Kiss My Knits!

Tonight at the S&B, I was working on a project which involved two-handed two color Fair Isle knitting. This meant I had to actually watch my hands a fair amount, since I’m not used to knitting left-handed, let alone stranding as I go.

I did this for a pretty good stretch, then looked up and realized that everything was blurry. Yes, apparently if I strain them, my eyes now require many long seconds to refocus from close to far away. From here, it’s just one long decline into bifocals and “But the light IS on, Granny Tvini.”

Up side: if I go blind, maybe I can get away with feeling the faces of the hotties. Yeah, that’s it.

The project I was working on, though, is looking pretty good. There’s a lot of stranding, so it’s not as elastic in one sizable portion, but I think the effect will be worth it. I’ll post it up after it’s gone to its recipient. That may take a while, though, as a) I’m not going to work on it for more than a row at a time without a significant break for my vision, and b) I’ve just realized that I have one less ball of this yarn than I thought I did. I’ll have to order more from somewhere and hope I can find the same dye lot. Hey, sleeves are overrated anyway.

In Dragonrealms, P5 (aka Forfedhdar) has rolled out to positive reviews. Because really, what’s not to love about giant apes that rip off your limbs and throw them at you?

I’m glad it’s been well-received, because everybody really busted their butts on this one. There was a tremendous “go team!” feel behind the push, with everybody pitching in wherever they were needed. It was just like the old days, but more focused. We’re all riding that high that comes with a big release, which raises the level of our work for everything else. It’s a good feeling.

My weekly dose of caffeine is wearing off. Time to go to bed – I’ll have to be up in six hours!

Looking over a rasha’hhsograth referring to a q’zhalata on a wedding sheet, I was reminded again of why I really do want to make that Encyclopedia Elanthica I keep talking about. I wonder what good software for an encyclopedia-type database would be. I suppose there’s always wiki, but there’s got to be another option out there.

The rasha’hhsograth design – translated as “handflower” for those who don’t speak S’Kra – was a nice design, but I did have to delve into my notes a bit to be sure I was making the correct calls. I’m glad I did – I found the records of a wedding couple from 2001. Their wedding process had not been going well, but Tinsie, God bless her, kept plugging away with them while I kept an eye on the situation. By the time it was all over, the couple was really pleased with how it turned out, to the point that they wrote a very nice thank you note to Simutronics HQ. It made me smile to read it again. Tinsie had the ability to keep her cool and look for creative solutions that would make everybody happy. She always made those around her feel lighter in spirit.

Miss you, sweetie.

New Futurama is on the way! Looks like I’ll be bumping back up to the next tier of cable channels in 2008!

The hubby and I finally got a chance to watch Stephen Tobolowsky’s Birthday Party last night. Excellent movie. Highly recommended. Packed with extras, too – there are gobs of additional stories. Even though I told the hubby that the extras would still be there tomorrow, he really wanted to see them all last night (this is unusual for him). He woke up this morning, bleary-eyed, hanging his head down and muttering, “Curse you, Tobolowsky!” So there’s a ringing endorsement from us both.


In DR news, I put in some moon mage visions, looked for some tattooees (I’ll look again tonight), did some paperwork, hid a Real Gem, tested a thingie in Plat, and generally did the little stuff that needs doing on a regular basis. I’m hoping to schedule a (REDACTED) at the (REDACTED) sometime in the (REDACTED), which I’m sure will be (REDACTED). Isn’t that (REDACTED)? I thought so too!

(Note: my ankles are far more shapeley than this picture would indicate.)
On the knitting front, the toes in the socks are just too dang wide. They fit me like a glove, but of course, they’re not my socks. I’m going to try to rip out the toes and make them narrower. If that doesn’t work… I’m starting over! And this is why every non-paid gift I knit takes forever and a day. I’d rather have it right than quick.

My mother is no doubt muttering (REDACTED) at the monitor right now. Sorry, Mom!



There was a fair amount of response to the picture of my daughter the ham, so I include here another picture to show why you should never tell her to smile. As one of my husband’s friends said, “you guys sleep with your door locked, right?”


But then, when you catch her in a natural moment, it’s wonderful. Of course, we’ll need a new bed after this, but that’s a small price to pay.

Jayne hats on the needles for Ohio, then Florida and Virginia!

Cars, knitting, kids, Dragonrealms, and Jayne hats. We’ve got it all!

Sorry for my lack of here-ness. The hubby’s out of town, so I’m holding down the fort solo. And yet, oddly, the house is cleaner when my husband is gone and it’s only me here. Coincidence? I think not.

My daughter’s been very good, and we’ve had fun. I’m so glad she can say “what does that mean?” now. In this way, she’s been able to ask for clarification on subjects such as sleepwalking, millet, and why we have to keep the bathroom door closed when we’re in there. Currently she’s viewing that as “optional” which I’m attempting to change.

Dragonrealms-wise, I spent part of the morning learning the behind-the-scenes GM side of a neat in-game system. One part was flummoxing me, and GM Iayn finally figured out what the dealio was. GMs Ariawen, Maece, and others also chimed in with help, whch was much appreciated. Nifty system. It’s been said before, but I’ll say it again. GM Jeremael was a freakin’ genius and I still miss him.

On the knitting front, I’m hating having instructions to make just “a blue scarf” with no clue of the tastes of the individual. For all I know, she wants fun fur. However, pressing the issue with the recipient is what got me as far as “a blue scarf” and I sense I can’t pursue it any further without making her uncomfortable. Okay, then, blue scarf it is!

I already had some Silky Wool in a periwinkle/blue jean shade that was going to be the Eve scarf for myself. The only picture I’ve got of my progress on that is so blurry that it’s pointless to post. Anyway, based on the four inches I’ve knit of Eve, it will take too long to knit for someone else, so instead I decided to tackle the lace sensation that’s sweeping the nation, Branching Out. Picture to the left.

Jayne hat-wise, hat on the needles for Virginia, then California and Connecticut.

Tonight? Knit more, watch LOST, and wallow in decadence. I made linguine with clam sauce last night, so I’ll have leftovers of that. Then, for dessert?

+ = =

Yeah, baby!

Cut for length.

Heh. I love adding rumors to the Dragonrealms rumor system. It feels so sneaky.

Cut to keep your friends page manageable. All part of our friendly service!

I had an appointment to have my hair fixed at 10am this morning, but didn’t keep the appointment. Last night I was out and saw a woman my approximate age, build, and face shape. Difference? She had FANTASTIC HAIR. I asked her who did her hair, and she raved about her stylist and gave me her card. So rather than get the same cut I’ve had for the past 20 years, I’m going to this new woman and we’ll see what happens. If I have to live with crappy hair until Wednesday, then so be it. That’s the advantage of working from home, no co-workers to impress.

In talking with the hubby about MacGyvering a yarn counter out of a fishing line counter, I also ran across this woman’s homemade ball winder. I’ve seen ball winders made from hand mixers before, but the drill-mounted one looks like it would have the advantage of letting you vary the speed. It seems like such an easy solution that you’ve got to admire the ingenuity.

Got a shipment of 150 boxes – 100 for single hats, 50 larger ones for double orders. Going back through my records I realized I was ordering 50 boxes every month or so, so I bought in greater bulk this time. I was down to six boxes left when these came. It’s not a huge crisis, because I can run up to my local office supply store and get more, but I pay literally ten times as much if I buy them singly. The hats are zipping right along, I feel like I’m starting to get back ahead of the curve again. For the first time in a while, the line is back around 35.

I’m wanting to get more involved with Dragonrealms again, now that I’m starting to make some hat headway. I had scaled back my involvement (aside from the Merelew festival) to nurture the Jayne hat biz, but I miss DR. I’m going to start picking up weddings again, and see how much I can handle at the moment without giving short shrift to either my wedding clients or my knitting clients. I also placed a couple of real gems today, which is always fun. When I was a player, I never spotted one, but I see the behind-the-scenes numbers and people really do find them! Also updated some visions, and saw that the rumor system is nice and healthy. I like to add onto the atmospheric-type systems when I can. Also, updated records on the description of a DR-specific wood, and GMs Reexa, Ilanya, and myself discussed a new fabric. Looks pretty cool, I think fluffhounds will be pleased.

Now I’m off to snag a copy of TurboTax for the Mac. Last year’s fiasco of actually doing taxes ON THE DUE DATE and discovering a form was missing has scared me straight, so to speak. Later, taters!

DVDs, sock yarn, Browncoats, and a tiny splash of DR.