Reason I love my job number 138:

This is an excerpt from an actual IM conversation between myself and a coworker.

Jack: Would you have any use for a mess of knitting yarn? I have a cardboard carton full that I need to get rid of.
Me: Always.
Jack: You're welcome to it if you can use it.
Me: Thanks very much, I'm sure I can give it a good home.
Jack: do you want me to bring that knitting yarn to work with me tomorrow?
Me: Sure! I'd really appreciate it.
Jack: ok :)

Yes. Just... yes. Even if it's just a bunch of Red Heart worsted weight acrylic I win: There are plenty of projects I have in mind that need.. 'disposable' yarn.

Important Knitting Lessons

8.) Yarn can on occasion be obtained in the most unusual places, in

unorthodox ways... and most amazingly, sometimes for free.

9.) Free yarn can be cheap, scratchy, or ugly... yet it should never be

turned away. The person offering it to you may get rid of some good

stuff later and will remember how happy and thankful you were.

*whine* It's Hawwwwwwwt...!

Today is the Stitch 'n' Pitch at the Cardinal's home, Busch stadium. I bought 2 tickets, one for me and one for Meli, and they're the special Stitch 'n' Pitch ones too. That means we get the tote bag "full of fiber-arts goodness", which might just be a bunch of coupons for LYSs or some cheap acrylic yarn and plastic needles but I hope not. According to some quick research, previous SnP's at other stadiums had plastic and wooden needles of various sizes and lengths and four balls of acrylic novelty yarns.

I can understand not giving out wool, I suppose, since it's so much more expensive, but I can't help but hope for a ball of bright red Cascade 220.

After resisting the call for so long I can't ignore the longing to create my own yarn. I made a drop spindle from a dowel rod, wooden toy wheel, and a screw-in hook. It's actually pretty balanced (and only cost $.90 each for four spindles). It's fun. I bought a package of wool roving from Hobby Loby that was being marketed as "perfect for felting!" but I bought because it's less than $8 for six colors for a total of 4 oz.

After practicing I have my first small skein of lumpy, uneven, uh that is to say textured yarn. My first single sucked hard. Very lumpy, slubby, and just generally novice-y. The second single that I made to ply with the first was better, more even (especially at the end), and gave me hope that I'm not the worst spinner ever, especially since I've only made two singles of the itchy yellow roving and hope to be ready for some pretty colors soon after going through the rest of it. I dislike the yarn that the itchy roving became, though, and can't come up with a use for the yarn made from it except as part of an afghan for company that has overstayed their welcome.

It's hot in the office today, but it's hot everywhere around here today. As I was driving in to work the weatherman said that it was going to be 100 F with a heat index of 105. And with the window facing as it does the sun beats in and cooks us. Plus the AC doesn't seem to be interested in working.

In home-related news a few weeks ago my catfish spawned (grrr) and spread their eggs all over their tank. I thought I had gotten rid of the eggs later that day, so imagine my surprise when I went to clean the tank and there was a baby fishie under the decorations!! As of now I think the baby is a girl so her name is Gloria (Oh, not I! I will survive!). Just under an inch long and just developing her spot pattern (they're peppered Cory catfish, dark and light greys speckled over their bodies). You can still see into her tummy when she eats! She's so kayooooot!! Pics to come

Updates.

Someone commented to me last week that I haven't updated in a while so I decided to get off my butt and update. A lot has been going on and I haven't had too much time or energy to type up things that have been coming to a frothy boil in my brain.

Suffice to say things have not been going well. In non-knitting news I've been unemployed for almost a month now and have been looking desperately for a job. (If anyone knows of a vacant computer help desk-type job *please* let me know about it.) The other major component of my non-knitting misery is that my sweetheart (the Boy Thing) lost HIS job shortly after buying a car and has had to use the money for a trip we were going to take to Chicago in May to keep his wheels and to pay for the insurance and stuff. What it boils down to is that I won't get to see him until September and I last saw him in early January. ;.; Also, my own car is broken on the driver's side door. It won't open or close. The passenger side rear view mirror also was taken off by an orange barrel. The repair shop has ordered the parts and will be fixing everything on Friday... $75.00 for the door and $85 for the mirror.

As far as knitting angst goes I put The Sock out of its misery (a tribute is forthcoming once I'm at home and have the pictures for it) and cast it on again. Also, the red EZ Circular Pi Lace Shawl I had cast on has a major "oopsie" in it in the middle of section II (I can stick my whole hand in a place where there should have been a YO) and I haven't been able to figure out how to fix it yet.

Good news, now. I finished a pair of pale pink Fetching gloves which I had intended for my little cousin but the gauge was off on the second one, making it a good 3/4 inch smaller... so the good news is that I'm keeping them for myself and my cousin will be getting a book. After wearing them for a while the difference isn't nearly as noticeable. I also managed to finish sewing up the yellow baby kimono I've been working on for a while. A little collar and ribbons to secure it shut and I'll have the cutest baby jacket ever. I also finished an original design for a felted evening clutch-style bag in red Lion's Wool. I have to felt it still, but hopefully it'll be cute with a big black button. I'm also freestyling a purple neck warmer in bulky baby alpaca and eventually a felted vase in Lamb's Pride bulky for my knitting needles.