Knitting is an obsession

I found this adorable Youtube Video. All you knitters will love it!  Enjoy!

 

A Delicate Balance

Thanks to everyone that commented and emailed regarding my last post. While it was written as a release for my inner fears, it was heartwarming to hear from you all.

We were lucky to have Son #1 and his girlfriend visit us this weekend! We all went to see hubby perform in the play “A Delicate Balance” by Edward Albee. The play is a 1966 Pulitizer Prize winner and was a portrait of two troubled families. One family is so afraid to stay in their own house that they move in with the neighbors. Wouldn’t that be something, just show up and move into the neighbors extra bedroom? hehe

Even though the play was written in 1966, it is timeless. Families, individuals experience trying times no matter the decade. Life is indeed a delicate balance. If you are in the St Louis area, the play is at the Gaslight Theater and the last shows are this week Thursday – Sunday. The neighbor”Harry” is my adorable hubby!

While I did have a bunch of knitting to show off, I gave most of it away to Son #1 and his girlfriend. I couldn’t for the life of me find where I had laid down my digital camera, so I didnt’ get any pictures. I found it today and did take some pictures of my June Carter Shawl and I love it!

Son #2 has requested a pair of convertible mittens so I am teaching myself how to knit with double points. It has been a challenge, lots of ripping out, starting over, but I am enjoying the process. I really am enjoying knitting with needles. I haven’t touched my looms in over a month.

Top five: What’s Bumming me out

1. I miss my sons. I am so very happy for them, but I miss them more than I ever thought I could. I guess I never knew how much empty nest syndrome could bum a Mom out. I think I’ll spend some time today searching on empty nest syndrome.  The good news is I will be going to Colorado to visit them both for a weekend visit in a few weeks.

2. Career search/change. I believe part of the reason this is so difficult for me is that once a prospective employer looks at my resume, and sees the 18 years of IT experience, much of it at the management level, they put my resume aside, thinking “why would this person want a lessor position?” I’m not sure how to combat this issue. I’m proud of the work I have done. I just don’t want to do that type of work any longer. Without a face to face meeting, this is very difficult to get across in a cover letter.

Certainly I am not the first person to burn out in a career and desperately seek a new path. Any thoughts/ideas are welcome!

3. Being financial dependent on someone else. I’ve provided for myself all my working life. I’m not comfortable asking for financial help from anyone, including my husband. This is by far my only regret to making the “find a new career” move last December.

4. Lack of daily interaction with people besides my husband and step son. For the reasons above and this reason, I fear I will take any job just to get out. Although, I have turned down a few jobs which I realized would not be positions that would make me a happy long term. And I am determined to only accept a position that I can see myself enjoying for many years to come. It took me nearly a year to exit my last position, I don’t want to find myself stuck again.

5. The fires in California are really bumming me out. I don’t personally know anyone in the area. However, I am truly sad that so many people are being forced from their homes and many are losing their homes.

Whew. It really is empowering to write down your thoughts. Even it they are your top five reasons for being bummed!

A Positive Attitude is Overrated

One of the podcasts I listen to is NPR:This I Believe. It is a wonderful series that offers essays written by your average everyday person. This week, I really enjoyed this essay. I discovered while looking for the link to this essay, that if you want to simply read the essays (or add the site to your google reader) and not download to a iPod, you can do so right from the website! Check it out!

This essay was an excellent essay for me to hear at this time in my life. I’ve been struggling for awhile now, trying to be positive about where I am, wondering where I am going in life.

Having been unemployed for ten months can certainly lead one to depression. I have combated depression by diving into my creative side, taking up knitting and weaving. It has worked for the most part. I’ve been so involved in the items I am creating that I haven’t allowed total depression to get the best of me. Everyone, including myself, tell you to remain positive and positive things will happen. I’ve outwardly been very positive regarding my career search. Inside, it is a different story.

I believe those that know me would say that I am a strong, centered woman. And overall, I agree with that statement. However, even the strongest most centered person can be consumed with fear. I think that fear is the hardest emotion to deal with. I’m more fearful as of late, as I know that I often get a little down, as the daylight lesson in the fall and head into winter. I’m much more consumed with fear about being depressed than I am about finding the right job for me. I know that I will find a job. I also know that winter depression is right around the corner. <sigh>

I’m not sure why I am sharing all this here on my blog. I guess I just needed to write down my thoughts today. If you stuck with me this far, thanks for listening!

Lots of knitting has been going on. I finished the June Carter shawl, it is now blocking. Hats, scarves, fingerless mits, wallets are amongst my recently finished objects. I’ll try to get the camera out and take some pictures.

Vote for Holly – 16

My friend’s niece is one of the finalists in a model/fashion show! Hosted by Ashley Tisdale. Over 900 hundred pictures were submitted and only 50 finalists were chosen, Holly is one of the finalists. Only 20 people will be picked to be in the fashion show so we need you to vote for her.
Won’t you help her by going to: http://zzone.z100.com/ashleytisdalefashionshow Find HOLLY 16 and vote for her. You need to enter your e-mail address when submitting. Please pass this along so she can get as many votes as possible. Only one entry per email address is allowed.

Holly’s a beauty, inside and out her Aunt tells me! Thanks so much, truly appreciate it,

UPDATE!!! FROM Holly:

 

Thanks everyone for your votes and support, because of you I have made it into the top 20 and will be participating in Marc Echos Fashion Show hosted by Ashley Tisdale.  It’s this Saturday at the Roosevelt Field Mall.  I have a chance to win a $500.00 wardrobe from the collection.  I am very excited.  I will send you pictures. Thank you very much!!!!!

 

 

Knitters RULE!!!!!!!!

First week of October

Big post. My computer went belly up last week, so I am working on an old laptop. Aargh. I am nearly done with the Yarn Harlot One Row scarf. I got bored, so I cast on another project!

I bought this Knit Knack Kit awhile back and now that I am knitting with needles, I decided to knit a pattern from the kit. The pattern’s are easy, there are 25 patterns, printed on portable card stock, even includes a (cheap) circular needle. The kit comes with excellent, simple instructions on how to knit, was inexpensive, I did not buy it online, I bought it at HomeGoods department store for I think $9.99 and would make a great gift for someone that might be interested in starting to knit. There are several patterns I plan to make from the kit.

I am making the shawl pattern in the kit. I am using Cider Moon’s Glacier, June Carter.The pattern called for 100 grams of yarn. The skein has 110 grams. I obviously knit at a different gauge, because I am certain I am going to run out of yarn. The bad part is Cider Moon has been dealing with some legal problems, and it is difficult to find ANY of their yarn anywhere. If you have a skein of Glacier, June Carter and are willing to sell or trade, please let me know! Update:  I found a trade partner and I will soon have the second skein to finish this June Carter shawl.  Yahoo!!  I really like how the shawl is coming out, and I LOVE the yarn.

I haven’t blocked the shawl as it I am still working the pattern on the circular needles.

I also finished a small wallet sized purse. I knit the wallet with Frolicking Sea Maidens, a shetland wool from Flawful Fibers & Yarns, using the Harlot’s One Row pattern.

The adorable flower on the wallet is from a blog contest I won at Kniterella’s site. Kniterella’s blog is one of the blogs I read faithfully. She is very talented and inspirational! The flower pin is available at her shop.

I participated in my first trade with another blogger, Gloria. She had accidently ordered two copies of The Best of Interweave Knits and I was going to buy that book anyway. So we traded. I sent her yarn from my stash in exchange for the book. I hope she likes them! I love the book! She even included a surprise! A set of stitch markers, my first!

 

For loom knitters:

UPDATE:  The loom has been sold.  Thanks to all that inquired.  I have way too many looms. Many of which I have never even used. Starting with a never used 48″ Infinity knitting board from Decor Accents. It is a beautiful loom! Retails for $52.00 plus shipping. There is usually an up to six week delay if you order the loom directly from Decor Accents. I’ll mail this one to you immediately! Send me an email at Rivercitystl AT gmail DOT com if you are interested!

The Chopin Manuscript – up to chapter five

Have any of you downloaded the newly released The Chopin Manuscript from Audible? I just finished listening to the fifth chapter. The chapters are released for download a few chapters at a time, once a week.

I so wish there was a sixth chapter ready to be downloaded! I am very much enjoying this series. Each of the writers have done a great job at introducing you to the cast of characters. I find myself rooting for Harry already!

If you like to read books with mystery, adventure, intrigue you really should add this series to your audio collection. For more information on the series, click on the link above!

If you haven’t tried an audio book yet, you are missing out! There is no better way to lead a multitasking life and still enjoy good books at the same time! I do NOT work for Audible.  (Although they SHOULD hire me!  heh heh)   I am an avid reader and I can’t tell you how much I love Audible and audiobooks! There is something about being read to, that has forever been comforting to me, and the sheer number of books I can “read” listen to in a week makes me so happy!

Check out audible today! And I’d be thrilled if you put me (RiverCitySTL) as the referral!