29 August 2007

Being a teacher is tough

Today was probably one of the toughest days of being a teacher that I have ever had. At 6:30am, walking into the school with another teacher, I learned that one of my former students (a graduate) was found on a footpath near the school, dead. He had been missing for a week. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers as they go through a very traumatic time.

After lunch, I learned that another former student's(still in school) oldest baby was allegedly shaken to death by her youngest baby's father. {Yes, this is the reality...we have babies having babies.} This young lady is also going to have a difficult time dealing with the emotions of this terrible situation, so I ask that you keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers as they grieve for their loss.

We (teachers) can never truly prepare our students for life in the real world, no matter how much we try. We cannot protect them from everything or everyone, but hopefully instill in them some skills to cope with situations/events that will happen to them along the journey that is life.

27 August 2007

What a sight!

This is what I came home to today...



























We now know why BGE sent a letter stating that we are to have no power between 9am and 3pm tomorrow. (Not that we didn't have a clue, we've just gotten about 3 of these letters this summer and each one was canceled.)

Tomorrow, a crane is coming into the neighborhood to move the four pieces of the house into place on the foundation. The builder has yet to place the main support beam in...wonder when he plans on doing that???

In other topics...
  • today was the first day of the 2007-2008 school year
  • for me, the students were well behaved and my class sizes are in the normal range (other teachers are not so lucky...38 and counting when legally 34 is all we can have)
  • still no word on WHEN we will be closing on the townhouse...we suppose that the mortgage company will want to have it done by Friday since that is the end of August (already?!?!)
  • Grad school begins for the Fall Semester on Thursday...I'm looking forward to learning more about being a media specialist, being more than halfway through the program and the stress of it all
  • my "year in dishcloths" was a big hit at the bridal shower in FL over the weekend-apparently everyone was amazed by my knitting skills...enough so that my cousin-in-law said that my skills were as good as grandma's! WOW!!! (That's high praise!)

24 August 2007

New Socks!


I finished these cuff down plain stockinette socks on Sunday and just got a chance to post about them today because SCHOOL is starting once again. The kiddos come on Monday. I'm not ready! Thankfully, our custodians are going to keep the building open over the weekend for a limited amount of time so that we can finish making copies, planning and straightening our rooms.

Back to the socks...they are made from ArtYarns UltraMerino 4 in colorway 123. This lovely purpley, bluish, green yarn was one part of a package from my pal in SP10, Andrea. Thanks, Andrea!!! These socks are a little thicker and will be nice when the weather turns colder...I can't wait!

22 August 2007

Apropos

I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for the second shipment of Yarn Pirate's Booty Club. It should have arrived about 2 days after it was shipped, which would have been Saturday. We were home all day on Saturday because my dad was doing some work in the basement. No package. I figured I'd give it a couple of days and then start to get worried.

I came home from work on Tuesday (yes, that has begun once again...) and still no package. Boo hoo! I got a confirmation that the Yarn Pirate sent it, so I looked it up and I was flabbergasted. The message on the USPS webpage says "Delivery was attempted at 4:10pm on Saturday, August 17th and a notice was left." No notice and no package. I'm just a bit upset. I should have known something was not right, because our regular mailman is on vacation! (I hope he's somewhere nice and warm and relaxing...)

Jason and I flew (not on broomsticks, but that might have been faster) to the post office, 5 minutes before they close and I got my package. It was worth the wait! Inside was a YP sticker, 2 mints with a pirate theme and a skein of Calamity:

19 August 2007

Contest Time!

Secret Pal 11 just started and it's already time for a contest! (I hardly ever win, but I like to participate!!!)

For this contest, all I have to do is answer some questions. Here they are with my responses in purple:

1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without?
The one accessory that I could not live without is...well, everything! My needles, yarn (ha ha), patterns, bags, stitch markers...the list goes on! Everything is essential!!!
2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? If
so, how much and what type of project?
Of course! I usually take socks because they're small. I will typically take 2 different pair with me just in case I get tired of one...God forbid that ever happens!
3. Where have you traveled to that you'd consider your favorite spot?
So far, I'd have to say that Vancouver, BC, Canada would have to be my favorite place that I've traveled to thus far.
4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? Do you own it?
My favorite knitting book at the moment is Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch and I do have it and More Sensational Knitted Socks
5. Do you listen to podcasts? Which is your favorite(s)?
I listen to them every so often (when I remember). My favorite is Stash and Burn

15 August 2007

Pirate Booty

I've been meaning to post this for awhile and just haven't gotten around to it...but since the second shipment is being sent tomorrow, I thought "Why not?"

I joined the Yarn Pirate's Booty Club, a yarn club with unique colorways for Club members. The first shipment included a skein of Superwash Merino in Rum Runner as well as a limited edition mini soap bar from Good Soapworks of Athens and a Yarn Pirate button (which is not in the picture).

I'm not quite sure when I'll get around to knitting these socks, since I start back to work on Tuesday. Can't wait for those meetings...

09 August 2007

Secret Pal 11 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Lately, I've been working with some wool and some cotton. I'm not a big fan of novelty yarns, unless it is paired with something else. Other than that, I don't think there is a fiber that I absolutely do *not* like!

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I store my straight and dps in a needle case. My circs just get stuffed into my notions bag, since they're sock sized!

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I've been knitting for four years and I am self-taught. I would consider myself to be intermediate.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I do have an Amazon list...check out the side bar under "Secret Pal 11."

I also am wanting the chartkeeper from KnitPicks!

5. What's your favorite scent?
Coconut and Lime mixed together-makes me think of the Caribbean Islands

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I'm not much into candy, but I love nuts!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I also scrapbook and will occasionally break out the sewing machine, but rarely! I do not spin, but would like to learn.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I have an iPod and my computer, etc. does play MP3s...I like all kinds of music but especially classic rock, 80s pop and current pop/rock

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
My favorite colors are blue and yellow. But I enjoy all colors!

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have been married for 3 years to my wonderful hubby and have one cat.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
yes, yes, yes and no

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
socks and dishcloths...both are pretty quick to knit!

13. What are you knitting right now?
socks, a sweater (my first), dishcloths

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
YES!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I prefer bamboo in straight needles and addi turbo in circs...I have been trying out a pair of stretchy circs which I really like except for where the needle meets the cable.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No, but I'm hoping to get them as a bday gift from my husband (I've dropped many a hint!)

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Since January '07

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas, because I like to surprise everyone with my handmade gifts

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I collect elephants, but the herd has become quite large. There is a moratorium on any additions at the moment.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
See my wish list... as for mags, I have a subscription to Creative Knitting.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I'd love to learn to spin and dye my own yarn!

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I am a sock knitter and I wear a size 9½US

23. When is your birthday?
September 6th

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
I've signed up, but have yet to get my invite...if that changes, I'll put that information here!

08 August 2007

Places I've Been in the US



create your own personalized map of the USA

WOW! It looks totally lopsided...I mean, I knew it would since I've lived on the East Coast my entire life and have only managed to get to the West Coast since I've been married. Alaska and Washington State were part of our honeymoon and California was part of a family vacation to San Francisco.

Only 25 more to go...

02 August 2007

Secret Pal 10 Last Package

My secret pal, Andrea, had some troubles getting out the last package to me because she tore her ACL and had surgery on it! She is also in the process of getting her own yarn store open...wooo hooo! Another LYS to go to since it will be in Baltimore!

In the package was a skein of Scout's Swag in Marina Piccola, an elephant (my fav) and a pair of size 2 10" stretchy circular needles! I've been wanting to try the stretchy circs for awhile and just never purchased a pair. I'll need to get started on knitting some socks again soon!
THANKS for all the goodies, Andrea!