It’s been a while, but I’m back.
Man, its been so long since i’ve wrote a real post! Only one post in July and so much happened! Not enough time to catch up, although I’ll try! It’s been such a brutal few weeks at work, working late, and dealing with a lot of crap, and there is an average of at least one person quitting per week – so we are losing people left right and center. And of course nothing is getting better. 
Although on an upside, my strategy article was posted again this time in media in Canada – http://www.mediaincanada.com/articles/mic/20070803/risingstarlavender.html and I’ve got a bunch of emails from rep’s and clients saying congrats which does make the day go by a bit better.
Anywho, on to some pictures – I’ll try and some up the month in a photo-montage for you!
Pic’s from a relaxing Canada Day weekend in Meaford & the Blue Jay Game with Jesse & Mel on July 6th!
Pic’s from the 50’s Party – which despite the rain was a big success! Everyone had fun, ate hotdogs, popcorn, floats and did the twist! Pic’s from Justin & Sabrina’s wedding – even when amanda and I aren’t trying, we still look hot!
And then finally some pic’s from my week with Manda, Maya and Steph back home!
Okay enough pictures i think for now! I think that’s an overload – although i’m Happy i figured out to upload pics from flickr since i think the wordpress uploading thing sucks – it takes longer this way, but i think in the end it will be better – no space to fill up!
Oh ya – I also got my first secret knitting pal package, some great sock yarn, in which i’ve cast on for knitty’s monkey socks – which are looking cool. I’ve also been working away on a bunch of other knitting projects – which i’ll have to blog about later. This weekend is crystal and dave’s wedding – should be fun, got a new dress to look all cute in – and hopefully it doesn’t look to tight and it actually looks good – we’ll see. night for now :)
bad bad blogger
eeek! oh my gosh has it really been almost a month since i’ve posted. I know i’m bad. very bad. but i have excuses. (not that excuses count, but i do have a few)
1. Crazy busy at work. At least 8 plans for fox this month, 1 briefing meeting, random emails from non-exsistant client in germany, and countless other random stuff. No longer have an assistant as she was taken (after I spent 3 months training her) to work on another “in need” team – FYI – we are ALL in need – we are seriously short staffed!!!
2. Canada Day Long Weekend away in Meaford.
3. Constuction/sewing of 3 poodle skirts – death of me!
4. More working Late – real late – for two weeks (making up for the long weekend days off) until at least 8 or 9 every night
5. knitting turtle for jo – started before christmas as christmas gift, not finished in time, decided to use as b-day gift in June, still not finished in time, housewarming gift in July, still not finished.
6. Planning for 50s Party
7. 50’s Party weekend.
Which brings us up to this week – in which i’m scrambling at work since Crystal is on holidays and Mike is gone for the rest of the week at a conference. Eeek. I was hoping to post a bunch of pics tonight, but laundry came first. So just a quick update and hopefully pictures of stuff to follow later this week. Although no promises. Manda comes this weekend, and Justin’s wedding is on Saturday, and hoping to spend Sunday with Paul – since i’m leaving next week to go to Guelph and visit with manda, maya and Stephie – Can’t wait! A mini-holiday with my best girls!
Anywho, its bed time, tired again. I promise pictures soon.
What a week.
Although I hate Sunday’s – and even though this Sunday hasn’t been any better then any other sunday, I’m still glad that tomorrow is the start of a new week.
I can’t even really pin point when the week started to get bad - it could have been last Sunday when I started to attempt the poodle skirts, or monday when I got called in to help with a new business pitch at work, but either way it went down hill fast. Even though I told work I had plans, and even though I vowed to myself that I would leave work at a resonable hour I still ended up staying late every night, I did mange to get out before 8 on wednesday so I could run to the mall and finish picking up the rest of my secret pal package, and something to wear to golf day this week. On thursday I stayed late to finish plans and had to miss the Perennial Art Show and although Paul has said its no big deal – it was a huge deal to me. On top of everything that happened at work that day, and not seeing Paul since the weekend, I totally had a meltdown. I didn’t want to be there and I had no choice. And as much as I wanted to be strong I couldn’t hold it in. From then nothing seems to be going right. Work on friday was no better and I stayed late again, only to come home to an empty apartment.
On Saturday I tried to be productive, I got up early, and spent the morning reading blogs and internet searching of random knitting things. Had a shower and packed up my secret pal gift – decided the best way to mail it was to get a quote from UPS and Canada Post to see which was cheaper. UPS wanted 120 dollars – to ship a box of yarn that was worth less then $40 over seas! ARE YOU KIDDING ME! I was shocked, and thank goodness for Canada Post who’s quote of $28.00 seemed far more reasonable! (although that was even a lot) After that I stopped to get a cinnamon bun at the bakery and came home.
I managed to tackle a few WIP’s yesterday to calm down, although they’re not completely finished they are getting there.
I got the body of Sheldon done for my cousin Jo – and two legs – only one shown in this picture. I’m hoping to either have it done by this weekend so I can bring it when we go up north, in
hopes of a belated birthday present. (however after last week its doubtful – so perhaps in time for the 50’s party in July) I also got the back done on the Baby Yoda sweater for Maya – hoping to have it done by July – and i’m not worried about it. I have finally booked off 3 days to go and visit. July 25th – 27th so I can go and spend some time with manda and maya, and hopefully steph. So that took up most of yesterday, I can’t really remember what else i did, some reading, chatted with Kim for a bit and then went to bed.
Today (the dreaded Sunday) I was determined to have a good day. I wanted to go to the zoo – but no one wanted to go – and I thought about going on my own, however I don’t think the zoo is a place you can have a lot of fun alone – at least not after the week I had. So the number one project/goal for the day was to finish the poodle skirts, at least mine and hopefully Chrissy’s - sadly that did not happen. I do not know why i’m having such problems with this poject. It’s quite easy when you look at it from a pattern perspective. One big circle with a little circle in the middle jump in and tada! 
However heming the waist band and added elastic its the worst thing ever! I’ve been staring at this for 3 hours. Thinking it will just come to me on how to sew it so it will a) look good and b) actually work like it should. It’s now 11pm and it hasnt come to me yet. I have this dreaded feeling that this isn’t going to work as I planned.
Still didn’t get a chance to see Paul and although its not a big deal, its only been a week, i’m still upset about it. I talked to him briefly on msn this afternoon only to find out that our big camping weekend plans aren’t so big anymore. I hate being at the mercy of other people. I think thats the main reason I don’t get out more often, i don’t drive (and unlike the rest of the people in my life – I don’t have an issue with it) however I don’t like depending on other people to get me places. So i just don’t go. This weekend we are getting a ride up to Meaford with Paul’s brothers friend, and its great that they’ve offered to take us and help us out so we don’t have to pay for a rental car or hassle with the bus. However like I said, we are the mercy of their plans. We aren’t leaving until after 9pm on friday and we have to come back on sunday afternoon so our long relaxing weekend has become short and includes spending about 70% of the time in the car. Yes i’m disapointed. I have no control over it, and i shouldnt be complaining – we still get to go, and we don’t have to pay any money to get there – but i’m still dispointed, just seems like another thing to add to the list of things not going my way. And on top of it Chrissy and Sean are coming down to go to the Zoo next Sunday. It just makes me cry. Uncontrolable flood of tears, all weekend.
alright. enough. time for bed. with hopes of a better week. I’m suppose to go to a golf clinic on Wed. with Flo and Rob from Time. And can you guess the only day this week they are calling for rain and thunderstorms? Is someone up there following me with some sort of bad curse? grrr. bed time.
Hot Hot Hot – and WIP’s
Yes I know i’ve said it before … my apartment is a close to being a sauna. And as if it could have gotten hotter then that – it has! My computer says its 25 degrees C out side, the TV says its 29 degrees C outside, and i’m pretty sure its closer to 37 degrees in my apartment!
And so i’m blaming the heat for my lack of fuction today. I had all the best intentions. Got up early with Paul as he had to leave by 10. Cleaned up a bit with the theory that I was going to get started on the poodle skirts – in the morning I got as far as laying out the fabric and reading the pattern twice. When i got frustrated with that i moved on to knitting. I thought today was a good day to showcase all my WIP. Here it is in all its glory.
In a circle from top left…that brown row is the start of a pair of Felt Clogs from the Fiber Trends Pattern, next is the ALMOST finished pair of Kroy Socks i’ve been working on since Christmas – i know longest pair of socks ever. That black lump is my cavern cardi – which looked like a lump this morning, and now is much more like a sweater now (pic below). That big green square is actually a crocheted blanket I started over two years ago i think – its my longest work in progress. Blue square is the baby yoda sweater for my little “niece” Maya. The funny shaped green thing is Sheldon from knitty for my cousin Jo (sorry still not finished – but i’m getting there!) Next to that is another pair of socks I started from this pattern. And then there is a pair of brown arm warmers I started when it was actually cold out. And below it all is a rug that i’m crocheting with fabric and when I actually finish it, its home will be in the kitchen, its so cushy it will be nice to stand on when doing dishes!
Wow… I don’t think I should be allowed to start any more projects until I finish some of these up … but that won’t happen…lol I have been working on a few things today the clogs are looking more like clogs now, and if i can finish by the 50s Party I could felt them at mom and dads – its going to be useless to try and felt anything at my place with the pay-per-use washer and dryer. Here is the progress on the cardi – i’m just loving the way its fitting and i’m hoping to be finished in a few weeks so I can wear it at work. So at least today wasn’t a totally waste. And since I started this post a few hours ago, I managed to get one load of laundry done – and put all the dishes away.
And one more pic before I head off to bed, Pauly and I spent a very nice day together yesterday, just lying around, did some shopping, watched a movie (well he watched, I slept..lol) and while I knit he did some reading, and I can’t help but take a few pic’s of him every once and a while he is just too darn cute!
PS – finally figured out (if you didn’t notice) how to word wrap around my pics. Exciting for me!
Oh and just incase he happens to take a look – Happy Fathers Day Dad!
Mid-Week
I suppose its been okay week so far. Yesterdays training/ presentation wasn’t as horrible as we all expected it would be. And lots of insights and learning out of the entire day so that was good. Today was busy but productive lots done and still managed to get out of the office by 5:30.
Yesterday was the final day to sign up for the secret knit swap, and we changed partners today! I’m super excited, and can’t wait to put together my package and send it out to my pal! I think this is going to be such a good expereince. (regardless of how geeky it may be)
Thats about it – not much to say today really. But needed to keep up. Some pics from the weekend in Brantford, busy weekend, but it was good. Crystal & Dave’s buck and doe was fun, all of Paul’s friends are so great, regardless of how nervous I am they always make me feel so comfortable and welcome!
Pauly & I waiting for the bus – ya we know we’re cute! & Alicia, Kristen, Kim & I on the cab ride home.
Okay thats it. I still have a running nose and a headache, so i’m heading off to my bed. Nighty night.
Quick Note
Just a quick update as i’m procastinating cleaning and packing for the weekend. (Crystal & Dave’s Buck and Doe in Brantford tonight)
The June issue of Strategy Magazine came out on Monday, and its kinda exciting to see your name and picture in print! I don’t think the online link has a picture, but if you download the pdf version you can see it – for anyone who might be excited to see. I got a few calls from rep’s and friends this week who saw it – kinda exciting stuff.
Paul & I went to Niagara Falls last weekend with mom & dad. We had a good time, I finally managed to get in to a casino so we spent a few hours there and paul and mom won a bit.
That’s about it, nothing else really exciting. Oh i made another new bag last night to match my outfit for the party tonight, but i’m not sure I really like it, haven’t taken pic’s yet, so i’ll post next week. Oh and tuesday is the last day to sign up for the Secret Knitting Pals on facebook – I’M SO EXCITED! This swap is going to rock!
Anywho, thats it, i have to run to the bank, the bakery clean the apartment and pack in an hour since paul just msg’d to say he is on the way – eek.
Happy June 1st Day!
10 years ago — I can’t believe its been that long — but 10 years ago, my sister, my cousin and I were goofing around at our Grandpa’s Trailer doing the same thing we did every summer – dance around and video tape our selves being complete morons.
On this particular day, we were inside with the video camera, when someone noticed that not only was the time on the camera wrong, but so was the date. When we discovered that the camera thought it was “june 1st” we continued to yell and shout and proclaim – happy June 1st day! Being 16, 14, and 12 this was so funny to us all and our aunts (although they’d never admit it) found it funny too.
Now I don’t think any of us really remember what day that really was, and we don’t really care. Cause even though we are all grown up we continue to celebrate to this day – our own little holiday.
Love you Girls – Happy June 1st Day!
knitting knitting
I have discovered that if you leave work at 5 (like a normal person) and go right home, you have so much time in the evenings to knit, sew, read, watch tv and make dinner - before 9pm!!
That being said, I have an FO (finished object to you non-knitters) to show off:
Finally finished my Clapotis scarf.
Cast on: Mar. 14 at 10pm – worked half hearted since then, finishing (and starting) other stuff since. Finished on Friday May 25th and blocked it on Saturday the 26th.
Yarn: Patons SWS in Natural Earth colourway
What I learned: blocking is amazing. It totally made the dropped stitches stand out and shine. Wool is really nice to work with, however as a scarf its really itchy, and sadly unless I can figure out how to make it softer i’m not sure how much wear i’m going to get out of it (i’m open to suggestions – if anyone has any)
WIP: the cavern cardi – cast on last Saturday and i’m about half way through the yoke.
Ignore the ugly-ness of my foot stool/ chair - i can’t throw it away it’s too comfy. And one day i’ll finish the slip cover i started ages ago…lol. Anywho I’m using Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece for the cardi and its soo nice to work with - I can’t wait to finish.
This is pretty much all i’ve been doing this week. Paul and I are going to Niagara Falls this weekend with mom & dad, I’m hoping the weather holds out and stays warm and sunny. I’m sure there will be a bunch of pictures next week. 
New Day
I’m going to assume that every girl (and maybe guy) has days like i have. Days when you just wonder “what the hell am i doing and why does everything have to go wrong on a Friday afternoon” Yesterday was one of those days. I woke up late, missed the bus, was bombarded with messages and phone calls at my desk by 10am, my assistant was sick, my “things to do list” at work grew by the minute and nothing was getting completed by 11:30 i wanted to run away. Things just got worse at work, and i decided mid-afternoon that going to the Yarn Harlot Event at Indigo was pretty much out of the question.
- I’m still way to chicken to go to ANY knitting event alone in this city – i don’t know why, i just am. And
- I was in no mood yesterday to battle 150 excited knitters with potential weapons.
So at 6:45 I packed up my crap at work and came straight home. I was just miserable. But other then having a bad day at work, I didn’t really have any reason to be, but that seems to make it worse, then you start to feel guilty about feeling bad, why do girls do this? So i jumped online and was chatting, reading some blogs, nothing to important when my internet dies, and i completely lose it. Its like nothing wants to go my way today. I decided its probably just a sign that i’m spending too much time online, so i decide i’m going to watch a movie, and sit and knit. Put on a girly movie and do just that sit and knit, and i’m starting to feel better already. When my DVD player stops right in the middle of a great scene where the love interest is storming away it freezes. And so before i start crying again, i get up turn it off and just skip through the scenes till i get to where i was to watch it over again, and it does it again, same spot, it wont let me past it – i tried for another 20 minutes and nothing – now i’m crying. I figured at this point there is just no point, its almost 11 and although i’m not tired, i just go to bed – actually I emailed/messaged a few very important people first to tell them how much i miss them, and then i crawled into bed.
I woke up at 8:30 this morning, thinking it was late, and when i saw the clock i went back to bed for another hour. Got up just before 10 and felt better, new day, its nice and sunny out – and to be honest to nice to be inside. A great day to pull out my summer clothes and get out. Yet i don’t have anything to do But i’m not going to get down about it. I think i might take my book and my knitting up to the park at mount pleasant – no reason i can’t go knit in the park – yes i realize how much of a loser i’m going to look like knitting in a busy dog-park by myself. But today i don’t care. (chances of this actually happening anyways are slim) Maybe i’ll go down to Lettuce Knit today and check out their sock yarn – i’m almost done the blue ones and its best to start on some new ones right away seeing as how long i take to make a damn pair. I want to be able to give socks at christmas so i figure if i just keep a regular pace at socks all year, by christmas i’ll have at least a few pairs to give away.
Okay, enough blogging, time to get out. Oh one more thing, the whole week wasn’t a total disapointment. I got a new pair of pj’s this week to cheer me up – and i LOVE them totally summery and make me wanna wear my pj’s all day long (not a new thing) And last week over the long weekend i did mange to do one productive thing with my friday off. I made a new bag – which i also LOVE – i think its got to be one of the best things i’ve ever made. And who would i be if i didnt show pic’s of both. So for your viewing pleasure:
Wednesday Venting Session
It’s only Wednesday?!? That’s what I thought in the shower this morning and continued to think for the rest of the day – I can’t believe it’s only Wednesday, why is this week going in slow motion??
First of all – it’s a short week, my wonderful company does a few things right every so often, and from May to September they give us an extra day off every long weekend, so you really can’t complain about that. However I will continue to complain about how uberly slow this week has been. On top of things moving backwards people are just being dumb and stupid this week. Whatever happened to smart people? Don’t people think anymore?
Why do rep’s call me and say “I have this fabulous opportunity for client x, and I know you’ll just want to participate it in” how do they know that i want to, or the client wants to for that matter, 99% of the time i don’t want to be part of their “fabulous” idea, nor does it work with the strategy i’ve been working with for the last three years! What part of ”Unfortunately we can’t particpate” do these people not understand. And today it wasn’t even just reps it was the clients too – no I cannot put together a plan in less then a week and no I will not come in on a long weekend to finish it and no I definitely do NOT think I can present 3 plans in less then 2 hours. Some people think i’m good at what I do – enough so to put my picture in a magazine – but honestly i’m not that good – at least not enough to write and present three plans in less then a week in under 2 hours. On top of frustrating rep’s and clients there is an air vent above my desk, and I swear to god if i get sick again this summer i’m blaiming it all on that damn vent that blows constant cold air on me!
Honestly I think the work problems could have been avoided today if i had just listened to the signs telling me to go home. Sign number one – it was very very windy this morning, and when i walked out of my building, i thought i was going to blow off the steps. Sign number two the subway was down at my station. Now I have to say I actually got kinda lucky since the Davisville bus driver was in a good mood this morning and decided that he would continue south on Yonge and take us fine folks all the way to bloor, so I didn’t have to battle the thousands of people that were crowded on Yonge – if that had happened I think I would have turned around for home. I did however have to wait 7 trains at Yonge and Bloor before I even attempted to get on a train to get down to Queen. In total it took me almost 2 hours to get to work today. AND while we’re on the topic of subways and transit can I just say people frustrate me! Why can’t they just move in to the middle of the car? Is it that hard? It makes me livid to be standing on the plateform waiting to get on and there is enough room for at least two more people in the middle – yet everyone is smushed up agains the door and people are pushing and shoving to get in – really people move your little feet in about a foot and the train would be much happier. AND ANOTHER THING why do people freak out on the plateform like we can do anything about the train being delayed – suck it up – do you think your the only one late for work?! example – today I experienced one crazy lady storming off the bus at davisville when she heard the subway was down, only to miss out on the free fast ride down to bloor. Then while waiting at Bloor this guy decides that waiting is just to hard to handle and starts screaming at the TTC people (who aren’t there to listen) and punching the pay phone – honestly what good does that do?
Okay enough venting. I actually made a list at work today about all the things I wanted to get out, this is only half since after i wrote the list a few decent things happened. 1. I finished the Hills Plan. and 2. I got my hair cut. For a new spring look.
So I think thats it for today. Nothing like a good little photo shoot to cheer a girl up.
