Jo Knits!

but why me?

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

Life is like a box of chocolate, you never know what you're gonna get.

Once again, we got a curve ball on our life path, our whole life changed once again in a matter of seconds. I will be taking a few days away from blogging as I just can't think of anything to write at the moment. I feel sick to my stomach and it hurts so much, for what it's worth this is job related. I almost feel like I should return the cheap yarn I bought last night. Sheesh! We were doing so well too. Life is so unfair. /stomping foot!

hugs, even though I'm the one needing them right now... . At least Carl is coming home today, this is just so hard.

What to knit?

It is sad that I haven't found anything to start in the last 24 hours. I just don't know what to knit. ACK! I've seen some TLC Cotton Plus at the store and wouldn't mind trying that out but sadly no patterns are coming up in my quest to knit something, anything really. We leave monday and I need to have something to knit in a 5 hour ride. What shall I bring? What shall I knit? ARGH! It's driving me nuts.

On a brighter note, Lee Ann, another Montreal knitter has finally gone live with her blog!!! You can visit her at: Fuzzy Logic Knits. She is one funny lady and people say she bakes good cake too. ;)

hugs, only one more sleep until Carl comes home!

Another project done,

Yesterday I went to my old crafting class at the community center, it was odd, all the moms were really happy to see me. I got to see what my mom and the others were up too, this spring they are learning decorative painting, I'm so jealous. ;) I did complete the pair of booties while I was there though, then we went to the library with the kids. I picked up maritime tourist books to read up a bit about places I was at last year. It's pretty stressful for me right now as my boss still hasn't called me, though I know they have been more than busy at work but I'm waiting here at home wondering if he will indeed end up calling me.

I frogged the Nakiska headband I had started a while ago and now I'm stumped on what to start next, it is always with great anxiety that I bind off a project. What should I start next? I really have no clue as I don't have much cotton in my stash. I'm not really a summer knitter so what should I start up now? UGH!

Even though Carl hasn't left home for long, it feels really odd not having him around, especially since we usually work together. Still need to find my grades to register for school. ACK!

hugs,

Day 2,

One completed knitting project! Woohoo! This is the first for this week, I hope to make a few other projects, it feels good finally binding off something. Well I did got unlucky and ran out of yarn with 20 stitches left to cast on. Sheesh! I'll be sewing it up tonight and will start on booties today, then only the hat will be left to do. I'm giving myself a deadline of sunday, since I am most lilely leaving monday for work. The baby I am knitting this for will turn one month old next monday, so I'm hoping she will appreciate the little gift. I am very proud of the mom stilll breastfeeding, I didn't expect her to keep at it. Woohoo! :)

Last night, we went to get the kids skating show dvd, it was not a grand spectacular show but come on, we live with two of the stars from the show. LOL! So it was fun pointing them on the tv, sure they passed like a mili-second but still I clapped like crazy, after all they were on TV!!! Teehee! Yes I can get a tad over excited.

Still need to buy luggage but I want to confirm with my boss that I'll be coming back first, you never know. Did you know there are all these gadgets and options with luggage? Oye! It's unbelievable if you ask me, last year we traveled from hotel to hotel with a backpack, this year we learned to enjoy WHEELS under luggage, very enjoyable if you ask me. LOL!

If I go on the road for three weeks, what yarn should I bring? This is very stressful as I do not expect having time to hit a yarn store other than Walmart for a while. LOL! I 'may' get to stop by the Fleece Artist's though in May but right now it is all up in the air. Last year I was lucky to talk to Lucy Neatby on the phone, I even met her very welcoming husband too, you could see pride in his eyes when he talked about his wife's business. So could it be that I could pick up some Opal yarn on the road? Now that would be verrrrry neat. :)

Last but not least, check out this very cute CARTOON!

Day 1 of 7 days off,

Yesterday was a very fun day as I got to meet a few knitters at a local meeting we set up. We met at the train station, which I love as it always makes me dream. Carl and I often say we should just buy tickets when we are there and go off for a day or two. So back to the meeting, I had my mom and the kids tag along, how could they miss the chance of taking a subway ride. Just that was making the kids day, then we packed a bag with crayons, stickers and plenty of paper so all the kids got the draw too.

Have you been to KnitCast? I have listened to interviews as I type my entry today, I'm now at the third one since I got up this morning. LOL! It is alot of fun to knit to a knitting interview. teehee! I loved hearing the different accents and it's as if I knew more of the person now that I heard them talk. Actually made me like a few knitters more, so I am very eager to hear the new interviews once they will be up.

It's the first time that Carl is traveling without me for our work. It feels odd for me and even more for him. He ended up in a room alone and did not expect that, so I think he felt a bit lonely. Last night when he called we talked a good bit and it felt so odd to not be in that hotel room with him and being the one calling home. I hope this week goes by quickly for him and not too quickly for me, I am enjoying the rest and the being back to normal life for a few days. :) Luckily at lunch time today he called home and I think it made us both feel better. He just bought a new entertainment system so I'm expecting he won't feel loney tonight. ACK!

Only ten rows away from finishing the baby surprise sweater. Woohoo! :) As you can see the pattern isn't very 16-inch circular needle friednly but my Addi Turbo collection isn't all that big, see the other needle I have is a 40-inch one. From one extreme to the other. LOL! The end is near though, can't wait to start on the booties.

hugs,

Posted by Jo at 01:04 PM | Comments (0)

Gifts all around

Happy belated birthday Carl! :) His actual birthday was almost two months ago but we were so busy, that his gift wasn't purchased on time. Also I wasn't sure if he'd like it or not. I had promised him, he would know what the gift was by the time he'd leave for the maritimes. He leaves today! Yesterday we went shopping downtown and when I stopped in front of a "eye-pod" stand, he just nodded and said they were nice. When I told him this was IT, he just dropped his jaw and said.... NOTHING, he was in total shock. It was perfect. LOL! He then got all flustered and pretty happy very fast. ;)

Of course I couldn't let him go without protection for his new toy, so I quickly knitted up a little cozy for his music machine. Time was the major fact here 'cause I would have like to make it a bit more complexe but that's ok, at least it'll be ok for now. The mean machine is all packed with his pics and music, he's ready to listen to music for a few hours now. He is just thrilled to the moon about it. I'm so pleased my gift was so well received. :)

I was lucky in our shopping as I found a 2nd pair of pants this weekend, 2 tank tops (remember that I hate those?), cotton socks in fun colors. Also Carl treated me to the latest IK issue and the very first season of the Gilmore Girls. Yay!!!! I wasn't even watching the show back then, I can't wait to start watching them. I am however restraining myself until Mother's day, as this was an early gift for that day. Also I will be traveling again soon, so these will occupy my evenings. :)

Our little junior music lover in action, he got one last chance to listen to it before daddy left for the week.

hugs,

Spring knitting

Ok it's starting to be too hot to wear my wool socks, anyone into cotton sock knitting? I can't believe I wouldn't wear any handknitting socks anymore until the cold weather comes back. I know Regia has cotton but are there great cotton sock yarns out there to try?

About work, it is still up in the air. It's very hard, my boss's reaction when he first learned it was my last week was shock, then on the last day (yesterday), he asked me if it were a definitive decision. I simply said, convince me I should go... I'm not holding my breath, though it's hard knowing that in less than 48 hours Carl will leave home for a month. Argh! :(

One last time,

Off we go again, this time shall be the last time I leave the family behind and go on the road to work. This week is the last one I believe to be living in hotel rooms and eating out. I feel at peace about not going along with the rest of our team for the next two months. My place is at home and that's why I don't feel as bad about leaving the team anymore. This decision has been a very hard one and I'd like to thank everyone that has supported me through this. I still have a few emails to reply but once again they will have to wait until next weekend.

Yesterday, we did not go to the ice show after all. Instead we went out the whole family for supper. The kids loved it and it all gave us time to relax and just enjoy each other. The kids know this is the last time I leave home, they are very pleased about it. They know daddy will still leave for a few weeks but then should be coming home for good too. This has been a tougher tou than we expected but we now know that our place is home with the kids. Even Carl's been missing them more this year than last year. I've been teary eyed each time we leave the house. This is not worth it, I want to be there when Zoe graduates from kindergarden, I want to start the garden with the kids, I want to be home when garage sales start again. This is my place to be at! :)

While walking yesterday we saw a red cardinal, it sang beautifully and I had to show Lucas. He ran home to tell my mom and Zoe that he saw a red cardinal he couldn't have been any prouder, these are moments that I need to be home for once again.

Knitted quite a bit on the baby sweater, today we have 6 hours of travel to be in the city we are going too. I predict some sleeping, music listening and knitting.

hugs, have a great week.

Award!

Zoe got an award last night at a sports gala organised for figure skaters. We had supper and a one hour skating show after. The show was the best part (oh and the desserts weren't too bad either!). Each skating club were represented by a special group number, we got to see some adults synchronized skating nd of course I though of Brenda. The more I spend time at the ice rink the more I like skating and I think it would be good that I learn to at least stop on the ice. Not sure yet I'm ready to take lessons but who knows, maybe someday.

Tonight we might go see another skating show this one s for Carl and I to just spend an evening out. Stars on Ice is in Montreal for one show only and it would be nice to check it out.

Found a cute baby bootie pattern, might knit a pair once I am done with the baby surprise sweater for baby A. I'll make a shining star hat and then this baby will be well equiped in knitted gear.

Good vibes,

Hey, do you live in Montreal? Do you also perhaps KNIT? Well then, join the new list: for us to meet and knit together. So drop your needles and join in the fun, hope we get a chance to meet!!! :)

Well before I even got to ask for good vibes for Carl, it was done. He had a tiny 'surgery' done this morning to his sinuses and he's already out of the office. He has to go back for a 2nd bigger surgery within a month and this time it'll cost him an arm at least. Luckily he can smell for the first time in more than a month. This is great news as he has 75% chances of loosing all sense of smell but since he can smell after this first intervention, maybe he'll smell after the second one too. :)

I haven't talked/emailed/left my boss the letter yet, I couldn't talk to him this week for many reasons. One of those is choosing the perfect timing which I know will never come. I keep dreaming about this and all and it's driving me nuts but I am really sereine though about my decision. It's just telling him about it that causes me incredible stress, I don't know why because after all this is *MY* decision. It's not like he will flip out though I think he does not expect it that's all. Yesterday I counted 500K dollars worth of stuff in a 7,5 million$ Walmart. I counted 1/15 of the whole store on my own, I was VERY proud of myself too. It's like I am proving to myself that I am worth it and it is very satisfying. :) Even though we never hear it when things go well, I know I am working hard and doing a good job! :)

On the knitting front, well as you can see not much is done, I hope to knit quite a bit this weekend. We are pretty busy but hopefully I'll find the time, that and I started reading a book and never know what I should be doing on my spare time, read or knit? LOL!

Wishing everyone a beautiful weekend! :)

Hi Ho!

Hi ho, hi ho, to Quebec city we go! This week we are staying in a good hotel, well it's a hotel/motel but we called last night to make sure we'd be booked in the hotel part aka internet access. Yippee! :) Oh and free breakfast in the morning, it'll be nice. Last but night least, let's not forget the pub too. teehee!

Spun has sprung and it's new issue is out. I'm pretty without opinions about it, nothing appeals to me but in the newest Knitty, there's not much that caught my eye either. It's a summer knitting thing, it's just not for me, I prefer colder weather knitting projects.

Yesterday I met a new 1-week old baby boy for the 1st time, he was too cute, too perfect and I was proud that I got to reasure the mom about breastfeeding and the baby in general. I'm an experienced mom! LOL! It cracked me up but it might actually help me develop a new bound with Zoe's godmother. Anyway it inspired me to start yet another new blue project. I will knit him an EZ baby surprise sweater, this was sorta imposed when the father happily opened our baby gift announcing it must be something I knitted. OYE! So I'm knitting as quickly as I can to make up for that. LOL! ;)

Got my letter to give my boss tucked in my luggage, it's very stressful but I need to do it, it's making me sick inside to endure everything we go through at work.

hugs, have a great week!

WOW!

Yesterday's competition was at the Montreal Games, it's a local event that encourages young talents and all. We had a great time and the kids really skated at their best. Lucas was the 1st skaters of the day and he was so happy to be there. Then Zoe had two numbers to perform, one in solo and then one in synchronized skating. The results did not do justice to how well each performed but oh well, I'm not one of the judges. Both kids were very proud of their performances and the synchro number was the last competition of the day so we clapped as loud as we could to encourage our team. They did GREAT for numbers that were learned in only a week. The synchro team was a new one, some skaters have only been skating for a year and they did their best performance yet at the comp. We were so proud! They were the group with the most skaters and then youngest ones too, it was sad to realize the other teams 'cheated' by having older skaters in their team but what can you do, that's how skating clubs work.

Now the regular skating season is over, Lucas now wants to learn the violin and Zoe ishinting about tap dancing lessons, oh dear! LOL! Zoe will be going to spring camp for skating aka she's taking lessons with a private coach for the next 6 weeks one hour a week. It's a good way to have her work with a new private coach and also learn new skills. Next saturday we are invited at a sports award event because Zoe won a medal at the local games last year.

I wish I had some knitting content to share but it's been crazy these days, we are more often at the ice rink than anywhere else. I have started to sleep when we travel instead of knitting and yet, I am more exhausted than usual. Just crazy I tell ya. Hope to find time to knit, most likely once I quite my job.... perhaps this week or the next. AAAARGH! So stressful!

hugs,

Waaaaaaah!

Running around like a chicken without it's head, I am SO stressed out, so much I woke up with a monster pimple (if I were 16yo I'd be balling right now!). LOL! Kids in skating competitions always do a number on me, they are excited and I'm a nervous wreck! ;)

hugs, I'll be drinking tea at the rink, best to stay away from coffee today. LOL!

Well,

I know I talk mostly about work these last few weeks but that's because I am working alot. LOL! Then in july it all stops and I knit and blog more than talk about work. That might change soon though, I have realised that I am looking more into what I am loosing rather what I am gaining by working, especially on the road.

Knitty's latest issue is up? What's your opinion about it? I don't wear tank tops so five of the patterns aren't for me to start with. As usual I ran to check out Elann's latest yarns since I was away and nothing is appealing to me, it's sad but I don't enjoy spring/summer knitting much as cotton yarns aren't doing it for me like wool does.

Also since I am not sure if I'll stop working within the next 2 weeks it's hard to justify myself into buying anything right now. The worst part of my job is not the actual work but the people I work with, we travel, eat, stay in hotel and finally work together, we spend all our non-sleeping time with people we work with and no break is making me really tense around some people. Last year I was so excited to visit the maritime provinces, this year I am trying to find excuses not to go! I feel that it is not worth leaving home for so long and not enjoy my travels.

I need to start knitting a new project maybe to stimulate something 'cause I'm really down right now with all the decisions I need to take like yesterday, stress isn't good and I don't even have time to rest and really think about a decision. Tomorrow we are spending the whole day at the rink, hope they have good coffee at least. Bringing a simple knitting project with me, most likely a sock but still I'll be so stressed out if I knit a full row in the whole day I'll be lucky! LOL!

hugs,

The weekend is over. :(

The kids second skating show was better than saturday's, Lucas saw us in the 1st row and skated right up to wave hello, that was so cute. LOL! We had to remind him to go skate with his friends. teehee! This week both kids have to go practice at the rink to learn a new number for next weekend. Oye!

Sadly I have to leave for the road today so will be missing all week's practices and it really pains me. I SO wished that I could be home instead of at the hotel to encourage them this week. This is the hardest part of our work, last year we were excited to live on the road but this year, I see what I'm missing each day. :( Also Carl's nose isn't any better, I forget if I've talked about it but he is needed surgery to fix something which was caused by us working in dust all day. Sigh... he has 75% of loosing all sense of smell too, that is so sad, he is our main cook in the house too. Now the problem is just getting an appointment as soon as possible but these kinds of things have waiting lists of several months. Argh! He's been sick and doing "light as far from dust as a Walmart will let you work".

After barely sleeping all weekend, I really don't feel like going to work this week, I am dead tired and we haven't started yet. Today is the setup, we are travel and have to prepare the store for tomorrow's inventory, it's not too 'tire-ing' but it still has to be done. I'd rather be sleeping and be home for Zoe when she comes for lunch instead.

I have already frogged the baby hat I was knitting and started a new one with the same pattern, the yarn wasn't too soft and this new hat is bigger and made for who know who. LOL! I just wanted to knit and of course all my knit-in-progress just didn't inspire me. Though I need to get going on my socks as I enjoy wearing my handknit pair so much, I want more. :)

Have a great week!

Thanks!

Ever wish for something and actually get what you hoped for? That's what happened with me and Adagio Teas, I really had my eye set on the IngenuiTEA set and just hoped my blog rank was high enough to get it. It is! 1- WOW! 2- Yeah! :) I also received 4 tea samples, I can't wait to try them especially with our very hectic weekend going on. Just not sure which one I should try first? There's fruit meadly, chacha, chamomile and organic rooibos, this last one I am really happy to have received as I have never tried rooibos teas before. Adagios tea bags are also so neat I just have to buy some just to show them off to people. LOL! Adagio Teas, thank you for your gift, you'll be hearing from me again that's for sure. :)

On friday we had 10 hours of travel to get home, to see a package to my name waiting for me was great. My teas and teapot were gift wrapped too, so fun to open I tell ya! :) We did quite some traveling this week, in total we worked less than 20 hours but sat in a truck for 25 hours. It was really crazy all that time traveling but I know it's only the beginning, once we hit the maritimes everyday we travel.

My friend had her baby boy yesterday morning and the pope left our world on the same day. I have this saying about how one death becomes one birth and it felt just like that yesterday. Since my friend had a new baby I decided to leave the baby sweater on the side and knit a hat instead. The yarn is all wrong, the gauge is probably off but I'll finish it and hope it stretches enough to fit baby! LOL! I am using the Shining Star pattern for the hat, finally I had an excuse to buy it, I've been checking that pattern for too long. ;) I was really surprised when I saw it was knit top down, it doesn't really matter I just didn't expect it. The pattern is VERY easy to follow and Kate's instructions are always easy to follow.

I hear that Knitty's newest issue should be out this week, hopefully Amy knows I'm leaving monday so she'll post it early or else I'll have to wait until we come home at the end of the week. Oh no!!! LOL!

Last night was the kids 1st skating show, it went rather well for them, they were very cute in costumes under lights and all, we did end up leaving the rink at 10:30pm which of course is not the greatest when you have kids. Then today is their second show and I can bet you many kids and parents will be dead tired today. I know I am! The show makes me see all the things I don't like about the skating club (mostly the people that run it!), sure the show was nice it's the attitude of people that I am tired of. Last year we seriously thought about quitting the club, this year we are thinking the same thing. Coming next fall we might have the kids A- try a new sport or B- skate at a new club, these people are only after our money, never say thanks, never smile, always bark at you for anything. Not the kind of place I want my kids to be at!

Hope you didn't forget to change clocks, adding an hour makes you sleep one hour less. Since Lucas was the 1st up this morning it should be interesting.... he usually sleeps about 12 hours this past night, he got only 8... Oye!

hugs,