I’ve been knitting….

You are Andie Walsh (from Pretty In Pink)!
Misunderstood and full of angst, you are
intelligent, talented and will probably go on
to do great things…once you’re out of the
hell of high school.

Which John Hughes Character Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

I found this quiz over at Kate’s. I’m posting this because it just so happens that I was watching Sixteen Candles last night. And as much as I hate to admit it, I think this one might be pretty accurate. High school was almost the death of me. Definitely blossomed as soon as I got out. [Huh – when I got the link for Sixteen Candles on IMDB, I looked up the actor who played Jake – very, very cute – but did he do anything else? Turns out he was the really cute guy in Mermaids too! Michael Schoeffling.]

Here’s that oft rumored knitting content:

Remember the Pinwheel Baby Blanket? I can’t believe how badly this yarn photographs – the color could not be more off – it’s a much deeper yellow – almost brownish in color. But anyway, I’m into the fourth skein. The diameter is 22″. I have a long way to go. The skeins are going nowhere at this point. Another thing about this project – there’s no way to tell how big it is without taking it off the needles – which is kind of a pain. I’ll get through six skeins before I take it off again. I do like the pattern though – the blanket is looking very nice.

Short-Row Pullover

I can’t help but have a nagging feeling that this is all going to have to be ripped out and started over. Or I’ll get through the back and finally figure out how to make it look nice and then I’ll do the front and want to re-do the back.

As you can see, I’ve started the short-rows. They’re not hard at all and actually kind of interesting. The ridiculous part is you have to change yarn colors every five seconds and you can’t carry the yarn up really. So I’ve been trying Johanna‘s method of knitting in the ends, but I think it’s making my stitches all wonky and uneven. Can you see it in the second and third picture? I’m not sure if it’s because of the short rows, or the ends, but I’m not entirely happy with it. I’m going to keep knitting – even if it does feel very much like an experiment – to see how the rows even out once I do the next short row section. Right now I’m in straight rows. But the next section will even out the left hand side. I still absolutely love the yarn – and I’m really liking the colors too. Georgie’s the best, because he sees it and instantly proclaims it’s the best work I’ve ever done! I say, you say that about everything I do. He does prefer just the stripes though – not the zig zags. I keep trying to tell him that’s the best part, but he’s not buying it. Anyway, I will persevere.

Jen (belated) birthday gifted me with some wonderfully soft Rowan Classic CashSoft DK! She brought it all the way from London! It’s in color #509 which is called lime, but is really a soft pastely mint in my opinion. Another one that doesn’t photograph well:

This will make a beautiful baby something – and it’s in green – so it doesn’t matter whether my sister has a boy or a girl! Speaking of which – did you enter the my guess-the-baby contest? Don’t miss out! She could go into labor any second!

I just noticed that all yarns mentioned in this post are from Rowan. Definitely some of the nicest yarns I’ve ever worked with. They can’t seem to go wrong. When that tax check comes in, I’m definitely going to have to join the club.

Kate asked me some really good rebound questions! You can read my answers in the extended entry. Have a great day!

1. In your blog, you’ve said your birthday characterizes you. What is it about being a New Year’s Baby that makes you you?
Well, first off, it’s definitely NOT a normal birthday – no matter how you look at it. And I’m definitely NOT a normal girl. Is it because of my birthday? I don’t know. I think I’m introspective and forward thinking – both attributes that can characterize the day. My shrink likes to think that I have issues with being number one – born on 1/1, I’m the first born in my family – I do have to be the best (No. 1) at everything. Again, birthday or just a coincidence? In the end it’s hard to say what it is about my birthday that makes me, me – I’ve never known anything different. I know I think it sets me a (little) bit apart. Maybe that’s narcisistic thinking? I don’t know. You have to be a little bit narcisistic when you’re born on the FIRST – don’t’ you think? 😉

2. When did your Bruce fascination start?
Georgie is completely to blame for my Bruce obsession – fascination doesn’t really cut it honey. When Georgie and I started dating, I had been living in New York City for three years. I left home when I was seventeen – so I had only been driving about a year and a half. I didn’t have a car in the city (I’m not that crazy) and G had a car. He used to take me on drives – down to AC, to the mall, etc. and he always had Bruce on the tape player – specifically – at least this is how I remember it – Tunnel of Love. He would sing me all the songs, which he knew backwards and forwards and honest to god I fell in love with them both. Georgie and Bruce are forever intertwined in my heart. I am the more obsessed of the two of us, for sure, but he indulges me – and he loves Bruce too. I think he feels the same way – ultimately it’s all about how Georgie feels about me that somehow translates into Bruce love.

3. In your 100+ things, you mention you still have a baby blanket. My sister and I both do as well. Ours are named “blankie,” and my sister still carries hers around (I know, I’m a traitor because I don’t — but I still have it). First, do you have a name for your blanket, and second, any tips for keeping it in good shape?
My blankie is called blankie. There may have been a very brief period in the 70s when I called it Elizabeth Banana because it was/is yellow – but that did not last long at all. I still sleep with my blankie every single night. It travels with me whereever I go and when I fly it goes in my carry on – god forbid it should get lost. I don’t carry it around per se – sometimes I wear it around my neck in the house – when I’m on the computer, or reading. I like to smell it. (I know. Gross.) Otherwise it waits patiently under my pillow until I need it. How to keep it from falling apart? Don’t give it to your kid. My sister’s blanket was co-opted by her daughter and it is literally in shreds now. My niece WILL NOT give it up and that scares me. If I ever have a kid – I swear – they ain’t getting their hands on my blankie. Georgie takes very good care of my blankie – he washes it lovingly – doesn’t dry it too hard. I, of course, put it in hot water and dry it to within an inch of its life. But the best part of blankie living is when it comes out of the dryer.

4. What’s the name of the first short story you ever published? What was it about?
The name of my first short story ever published is “Dancing With Jesus in Grove City, Pennsylvania.” It was published in the High Plains Literary Review, Fall/Winter 2001. It’s about Byron and Purdy Somers, a couple at the end of their lives. Byron is coming to terms with the fact that Purdy needs to go into a home as he can’t really take care of her anymore – and in the process he remembers a miraculous time in their marriage.

It’s a pretty fucked up story – very strange, very weird. I’m so glad it was the first one to get published. I love this story – it’s dedicated to George.

Also, the editors saw fit to nominate it for a Pushcart Prize. It didn’t win – not even close – but they liked it that much.

5. What is your favorite thing about your husband Georgie? Anything from mundane to smooshy sappy will do :).
Impossible. Absolutely impossible to answer. I love him so much it hurts sometimes. To pick one thing, even a million, would be to forget something that makes me so insanely happy and crazy and in love it would be criminal.

Okay. I’ll try.
– He has the most beautiful puppy dog eyes I’ve ever seen. I could stare into them for hours and never be bored.
– I love that he loves the children in our lives in the purest way. He may have trouble showing it sometimes, but he does.
– He’s curious like a three yr old. Sometimes it drives me crazy, but most of the time it’s astonishing.
– Hands down, one of the most generous souls I’ve ever met.
– He works exceedingly hard for our family – something for which I am eternally grateful.

I’m going to stop – this doesn’t even scratch the surface of the surface. It’s hard to put emotion this strong into words. That’s why I write fiction. 😉

Thanks for the questions, Kate. Hope my answers don’t disappoint.