Culinary Adventures

Well it wouldn't be my blog if there wasn't at least one picture of my dinner every once in a while. This time we get TWO dinner pictures (can you stand the excitement???).

While I was in NYC I managed to have some really good meals and one VERY VERY expensive hamburger. We'll start with the burger - after my first full day in NYC I was too tired to go back out and find somewere to have dinner. The hotel restaurant wasn't open for dinner that night so I got room service. What we have here is the most expensive burger I've ever had. By the time they added all of the room service charges on, my bill was almost $42.00!!!



It was a good burger but I must say I wouldn't consider it $42.00 worth of good.

On my last night in the city I went to this little sushi place that I could see whenever I looked out my hotel room window.

I had the sushi box dinner and it was AWESOME!!!



It came with sushi, tempura, sashimi and teriyaki chicken. I got to sit at the sushi bar so I got to watch the sushi chefs making all of the sushi. If I had known how great the food there was I would have dragged myself over there for dinner after sight seeing instead of getting the room service burger.

I also had a phenomenal meal at Dawat restaurant. It's an Indian restaurant owned by Madhur Jaffrey (she's ther person that Martha Stewart has on her show when she wants to talk about Indian food). I had the Rogan Josh which is normally made with lamb, but at dawat they make it with goat. It was a really good meal and I even had dessert - gulab jamun..... YUMMY!!! No pictures of this one though.

Jersey Adventures

While on my trip in New Jersey I had the "pleasure" of being rear ended on the freeway on my way to work one morning. Luckily the damage to the rental car was minimal (couldn't say as much for the car that hit me). I was also VERY VERY happy that I carry my knitting with me since it helped calm me down a great deal while waiting for the police to get all of the information they needed from both of us.

I figured that the sock deserved to have it's picture taken with the damage once I finally got to the office. Between that and getting lost almost every day I wasn't very sad when I got to turn in the rental car early and move to NYC for the remainder of my trip. Not only are the streets there a grid I could walk or subway any where that I wanted to go.

Home Again

Still no pictures (but there will be several in the near future). Spent the last five nights in NYC. After I finished my week at my branch in NJ I was sent to midtown to work at a branch in the city. It was actually a very enjoyable trip and I think I walked almost the ENTIRE island while I was there. (I never made it past the upper 70s so I guess I didn't really do the entire island but it sure felt like it).

Today was long day - in part because my car service guy apparently had some awesome driving mojo going on this morning. They told me it would take an hour to get from midtown to Newark (I allowed over an hour - just in case). Ummmmm they don't know that Mario Andretti works for them.... midtown to Newark 25 MINUTES. Which means I was checking in for my 10:10 flight at 6:30 in the morning!!!!! Ummmm yep that's me taking that homeland security check in two hours before flight time really seriously.....

Of course once we were on plane we had an adventure. They almost threw a couple and their child off the plane. Apparently mom was accidentally placed in an exit row and they gave her an upgrade to first class. She took little child along and was politely asked to have child move back to coach with dad since junior was kicking the seat in front of them. That wasn't working so they had to get the gate agent involved and he flat out told them that if they didn't start cooperating they would be thrown off the flight and rebooked on a later plane cause at this point even THE PILOT didn't want them on board.

Unfortunately they calmed down and stayed on board ... why do I say unfortunately??? I'm the lucky person now sitting in front of them.

I guess I forgot to tell the airline I wanted the no screaming baby flight.

On the road

Greetings from the lovely state of NJ (actually I'm not being sarcastic much of NJ is lovely). This wi-fi thingy seems to be working so I thought I'd take a shot at a post... No pictures from the trip yet but the workout room has a FANTASTIC view of NYC. I spent my 30 minutes on the bike watching the TV in the bike console (only complaint I can't get Food network on the bike) and looking out at the Manhattan skyline.

Way cool.....

Anyone remember the fair???

In the interest of FINALLY making good on posting better pictures of the fair entries I do have a better picture of the fish blanket.



I have actually used the blanket once or twice to cover up with when it was really cold this winter. It did turn out to be just the right size for a "lap" blanket.

There may be blogging from the road in the next few weeks. I will be off on a business trip and if I can figure out how to get online while I am gone maybe I will delight everyone with a post. Can you all stand the excitement????

Changes in Attitude (changes in latitude)

Yesterday was one of THOSE days...very frustrating and stressful. I was pretty happy with myself though, prior to December a day like that would have sent me to the grocery store for chips, sweets, any kind of junk food. Instead I went to the Y and worked out for about an hour an a half. Did I REALLY want to be there when I first got on the treadmill - no not really. But I told myself just stick it out for fifteen minutes and by the end of that I was totally into my workout (and it helped they had Food network on the TV) and did the entire 45 minutes.

As promised earlier... pictures of my new "toys".

First is the big one that I didn't really think I needed but man have I loved it since I bought it!! (It's amazing how much faster things are now that I'm not running windows98)



The other is my constant companion at the Y. I love LOVE LOVE it.



I still need to add some more songs to it (right now I only have about 25 on there) but it really is a great little gadget.

Miracle (on ice - sort of)

Well I suppose two posts in one week does count as a miracle around here these days. Especially since this one even has (brace yourselves - a picture of actual KNITTING!!!)

I went to a book signing tonight for Kurt Browning's book A is for Axel (hence the sort of on ice part of the title). I do admit that I am a bit biased since Kurt is my all time favorite skater but the man is witty, charming, nice as heck and good looking to boot. I honestly think he looks better now than he did during his days of Olympic competition..... but anyway I digress.

I was waiting to have my books signed (I also brought along the autobiography he wrote in the early 1990s) and I had my sock in progress with me. I decided to steal page from the Yarn Harlot and ask him to hold the sock for a picture.
What resulted was this.....




Actually trying to put the SIP on was his idea. That is actually the heel of the sock covering his toes since I am currently working on the gusset.

I must admit he was a very good sport about all of this!

Still here

OK so far I've not done so well on the resolution to post more on the blog. Somehow the past two months have just flown by.

The other two resolutions are coming along better. I've lost about 20 pounds (as of the last doc visit) since the end of December. I've joined the Y and try to go at least three times a week. I've surprised myself by really enjoying it.

I haven't bought any new yarn so far this year. My current project is a pair of socks for me using some yarn that I bought in upstate NY last year.

I might add to the stash next month. I'm going on another business trip which will allow me a day in New York City. In addition to the usual sites I want to see I want to try and hit a few yarn shops.

I did get myself two new "toys" though. I splurged and bought a laptop which I LOVE!!! I can't believe how much I enjoy being able to be online while I'm in the living room. And since I'm running Vista (vs Windows 98) I got an ipod shuffle. Actually that was my Christmas present from my sister and brother-in-law since they sent me the gift card I used to buy it. It comes in very handy at the gym since my CD player really got in the way when I use the weights.

I'll have to see if I can get some pictures of the new gadgets and post them.

Happy New Year

Well here is the first post of 2007. I did make two New Year's resolutions this year. As my one regular reader knows I was recently diagnosed with high blood pressure and diabetes. So my resolution is to get both of them under control this year and (hopefully) to be off medication by the end of the year. I already added some extra walking to my day today by walking back and forth to the laundry room down the street instead of driving.

My second resolution has to do with this

I have ALOT of yarn and ALOT of projects planned. I don't NEED to buy more yarn right now, I need to start making some of these projects I've had on deck for ummm sometimes several years. Most of these are things I want to make for me. 2006 was supposed to be the year of selfish knitting but that didn't work out so well. In fact that didn't work out at all. So while I do have things I want to make for other people in mind this year I also want to make something for myself. I'm thinking I will stick to some socks for now since I will need a smaller size sweater after resolution number 1.

Oh and to start the new year off right in blogland.... Here is an actual picture of actual KNITTING! (I know the shock may be too much so take a moment if you need to).

I made this sweater for my niece's second birthday. Right now she can wear it as a jacket but I wanted it large so she could wear it for a while. The yarn is Bernat Denimstyle (and it came from the stash - I bought it a few years ago while she was still in utero with plans for a different sweater).



I don't think you can tell in this picture but the buttons are little armadillos.

Happy Holidays

Happy Chrismakwansolsticenakah.

I promise that in 2007 one of my resolutions will be to blog more than once every full moon!

What Kind of Knitter Are You?

What Kind of Knitter Are You?

You appear to be a Knitting Guru. You love knitting and do it all the time. While finishing a piece is the plan, you still love the process, and can't imagine a day going by without giving some time to your yarn. Packing for vacation involves leaving ample space for the stash and supplies. It can be hard to tell where the yarn ends and you begin.http://marniemaclean.com
Take this quiz!








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My fist MeMe

1. FIRST NAME? Mary
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes - My mother's sister Mary Margaret
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Not sure probably within the last month or so. I'm sure something stressed me out enough to cry.
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes - I actually get compliments on it.
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Hmmm not sure if I have one. After working in the deli at our local supermarket for one summer, it was YEARS before I would even eat lunchmeat. I guess a good corned beef sandwich though would be my favorite.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes - I hope so!
7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? I try from time to time but am bad at it. I think my last entry was not too long after 9/11.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes but I don't have my adnoids.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Are you out of your ever loving mind??!?! Heck no!!! Unless I was on the Amazing Race and had no choice!
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Again I don't really have one. I buy what ever is on sale and maybe I remember to eat it (or buy milk so I can eat it).
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Nope
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? A tough one again. I like most ice cream. I would say my favorite depends on my mood but I do LOVE Ben and Jerry.
14. SHOE SIZE? 6 or 6 1/2 (depends on the shoe - my feet are kind of wide)
15. RED OR PINK? Red
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I can be grumpy and take it out on someone who isn't making me grumpy. I am getting better at this and have been really working on it.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? I would guess my dad and my Aunt Mar (now that I'm older and she's been gone a while I don't think I always appreciated her as much as I should have). I also really miss my cockatiel, Wylie. He was my first bird and he was so sweet, loving and friendly. I really miss him being so excited to see me when I came home and just enjoying sitting with me and having his head scratched.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? No
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? My casino print sleep pants, my "Well behaved women seldom make history" t-shirt, an Eeyore sweatshirt and Eeyore slippers
20. LAST THING YOU ATE? Bacon (way too much bacon!) Which I now bake in the oven since it makes it nice and crispy and doesn't mess up the stove top.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The furnace (which is not running cause I have the thermostat set at I'm not normally home now mode) and an airplane.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Red - something hot and bold!
23. FAVORITE SMELL? The air after a spring thunderstorm
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My friend Amy
25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Their smile and their laugh.
26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole this from? Well I don't "know" her but I like her blog and have been reading it for a couple of years!
27. FAVORITE DRINK? Honestly I guess water since that's what I drink the most of. If we're talking "grown up" drinks then margaritas or seven and sevens.
28. FAVORITE SPORT? Ice hockey
29. EYE COLOR? Grey
30. HAT SIZE? No idea
31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Nope I prefer my glasses
32. FAVORITE FOOD? Hmmm I love Chipotle but sushi is another good one!
33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings - I hate scary movies. I don't' even like the commercials for half of them!!!
35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer - I live in northern Ohio and those 5 days are some of the nicest in the year! :)
36. HUGS OR KISSES? BOTH
37. FAVORITE DESSERT? Something with chocolate
38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? I don't expect anyone will.
39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? I don't' think anyone will respond so I guess everyone is least likely.
40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? I just finished a book so I need to start a new one. The latest one from the library is Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich. I have stalled out on My Life by Bill Clinton and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig. The last one was the required book for my freshman class 20 years ago. I didn't really "get it" then but want to try and read it again.
41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? At home and work pictures of nieces and nephews. Different ones in each mouse pad.
42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? CSI and ER
43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? I've never thought about this so I don't know.
44. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles
45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? California
46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? Being a good knitter and having a head full of useless trivia!
47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Cleveland OH
48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? I swiped it from
Stephannie

Alert the media

I hope everyone is sitting down, but today we will have some actual KNITTING CONTENT!! With a PICTURE!!

Does anyone need a moment before we continue?


This is a sweater I finished last month for the baby-to-be (BTB) my friends are expecting in February. The yarn is from the LYS that was going out of business a few months ago (it's Cascade 220 superwash). I went with the green since they don't know if the BTB is a boy or a girl.

The pattern is Tasia's Cardigan from Cabin Fever, which I can't say enough good things about. The pattern is well written, easy to follow and allows the sweater to be knit in one piece from the top down. The sleeves can even be knit in the round (my option) to avoid having to seam the sleeves.

I enjoyed this pattern so much that I am knitting the sweater a second time for BTB's big sister.

Today on Home Improvement

Well I found a chair today. It's not exacatly what I was looking for but what I really wanted was too big to fit through the door any way I measured it. Plus this was on sale and who can turn down a good bargain?



The covers on the cushions are removable so I can (in theory) change them if I ever wanted to.

Another Oddity

This is another one of those weird things that just strikes me as funny. Well actually there are two of them but who's counting?

1) Not only am I getting email from the future (apparently in 2035 I will be webcamming someone named Bunny.... uh huh let me jot that down so I don't forget) I am now getting email from the PAST. Not from last week or even last month - I am talking about email from the last century. I have had a few emails that have claimed to have been from 1903! Yep that internet was a real hopping place about 40 years after the Civil War ended.

2) When I run spell check on my posts the spell checker provided Blogger does not recognize the word blog. Wouldn't you think that a place that is in the business of providing blog space would know what the word was and how it is spelled?

Well in the immortal words of Gilda Radner.... It's always something.

Guess who ...

Is going to be Ms. Popularity with the department of sanitation today? Yep that would be me.

And for further proof that I will photograph and blog about almost anything I give you picture of trash waiting to be picked up!



Do you think my one woman show can be far behind?

And today on DIY

Well the project of the day was the utility cart in the kitchen. We actually have before and after shots today (I know everyone is excited.) Obviously (I hope it's obvious) this is the before shot.

All the stuff in front of it is my "fakantry" (my fake pantry). Stuff that I plan on using soon was going in front of the microwave cart so I wouldn't shove it in the cupboard and forget it was there.

After some major cursing at the idiot who didn't make the screw holes big enough for the screws in the box I finally got this put together.
It took a little longer than I hoped it would, but it turns out to be darn awkward to hold the sides in place before the top and bottom are attached. This might explain how I stabbed myself in the knee with a screwdriver.

Where did all the "fakantry" stuff go? Inside the pretty new cart.

Oh and if anyone was wondering? I have more stuff to take to Half Price Books!

More stuff gone

The purging of unused things continues at the casa. Today it was time for books, CDs and videos to leave the nest and go to Half Price Books. I literally filled the backseat with totebags and boxes full of things.
It actually took two trips to get it all into the store. I was pleasantly surprised though, they offered me $65.00 for all of the stuff. Considering I've had them refuse to buy things in the past I was thrilled that they were willing to take everything and I didn't have to deal with it anymore.

Tomorrow's plan involves the kitchen and getting rid of the current utility cart. This time there may be before and after pictures.

Vacation

I'm on vacation this week and I must say the first day of vacation was a productive one. I am on a mission to get my house cleaned up so that I won't be embarrassed to invite people over. It's not so much that it's dirty but I have TOO MUCH STUFF and really need to get rid of some things!!! Case in point, a couple of weeks ago I cleaned out my closet and my dresser drawers. FIVE (yes that's right FIVE) bags of clothes, a box of purses and a sleeping bag went to the St. Vincent DePaul Society.

Anyway, today I cleaned the bathroom for TWO HOURS!!!! Before anyone panics it wasn't QUITE that dirty but I also went through the storage (supposed to be a linen closet) closet and the medicine chest. Have some stuff to donate to charity (WHY do I need THREE hairdryers????) and a BUNCH of stuff to throw out.

I really should have taken before and after pictures, but I think I might have been too embarrassed to show the before.

Of course as soon as I was done I messed it all up and took a shower...

I also spent my hour watching Martha Stewart today shredding the HUGE pile of credit cards applications I have received in the mail that I just kept piling up on the shredder. Apparently I thought the shredder fairy was coming over.

Plus I have a box of videos, two bags of books (big huge tote bags) and mixed box of CDs and books that are headed to the half price book store tomorrow for resale. I know I won't get much (you never do) but I need the space and really need to get rid of some things.

Still on the agenda is to inventory the yarn in the craft room, clean the kitchen cupboards out (someone at work mentioned they could use some dishes), move out the current utility cart and assemble the new one that is still in the trunk from Walmart and clean out another bookshelf and the rest of the CDs (the ones in the bag were cleaned out at least a year ago).

Oh and I have knitting guild and book group this week. After this my 43 hour work week will be a vacation.

YIKES

Geesh I didn't realize it's been almost a month since I last blogged. Well still no pictures today but one of these days! I have all kinds of things to show here too.

Basicly I figured I should let anyone who reads this (my sister and Coletta!) know that I am still alive. I promise to have a real entry soon!