Getting Over Excited

I love to plan things for myself to do. My expectations often seem to go beyond what I'm likely to achieve, but in my mind I'm a whirlwind of activity bouncing from one thing to the next.

Here's what's on my mental projects list right now...


Geocaching

• Get out and find some things -- aim to beat current number of consecutive days caching.

Knitting (and other fibre-related activity)

• Fix the hood on my Paulie so I can finish that garment.
• Start a Pippin
• Gradually progress the Riff scarf I've started.
• Crochet a ripple blanket
• Spin up that sample I planned to finish in January
• Weave a scarf

Sewing

Inspired by the Great British Sewing Bee (I loved the first series), I've been making a gradual move towards learning to sew. Of course I don't want to start with cushions and aprons so I've been plotting an assortment of (mostly) garments and now have a mini stash of fabric for the following.

• Circle headphone bag. The only thing I have lined up that's not clothing. I've bought a few blue fat quarters and a matching zip to give this a go.
• PJ shorts (started in the summer). My first draft barely fit over my bum so need some modification. Once I've figured that out I have the nicer fabric I bought to sort a good set. Perfect for February... or not :)
• Miette skirt. I have a lovely pink linen blend for this, plus some purple bias binding to have a go at some details like those on this version. Again a summer plan largely forgotten until now.
• Wrap round trousers. I have a pair of these that I bought in London and are perfect for the very rare warm days we get here in the UK. The pair I have aren't a great colour though, so I've bought some practically coloured brown linen to have a go at crafting my own. By the time I get round to them it's bound to be a summer again, right?
• Another skirt. I'd forgotten about this one :(
• After resisting for a while I then bought another Tilly pattern, Coco and last week ordered fabric for two such tops. Every autumn/winter I somehow have a desperate lack of long sleeved tops and so I've convinced myself that these purchases will help me stay warm.
• Trixie Lixie knickers. Eskimimi featured these on her blog last week and so I ended up with a kit to make my own spotty undies.

Phew!

Reading

• 7 databases in 7 weeks
• 7 [programming] languages in 7 weeks

Life

• Make my house presentable. I should totally do this.
• Make my own lunches. This used to be the default but recently I've been too lazy/busy and things have slipped.
• Do my German homework each week, starting today.
• Think about learning to play the Ukelele some more... this always leads to me thinking about joining a Choir again or getting some singing lessons or something.

Where should I start?

Mojo

When someone says they've lost their knitting mojo, they most often mean that they don't really feel inspired to knit right now. Yarn isn't jumping into their arms and screaming knit me, patterns aren't demanding to be cast on "right now" and somehow they can always find something else to fill their time.

That isn't me right now.

Mostly.

What I mean when I wonder if I've lost my knitting mojo is "how have I been knitting this shawl forever?", "why have I not touched those socks in weeks?", "when will I get round to casting on for those garments I swatched for?" and "why have I spent more time ripping out rows than knitting recently?". (And not even ripping out, I don't trust myself to rip anymore, every stitch must be tinked one by one).

I have lost my knitting brain.

I've lost the ability to count to 6 reliably, to repeat the same movement over and over without accidentally substituting in something else, and to read my knitting so I can realise how to fix that mistake quickly and efficiently rather than ripping back endless rows of perfectly fine knitting.

Bother.

Just one more end

A little while ago I finally blocked and got photos of my Andrea's Shawl.

As is traditional with shawls, this was an interesting and beautiful knit but I've now finished up with a shawl I'm not sure how to wear. I love the fact that this is two colours and it's probably this that meant I did actually wear it to work a couple of weeks ago.

To my surprise, after wearing it much of the day I discovered just one more end that had escaped being woven in. There's always one.

A metephor for life I suspect: nothing is ever finished.

Overtired and Underknit

I have not been knitting. Back at work for but one week and I am already so tired I can barely form a knit stitch at all.

This morning I rummaged through my bag to find this:

Perfect.

(And tonight, perhaps I'll take that early night after all...)

Resolutions

We're a week (and some) into 2012 and this year I'm challenging myself with three simple resolutions:

This is a follow-on from this years (I think) improved behaviour with regards to yarn buying. I felt like I bought less last year than the previous year... but did I? This year I just want to get a grip on exactly what my stash looks like and how it changes through the year. No promises to use more than I buy or any of that - I just want to *know* what I'm doing^*.

This *should* be an easy one (at least the first half). I've made it to week 7 of couch25k, but as work deadlines have stacked up I've been finding it harder to get out of the office. So... I've put it here. It's on paper and people have seen it and now I have to do it.

A very modern malady - like so many others I find myself increasingly bouncing from one thing that 'needs to be done' to the next. I am ashamed to say that I didn't see my grandmother at all in 2011 (she lives 20 minutes down the road). A hermit no more, I will arrange to see people this year AND I will spend a little more time at home just being me.

---

^* I will aim to know what I am doing in this very specific context. Knowing what I am doing in the broader sense is pretty unlikely.

Letter Writing

This morning I have been letter writing and I now have six letters and a parcel sat by the door ready to go (but four of them are just copies of the Guide bagpacking letter and possible don't count). Hurrah!

I wonder what job I can tackle next :)

The Weather

Today is grey and muggy. I keep thinking I might have a shower to feel better but I haven't done it yet. I'm not really sure what I have done actually... something sure :)

I've been sorting out stuff a bit, trying to make sure I'm packed to go to Liverpool tomorrow after union council. I have a dentists appointment at 10:10 on Friday morning :(

Wet Socks and New Glasses

We let Kirkby (one of Hobnob's new cats) out the back for the first time today whilst I was cooking tea. I went out to see her as she adventured and now I have wet socks. She came back after a wander but wanted to go out again straight away - bit disappointed that we'd closed the door :)

Also I collected my new glasses today. Bit odd to begin with but I'm getting used to them.

(The picture is Kirkby being unadventurous inside).

Back in the World!

Back from our holiday in sunny Stoke :) Been on the canal with Hobnob and his parents and had rather excellent weather. We saw Lizi today on our way home too which was lovely. I had some coursework due in today so I hastily finished it off on the train and submitted it when we got back. I also managed to pay for my driving lessons ~£450 :( but then didn't have one because my instructor never showed up. Oh well, made the evening longer.

60ish Things You Probably Don't (Want To) Know About Me

Another one of those time-wasting notes passing through Facebook...

1. What is on your bed right now?
My bedding (sheet, pillows, duvet - not the denim one sadly, a Wilkos special), my really cool Rainbow throw from Toybox, my Snoopy bag from Lizi and a copy of Sushi for Beginners, the left overs from my lunch (fallen out of my bag), my Snoopy PJs, the rabbit soft toy from Clare and the coolest monkey ever.

2. When was the last time you threw up?
Hmmm... ages ago (thank goodness). I'm not sure I can actually remember. It might have been the summer after my first year of uni - 2004 - food poisoning from Butlins, Minehead.

3. What's your favorite word or phrase?
"It's funny" is the one I currently seem to use too often. I quite like charlatan, mountebank and masquerade - good old fashioned words.

6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Reading on the bus.

7. What is your favorite holiday?
Right now, any holiday at all! I love Easter because it has Spring Harvest in it and that is good, I love Christmas because it's just generally awesome and summer would be better if there was more lounging about in not-too-much-but-just-enou

gh sun.

8. Have you ever been to a strip club?
Strangely, no.

9. What is the last thing you said aloud?
The code to get into the laundrette - a guy in our kitchen still doesn't know!

10. What is the best ice cream flavor?
B&J Phish Food (without the fish) or Half Baked. If it isn't B&J then it has to be vanilla (not that I'm fussy). Sorbet's better than ice cream anyway.

11. What was the last thing you had to drink?
Hot water straight from the flask - I burnt my tongue.

12. What are you wearing right now?
Jeans, boots, a stripy top and my red hoodie (and the required set of undergarments). Also, my coat - I should take that off.

13. What was the last thing you ate?
A plain chocolate digestive.

14. Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
Nope, thank goodness. I have too many clothes.

15. When was the last time you ran?
Um... probably for the bus sometime last week?

16. What's the last sporting event you watched?
Haha, I don't even seem to watch sport. Oh dear.

17. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Somewhere with lots of exciting walking to do. Lots of green.

18. Who is the last person you sent a comment/message on facebook?
Chris asking me to project last weekend.

19. Ever go camping?
Yep! It's usually hard work but lots of fun.

20. Do you have a tan?
Never!

21. Have you ever lost anything down a toilet?
I dropped my phone once (never put anything in the back pocket of your jeans).

22. What is your guilty pleasure?
Reading when I think I should be working.

23. Do you use smiley faces on the computer a lot?
A bit but a lot less than I use to I think.

25. What did your last text message say?
"That's good. Hope you're having fun. I'm on a train with Graham going to Liverpool. Love, Saff" - to Charlotte

26. Are you someone's best friend?
I hope so!

27. What are you doing tomorrow?
Lectures on memory management and networking. A Linux practical.

28. Where is your mom right now?
Derbyshire?

29. Look to your left, what do you see?
My printer and my nice clean carpet!

30. What color is your watch?
Navy blue with Snoopy on (though the one I'm wearing is not mine!)

31. What do you think of when you think of Australia?
Naff soaps, James, an array of funny animals.

32. Ever ridden on a roller coaster?
Yep. I used to love them but now I'm a bit more nervy.

33. What is your birthstone?
Not a clue.

34. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru?
Eat in. I haven't used a drive thru for years.

35. Do you have any friends on facebook that you actually hate?
Nope. I'm not sure I hate anyone.

36. Do you have a dog?
No.

37. Last person you talked to on the phone?
My dad.

38. Have you met anyone famous?
Yes.

39. Any plans today?
Eat. Go to bed.

41. Are you happy?
Tired. Not unhappy though.

42. Where are you right now?
On my chair, at my desk, in my room, in my halls.

43. Biggest annoyance in your life right now?
Not enough sleep.

44. Last song listened to?
Stuff from the Buffy musical episode. That sounds a lot sadder than I am.

45. Last movie you saw?
Black sheep?

46. Are you allergic to anything?
Not very. Codine.

47. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
My boots.

48. Are you jealous of anyone?
Not that I can think of.

49. Are you married?
No.

50. Is anyone jealous of you?
Not that i know of.

51. What time is it?
21:02.

52. Do any of your friends have children?
Yes.

53. Do you eat healthy?
I wish.

54. What do you do during the day?
Study.

55. Do you hate anyone right now?
No.

56. Do you use the word 'hello' daily?
I should think so.

57. How many kids do you want when your older? What will you name them?
Some. Ask my husband.

58. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
24.

59. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
Not that I know of (where??)

60. How did you get one of your scars?
The one on my knee came from falling over in the playground at school.

Multitasking

Today I attempted to go to Sainsburys whilst my washing was in the machine.

I took too long and now I have lost the lid to my washing liquid.

Students. *sigh*

Bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy fun!

I like being awake!

Today is a happy awake day. I'm happily dosed up with hot chocolate and breakfast and listening to a nice AISD lecture on formalisation. The week is progressing increasingly quickly (seemingly) and I seem to be all planned up now until the weekend so I'm sure today and friday will disappear before I've really noticed.

4/7 Down...

Yep, I finished the last few pages of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire earlier this evening. I was rather sad at the end. The first really Harry Potter death comes as a bit of a shock really (and yes I did know it happens - these are all rereads).

I am also sad generally for reasons unknown - I think I might be a girl!

Also happening in my world today...

* It's raining and we still can't drink the mains water.
* Work is sometimes hard.
* People are almost always hard.

But that all sounds rather miserable, I think I'd better think of some happy things to write...

* I am mostly packed up now and was very please that so much of it fitted into the car - I really didn't expect it to.
* I've just found the perfect CD to listen to.
* I bought a very lovely summer dress today (though I really didn't need to).

Almost all packed up!

Yep, it's starting to look like I might actually reach the end! It does now look like my room is getting nearer to empty. It's never all going to fit in the car! Another time perhaps.

In other news...

* I'm thirsty
* I need a shower
* I really like this Godfrey Birtill song

Or indeed, there is no news!

The Facebook Phenomenon

I've just got a friend request and private message on Facebook from a girl I knew in High School. It's funny this Facebook lark - you get friend requests from people you'd completely forgotten existed but as soon as you do you remember them all over again!

I have rather more than the ideal number friends on Facebook which makes it pretty hard to actually follow what people are up to, but it it is nice when you suddenly find someone you'd completely lost touch with. All of a sudden, all those people trapped in school uniform in your memories are real people with degrees and jobs and lives. Very odd!

The Chaos That Is...

Packing.

I'm surrounded by chaos.

It's a very curious thing is packing. I sort of feel I'm doing a good job because I have packed a big pile of boxes and it's not midnight the night before someone comes to collect my things. On the other hand, I feel like I've really done nothing. I look around my room and it's still full of stuff - the only difference now being that the stuff is all over the floor. It's very satisfying when you're done but until the last thing is hidden in a box I suspect I shall continue to feel I have achieved nothing.

Love is...

... hard to explain.

Except, when you try to explain what love isn't. Today at the chuch day we sang the Godfrey Birtill song "When I Look at the Blood". Now, whilst this is a Christian song, there's still a chunk of it that stands more than well enough without any sort of faith at all (or at least I think it should).

So what can't be seen in an example of Love?

I can't see competition
I can't see hierachy
I can't see pride or prejudice or the abuse of authority
I can't see lust for power
I can't see manipulation
I can't see rage or anger or selfish ambition...
I can't see unforgiveness
I can't see hate or envy
I can't see stupid fighting or bitterness,or jealousy.
I can't see empire building
I can't see self importance
I can't see back stabbing or vanity or arrogance.
(Godfrey Birtill 2004 © Whitefield Music UK Admin Copycare)

Maybe it's just me, but this seems to be a very beautiful idea and one I wish I thought I was vaguely close to. Something to aim for I guess.

Facebook Wall Name Game

Go to your (Facebook) wall and list the last 12 people who have commented. If someone has commented twice, skip to the next person...

1. Stuart Clarkson
2. Lizi Norman
3. Tom Worrall
4. Anna Grady
5. Rachel Coates
6. Dave Hill
7. Becky Cooke
8. Stephen Watts
9. Joey Baker
10. Naomi Guest
11. Vicky Kirby
12. Sara Bury

Q: Have you ever kissed number 7
A: No. Not my type :)

Q: What's the best memory you have of 8?
A: Lounging about (and possibly flirting shamelessly) in labs whilst he tried to persuade me to educate him some :) Also, beer.

Q: When's the next time you're gonna see 4?
A: Who knows! Maybe one day in concert or something :)

Q: Is number 9 pretty?
A: With his long curly tresses? I think, possibly, that pretty is not the word he would prefer me to use.

Q: What was your first impression of number 10?
A: She was probably little and cute at the time.

Q: How did you meet 3?
A: Maybe choir? I dunno, we did sing in the same choir but I can't remember if that was before or after youth and church and stuff. He was my boyfriend's geeky friend :)

Q: Is 11 your best friend?
A: No, but she is lovely. I've seen her once since I left uni (and that was a suprise) but she's fab and I wish I knew her better.

Q: Have you seen 5 in the last month?
A: No, she's a Spring Harvest person - maybe next year.

Q: When was the last time you saw 2?
A: Never recently enough. Um... her birthday weekend. May 13th.

Q: Have you ever been to 1's house?
A: Yep. Met his mum and everything :) That said, he has a new house, so actually no!

Q: Would you ever kiss 6?
A: He's all takeneded :)

Q: When's the next time you'll see 10?
A. Church, maybe 1st July.

Q: Are you really close to 3?
A: Close enough to debate life the universe and everything much to the annoyance of everyone else. Not really at the moment, no.

Q: Have you ever been to the movies with 4?
A: No.

Q: Have you ever gotten in trouble with 2?
A: Once or twice... :) I can't think of an occasion but I'm sure she'll remind me.

Q: What do you and number 8 talk about the most?
A: How to do coursework, beer.

Q: Would you give number 5 a hug?
A: Yes.

Q: Would you ever go on a date with number 11?
A: Drink and fine dining, yes. Hot sex, no. I tend to go for men that are not girls.

Q: Are you in love with number 12?
A: Sorry MG, but no. We could have done the double dating thing with Pete & Graham too.

Q: When have you lied to number 6?
A: Never. He knows me far too well even if I could.

Q: Do you know a secret about number 8?
A: Does he have any secrets that don't start 'I was drunk and...'?

Q: Describe the relationship between number 9 and number 5.
A: I don't think they've met.

Q: What is the best thing about your friendship with number 2?
A: She's amazing.

Q: What is the worst thing about number 1?
A: He's always asleep.

Q: Have you ever danced with number 7?
A: Nope.

Q: How long have you known number 12?
A: Known of/spoken to online a while longer but matched names to face and spoken to and stuff about a year and a half.

Q: Have you ever been in a fight with number 8?
A: He'd have lost, no.

Q: Does number 9 have a boyfriend/girlfriend?
A: I'm not sure, I don't think so.

Q: Have you ever been a co-worker with number 6?
A: No, he does all fun peopley work which'd be good.

Q: Have you ever wanted to punch number 2 in the face?
A. Aw, no.

Q: Has number 1 ever met your mother?
A: Um, I don't think so. My dad at my graduation though.

Q. How did you meet number 6?
A: Ridge Danyers CU - he always sat on the opposite side of the room until I walked into him at Spring Harvest and he played the kindly gently superhero he is :)

Q: Did you ever accidentally physically hurt number 5?
A: No, I don't think so.

Q: Do you live close to 7?
A: No. I did once.

Q: What is 2's favorite food?
A: Chocolate Brownies, Chow mein... other stuff.

Q: Out of your top 12, which one would you say is the funniest?
A: Lizi, not always deliberately :) Having said that Dave's sense of humour is legendary.

Q: Who is the most flirtatious?
A: Me? I don't see many of them in action... Joey was always a pretty good flirt :)

Q: If you could change one thing about number 10, what would it be?
A: I can't think of anything!

Q: Say something nice about number 4.
A: She's got an ace voice and is a very lovely person.

Q: Which one lives the farthest away?
A: They're all miles away. Maybe the Derbyshire lot?

Q: Who is the loudest?
A: Lizi.

Q: What kind of car does number 12 have?
A: I don't know. Does she have one at all?

Q: Have you travelled anywhere with number 3?
A: Spring Harvest and other church outings, Norfolk and other choir outings.

Q: If you gave number 10 £100, what would they spend it on?
A: A hot date with Billie Joe Armstrong?

A-Z of me.

A - Available?: For what??
A - Age: 22
A - Annoyance: Moaning.

B - Best Friend? Lizi, Dave.
B - Bar: Furness College, Lancaster University.
B - Birthday?: 7th October.

C - Crush: The fancying strangers who don't know kind? Noone at the moment!
C - Car: Don't drive.
C - Cat: Allergic.

D - Dead Pets Name: A multitude of rabbits, Arthur the guinea pig.
D - Dad's Name: Dave.
D - Dog(s): Teddy.

E - Easiest person to talk to: Lizi.
E - Eggs: Boiled. Fried in sandwiches.
E - Email: Yes.

F - Favorite color?: Blue/Green.
F - Food: Anything vegetarian that isn't pasta.
F - Football team?: Liverpool.

G - Gummy Bears or Worms: Bears.
G - God: Is awesome.
G - Good Times: More please.

H - Hair Color: Dark brown.
H - Height: 5ft 1.
H - Happy: Often.

I - Ice Cream: Vanilla/Ben & Jerry's.
I - Instrument: Not really.
I - Idol: Um. Can't think.

J - Jewelry: A necklace given to me by Mark (an ex-boyfriend).
J - Job: Developer.
J - Jokes: I'm not funny.

K - Kids: Fund to play with, nice to give back.
K - Karate: No. I've done kick-boxing and jujitsu at points in time though.
K - Kung Fu: Nope.

L - Longest Car Ride: Lancaster to London I guess.
L - Longest Crush: I don't remember, must have been in High School.
L - Life Is: Bizarre.

M - Milk Flavor: Ew.
M - Mothers Name: Claire.
M - Movie Last Watched: Iris.

N - Next weeks plans: Work, sleep.
N - Northern or Southern: Northern.
N - Name: Sarah Elizabeth Rutlidge (Saff).

O - One Wish: Smiley happy people.
O - One Phobia?: Things that buzz.

P - Piercings: None. I did have three in each ear though.
P - Parents: Loads!
P - Part of your appearance you like best: My shoulders (yes, I'm weird).
P - Part of your Personality you like best: Um.

Q - Quick or Slow?: Walking - not slow.. Running - very slow. Thinking - varies.
Q - Quality Street, which one?: The toffee ones.
Q - Question your decisions often?: Once I've made them :)

R - Reason to smile: The world is pretty to look at.
R - Reality TV Show: None.
R - Right or Left: Both.

S - Song Last Heard: Something from Wicked
S - Season: Spring - the summery feelings come out without the crazy heat.
S - Sex: Female.

T - Tattoos: None.
T - Time Now: 14:10.
T - Time for bed: Ideally 9:30 but it never happens.
T - TV Show: None.

U - Unknown Fact about me: I go to bed with a Peter Rabbit cushion.
U - You are?: A girl. (That'd be you with a 'u' then...)

V - Vegetable you hate: Are capers a vegetable?
V - Vegetable you love: Leeks.
V - View on Politics: It's more fun when you play at it.

W- Worst Habits: Worring about everything especially if it's unimportant.
W- Where are you going to travel next? Home after work. In terms of real going somewheres probably Lancaster. As for real holiday travelling - I dunno :)
W- Where you live: Surrey

X - X-Rays: A finger
X - X-Rated: Nope

Y - Year you were born: 1984
Y - Year it is now: 2007

Z - Zoo Animals: Red Panda
Z - Zodiac: Libra

Voodoo Lady

1. Put All Your Music On Shuffle
2. Press next and put the title of each song as the answer

1)How would you describe your family?
Annilhilation - A Perfect Circle. (Um.)

2)How would you describe your friends?
I Love You - Doug Horley. (Awww :))

3)How would you describe yourself?
Sound the Trumpet - Dave Bilbrough. (I'm not that good).

4)How would people describe you?
A Lotta Locomotion - Starlight Express. (?)

How Would you survive if:

5)You were homeless?
Fall On The South - Gone With The Wind. (I've never heard this before in my life I'm sure. I've also no idea quite what it means.)

(There was actually some other track in here, but it was Japenese Characters for the title [something from the Howl's Moving Castle soundtrack] and I couldn't see me getting too far with that).

6)You met your favourite stars?
Addicted - Lit. (Sort of works).

Your life:

7)How did people react when you were born?
Missing Person - Michael Smith.

8)How were you as a toddler?
Woo Hoo - The 5.6.7.8's. (Party animal me!)

9)What was your first day at school like?
My Guitar Lies Bleeding in My Arms - Bon Jovi. (I can't remember, but I'm fairly sure that's not true.)

10)How about last year?
Far Away - Nickelback. (As in distance? Or just that it seems so long ago?)

11)How was your childhood?
Frankenstein - Edgar Winter. (So that's why I was so popular :))

12)What about your 13th birthday?
Crying - Don McLean.

13)Teenage years?
Drink With Me - Les Miserables. (That'd be everyone else's teenage years then :))

14)How is you future planned out?
Let Me Finish - Song & Dance.

15)Kids?
Catch The Sun - Jamie Cullum.

16)Old age?
Turn - Travis.

17)What will your song be at your funeral?
It's a Man's World - Forbidden Planet. (So clearly I didn't belong here in the first place!)

18)Last wishes?
Pick A Part That's New - Stereophonics. (I don't really get this one).

Miscellanious:

19)What do you like to do in your spare time?
Same Old Song & Dance - Aerosmith. (Only if there's noone to see/hear me do it :))

20)Repost this as...?
Voodoo Lady - Ween.