I had sworn off socks. Really. Swore I’d never, ever try making them again. Gave away the first sock yarn I ever bought along with my size 000 - 1 DPNs. Then I started acquiring sock yarn via the Karma Yarn Swap group on Ravelry. Then purchased a 47″ size 1 needle, just in case. Just before we left for Paris I managed to cast on the toe of a sock successfully (after 5 tries). Sure, this took me forever but everything takes me forever. I’m now hooked on making socks. I’ve got yarn for a good ten more pairs worth of yarn waiting in the wings.

Stitch Pattern: Twisted Rib from Getting Started Knitting Socks

Sock Method: Used Silver’s Sock Class (Toe-up Sock on Two Circular Needles)

Yarn: Koigu Painter’s Palette Premium Merino (KPPPM)

Colorway: P131

Started: March 26, 2008

Completed: May 9, 2008

I’ve always loved music. Doesn’t hurt that my dad’s a classical trained percussionist and that my mom could tell you the name, band, album, and release year of just about any song from the 60s and 70s. I grew up listening to everything from Celine Dion to Tito Puente to soundtracks from Disney movies. I even tried to learn to play myself; seven years of piano lessons ended with a horrible rendition of Fur Elise and clarinet lessons had even worse results. After quiting band in 11th grade, I turned to listening to music. First jazz and classical that my dad liked then my mom’s favorite ballads then, lastly, techno which I can only blame on the Chandarana brothers (two friends, not a band). I was always listening to music. Then I moved out here and I just plain stopped.

Somehow I forgot how much I like music. I had to create a category here for it just now. Sure, I listen to the radio and my MP3 player’s always with me. But the radio is the same couple hundred rock songs they play on Jack FM and the MP3 player is full of knitting podcasts, not music. Then Fred and Mike talked me into joining Last.fm, an online music listening service which likes to call itself a “social music revolution.” Like Pandora, you type in the name of a song, artist, genre you like and it plays like songs. I started predictably with Billy Joel. Then I saw Mike’s list which included some familiar Trance groups then Fred’s soft rock pulled me in. Oh, Lora, you’re to blame for my rediscovering my intense love for Broadway and soundtracks.

You could say I’m addicted to Last.fm itself but, really, I know it’s just that I’ve got back my addiction to listening to music. Music I, not Matt or the radio DJ, like. I finally put all of my CDs of music on my computer and have downloaded tons of free MP3s. Once I get them onto my MP3 player I need to make sure I don’t walk around campus air-directing an orchestra, rocking along to punk music, or singing at the top of my lungs with Lea Salonga. Oh darn.

As of today, I’ve been knitting for one year. While I have trouble remembering back to a time when I didn’t knit, I still feel like a beginner. I have no real idea how cables work, knitted a fitted garment terrifies me, and I can’t seem to finish anything that takes more than two months to complete. I start a million projects, buy way too much yarn, and want to make it ALL. But I guess that’s what it means to be a knitter.

For those not familiar with the story, I’ll explain how I started knitting. I’ve always been a crafty person. Not a creative type but into crafts. I love making stuff with my hands. I was basically a cross stitcher a year ago. All other craft endeavors had fallen to the wayside. I thought about learning to knit but thought it wasn’t for me. It was too popular and - according to an article in an in-flight magazine - too hard. I’d suck, hate the outcome, and have wasted tons of money. But I decided to try anyway. I checked out three books from the local library and bought myself some squeaky baby blue yarn and size 9 bamboo straight needles. Soon I was addicted; I downloaded podcasts, requested every single knitting book available through inter-library loan, and joined a knitting group.

So, what have I gotten done in the last year? Two (almost three) baby sweaters, one and a quarter socks, three headbands, a lace shawl, two bookmarks, two Clapotis’s (Clapoti?), three scarfs, a hat, and a pair of fingerless gloves. Not bad for someone who finishes only a third of what she starts - and currently has eight different projects on the needles.

I’m very happy I decided to try knitting. I’ve met some great friends and have a way to keep my hands busy that’s productive and artistically satisfying - and lets me fondle soft things.

I saw these bags at the checkout a couple times and did little more than think about getting one. They’re popping up everywhere, these reusable grocery bags. Makes the environmentalist inside of me (Thanks, Dad, for that!) stand up and cheer. I finally got one yesterday, this special one designed to hold six wine bottles. I have no reason to buy any more wine - don’t ask how many bottles we have - and doubt there’s an occasion where I’ll need to carry around said wine. But…my knitter’s intuition kicked in. Perfect knitting bag! Six compartments for WIPs, yarn, patterns, notions, etc. And only a buck! I’m telling the world and buying one for every knitting friend.

The bag being used for its real, boring purpose - holding six bottles of wine

See, it holds a ton!

2. Climb the Eiffel Tower: I saw it but didn’t climb it because 1) too expensive 2) too many people 3) no fan of heights. Decided instead to climb to the top of the Arc de Triumphe. I think it counts so I’m saying this is done.

8. Take a self-portrait once monthly: Well, I barely did this. It’s just a photo of my hand for the March photo but, hey, it counts!

21. Take an intro martial arts class: Actually take karate right now, as I’ve mentioned. I’ll formally check this off at the end of the course (and will post a photo of me in the funky outfit, too).

30. Serve as an AESB officer: Elections are Wednesday and I’m likely to get *something.*

35. Take 3000 Flickr-worthy photos: Total is currently at 372 (12% of total)

45. Make item for 7 new babies in family (or friends) within 1 month of birth: Working on BSJ for Maegan and Jeremy’s future kid.

47. Make a knitted item for 5 aunts: Already working on a scarf for Aunt Tricia.

54. Make self 2 pairs of socks: One sock done!!

57. Make 50 squares for charity: Made one so far. Sort of forgot about this one. Will make more soon with my new crochet skills (only know how to chain and single crochet so far).

61. Write 10 snail mail letters to different recipients: new pen pal, Alison, Christina, Lori, Tricia (5 so far)

63. Eat dinner on the beach, not during a “beach day”: Did this right before we went to France/Germany. Got a photo somewhere.

71. Try five types of ethnic food: Matt’s been making some Moroccan food lately. I think that counts towards the five. Does trying real French food (as in eaten in France) count?

77. Visit family in Ohio: Already have the tickets to do so this summer.

80. Write in paper journal when traveling: I didn’t journal but did take extensive notes. When I travel I just don’t have time to do more than notes, I found. I’m saying this is done.

85. Increase SWE membership to 25 active members: Done, I think. We’ve had really great turn-out lately.

86. Visit 10 art museums: Visited Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, Military museum (by Napoleon’s tomb), and the Colmar Art/History museum (4 down in one week!)

87. Visit 10 cathedrals/churches: Notre Dame, San Chapelle, and cathedrals in Colmar and Strasbourg (4 at least)

88. Take 20 photos each day while on 10 vacations: pretty sure I averaged more than that this last trip, easy

100. Get and type up all of Nana’s recipes. Hand-deliver to family members: My Aunt Tricia sent me a few but she doesn’t have all of the recipes like I thought. This may get edited to “make all recipes Aunt Tricia sent” or similar.

I got back a week ago. Where’d I go, you ask? France and Germany. Why did I not bother to tell anyone who doesn’t see me on a regular basis? I’m an idiot and forgot. Simple as that. I got so wrapped up in mid-terms and packing that the thought barely crossed my mind. Poor Anastasia probably thought I got kidnapped. This’ll be the only trip summary post so prepare yourself for a long one. Soon I’ll get back into regular blogging though I won’t make any promises.

Day 0: Plane trip from LA to NYC (JFK) to Paris

I hate flying. Really, I do. Take-off and landing terrify me and the fact that I have to sit in a seat for that long bores me. No matter how much entertainment I bring with me, I’m bored after two hours. Thankfully the flights weren’t too bad. I kept myself amused working on sock knitting, reading Sky Mall, listening to podcasts, and (when the system finally worked) watching Juno.

Day 1: Paris
When we got to Paris, our bags weren’t there. Okay, no big deal, just file a claim with the American Airlines people and be on our way. They’d probably get us our bags later in the day. Nope, only one flight from JFK to Paris (CDG) each day. We’d have our bags by early morning the next day, we were assured. Decided not to let it bug us and headed off to the Louvre. Made two trips to the Louvre, saw Notre-Dam, checked into at our apartment (very small studio in central Paris), lunch at a wine bar, dinner at a cafe later, and went to sleep.

Day 2: Paris

While Matt waiting for our bags to arrive, I decided to check out the nearest department store, thinking they’d have yarn (like the Phildar website told me). They didn’t. And our bags still weren’t there at 10:30 so we called and told them not to deliver but we’d pick them up at the airport the next day. Visited the the Musee d’Orsay, San Chapelle, Napoleon’s Tomb, climbed the Arc de Triumphe, and saw the Eiffel Tower (didn’t climb it - will explain the 101 in 1001 consequences later).

Day 3: Paris

At the airport we’re told our bags were dropped off at the apartment and someone named Danny signed for them. Eventually determine Danny works for the rental agency and will deliver our bags around lunchtime. Many happy dances when we open the apartment door to see our suitcases. Happy dances and long showers. Meet up with Rendy (on his six month tour of Paris) to see Versailles. Not fun place in the rain with heavy crowds. Best part of day: lunch of whole chicken in Versailles-area market. Sitting on the ground away from rain, picking at it with our fingers.

Day 4: Paris to Beaune

Picked up the rental car, drove to Beaune (with Rendy). Beaune’s a small town in Burgundy. The drive, despite being mostly toll highways, was really pretty. Plus we had a nice big car (Hyundai Santa Fe) to enjoy it in. Used my small amount of French and the reservation clerk’s small amount of English to check in. Pretty sure he missed the fact we had a reservation at all. I finally found a store selling yarn and got enough for three pairs of socks (two for Matt, one for me). Did some wine tasting which often included a tour of the winery’s wine caves. Really neat tour but not so beloved wine. I don’t think our palate is sophisticated enough for it.

Day 5: Beaune

Beaune’s a small town so it didn’t have much to do within its limits. We jumped in the car and explored some of the smaller towns south. Did more wine tasting and basically enjoyed the sights. Rendy was terrified to find many of the towns with few people wandering around (or, in one memorable case, only a chicken). Returned to town for a tour of the Hotel Dieu, a former hospice for the poor and other few city inhabitants to make it through the black plague.

Day 6: Beaune to Colmar

Drove slowly to Colmar, in Alsace. Suddenly felt like we’d been transported to Germany, not another part of France. We stopped in a bunch of small towns along the way, including Eguisheim where we got excellent tarts from a charcuterie (sort of a butcher shop). Colmar was a much larger town than Beaune which was nice, lots to see. Okay, I liked it mostly because it had lots of places to go shopping.

Day 7: Colmar

I don’t remember which day we did what in Colmar, despite my notes. They’re missing a bunch which I thought I’d recall but now can’t. Oops. I do remember touring a small chapel, buying clothes at H & M, visiting a combination art and city history museum, and buying some super cheap acrylic blend yarn (for scarf for Matt and hat for Rendy). Also some great food; Matt enjoyed charcute-garni (something like that) which is essentially a plate of meat with sourkraut. Oh, we also did lots of wine tasting. And drove along the Alsacian wine route. Happily wine tasting is free in this area, the bottles are much cheaper, and we preferred it over Burgundian wine.

Day 8: Colmar to Strasbourg to Bacharach

We drove to the train station in Strasbourg, dropped off the car, and wandered around town. We had about six hours to kill until our train left for Bacharach (in the Rhine Valley in Germany). We said goodbye to Rendy asWe dragged our large amount of luggage though three transfers. Ugh. Wound up on a train going the wrong way but eventually made it to Bacharach eventually where we met up with Amy, Alison, and Simon. Had a really crappy dinner - though the beer was good - and went to bed early.

Day 9: Bacharach (or, really, Sankt Goar)

Amy drove back down the Bacharach to me up with me, Matt, and Alison to give us the Rhine castle tour. We drove alone the river where she pointed out several castles before taking us to her favorite one called Burg Rheinfels. Because it’s partially ruined you can wander wherever you want for four Euros. We had a blast climbing towers and exploring mine shafts - or maybe just dark tunnels as we did see long shafts with sharp angles that went on seemingly forever. Afterwards we had a great lunch at a local place then got to meet Amy’s host family (she’s an au pair) in Diethardt. I haven’t had such confusing conversation in a long time due to our lack of German and their lack of English.

Day 10: Frankfurt to Dallas to Home

Amy dropped us off at Frankfurt airport where we got bombarded with questions. How long have you owned our bags, who packed them, where were they packed, did anyone give you anything to pack, how did you meet them, how long have you known them. Ack! I want to know what happened at that airport to ask so.many.questions. Thankfully the rest of the check in and security process didn’t take that long, despite the fact the customs agent wasn’t happy we didn’t have our passports stamped upon entering France. The flight was a million hours longed but I survived by sock knitting and watching lots of TV and movies. Almost missed the flight from Dallas to LA when customs couldn’t figure out if we owed tax or duty on the 18 bottles of wine we’d bought. And, of course, we didn’t get our luggage until the following day; three wine bottles had been destroyed in the process.

And now for the photos…

The menu at the restaurant where we had lunch our first day in Paris. Thankfully an employee knew English and was able to translate for us. By the time we left France we’d gotten pretty good at menu item translation (and my confidence at speaking French had improved).

I’d planned to take sock progress photos at each major landmark but, well, that didn’t happen. This sock is now done and it’s mate started.

Here’s what you see waiting to go to the top of the Arc de Triumphe.

You probably recognize this. Good ‘ole Notre Dame.

The Musee d’Orsay used to be a train station. It has a large collection of Impressionist works which aren’t my favorite but the architecture more than made up for it.

Inside San Chapelle, a gothic cathedral in Paris. I loved the stained glass in the small upstairs chapel which, apparently, is only seen by half of visitors.

You know what this is, I’m sure of it.

Matt tries to push Rendy off a cliff somewhere near Beaune.

A random street in Beaune (or nearby).

A church in a nearby city to Beaune

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The Hotel Dieu’s famous tiled roof.

View from the top of a fortified bridge in Strasbourg.

Matt, Amy, and Alison take a break from climbing up to Burg Reinfels.

The view from the castle.

Castle’s main tower

Well, I didn’t think this would be accomplished. No, that’s wrong, I thought it would be but far after the 1001 days were over. I actually thought about changing it to something else because the team’s success is not under my control. Then couldn’t figure out what to change it to: get two new sponsors, start some sort of spirit team, get three more girls involved. Out of laziness I kept it as written.

Thursday, Friday, and yesterday the LA Regional was held up at the LA Sports Arena. I didn’t attend Thursday’s practice rounds due to my Power Plant class but apparently we had lots of problems. We were seven pounds overweight (goodbye outriggers to keep us from falling over, 2 wheels, and little bits of aluminum) and had a major coding error that made our pneumatics cease to work after autonomous hybrid mode. But we finally passed inspection and made it to every single practice round - plus several more when FIRST was struggling to find working robots to fill out the rounds. Friday we won six out of seven qualifying rounds. I’ll spare all of the details about the one loss that should’ve been a win - it involves 1/4 of a second of lost radio communication and FIRST being idiots. Ended the day ranked 4th. Yesterday we lost (I think) both of our last qualifying rounds but finished as the 11th place seed. Despite our high seed, I was still surprised when we were chosen to join the 4th place alliance. Of course, five or so teams declined to join the alliance before us - the plight of a rookie team with a not-great robot that gets ranked well - but we were excited nonetheless. We ended up losing in the quarterfinals; the lack of strong alliance mates plus our falling over 30 seconds into the second match did us in.

But look at it this way: our previous best seed was 25th. Last year was the first time we even made it to all of the practice rounds. I have a feeling we’re going to have a much easier time recruiting students to join the team next year. We’re even talking about building two identical robots next season.

My best shot of us in action isn’t real great. Seating isn’t exactly ideal for getting action shots unless you’re on the crew (and then you don’t care).

The balls are randomly ordered on the overpass so you never know if you’re ball will be in front of you when you start.

Alliance pairings always take forever. Tito, our rep, is just to the left of the overpass.

I had fun making fun of several of the guys for playing chess in the pit between rounds.

Rest of the photos from this weekend are here. Photos from the build season are here, here, here, and here.

I keep thinking the caught-up feeling will come soon. First there was, well, FIRST. Six weeks of always being a bit behind. Then Matt got sick, then I did. This week he was back East for work and I thought, great, I’ll have lots of time to get things done. I can get the spare room closet organized, try out the flat bread recipe Matt has, take photos of my neighborhood, learn to crochet, solve world hunger. What really got accomplished? Half a Dynamics homework assignment, helping Fred keep calm regarding room allocations, rougly a third of a BSJ knit, and figuring out that those Eating Right meals from Vonn’s don’t taste half bad.

Maybe this just isn’t a semester where I’ll ever get caught up. I have three difficult major classes, two organizations which require my attention, and a few hours of work each week. Just enough things on my plate that I can procrastinate. Busier and I’d have to squeeze everything in, less items would lead to things getting done out of boredom. At least I’m not too behind. Or so I think. I grabbed out one of my partly-used notebooks and will work on creating a good ‘ole GTD list.

Never fear, this post isn’t just about my whining a having both too much and not enough to do. Here’s some photos from last weekend. Steph and I went to the release party for Craft Magazine up in Sherman Oaks. Everyone made felt monsters. I forgot just how much fun it is to do “craft” things. You know, the sort of crafts you did when you were little. None of this complicated sewing, knitting, stitching stuff. Just some felt, glue, googly eyes, and imagination. We’ve already got plans to have a felt monster-making party sometime soon.

Below: Me and Steph’s monsters are, naturally, good buddies

One of my very few non-posted photos of Steph

This guy sat across from us. He didn’t have much sewing experience but was really enjoying himself. His monster became this when it was done.

It seems to be a season of finishing for me. Maybe it was the fact that I had so many projects out there over 50 percent complete. After finishing my mom’s shawl (photos/redux post-blocking, whenever I figure out how to do that), I decided to work on finishing Eileen’s scarf. I anticipated getting it done two or more weeks later but mid-terms gave me lots of small snipets of time to work on it. Having really short rows helps because one row doesn’t take 15 minutes!

This is the first of two scarfs Eileen, my boss, comissioned me to make her. Well, sort of. I told her I would make her a scarf for her upcoming trip to Alaska, as long as she bought the yarn. This was a total joke; I doubted she’d want to pay the forty dollars or so needed to buy quality yarn. Before I knew it, she had purchased four balls of the gorgeous and squishy Trendsetter Tonalita. I had no idea that Trendsetter even made anything non-fun fur or ribbon yarn. Apprently the yarn is spun then died, hence the really vibrant colors.

On top of not having to pay for the yarn, Eileen made my day by telling me I could choose whatever pattern I wished. That was easy. This pattern is just short row garter stitch triangles. Even a beginner (with the knowledge of kfb and ssk) can make this impressive-looking scarf. This is going to be a pattern I keep coming back to, over and over again. It helps that Eileen really loves the finished product and keeps commenting on the pretty colors and quality of workmanship.

Pattern: Multidirectional Triangular Scarf (link)
Designer: Karen Baumer
Alterations: None
Recipient: Eileen
Yarn: Trendsetter Tonalita
Colorway: 593 (why don’t they name colors?)
Amount Used: Approx 225 yards
Needles: Size 7 addi natura (not sure of type, size is correct)
Started: Mid January, 2008
Finished: March 6, 2008

Anyone want on in a different yarn or colorway? These are really fun to make.

I’m so far behind with writing up FOs I decided to put these two projects in one post. The hat taught me cabling and used up some yarn I bought because it was on sale and I liked the colors. It doesn’t fit at all so I gave it to Sharlene from my knitting group to give to some little kid with a small head. I’ll make another one using the same yarn later, hopefully it’ll fit then. The second project was made to use up the leftover yarn from Eileen’s scarf (to be blogged about next). It’s from a company called Drops that has tons and tons of free patterns. I’ll be making another for myself in a solid color. This one will be sent off to someone who lives somewhere cold.

Pattern: Unoriginal Hat
Designer: Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Source: Yarn Harlot blog
Alterations: None
Recipient: No idea
Yarn: Zitron Vario
Colorway: No idea
Amount Used: Approx 50 yards
Needles: Size 13, 24″
Started/Finished: February 26, 2008

Pattern: Headband in Alaska
Designer: None Given
Source: Drops Website (link)
Alterations: None
Recipient: No idea
Yarn: Trendsetter Tonalita
Colorway: 2345
Amount Used: Approx 75 yards
Needles: Size 7, 24″
Started/Finished: March 6/8, 2008

Photos of this will come later, when I can have someone take a photo of me modeling it (looks like crap just sitting on a table).