I really liked the KnitPicks options circular needle set. But today, for the second time, the flexible cable part came apart from the metal part. Plus, the zippered pouches the set comes in keep breaking. Gah.
I think I'm going to go back to my collection of regular circular needles. I have a ton already; they're listed at the bottom of the sidebar here.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
First Finished Objects of 2009
This is the Wool Peddler Shawl from Folk Shawls. It's for my mom. Her birthday was Dec 23, but better late than never, eh? 
This is a baby blanket for a friend in San Diego. I started the middle section, in linen stitch, possibly my favorite stitch. I like how the alternating the yarns gives it a subtle striping look. The borders in garter stitch, finished off with a row of single crochet. Simple and nice.
Usually I'm not a big fan of garter stitch, but this project changed my mind. I may do future blankets in garter stitch.
Tonight, I'm going to cast on for Best Friend's Emerald sweater from Knitty. She says she's in no hurry, but it was supposed to be her birthday present, back in Nov '08.
New year, new hair
I asked for something short, something professional, and with a dash of emo-boy. When my bangs get a little longer and with a little more product, I might get the emo-boy look. But until then, Rihanna will be my inspiration.
eta: here's a link to a pic of an emo-boy. http://emo.aceweb.cz/upload/DevilFay-emo% 0boy.JPG . They have the hair flopping in the face. They look kind of like goths, but not as depressing. Think Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy.
Sister, on the other hand, says I reminded her of Trinity from the Matrix movies. Ah hahahahahahaha. There's no way you'd ever get me in a cat suit.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Forget it!
Pretty much, no lender will lend us money to buy the condo because 23% of the HOA fees are late and there so many foreclosures in the area.
So we are going to ask for our earnest money back since we're not the reason for the rejection and then take a break from the condo hunting thing.
Dang. We both really, really liked the unit, the area, etc. I was really looking forward to having no yard and to cutting my commute from 26 miles one way to 10 miles one way.
Double dang.
So we are going to ask for our earnest money back since we're not the reason for the rejection and then take a break from the condo hunting thing.
Dang. We both really, really liked the unit, the area, etc. I was really looking forward to having no yard and to cutting my commute from 26 miles one way to 10 miles one way.
Double dang.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Not again
Our mortgage application has been turned down again. Something about too many foreclosures (including the unit we want, hmmm) in a 2 mile radius, etc. Commencing Operation Lowering Expectations now.
I have to remind myself that this condo is a want, not a need. Yes, it's a great deal (if we could get a loan!) but the building won't disappear. At some point, the housing market will stabilize and we can take a look at it again.
I have to remind myself that this condo is a want, not a need. Yes, it's a great deal (if we could get a loan!) but the building won't disappear. At some point, the housing market will stabilize and we can take a look at it again.
Friday, January 9, 2009
The old waiting game
Still haven't closed on the condo. The mortgage broker is saying that the as of January 1st 2009 there have been 500 changes to the guidelines of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The mortgage lender we're going with is not approved by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or any government lenders and they are the only ones doing loans right now. Plus, the condo property we're looking at is in a declining market with 15 foreclosures within a 2 mile radius of the condo and there are also 25% of residence in that specific building that are defaulting on there HOA dues.
All kinds of happy news, eh? At least we do have a house already, and have no pressing need to move, so all in all, it's not a stressful situation. Unless you consider waiting stressful in and of itself.
What is stressful, on the other hand, is work. A funder is coming to do a monitoring visit at the end of the month and we have not been meeting our client numbers (duh, it's a recession! No one's starting businesses now). Plus I'm trying to balance our organization's budget and again, the recession is making it hard. I have nightmares that all our funding is pulled and we have no money and I have to lay everyone off and I'll lose my job. The impending visit from the funder is not helping my stress levels.
All kinds of happy news, eh? At least we do have a house already, and have no pressing need to move, so all in all, it's not a stressful situation. Unless you consider waiting stressful in and of itself.
What is stressful, on the other hand, is work. A funder is coming to do a monitoring visit at the end of the month and we have not been meeting our client numbers (duh, it's a recession! No one's starting businesses now). Plus I'm trying to balance our organization's budget and again, the recession is making it hard. I have nightmares that all our funding is pulled and we have no money and I have to lay everyone off and I'll lose my job. The impending visit from the funder is not helping my stress levels.
Monday, January 5, 2009
staycation
Aaaaaaaaand I'm back!
From Dec 24, 2008 to Jan 4, 2009, I was on staycation. Loved it and didn't want to come back. I slept in every day, watched hours of TV, finished knitting projects, read "trashy" novels, started a painting, and did some packing. I packed up the wedding china, the wine glasses, and all the small pictures. The walls are looking a bit bare.
Sorted through the jewelry, paring it down to the stuff I wear regularly and the special occasion pieces, and ended up with only about a third of what I had before. The rest is stuff like $12 earrings from Kohl's or clip-ons my mom gave me. Not really anything with any resale value. I'm thinking of donating it to Dress for Success or something.
There were days I didn't leave the house, not even to walk to the end of the driveway to get the mail. Towards the end, the computer at home conked out so I didn't even have internet access. It was kind of nice to be all cocooned and incommunicado with the rest of the world, except through the TV.
Husband was very jealous. He did not have a staycation, and he was sick.
Good thing we didn't go anywhere. We still haven't closed on the condo and every few days I had to make copies of our personal documents and run them over to the mortgage broker. Gah.
From Dec 24, 2008 to Jan 4, 2009, I was on staycation. Loved it and didn't want to come back. I slept in every day, watched hours of TV, finished knitting projects, read "trashy" novels, started a painting, and did some packing. I packed up the wedding china, the wine glasses, and all the small pictures. The walls are looking a bit bare.
Sorted through the jewelry, paring it down to the stuff I wear regularly and the special occasion pieces, and ended up with only about a third of what I had before. The rest is stuff like $12 earrings from Kohl's or clip-ons my mom gave me. Not really anything with any resale value. I'm thinking of donating it to Dress for Success or something.
There were days I didn't leave the house, not even to walk to the end of the driveway to get the mail. Towards the end, the computer at home conked out so I didn't even have internet access. It was kind of nice to be all cocooned and incommunicado with the rest of the world, except through the TV.
Husband was very jealous. He did not have a staycation, and he was sick.
Good thing we didn't go anywhere. We still haven't closed on the condo and every few days I had to make copies of our personal documents and run them over to the mortgage broker. Gah.
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