What a Difference a Frame Makes

Two weeks ago, James and I finally took our college diplomas to get them matted and framed. They had been propped up against the TV cabinet for months, but I finally decided (with a 60% off coupon in hand) that it was time to have it done. Before the months-long stint in the living room, the diplomas had been stashed in a closet ever since their receipts, roughly three years ago (for mine) and two and half years ago (for James's).

I knew they would look good, but until we picked them up last weekend, I had no idea just how good they would look. We hung them in the bedroom over our desk. Maybe one day we can hang them in our home office or study. It amazes me how good it feels to have finally done something that I've put off for so long. Maybe I'll feel the same if I organize the camping gear?

In other news, I've hardly knitted or crocheted at all this week. I feel like there's so little time left in the day now that I have to commute between 1.5 and 2 hours each day and I no longer get to spend lunch at home.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

I know, it may seem a little early for this post. And, if you know me, you are probably wondering 'what vacation?'

Well, though I didn't really know it at the time, I had a two and a half week vacation that ended on Wednesday of this past week. It could also be known as unemployment.

In addition to the typical job hunting and interviews, I was also able to enjoy myself a little (which was really just enough to balance out all the stress I was trying not to feel) by lounging by the pool, sleeping in, and-of course-knitting.

With all the extra knitting time, I was able to knit not one, but TWO pairs of socks. And let's not forget the Mario goodies I crocheted during this time. I feel pretty accomplished, and both pairs of socks turned out great (aside from pooling issues, anyway). In fact, the pair of socks for myself was started on last Saturday (I had started Friday night, but ended up ripping it out and starting over on Saturday when I realized they'd be too small.) and finished on Thursday. That is primarily because I knitted almost constantly on Monday and Tuesday since I didn't have to look for a job those days.

Aren't they nice?

The ones on the left are the Spring Forward pattern from Knitty Summer 2008 using the Araucania Ranco Multy that James bought for me in Austin at Hill Country Weavers while I was in New Mexico over Memorial Day. Strangely enough, the socks on the right are also made from yarn (ShibuiKnits) that I bought at the same LYS during a trip to Austin last year over Labor Day weekend. The pattern is Double Basket Weave from More Sensational Socks by Charlene Schurch. I had to use some leftover KnitPicks sock yarn for the toes on James's socks because I was going to run out of the brown.

Once Upon a Time...

I used to talk about stuff that wasn't knitting related. Shall I give that another shot?

I started my new job today. It went pretty well after I got over having to wake up at 3:30am in order to arrive in Fort Worth at 5:00am for new hire orientation. I should say it went well until 9:00am, anyway, when there was confusion as to where I should be and what I should be doing. It didn't help that my new boss was out today (and will be tomorrow and Friday, also).

My co-workers are super nice, and they were very helpful in getting me acclimated to my new surroundings. There wasn't much I could do today because of the confusion, so I left at 1pm. Don't worry, my boss had given me permission (by phone) to leave at noon, but I stayed an extra hour to prove I was committed. I was starving and had a massive headache (likely from not eating or drinking since 3:45am), so I stopped at Whataburger, inhaled a hamburger and french fries, and arrived home where I immediately crashed. James woke me up when he got home and it took me an hour to tell him about my day.

One thing I have noticed about myself is that I don't feel the same anxiety/excitement about starting a new job that I remember feeling before. It reminds me of how when I was in grade school, I would feel a pang of panic/excitement on the first day of school every year. Butterflies in the stomach and all that. In high school, it was still there faintly, but by the time I was in college, it didn't faze me at all, which, ironically seems like it would be the most likely time to feel anxious. It's as though with each job I have felt increasingly at ease, and with this job in particular, I wasn't nervous at all. It makes me wonder whether this is part of getting older or just being comfortable in situations which are no longer new or unique to me or something else.

I also feel this way about traveling to new places, and James and I have discussed this at length before. My first time on a plane was a trip to NYC with my best friend (and he-who-shall-not-be-named). I was twenty-one. It was very exciting and surreal, and I couldn't sleep for days before. During my trip to Great Britain a year later, I had much the same feelings. Now, though, after having been many places and on many planes in the last few years (for business and pleasure), I no longer feel the same anticipation and excitement I used to feel. And now, I'm thinking maybe I never will again. The newness has worn off.

To be fair, it's not that I haven't enjoyed my trips (because I have enjoyed every single one immensely). It's just that butterflies-in-the-stomach feeling is no longer there. I kind of miss it. I wonder if it will ever return?

Mario Madness

The last swap package that I volunteered to make finally arrived at its destination yesterday, so now I can talk about it!

The swap was the Old School Game Consoles Swap, and my recipient happened to be a Mario fan--like myself--so I had a lot of fun researching what I wanted to make. Unlike myself, my recipient (Lumenia on Ravelry) loves to bake, so I thought it would be appropriate to make baking related items. Plus, it's summer, and not many people will get much use out of a hat, scarf, or mittens (other popular knitted items) for a while.

There is one teensy problem now, though...I forgot to take pictures of most of the items in the package. I had everything ready to go except for one item I ordered on Etsy, so as soon as I got that, I just quickly packed everything up and sent it off. The one item I was waiting on was a shot glass with a frosted image of the Mario invincibility star on it. Other items included: Mario coin refrigerator magnets, a skein of Noro Kureyon yarn, some Pepperidge Farm Snickerdoodle cookies, and a set of crocheted Mario Mushroom Potholders/Hot pads and a crocheted Mario Invincibility Star Oven Mitt.

I first attempted to knit the potholders, but knitting intarsia with cotton yarn is impossible. Really, if someone can prove to me that it's not, I'd love to see your proof. I just can't believe it after my experience.

Crocheting was much, much easier, but of course, the way that crochet stitches are formed means that you can't get lines that are as clean as with something that's knitted. I do think all the designs are recognizable, though, so I'm happy with it.

Surprise!

I have been waiting for a package to come in the mail that contains a small item that will go into the swap package I am currently working on. I ordered this item before I was unemployed, and it is partially the reason I am still going to make the package instead of bowing out.

Anyway, yesterday, as usual, I went to check the mail and there was a package! I had been a little worried about the item, so I felt relieved until I saw how large the package was. Surely the item I was waiting on would be in a much, much smaller package? I didn't recognize the return address, so I hoped it was the Etsy seller after all and that she just used more packaging than necessary.

When I got inside the apartment, I ripped it open and immediately saw a knitted item inside. I felt a pang as I thought that it was a traveling scarf that had been misdirected to me somehow, but I quickly realized it was not a scarf after all. It was a knitted bag, and some other items: a little notebook, a card, two bookmarks (one knitted and one with beads) and some very, very cute stitch markers.

This package was entirely unexpected, and that made it so much better! So, why was this sent to me, you ask?

It was sent to me from slightlygeeky (Ravelry name) to thank me for stepping up to make an angel package for the Children's Book Swap (remember Bunnicula?). She was the participant who was originally supposed to send a package to the person I ended up making the replacement package for. Now it's all square since everyone made and received a package.