Jo Knits!

Almost done

In the past month something just seemed out of place and I couldn't put my figure on it. Yesterday I spent the afternoon with other Montreal knitters and I finally got it. Time to knit, I haven't knit much all month, it has been kinda crazy too. So yesterday before our little get together I frantically searched for yarn, needles and a project to start at the meeting.

SOCKS! Of course socks, I tried the garter stitch short row for the toe and I am not too sure how this will go. I am not following a written pattern and I don't like to do knitting math at all. For now it's going well, the short row was really EASY to knit and quite enjoyable too, no holes! The instructions for this are in the Lucy Neatby Cool socks Warm feet book. As my usual way I will knit both socks at a time or else I will never knit the second sock.

I am starting to feel better now that I have been knitting more regularly in the past day. It's as if I felt I was missing out on something. Tomorrow I am going back to where I did my internship! The school has arranged for me to complete the laboratory training hours there. Although I know who I will be with, I am still very nervous, this time because I know what to expect. LOL!

Twinkle stars,

I have been stressed out of my mind! When I am stressed it can go one of two ways.... either I hide out in my room and make paper stars or straw stars (which have no purpose at all except keep me away from my loved ones, which can be best for all parties involved) or I can simply tell everyone what's on my mind. This week I did both, I made a handful of paper stars trying to think about something positive in my week, I am still having trouble finding something good. On the other hand, I had no troubles at all telling people what I thought about my week, boy have I been expressive these past few days. Going back to school has been very far from being fun, it's been awful, the classes for the most part are boring, I even skipped a class to avoid confronting a teacher. We started learning on machines and let's just say that although we were pretty motivated and excited about it on wednesday by friday afternoon 4 students were missing with about half the class wishing they had skipped the day...

The Tovesta bag is slowly coming along, I just haven't had the chance or interest to knit recently. You'd think that with fall coming along but frankly even the latest Knitty isn't doing it for me. There are some nice designs but I don't see myself wearing any of them. As if I usually even wear what I knit anyways, sigh I'm such a sad case. LOL! What can I say, I love to knit I really don't care about the finished product...

I stopped by the place I had my internship yesterday, boy do I ever miss that place, the people working were all really nice to see again. I hope I will be back there in a few weeks, it's always fun to go back to somewhere you actually know someone. It's been tough at school and in the lab but I try to stay focused on the end product. Like a co-worker told me yesterday, it's investing in the future so I just gotta tough it out as best as I can. ;)

I'm sorry for being such a boring blogger lately, it happens each year when I renew my blog domain. Then a few days after I always feel like I can't keep blogging anymore. LOL! My mind is pretty far fro knitting at the moment, every day seems like a final exam is about to come so I keep focus it will all be over soon enough.

hugs,

Sad day,

Last day of my internship today, it's with great sadness that I am leaving the boys to go back to school. Yeah, it's all about learning sure but they have been so welcoming and so generous in encouragements and knowledge that I will miss them. I think in a job it's not only liking what you do that makes the day, it is also the people that makes it easier to go into work too.

I haven't had my heart set on knitting these past two weeks, I am now stuck on the Tovesta bag pattern as too what to do with the handles. I am really good at not getting pattern instructions right. LOL!

It will be really hard to get back into the groove at school. Luckily we are lerning in the laboratory several days a week too. Twenty-six days of school and then it's over, the second internship starts and ends with hopefully a job offer. It feels odd that I am almost done with school, I still remember when I first saw the ad about this course in the newspaper. I feel like I should be happy and motivated but at the same time I am scared that once school ends it will feel like a loss at the same time. Sure I whine about it but then I'll miss that too. LOL!

hugs,

Fun at work

Now when a pattern says to knit for 15 inches does it mean you measure the point or the knitting straight? I'm not sure so this is stalled, I have used up 3 balls of Kureyon and now all that would be needed is the handle.

Tomorrow my school program coordinator is coming to see me at my internship place and I can't wait. Well one I can't wait to go back, today was my day off and it felt odd to be at home instead of "work". Each time I am not there I miss the place and the people so much. I am eager to learn and have fun everyday, this place is SO much FUN! Their main concern when I started my internship there was that I would have the best time over anyone in my class and they are holding their promise.

What can I say being the only girl in the lab does have it's good sides. Men gossip way more. LOL! The store's manager has heard good words for me and not just from my lab supervisor, it really makes me happy to know that. Someone told me how the lab is so much more relax since I have arrived. People with 10+ years of experience are impressed by how quickly I am learning. What!?!? I am having so much fun this does not feel like learning.

Only 4 days of fun and learning then it will be back to school and cross your fingers I might have a second internship at the same place. Right now I try not to hope to much and take in the most I can. It's easy to smile in a work place where they acknowledge me, I really feel like someone for once and buy does it feel good to exist. :)

p/s: Knitty is out with it's fall issue!!! I have a few favorite patterns and we'll see in the next few months if I knit any. There's even a blurb about spinning too. Yay! Maybe that will motivate me to try my hand at it, the wheel intimidates me at the moment. ;)

hugs,

I want to sleep

Meet my new toy, Lady Maple is the new name of my Lendrum DT spinning wheel. I received her from
Sun Bench Fibres two weeks ago, sadly I have been so busy that we still aren't all that acquainted yet. I did play with the wheel for a while when we received it but my crazy new "work" schedule is killing me, I got a cold too and I just passed these last two days off in bed. I hope to find time soon especially since I have fiber waiting to be spun. :)

My internship is really fun, the people I am with are so generous in advice and tips to make it easier for me to work. I don't think I am in the way of anyone's work, they even seem to go out of there way so I can learn to most I can in two weeks. It's been great not having to study in the evenings too, a nice break from school. I fear that I will miss the guys a lot once my internship is done, school will feel odd. I won't have to go downtown everyday and I really like the extra subway commute in the morning, gives me more time to wake up. LOL! I was working in a mall and could shop, eat, relax, knit on my lunch break, I can even pop outside for fresh air. Of course I can't do all of that in 30 minutes but I am getting used to the shorter lunch breaks, at school we have an hour so that's been a big change. Thing is I am always eager to go back to the laboratory, put on the lab coat, wear the awful oversized security glasses and get back to learning. :) The vibe of the team is good, we listen to music, talk about anything and everything and shoot! I am SO going to miss them.

At least I have a week left of learning. :)
hugs,

knitting, learning, working

Proof I still remember to knit, this is the Tovesta bag and I really like it and love this colorway (Kureyon 170). Of course now I wish I were knitting a sweater in it instead. LOL! I really like Noro colorways. :) There's something about knitting with 'rough' yarn too, I just wished they weren't so expensive.

"The less I read the news, the better I am", this was said by my internship supervisor and these days I am thinking I should do the same. What do you do when you are afraid of reading how horrible the news are? I am saddened by all the latest tragedies, in New Orleans or in the north of Quebec where the roads broke down and they can't get out of their area. It's unsettling as we went through that same area when working in inventories. Here's an from open letter Michael Moore to the US president, time to do something Mister President...

I have been knitting very sporadically, let's just say that learning on-the-job is much more tiresome than school but oh so much more fun. Especially with the guys I am working with (yup! all men! although Carl works with all woman!) LOL! Today was my day off and I actually went to meet Carl at his internship work place. I'd never work there but he's having a great time. I really like where I am, all the guys have welcomed me with open arms, we listen to music all day long and man do they ever gossip. ROFL! My supervisor is a sweetheart, he has the patience of an angel when I make an error and is very generous with his good words/ecouragements too, if I were younger and single I'd fall for him big time. I really like that *I* am someone in the lab. I am not the girlfriend, the mother or the daughter of someone, I am simply known as Jo the optical lab technician trainee and possibly future employee of the place.

The first day I was told that they weren't going to hire me (which is ok I am there to learn anyways). The next day I heard about how much they hire people at, I gave my opinion on that. A day later I was hearing that I could go a dollar more and now there's hints of an actual job for me. I guess the guys really are talking to my supervisor, they mostly all think I am a quick learner. I am also thinking that my personality has something to do with it but hey, maybe not. I am not a girly girl, I do much better with guys and I can make just about anyone laugh. I think my presence is doing good in the lab, I hope all goes for the best but right now I am just a trainee hoping to get the most out of her 2 weeks there. :)

hugs, off to bed

Lights out!

I'm alive and having a great time! :) The first day came and went without too much damage, the second day was just as fun. All the guys (yup all guys!) I worked with are really impressed how fast I am learning. Some have more than 10 years experience and joked that I better stick around after the internship. I know that I might not end up working there after I finish school but that's ok, right now I am having fun. Wednesday though was quite surprising, I started earlier than the two previous days, I arrived at the mall where the store is and everything was dark. I thought wow, it really does get dark before stores open in this mall, even the restaurants were closed so no way to get a coffee. Something seemed odd when I got to the store and all the lights were out too, I then learned that there was a power outage. Oooooh that explains all the darkness. LOL! The a/c also did some major leaking in the store, so we just sat and waited, at lunch time Carl and Lucas came to see me and were surprise to see us in the dark. We went for lunch and when we came back I learned that the whole mall was shutting down for the day, a 195000 volt fuse blew apparently. I was bummed to be missing a training day but it was pretty funny to sit and hear all the stories my coworkers had to say about the company.

I did make good use of the day anyways, it was pouring rain out but that didn't stop me from doing a few things. I went to get my medicard, had my pic taken all soaking wet. LOL! Had an eye exam and brought in Lucas for his 1st one, in four years my prescription didn't change and I thought I needed a new Rx. I was in shock when after saying that what I was seeing was perfect, the optometrist said well put on your glasses 'cause that's the exact Rx you have. I was shocked! LOL! I got some contact lenses to try out, haven't worn any for more than 5 years. They didn't cost a cent to try out so I was happy about that too. :)

Now as another new change, I am thinking about going to a gym. I need the exercise and I know it will be good for me! I visited a Curves center but the person was so cold I almost ran out asap. I might try a regular gym but frankly all the machines are scaring me. LOL!

Yes, I have been knitting, yes, I have a big surprise to talk about but now's just not the time. LOL!

hugs,