Alright, I need to post something new since my rant about caffeinated coffee. Things are getting better. I think. But I am getting through the days. And the caffeinated coffee helps with that. Otherwise, I have not much news. I will soon post pictures of my baby sweater. I am half way up the body. It is knit in the round, so less seaming in the end, which I am glad about. I have bought my first SP gift and I need to get it in the mail! I am sure that she thinks I am lost in blogland. But I just haven't had time to make it to the post office. But for now, I need to go to the cleaners and then head to yoga. More later.

Ever wonder if your head is screwed on right. I have not had a good week. Last night I cried from the time I got home, til I went to bed. For no good reason. And I just realized I got home with a 24 ounce bag of coffee and it is DECAF! I just can't deal with that. I need my morning jolt. I guess I'll have to make another trip to the store.

Secret Pal 5 strikes

I got home Monday night (yeah, I know I am a little late, but I have been busy this week), and a package was waiting for me. It was 4 different sock yarns from my secret pal! I know that she is from Canada. I am happy to have someone North of the Border. I've always wanted and international pen pal. Now I better get back on the sock band wagon. I'll take a picture later -- I can't find my camera. One is red, one is green, two are striped. I am excited to get some socks for me to wear. Thanks SP.

But for now, I am slowly getting started on my baby gift. I hope that it works out okay. I am a little nervous about this yarn, but it is very soft. I think it will be okay, but I have been worrying a lot lately.

As for my academic tragedy, thanks for all the sympathy, and I am sorry to cause any panic attacks. It is kind of cathartic to talk about it. Also glad to know that those note cards still get lots of use.

Alright, so I have decided to share one of my academic tragedies. And I don't mean reading Shakespearean plays. When I was in the tenth grade(I think it was that year), we read Wuthering Heights. Now I don't really remember the plot. I just refreshed myself on the internet -- where was that when I was in high school. A love story of sorts between Heathcliff and Catherine, but they don't end up together. Anyway, I have probably pushed it out of my memory for other reasons. We were required to write a term paper on this book. We had to read critical reviews of the text, take nots on them on note cards. And then write the paper. The note cards were supposed to be turned in as well, cause that way the teacher could prove we actually did the work. Well, this paper was due friday before spring break. I went home one night that week to continue to work on the paper -- or start on it is probably more like it -- and when I got home, my note cards were not in my bag. I thought, "oh, they must be in my locker." well, much to my dismay, they weren't in the locker, and they weren't in the English class, but someone had remembered that they had seen them under my desk. I looked the whole school over. I even went digging in the dumpster, but they were no where to be found. And I had 2 days to finish the paper. What a spring break bust. Thank goodness the teacher was a friend, and she let me have the next grading period to get all the note cards done and finish writing the paper. I bet in this day and age of better computers, they don't have to use those darn notecards. It was a traumatic experience, ...and one I haven't thought about in a long time. It hasn't made that big of a scar. Seems to me I remember another traumatic english paper of mine in high school to. I was writing the paper and the computer crashed and it didn't save it. That was at 10 pm the night before the paper was due! I think I at least had a copy of it that I could type from. Anyway, enough traumatic high school stories.

Not much knitting here. I did swatch both the crayon and the elegance, and I have decided to use the crayon for the baby gift. I hope it works out. I will post some pictures later. My blue sweater is on hold for now until I can get this gift done.

I'm at work, and I better get some things done.

3 in 3

Well, 3 posts in 3 days is impressive. Not much progress on the knitting front. But I did want to share this.

Yes, that is my first KnitPicks purchase. I bought 12 balls of Shine to make , the Vintage Pink cardigan from the Spring IK. I think the cream color will be nice.

Then I bought some Crayon in red and some elegance in green to make the Child's Placket-neck Pullover from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts for a friend who is having a baby. I wasn't sure which yarn would be best. The Crayon is a nubby one, and the Elegance is smoother. I'll have to swatch them both and then decide. But all together the six balls cost me less than $10, so I figured I could afford them both (and i needed the free shipping)

I think I am snapping out of my mood. I need to before I stop wanting to be around myself. Thanks for the nice comments. Rachel wanted to know more about the Wuthering Heights tragedy. I will post more about it over the weekend. It will take some time to get it all out. And just so you know, I am a huge magazine fan too - Real Simple is on my list of read every month. I actually had to stop renewing my subscriptions cause I was getting too many. Darn Publishers Clearinghouse.

Tank pattern

Well, I think there is something wrong with my internet connection. half of my links won't work, but when I got to work today I was able to link to the tank pattern, so here it is. enjoy it. I followed the small size and used the needles it calls for. It fit guage perfectly. Have a good day.

Could this week get worse

Well, I guess I shouldn't complain that much. And I don't think you all need to hear all my woes. And there are certainly many people out there who are having worse weeks. But I have not really had a very good last 3 days. Sunday I went to lunch with some of my co-workers and burst into tears. Then the last two days I have been on the verge. And then today, I was all geared up to go to yoga tonight and I had no clothes! I had packed them up this morning and left them by the door. So when I got there I was really upset. Yoga has become my way to relieve myself from all of my stress. When I moved to St. Louis I started going to Bikram yoga. An hour and a half at 105 degrees is a great way to forget all my worries. And tonight I really needed to go. So instead I came home and decided to blog. I might as well utilize what has become my other stress relief.

So for some knitting content. Finally a FO. Here is my tank! (sorry for the blurry picture)

Pattern: Shapely Tank from White Lies designs (I can't get the link to work)
Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Jungle Green (from the best ever Secret Pal, May)

I love it. I wish I had altered the pattern a little. The neck band is a little ruffly, I think I picked up too many stitches. But I can live with it.

Finally, I have been tagged by Rachel with the book meme. She and I went to the same college. She was an english major and I was not, as you can probably tell by my answers. But I lived with one, does that count. I must warn all of you avid readers, my answers will probably not inspire you to go and crack open any great books.

Total Number of Books in Your House
Tons, I don't even know where to start. At least 300. There are tons that I have never even opened. And all of my medical books. There are a lot.

The Last Book You Bought Was...
There Eyes were watching God. I watched the movie when it was on TV and thought, I really have to get this book. But I haven't opened it yet.

What Was the Last Book You Read Before Reading This?
The Heart is a lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers. But I have been trying to read it

Write Down Five Books that You Often Read or that Mean A Lot to You
1. Williams Obstetrics. I don't recommend it to everyone, but it is the book that has gotten me through the last 6 years of my life. And I pick it up often.
2. Wuthering Heights. I think because I had tragic paper writing experience with this one. Maybe that is why I never became an english major.
3. I don't really have any other books that I read often or mean a lot to me. Unfortunately most of what I read is medical journals. I wish I had more time to read for pleasure. But I have always been a slow reader, and I have had so much other stuff to read in the recent past that my novel reading has gone by the wayside. Any suggestions on how to improve my reading speed will be greatly appreciated.

What Books Can You Absolutely Not Wait to Read to Your Children
I have to say anything by Dr. Suess. What a great exposure to great rhymes and all kinds of crazy creatures. But that will be far in the future since Mr. Right has not come into the picture yet.

Who Will You Tag Next and Why?
I am going to tag my sister Ashley, cause I know she has more time to read than me. But I also know that she is very busy, so we will have to see what she says.

Okay, I need to read more - and not medical related things.. So I think I may pledge not to watch any TV for the next week. And I should read something for fun, but I also have a lot of reading to do for work. For all of you out there, keep knitting.

I found it!

Well, I think my cats are up to their usual craziness. I must have put the magazine on the arm of the couch. And when they were chasing each other they knocked it into a magazine rack. Now I knew I would not have put it in there, so I didn't look there. Well, now I can get back to my sweater. But I think I am having a guage problem. My guage swatch worked but I am afraid that the sweater is too small. Oh well, such is life.

No other news here. My tank got some use this week, and I got some complements on it. But my lame self photos are lousy so you''ll have to wait to see it in action.

UGH

I'm having a bad night. I am trying to knit my sweater and I can't find the magazine with the pattern in it. I thought I left it on the couch. It might be in m call bag which is in the car. I hope I can find it. If not, I will be very sad.

Secret Pal 5 -- The Questionnaire

Well, I sent Rox an email to say I was bummed I missed the sign up and that I would love to be an angel if she needed them. Then I got an email that she was able to get me in! I am very excited. I was hesitant to join cause the cash seems to keep flowing to the wrong things, but this will be a good thing. I am very excited. I heard from the person who is spoiling me, but I am waiting to hear who I will be spoilin'. So I better get this questionnaire done. Here goes. You can also read the one from SP4. Wonder if my answers have changed? Pictures of my tank to come.

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
I wouldn't call myself a snob. I have been known to use Lion Brand. But I do like nice things and things that are not itchy.
2. Do you spin? Crochet?
Do not spin - although I'd love to learn. I do crochet, but I prefer to knit.
3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
No allergies, but I really can't stand smoky things.
4. How long have you been knitting?
I learned to knit when I was about 12 years old. That was a long time ago! I knit every summer for a while, then picked it back up about a year ago.
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No, but I could make one!
6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I like candles, but I'm not a huge fan of really fruity smelling bath products. They are good for some, but not for me.
7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Yes, more than I care to admit.
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I have dabbled in some scrapbooking and some jewelry making, but nothing very exciting.
9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like just about anything. My new found interest in Jazz continues. I can play MP3s, and my ipod is waiting to be filled up.
10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
No real favorite color.
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Just me and my two fury friends, two cats. See them here.
12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
To live a fulfilling life, and be surrounded by people I love.
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
Can't say that I have a favorite. I have some Calmer waiting to find a home, and everyone loves it that I can tell. It just has to be soft.
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Nothing really.
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
I am fascinated by the sock craze. I have finished one sock - not a pair, and I have tried to start another, but I have put that aside for now. I may pick it up again soon. There are so many things I want to make! NBaT, booga bag ... The list goes on. And the stash continues to grow!
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Just about anything.
17. What are you knitting right now?
A sweater from the spring Knitter's magazine.
18. What do you think about ponchos?
They are okay. I think I any try and knit one for next winter.
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Circular, cause I have a set of Denise's that I love.
20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
No preference.
21. Are you a sock knitter?
Yes.
22. How did you learn to knit?
One summer, my mom taught my sister and I to knit. I wish I still had that little tank sweater that I made. I really loved it.
23. How old is your oldest UFO?
This past summer, my mom found a bag in the closet with yarn and a half knit sweater that I started in college -- that was about 12 years ago. I think I will pull it out and use the yarn for something else, cause the pattern is big sleeves, and big body. Gotta love the styles from the early '90s.
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
I don't have one.
25. What is your favorite holiday?
Halloween, it is my birthday!
26. Is there anything that you collect?
No, I'm not a big fan of things that clutter. I guess if I picked something to collect, it would be good bottles of wine.
27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Interweave Knits
28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Not really.

Another busy weekend

Well, A busy weekend, but not much knitting. I wanted to start this post with a picture of my tank. But I went to take the picture and realized that my camera batteries were dead. So I plugged in the rechargeable ones, but it takes a few hours. So you'll have to wait. Not much other knitting news. I have started Scoop It from the spring Knitter's magazine. I picked a beautiful light blue. I think it will be great. This is my first venture into a full sweater since I was in high school. That was a long time ago, but I think that I will be okay. The tank looks pretty good, so hopefully the sweater will be okay.

I have another baby gift to make. I think I may knit the Child's Placket-Neck Pullover from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. It is a cute sweater and I think I will find some yarn from Knit Picks. In the mean time I may get some shine to knit the Vintage pink cardigan from IK. The kids sweater calls for a Koigu wool, but I think I will make it in a more all season yarn if I can find one.

Otherwise, nothing really new here. I went dancing last night with some of the folks from work. I forgot how much I like to dance. But we were going out to celebrate the end of the year for the current graduating resident class. Another reminder that it is coming close to the end of the academic year, and I am getting nervous and anxious to see what the next year will bring. New jobs, finishing my research and who knows what else. It is a little scary to me to know what will happen, but I am optimistic that I will make all the right decisions. Well, enough seriousness. I'm going to go watch Shrek 2!