putting the knit in shizknitz

Last semester I used two calculators - my Sharp EL334M Calculator with BIG ass buttons and my old school TI-85 calculator from high school. The former I used in accounting - there’s something nice about the BIG ass buttons and the double zero button. Then I had to take data analysis and needed square roots. I dug up this thing that is like 13 years old (I think I used it my sophmore year or something) and got me through a few years of calculus. It’s older than most bloggers out there, which just seems bizarre. Just when I thought I had enough calculators, then came the Finance syllabus - and voila! Must use this Texas Instruments BA II Plus thingy. So there you have it. Three calculators.

In addition, I also have the calculator on my cel phone and on my computer. They have ways to calculate the simplest of things - even keep count of my rows while knitting.

I’ve been out from under my parent’s roof for eight years now. I can’t seem to remember at which point home became LA and not Fresno. Nor can I seem to remember at which point I began to prefer freeway driving to country driving. I also can’t seem to remember at which point my baby sister became my little sister. The one whose wedding reception I’m helping to plan.

2005 was pretty damn interesting, but this is going to be one hell of a 2006. Not that I know much past summer, but so far… Jan - school starts, Feb - 1/2 marathon, Mar - LA marathon, Apr - Argentina, May - Sister’s shindig.

Other pics from home:

Pattern: Ruffles from Scarf Style : Innovative to Traditional, 31 Inspirational Styles to Knit and Crochet
Yarn: Porto Cervo in Beige, #23, only 3 skeins
Revisions to the Pattern: Since the yarn was a little bigger than the one in the pattern, I CO’d only 18 instead of the 22 listed, and skipped the Row 1 in the pattern (so I started with the k6 row, skipping the k8 row altogether). The thickness and the twirliness still stayed nicely! I liked the cotton in that its stiff enough to keep the shape and warm enough, but next time would like to try something that looks more exotic.

I decided to take my holiday shopping online this year. I made my list and searched and clicked for a few hours and with a click of a button the gifts were off to the recipients or to my place. Or so I thought.

WTF is UP with UPS this year?

I have never had so many problems with delivery as I’ve had with them this year. You may recall my frustrations in receiving my Matt and Nat purse - what a nightmare - it was attempted delivery then all of a sudden it was back in Idaho. For no good reason but error.

I’ve redirected a few packages only to have them delivered home anyway. What’s up with some deliveries left at the door and others left with those annoying “you weren’t home” tags? Anyone heard of consistency?

But this week took the cake - 3 packages redirected to T’s work, only to have them delivered to somewhere else. After T called UPS, they were delivered elsewhere and luckily told us WHO, their NUMBER and an ADDRESS. He called to find out that it was our NEIGHBOR, and our packages went to her boyfriend’s workplace. AUUUGHHHH!!!!! Apparently she was trying to redirect packages (which they did not) and for some reason, ours were redirected instead. I’m willing to bet their packages will show up at T’s workplace tomorrow.

I can see why USPS is raising their rates. They actually get my shit delivered!

Conclusion: You don’t save much time shopping online, since you’re on the phone with UPS the same amount of time it takes to find a parking spot at the mall.

I just moved my blog over to WordPress from MovableType so bear with me while I clean things up!!

Previous look:

Because I finished on a Wed and I start on a Wed, I have 4 weeks of freedom. I’ve used up a week and a half of it so far. I can’t remember the last time I have 4 entire weeks of vacation. Through college I’ve always worked through my vacations and the longest I’ve taken off work was 2 weeks..

This week has been a blessing. I’ve kept myself pretty busy - Christmas shopping (mostly online), waiting for UPS, cooking dinner (I made my first trip to Vons on Monday that required me to make multiple trips from the car), job soul searching, reading (Women of the Silk and Rich Dad, Poor Dad), knitting, going to the gym (I’m slowly working up mileage on my bum knee), and baking.

Yes. You read it right. I baked today. And guess what, it turned out to be not so bad.

It started with a bunch of these persimmons going bad in the kitchen. Usually I would toss them. Today I made them into these yummy Persimmon Cookies. The best part was that I had almost all of the ingredients at home. I made a double batch, and altho you can see I’m not the neatest, they turned out looking (and tasting) edible.

I remember starting this wrap back on the 4th of July when I had to rush my good friend to the ER after she sliced her hand open. I actually finished this sometime in September, but never had an opportunity to post.

Pattern: Eyelet Wrap from Rebecca 29
Yarn: GGH Soft Kid in Lime 54 (the real color is more like the photo on the left)
Revisions to the pattern: Made a longer torso section (and it’s still a little too short)

The pattern itself took me a little bit to get used to, but once you get the hang of it, you can easily tell when and where to throw down on some yarn overs.

I need some suggestions - I have 10 skeins of GGH Esprit in White 06 leftover (yes, leftover) from another project which turned into something that makes me look like the abominable snowman. Any ideas for projects?

yep. t wen t to walk pet and i’m waiting for him to cfome home. i went to 2 parties togiht. you know when you are gettng old is when you wake up with a pain in your back, a pain in your anke, knee and hipa fter youe xercise and then all the parties involved people who are married. damn i’k getting old. and ytou know you are durnk when you see a miss pelling and you thinlk its funny. lol.

(Photos posted a few days later…)

We’ve been going to Sasabune for over-the-top-awesome sushi for several years now. It’s on the pricy side, but for good food, you know what great lengths I’ll go through! We used to go more often but since *ahem* I no longer have a regular paycheck, we’ve cut back to once in a blue moon. So when we BOTH had something to celebrate yesterday (yes, both of us on ONE DAY), we decided to make reservations. The lady mentioned on the phone “do you know we’ve moved?” and I was a little surprised… they’ve been at this little hole in the wall on Sawtelle and Nebraska for years. She said something about Wilshire and Bundy and we hung up.

Well we went, and the food was good… but there was something missing. I don’t know if it was the fact the usual “last dish” (this place is omakase) of blue crab roll was now a skinnier half blue crab and half toro roll or because the place was much larger (which made it feel more empty) or what… but I left a little unsatisifed. The bill was about the same (about $60 a person) but I don’t know if it was the same amount of food or not. For those of you who know the Brentwood area, it’s where the Todai used to be on Wilshire and Carmelina.

For you sushi enthusiasts, one of Sasabune’s head master’s apprentices opened a place on Santa Monica and Bundy called Echigo. Its the same omakase style, and they are open on the weekends. Average price has been about $40 a person. We may end up sticking with them, next time.

Thanks to the technology gods, me neither. Otherwise you may have seen me on the 11 o’clock news for having gone postal and running nekkid down the street.

To retire at 32 with a body like that……she’s one lucky gal!

Since I can’t get a new right knee, here’s a way to remember my name when I can’t remember it for myself (or so I can remember which is my right foot).

As if we don’t have enough unwatched, unwrapped brand new DVD’s…

A new pair of running shoes

This is cute but since I can barely make myself take a paper bag to school, I doubt it would ever get used. Perhaps this might help.

A trip to paradise.

Just what I need, another plant for the balcony.

Tickets to see Quidam.

Honestly, I don’t have a real wish list. In fact, it doesn’t even feel like the holiday season quite yet. Bah-humbug!

6 days from now, I’ll be a fourth of the way through B-school. I’m currently writing one of the most interesting papers of all time for org theory. Its a multi perspective analysis on an organization you are very familiar with (i.e. previous workplace) and we get to write from a non-judgemental, almost quantitative viewpoint on how it is structured and run. Then for our in-class final, we get to write about why its not quite working as well as it should be (gee, I’m so positive).

This is either going to be fun or painful. Perhaps both.

What do you get someone who has everything?

Problem solved.

Last year I told him that he couldn’t buy anything for himself during the holidays, and that he needed to make a list. Now only if he would make his list a little longer…..