So is it breaking my yarn diet, or not? I just bought an additional two skeins of Malabrigo in Blue Surf because I am on the last cable repeat of my Waves Scarf and the thing is TOO SHORT. eeeeek! I knew I’d have gauge issues because I am using worsted and not bulky yarn, but I didn’t think it would be *this* short. The finished length is supposed to be 71″ and after almost four skeins, mine is only around 44″. er…I can’t even wrap it around my neck because all those cables really eat up yarn, geez. So, I just bought another two skeins to finish the project and that *should* be enough.

I know technically I bought yarn (duh), but since it’s for an existing wip in order to finish it, I’m considering it kosher. After all, I didn’t buy anything else, just what I needed. Right?

Posted: November 11th, 2007 under Knitting.
Comments: 4

Good news! Well, bad news and good news. First, the bad news: Orion had a tapeworm. I took him to Banfield, The Pet Hospital (which is located inside Petsmart) and according to the vet, he probably got it from a flea. It’s this big explanation about the parasite cycle, somewhere along the lines of, dog ingests flea = dog acquires tapeworm. (She explained it way better than that, but science is not my speciality, sorry.) She also saw remnants of fleas in his fur, and showed them to me. So she gave him meds on the spot to get rid of the worm as well as prescription stuff for the fleas. I went home and treated him with the flea meds (and Autumn for good measure!), so my babies should be ok. phew! They said to be on the lookout for worms with Autumn, but we haven’t seen any from her, so it’s possible that Orion got the worm for some reason and she didn’t. They just said to keep monitoring her but all should be well from here!

Getting Orion to the vet was a gigantic ordeal, though. That’s totally my fault, as I don’t take him in the car often, so when we get in the car, he freaks out. He was pretty scared during the ride but didn’t get carsick (yay!), and then when we got to Petsmart he was too busy sniffing the grass and dragging me around by his leash. I seriously need to train him on the leash. sigh. Bad dog mommy.

Anyway, to make a long story short, he’s going to be just fine and I’m going to make darn sure to put that flea treatment on him and Autumn every month, because yikes…tapeworms are icky. The vet showed us photos (my mom went with Orion and me) and ugh! Nasty little creatures. yeeeek.

While I was at it, I made an appointment for Autumn to go to Banfield next week since she is due for her vaccinations (Orion had those today too, poor doggy…it was a very long day for him). I was so exhausted but still had to work tonight, but that went well, so it was ok. Hurry up long weekend, because we all need it.

I came home from the vet with a pretty significant charge on my credit card thanks to the vet bill, but it was so worth it just to know that Orion will be all better very soon. I’m telling you, my dogs are my babies…I just feel so badly because I am not able to spend much time with them anymore since I started my second job. And the bitter irony is that I’m working that other job in order to be able to move out so the three of us can have our own place…but because of that, I hardly see them now during the day… I keep telling myself it’s temporary, but I feel so sad about it.

It’s late, I’m tired, it has been a long day and I don’t know if all this makes sense. oh, as a sidenote? The vet and nurse at Banfield were SO nice. That was the best experience I’ve ever had with a vet. They took their time checking out Orion, talking to my mom and me, and everything. sweet.

Posted: November 8th, 2007 under My So-Called Life.
Comments: 6

I just found out this morning that Orion (my male pup) has worms of some kind. My mom told me when I was getting ready for work. She helps me out when I’m at work–feeds him and Autumn in the mornings and evenings, as well as lets them outside during the day. She has seen worms in his stool three times in the past few days (but is just now telling me?)…so I am going to call the vet today and schedule an appointment. He isn’t acting sick, but this is still really upsetting. I just want to get him to the vet and get him better! From what I read online, I think it might be either roundworms or tapeworms, but I don’t know for sure until he sees the vet…and I’m also wondering if Autumn could have them too, since they sleep in the same area and are always around each other outside.

I hope he’ll be ok. 

Posted: November 7th, 2007 under My So-Called Life.
Comments: 5

In theory, I am opposed to violence but there is one woman who I have to deal with at my (day) job that I just CANNOT STAND. CAN. NOT. STAND. And it really makes me think that some people need to be sucked into a black hole, or diced with a vorpal sword, or SOMEthing ’cause they are so freaking rude.

(FYI, this is the same woman [and that’s being mighty polite] who once made me CRY because she is so frickin rude and I cannot stand her.)

EDIT: ok, what is up with today? First that lady, then at lunch I was approached while I was in my parked car eating lunch in a parking lot by a Jesus salesgirl. Sidenote: I know that term could be construed as semi-insulting, but really, that’s what they feel like to me–they are actually Jehovah’s Witnesses but this has happened to me once before, in the same parking lot. The JW know that people sit in this lot during lunch break, so they drive around it a couple times a month, passing out religious reading material. I’d be annoyed if someone bothered me trying to pass out flyers for a store, so I was equally annoyed both times with the JW. This time, I didn’t take the pamphlets, though I did the first time, just to be polite. I need to find another parking lot to eat lunch in, sigh.

ok, then after those two incidents, I had to get gas and the pump I chose? Wouldn’t pump correctly. Of course I would choose the one pump out of four that is broken. gah! Although technically, it did trickle out $0.05 of gas into my tank before it crapped out. Five CENTS. By the time I put the nozzle back, all the other three pumps were taken, so I had to drive down the street to the Shell station (where gas was more expensive, of course) to fill up. egads!

All right, now if it’s true that things come in threes, then that’s enough for today, almighty universe! Have your fun with someone else pleasethankyouokbye.

Posted: November 6th, 2007 under Mad Rants.
Comments: none

I had a proper post written up, but then my brain just went blank, so I’m starting over with a list. Skim at your leisure.

• It’s Monday. ugh.
• I worked yesterday at the library, which I liked much better than my first day because I was able to train hands-on with the materials.
• I found out that I’m allowed to wear sneakers to the library. I’m very glad about this because I was on my feet for almost 4 hours straight and my feet were hurting by the end of the shift!
• I was out of work yesterday by 12:45.
• I was pretty hungry when I got out of there, so M and I went to lunch and had yummy Italian food.
• I went to T-Mobile and got a new phone, a Blackberry Curve. (I know I change phones like I change my shoes but this time, it’s a long-term commitment. Really. Well, at least for the next two years.) If I ever find some free time, I will post a photo.
• Is it just me, or isn’t today supposed to be the release date of the new Blue Moon Fiber Arts Raven Series? I just checked their site and…nothing. Am I just blind? Or maybe they haven’t posted it yet. EDIT: I just checked again, and they put up a notice that says it will be available tonight @ 6 PM Pacific time. That’s 9 PM Eastern, right when I get off work. greaaaat. Will the yarn diet powers be able to resist? Will I live to abstain another day??
• I have to work until 9 tonight, so I probably won’t get much knitting time in, which is disappointing because I really wish I could work on my Secret of the Stole.
• On the bright side, I’m completely off work on the 11th and 12th for Veterans Day as well as the 22nd and 23rd for Thanksgiving…so I am just looking forward to that!
• I really, really, really just want to go back to sleep.

Posted: November 5th, 2007 under Knitting, My So-Called Life, Working Girl.
Comments: none

Unfortunately, I fell behind with the Secret of the Stole knitalong the past couple weeks. But! I just finished Clue #3 and I’m fascinated to see the motifs emerge. Today I also printed the charts for Clues 4 and 5 and it looks like the “x”s diminish and the middle of the stole becomes mainly the “o”s or what appear to me to be little flowers. I have no clue what the theme might be, so I won’t even attempt to wager a guess. It’s definitely fun to see everyone else’s progress, and I already decided that I’m going to join SOTS #2 when it starts next year.

Posted: November 3rd, 2007 under Knitting.
Comments: 3

Well, last night was my first shift at the library. It went pretty well:

+ They actually DID have a “welcome party” for me! One of the first things that we did was have a little bit of food and chit-chat before my new partner actually started training me. That was a nice ice breaker, and prompted me to say, “This is the best first day I’ve ever had!”
+ Everyone is sooooo nice. Thank goodness!
+ The lady who is training me is very knowledgeable about the job. She’s going to work the same shift as me for the next two weeks and hopefully that will be enough time for me to learn this stuff!
+ Turns out that I likely will only be there Monday - Thursday evenings with Friday and Saturday off, then every other Sunday, once training is over! yay I get Saturdays off!
+ Even though I’m only part-time there, I still get federal holidays off with pay. So this upcoming Veterans Day, I’ll have it COMPLETELY off, from both my jobs. oh hallelujah!

- There is A LOT of information to remember. I actually took home the procedures manual so I can look it over this weekend–yikes, there’s so much to learn!
- When I came home at 9:30 last night, I was really, really tired. My brain just felt like mush after trying to absorb all the info…it was basically information overload. I know this will pass with time, but man, it was a lot for my poor little brain.

So overall, there are way more positives than negatives…the newness of the job, as always, is a little overwhelming but it will pass, hopefully soon. Once I get my first paycheck, I’ll remember why I’m doing this in the first place! And last night after coming home, the first thing I did was go over and give my doggies some love. They’re the REAL reason why I’m doing this.

Posted: November 2nd, 2007 under Working Girl.
Comments: 6