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Sunday, November 26, 2006
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Briefly... I almost didn't go to the football game today, but in the end decided to, and I'm glad I did. I'd been looking forward to it for months, and it was a great game.
I took the train, which isn't bad. $10 gets you to and from Foxboro, arriving an hour before the game. That got me there in time to get a great STANDING spot - at the top of section 201 - basically I was looking down at the bridge, which was to my right. I could see the whole field, and the screen, and the only problem was when the fans in the seats decided, at weird times, that they just couldn't sit in their seats! I wasn't too cold - I brough enough layers to stay pretty warm (including my new klein bottle hat, which I finished last night).
I was on my own, but I still enjoyed the game (even though I decided that OF COURSE I had to cheer for the Bears - I knew it as soon as I saw Bears fans in South Station - it made me smilke, and there was no way I could cheer against my home town team). I also managed to easily sell my other ticket outside the stadium. I probably could have gotten more than face value for it, but since I didn't think I was selling it until I actually did, it doesn't really matter to me.
And there was knitting on the train, which is always a happy time for me. During this little vacation, I did fair isle for the first time - my first try (on a sock) was a little sloppy, but the second sock looks much better.
Anyhow, I wish at least ONE of my friends had been in town/free today, but I still had fun. I would be very happy to go to another Pats game someday (and this time to cheer on the home team).
- Lizzardie, at 11:42 PM
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Friday, November 24, 2006
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This year I'm thankful because....
I'm healthy. In fact, I've pretty much always been healthy. Not everyone is that lucky.
I have a great apartment in a great city. It's cozy and warm and while a little messy, very inviting. Again, I'm lucky.
I have a new job. And while it's difficult at times, I know I have the skills and determination to do a good job. And my new coworkers are fantastic.
I can cook! And I have the means to buy food and make whatever I want, which resulted in a delicious dinner yesterday, even if it was just for me.
I have a wonderful hobby. It makes me feel creative and useful and there's something to show for it when it's all said and done. Also, I get to make things and give them away to the people I love, and there's no better feeling than that. Plus, on many days, it's like therapy, and you should ALL be thankful for that!
I have a good family. Sure, they drive me crazy, and by hour 4 on Christmas Eve I'm going to want to come back to Boston. But they are still my family and I'm glad I get to see them in exactly one month.
I have amazing friends. I love them (you, if you're reading this) so much and am so happy that they are there for me. They are all so so so crazy, but wonderful at the same time, even if some of the try to "adopt" me, or take me to the cleaners with a NINE of the river (good story, but will totally be lossed in writing).
Anyhow, Thanksgiving by myself was hard, I won't lie. The hardest part was spending the better part of this week having people telling me awful it was that I was going to be by myself - comments which I did not invite. But overall it's okay. I made dinner - Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic, Morrocan Couscous, Roasted Vegetables, Pumpkin Pie with Streusel Topping and a bottle of French red wine (I don't feel like getting the bottle). Not QUITE what you would expect of Thanksgiving dinner, but it was really delicious.
There's been plenty of knitting, which totally makes me happy. And I think I'm going to go and buy dye so that I can color some yarn, which is fun. And I will eat leftovers, which is TOTALLY a Thanksgiving thing. And knit some more. And sleep! Lots of sleep! And the Pats game on Sunday one way or the other, because I have to. And it will be fun.
I hope everyone has had a happy, healthy, safe Thanksgiving, and that you all get back safely as well. :-)
- Lizzardie, at 5:53 PM
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Sunday, November 19, 2006
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Posting on Sunday seems to be the way these days. All I want to do when I come home from work is relax, not write about my day or anything else going on in my life. Saturdays are so sleepy, but Sundays are when everything gets done.
I feel like I've gotten into a rhythm with the new job. I don't have as much free time, now that I've figured out I can sleep half an hour later, but I'm still getting to work on time (some days are more miraculous than others, of course). I like that I get knitting time on the T (that I wouldn't normally have) - usually I get a seat, but many times I don't, and I've even gotten used to knitting standing up (and managing to stay standing up through the jostles of the train). I'm tired of all of my new clothes already, but such is life. I like the walks to and from the train station. I actually have stuff to do in the office. I'm getting to know my coworkers. I'm going to be donating handknit items to our silent auction for our United Way campaign (which will also include a casino night!).
Some things are difficult - I've gone from a position where I had a lot of seniority to one where I have none. So it's an adjustment. I think that this will be the right move for me long term, but short term it's definitely difficult. I'm looking forward to the little break this weekend for Thanksgiving, and to the week off for Christmas next month.
Knitting things are good. I'm slowly but surely working my way through Christmas presents - still don't know if I'll make my deadlines, but I'm going to try! I can't wait to start knitting for myself again, but it'll have to wait until January, it seems. Today I finished the wristwarmers that I made for Susan (for her sister, really) - they are gorgeous and I want a pair of my own! Hopefully I'll get a picture of them before I have to send them out (the batteries to my camera got confiscated at the first Ani concert, so I need to get new ones). Also, Patriots-themed hats have been delivered to Herb, Ron and Jeff, so I only have one more of those to make (Patrick). Speaking of the Patriots, I'm still looking for someone who will be in town next weekend and would like to go to the Bears-Pats game with me - the tickets are standing room only, but it should be a fantastic game.
Friday night I went out to Sally's, The Nog and Shay's with Herb, and then we played some cards... and I lost some money. I should know better than to play cards for money when I'm that tired, it's that late and I've had that much to drink. After getting up way later than I had planned on yesterday morning, I somehow managed to meet Jeff, Kristen, Kim and Patrick for Dim Sum (though I was pretty late, I'm so happy they waited to do most of their eating until I got there!). Then we headed to the Pru (with a brief detour at Eldo Cake House, my office and Paper Source) so that I could return my boots (so sad that they don't fit, but I will buy a new pair!) and we could all stop into Teavana (mmmm... tea). It was actually a great day, despite my hangover - I want to have Dim Sum every time I'm hungover! When I told Jeff that, we both paused, and after a few seconds said at the same time, "that's too often." Jeff says he can't possibly get Dim Sum with me every Thursday, which is unfortunate but realistic. :-) Dim Sum really helped my stomach, though, as did the green tea and water, and later the tea from Teavana (Azteca Fire and Mate Vana, which tastes like chocolate and I've been drinking all day today).
I got home, watched a few episodes of Veronica Mars (had to actually watch some scenes twice, because I kept falling asleep), and then went to bed at the fine hour of... 8pm. I do not remember the last time I went to bed that early and managed to sleep so much. I did get up at 5:30am (note that already I had gotten 9 hours of sleep), but went to bed 3 hours later for another 2 hours. I'm actually feeling pretty refreshed today! There's been some football, and now I'll probably finish the day with cleaning and work (yes, I do need to get some things done for tomorrow, such is life). Weekends make me happy. :-)
No plans for Thanksgiving, but quiet time and rest (and knitting! lots of knitting!) should be fine. I might make myself the Barefoot Contessa Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic, because it is quite tasty and fancy.
- Lizzardie, at 4:36 PM
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Tuesday, November 14, 2006
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I owe a post about Ani concert #2... let's see... the opening of the concert was pretty much the same, and I still don't know the names of the songs! Songs I do know that she played both nights are In the Way, Napoleon and Hypnotize (which was the last song of the night both times). There was also Little Plastic Castle, Anticipate, Untouchable Face (!), Gravel (!! - also the pre-encore closer) and Both Hands (!!! - the first encore, and at that point I was truly excited). Kathy and I sat in the balcony at Lupo's in Providence (it was general admission) - we weren't as close as the night before, but the seats were still great. The theatre was pretty worn down, with old posters up all around (Kathy knows more about that) and was almost as fantastic as The Orpheum. Ani was wearing a white tshirt for the second show, and her big pregnant belly was hanging out most of the show! :-) So much fun to see her dance around. It's hard to say which show was better - it was utterly fantastic to see both of them, and to enjoy two similar but different sets - definitely not a waste of my time or money! I can't for her to come back into town again (though I imagine it could be awhile, with the baby and all).
As for the opening act, it was pretty much the same, and I could have done without seeing it twice, though Hamill On Trial's son, Detroit, was awfully cute. :-)
Yesterday I had jury duty, and I thought you should all know it was one of the most boring days of my life. I got there at 8am, checked in, sat for half an hour (okay, I had to get coffee), was given a speech about responsibilities, blah blah blah, saw a video, got told how important it was for us to be there even if we didn't get seated on a jury, and sat some more (sitting for me = knitting). A couple of groups were called to be seated on juries, but my number was never called. At some point, they sent us to lunch - I ran over to the Galleria to get money, food and reading material since I ran out of knitting I could do - and when I returned, I got to sit some more! Eventually they sent us away, and I don't have to come back for another 3 years! I went home, because going into work didn't seem worth it, but I did do a few hours of work from my living room. So I've fulfilled my civic duty for awhile, by voting last week and going to jury duty this week. Woohoo.
- Lizzardie, at 7:41 PM
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Saturday, November 11, 2006
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I'm writing about Ani concert #1 now, so that I don't get the two mixed up. Last night, I saw Ani DiFranco with Kathy at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston. The Orpheum is a lovely place, as I'd heard, and we had great seats - balcony, row D, right in the center. Ani is 7 months pregnant, and not only is she positively glowing (you hear that pregnant women glow, right? It seems weird, but apparently it's true), but she was dancing around in typical Ani fashion. She is positively ecstatic about the election results, and about life in general - she at one point said that the past several years she's been so angry and written so much angry music, but this week she's happy and she reached into her bag of tricks to find... not much! :-) Anyhow, I didn't recognize all of the songs, but the ones that I did included Napoleon, In the Way, Shameless (finale, pre-encore) and Evolve (encore #1). During Napoleon, I felt good for the first time in 36 hours - what a way to take my mind off of the things racing through it! I even enjoyed myself for the second half of Ani's set, after Kathy ditched me. :-) Maybe I could do a concert like Ani by myself in the future, if need be... In any case, I'm defintely looking forward to seeing her again tonight!
- Lizzardie, at 11:18 AM
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Sunday, November 05, 2006
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Well, another week goes by, and October is gone! Yikes! I'm really not sure where the time went.
I THINK work is about to pick up steam, and I won't be sitting around doing nothing this week. I have all of the tools to teach myself SPSS (stats software that I've never used but shouldn't have a problem with), and data finally came through (one week late) for the project I'm on. Plus I have a book to read on "logic in writing" and "logic in presenting" for consulting. Okay, that part isn't terribly interesting. On Thursday, Corinne put me to work on the United Way stocking project (we, as in the company, have 15 stockings to fill for low-income families for Christmas) - I made a list of about 80 things that could go into the stockings, and then tried to figure out which age groups and genders they were appropriate for. I like that they do a lot of things for charity there.
Tuesday was Halloween - I never did find anything fun to do for Halloween, so no costume this year (which I'm sort of relieved about). I did however get to hand out candy to the adorable trick-or-treaters, which is always fun. They were so cute! And they took most of the candy I bought (which is a relief, because I would have otherwise eaten a ton of it). The rest of the candy I brought into work, where I'm sure it will pull a quick disappearing act.
Friday night was spent down in Providence to see the Cornell at Brown hockey game. There was a good cheering section for Cornell (surprise surprise) and the pep band was there (Kathy pointed out that our pep band was the same size as Brown's pep band, it's still football season and they had a game at Cornell the next day). Cornell came out victorious, but it was not an easy road - I have never seen so many penalties! The Cornell fans started to cheer "Worst ref ever" towards the end of the game, and it certainly was crazy, but I'm wondering if the teams were just playing each other REALLY hard. We could hear people making up random penalties - "too much 5 on 5 time," "looking at the ref cross-eyed," etc... - there was AT MOST 13 minutes of 5 on 5 hockey that entire game. And the penalties minutes JUST FOR BROWN added up to more than the 60 minutes (the entire length of the game, for those that don't know). Fun game, overall, though, and I can't wait for Cornell at Harvard hockey - I just wish I could go to see a game at Lynah again sometime - nothing beats that.
I stayed over at Kathy's Friday night, because the last commuter rail train back to Boston left at 9:42 - could have made it, but what's the point (I actually would have done it if I hadn't forgotten my cell phone at work - I needed to pick it up and didn't want to do so that late at night). We went to the restaurant in the basement of Kathy's building (which looks like a hotel and has a concierge) and it was fantastic! I had butternut squash ravioli with brown butter sauce, walnuts, peas and chicken in a marsala sauce - weird combination, but really amazing. Kathy had spaghetti and meatballs - nothing special but incredibly delicious. And we had a bottle of one of my favorite chiantis - the Ruffino Aziano. I so wish I had grabbed every bottle of the 2001 vintage of this wine when it was readily available. For dessert, we both had carrot cake - I was skeptical of Kathy's claim that the carrot cake was amazing, but she was so so right. With cinnamon cream cheese frosting on the bottom, two layers of carrot cake separated by ice cream, more cinnamon cream cheese frosting and fresh whipped cream, garnished with some orange things, it was easily the best carrot cake I have ever had. Yummm.
Saturday morning, we hit the yarn store right near Kathy's apartment - she lives in this incredibly cute square with incredibly cute shops. The yarn store didn't hold much interest for me, though, so I decided to do the yarn store "tour" - I went to Windsor Button in Boston near Park St. and then to Woolcott & Co. in Harvard Square. I had previous been disappointed in Windsor Button, but they have some yarns I've been looking for, so I'll definitely be back. and I love Woolcott - plus they have Anne, the sock yarn that comes from Interlaken!
Last Sunday I went over to Jeff and Kristen's to watch football and eat chili. They got me a pattern book and some aran tweed wool from Ireland. I'm going to use the wool to make felted flowers that I will put on a felted purse, I think. I found this really cute purse pattern and a fantastic spring green yarn (which I got at Windsor Buttong - and the aran wool is magenta - very bright). I can't wait to start on that project.
I haven't been talking that much about knitting recently, and that's because I'm super busy with gift knitting. Most of the gift knitting is for my family, and they don't read this, but I still don't want to give away anything about the presents, just in case. After Christmas, though, there should be a whirlwind of pictures somewhere, and I'm starting I might break things off a little - maybe start a knitting only blog, where I can better keep track of my projects, and not necessarily bore my friends to death. We'll see.
And here's an article, sent to me by Herb, that should be interesting to just about anyone. Like knitting or crocheting? Interested in research out of Cornell? What about hyperbolic geometry? A fan of Discover magazine? Read this article! :-D
- Lizzardie, at 8:41 AM
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