made a change in my eating habits to be healthier — or at least not as gluttonous. I started knitting more conscientiously about what I am making and what each detail symbolizes. I started getting a better idea on how much I am on Ravelry — maybe too much to comprehend? As for stash-enhancement-experiences, I am guilty of over-indulging a bit much. There are too many yarns “with whispering voices calling to me” (figure out where that phrase is from?) for projects begging to be made. To counteract the weight gain of yarn, I have taken up losing body weight and clothing sizes.

When Rich and I married four years ago, I was a fat bride and hated being one. Seeing myself in the mirror grow in size since I was 30 years-old depressed me and I kept wishing myself strong and healthy again. Without any support from home and work in everything I did and wanted to do, I found myself getting worse emotionally, mentally, and physically. When I was “walked” out in March, something snapped in my head for an unknown reason and the drive grew to become the person that I knew was inside.

I realized that my choices of what I put into my body were the main culprit to how I looked. I started grazing during the course of the day, and only ate heavier types of food for breakfast and lunch. I cut down on my meat intake and doubled my dairy intake. One discovery was a flavored/enhanced water that contained 2-3 grams of fiber in each serving — roughly 5 grams per bottle. Lately I eat lighter during lunch with a salad, or a cup of soup with a side of vegetables, but I still make sure I have breakfast. I also let myself splurge on the weekend with controlled portions of sweets. I have found that completely denying oneself always leads to backward steps. So far, I have been rewarded with a drop in 2 dress sizes. The satisfaction of having clothes unable to stay on my hips without being tightly belted is quite empowering!

My next steps are going to help me drop another 2 sizes and put some definition on my physique. Adding to the change in diet, I needed a new routine. I started walking 2 flights of stairs to get to my office. This week I joined a gym that has classes in conditioning, yoga, and pilates. I will have to replace my Monday/Thursday nights of knitting groups with the classes, but I know that the trade will make me feel and look better. My next target on the fitness revamp is getting more active. I have a lot of nervous energy, and a morning walk would help. Granted I have to get up earlier than I am now, but like the trade of the classes, the final result is worth the change.

This week also brought me a wonderful package in the mail (Well, okay — several packages). The much anticipated “Favorites Swap” package by Bobbi from “(Caffeinated) Knitting Keeps me (Chemically) Balanced” brought anxious excitement. The biggest challenge of this swap was being able to abide by the $15 budget requirement yet offering a nice package. I enjoyed shopping for my assigned pal Wanda from the “Silly Sheep” blog, and am still wondering if she even liked anything I gave her. (YAY!! She DOES!!) Holding the box, I opened it to see what Bobbi had in store for me. Boy, was I in for some goodness!!

My favorite part about the package? The labels hinting at our favorites (Yes, that a purposely made pun). I love little details which show how much thought and creativity one puts into everything because I try to do the same. From the fragrant vanilla soap, to the awesome bunny-on-a-sheep figurine, Bobbi put a lot of time to incorporate both of our tastes.

There are 2 really neat items to showcase, and one was wrapped in the orange paper. The other I enjoy because one can never have enough…

So very huge ginormous bunny rabbit hugs go to Bobbi! Thanks so much for the wonderful package. I have been showing off the figurine to the rest of the Ravelry Helpers and anybunny who would listen!

Speaking of more posting, I need to answer the second question that Shelby my SP12 Hostess posted:
“In many parts of the US and abroad, school’s out. Take a walk down memory lane for Week Two’s question: As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer vacation/break/holiday?”
I had to do a lot of thinking on that one. My sister and I never went away to camp, which may explain my uneasiness of being in the woods overnight. I remember the summer we learned to swim at the YMCA and discovered I took to the water like a fish. I could never get enough of being in the swimming pool and enjoyed our family membership. The idea of getting back into the water toys in my head occasionally, but I am not ready to slip into a swimsuit yet. In my last 2 summers of high school, I discovered surfing, and fell instantly in love. There is something organically sensuous about being in the water with only Mother Nature and a board. When I get enough money saved up for my little piece of waterside heaven, it will be near the ocean. Whew, I need to get in shape first!! =:8

The past two weeks have been a mite busy. As usual Ravelry and knitting suck up my attention, then work and the daily commute take up the rest. Since going “full-time with Ravelry” blogging had been put on hold and I have been slowly inputting back entries which cover the bigger events since April. To help with my slump, I figured that joining Secret Pal 12 would get me back on the writing saddle. But what is a blog entry without photos and side stories?

Above are the pieces of a Killer Rabbit. This little rabbit has been a challenge for me because I despise hand-sewing and knitting with 100% acrylic. I started this little guy on May 10th to kick off the anniversary celebrating Monty Python’s Holy Grail. Note how I am trying to make him look like “Seize the Bun” Caesar. I think my target is going to love him! The next time I make this pattern, I plan on embedding the ears as I knit the head, using short rows for the mouth, and knitting the hind legs like a boot. Look Ma, NO SEAMS!!

Another exchange I did was the Favorite Things Swap where I spoiled Wanda from the “Silly Sheep” blog. We had to send $15 worth of goodies that both pal and self would love. I sent over 4 skeins of a fabulous new linen/cotton/silk yarn that I bought during the WEBS Tent Sale since I have NOTHING in my crazy stash that is not “animal” fiber or a gift, a bag of Ghiradelli chocolates, a couple of stitch markers from Linda of Saratoga Llamas because my pal said she has never had any stitch markers (whoa — I am spoiled with my stash of markers), my favorite measuring cup (thanks to Alton Brown!), and a earth-friendly jigsaw puzzle that has a drawn rabbit for the artwork. Umm, how can a puzzle be earth-friendly? Because it is made of materials that can be planted into the ground. I have yet to hear from her since I sent the goodies over the past weekend, but I do know that she received it because I have tracking on the package. After realizing my little list for Wanda, I wonder what I will be getting…

My other exchange is the Ravelry Helpers Birthday Swap. Again the challenge is not to spend a lot of money — our budget is $20-25. Because I cannot show anything without divulging who my pal is, I must keep mum for now.

For those who are curious on how many I am currently making, I have 3 Clapotis on the needles, but only 2 of them have been photographed during their WIP-ing status. The orange one is a summertime “thank you” for another exchange, the little sage/black green one is a twist on the pattern to make a matching baby blanket for my cousin’s future daughter arriving in August, and the giant green/yellow one is a birthday present. After these Clapotis are done, I have to begin my sweater for Rhinebeck and the cabled v-neck pullover for my best bud in Virginia, Eric.

Now for the Secret Pal 12 “stuff” to do. First and foremost is my questionnaire which has its own dedicated page *HERE*. Next is the button that I am using. Can anyone guess what it is based on?

The final item is Shelby‘s hostess question for this week:
What is your favorite summertime drink?
Hmmm… That is a tough call because what I drink depends on my mood and the social situation. I love a good mojito, dessert wine in a chilled glass, bottled water, sweet tea, lemonade, and (as of late) Coke Zero.

Many thanks for welcoming Mary into the world of Blogging. All comments are appreciated, and I do want to spread the word for her store’s work. She does a lot for charities in honor of her son. Her big heart gladly welcomes everyone into her “Yarns at Lacewings” shops.



The weekend has been full of wonderful sky photos, and I am excited at sharing both Friday and Saturday’s natural beauty. Both my walks were productive. Slowly but surely I am working my way from walking to running. Currently I mostly walk because my lungs are not used to doing more, but I am working on it!



Besides walking, I have been knitting my Clapotis present. With the beautiful lighting on Friday, I could not resist taking the Brooks Farm Clappy, Simon’s hat, and Ace’s Table Runner out for some photos after my walk. This gift Clapotis made me think of an interesting question: If the gift recipient is a knitter who loves the pattern but does not have a Clappy, should the shawl be given with undropped or dropped stitches? I always thought the best fun of the pattern was dropping the stitches. Any input here in the comments would greatly be appreciated.









Another drop last night was the surprise we gave in my surrogate family in Connecticut. Because the birthday party was pretty big for my two aunties, I am going to reserve that event with its own entry.



For now with the photo teasers, I submit my answers to the Meme I stole from Keohinani’s “Alohas and Oreos” blog.
Rules: Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following…They MUST be real places, names, things…NOTHING made up! If you cannot think of anything, skip it. Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same 1st initial. You CANNOT use your name for the boy/girl name question.
1. Actor: Keanu Reeves and Kiefer Sutherland
2. 4 letter word: kids (well, for my current situation)
3. Street name: Kimberly Lane (honestly, it is in Chesapeake, VA)
4. Color: Kelly green (for the Irish in me)
5. Gift/present: kitchen (dreaming of a brand new slate floor)
6. Vehicle: Katana (motorcycle)
7. Tropical Location: Kenya
8. College Major: Knitting (well, RISD has classes in it)
9. Dairy Product: Kashta (pronounced “ahshta” and is often described as Middle Eastern’s version of clotted cream)
10. Thing in a Souvenir Shop: Keychain
11. Boy Name: Kenneth
12. Girl Name: Katherine
13. Movie Title: K-9
14. Beer: Kirin
15. Occupation: Knight or King
16. Flower: Kangaroo Paw
17. Celebrity: Kim Catrall (who else besides Katharine Hepburn?!)
18. Magazine: Kitchen & Bath Design News
19. U.S. City: Kansas City, MO (Home of my Chiefs!)