Caught while channel surfing

, a fancy photo sharing thing.

Just kidding I was too busy handing out candy and reassuring parents that Winter was a very gentle dog trained to be around children and wasn’t going to eat their little goblins to take any kind of carved pumpkin poll.

We put them on the desk in the front window because Cody was paranoid we’d be the victims of pumpkin smashers. I put them on top of one of my big yarn storage containers so they could be seen over the big juniper bush.

They look pretty cool!

I used a short candle with three wicks since mine needed a little more light inside.

We got six or seven groups of trick or treaters this year and only one of those was a gaggle of obnoxious teenage boys! I hate the teenage boy trick or treaters they always ask for pot or say something equally uncreative or stupid. Teenage boys definitely should be seen doing cool physical acts like skate or snowboarding and not heard.

Another average Halloween. Winter and I watched Dancing with the Stars and I’m knitting another bag to felt for the show. Just one more felted bag, some sock yarn to dye, and then more handspun to make by the 17th!

How do you guys wash your non-superwash socks? I remember reading about one woman who would wear them in the shower and hang them on the towel rack to dry when she got out. Mine’s weirder and a bit more embarassing so I want to hear about how you all do it too.

If you really want to know I tend to bathe semi-Japanese style where the bathtub is just for soaking and reading paperbacks while the shower is for the cleaning. So when I’m running the bath (always with salts or bubbles) I toss my socks in there. I never wear my handknit socks anywhere that’s going to get them really dirty anyway so it’s not like they’re filthy they usually just need a rinse. So I use bath bubbles to clean them, rinse them under the tap, then hang them on the safety bar to dry.

Oh yeah like you don’t do weird stuff sometimes, ye yarn sniffers! :p

I’ve learned a lot about karma this week. My belief in “karma” or “the three fold law” or “reaping what you sow” or whatever name your belief structure assigns to a basic universal balance waxes and wanes but a few events this last week have been like “hit over your head with a baseball bat” kind of karma lessons.

Of course there was the cool email about my fleur-des-lis washcloth designed for Katrina victims, which seemed to have kicked the lessons off. I don’t knit stuff for charities for recognition or to feel superior in any way at all. I genuinely enjoy knitting items that would make people happy, or help comfort someone. This knitting thing has helped me feel artistic again, be able to meet new people and make friends, and actually have people want to buy something I’ve made has been a huge boost to my confidence. Being able to use something that’s helped me this much to help other people makes it even more meaningful to me. So getting that kind of recognition for doing something that had been an honestly selfless act was like breathing pure oxygen for a minute.

Then I did the drawings for the Dyeorama prizes and it was kind of spooky. Believe me, this was totally random. People had gotten a number assigned by the program when they signed up, it was how we kept track of things but we didn’t have anything to do with what numbers people got. Then I used a random number generator to shoot out a bunch of non-repeating non-sequential numbers.

When I started going down the prize list I noticed that a weird number of people who won prizes were familiar - mostly because I’d been seeing their names and websites for weeks. Because they were still waiting for their yarn to come, or had waited a very long time for their yarn to come and I’d been checking their websites every day. They were eligible to win prizes because the yarn they dyed had been sent and their buddy had received it, but the person who was supposed to mail yarn either lost the package in the mail (which is understandable), mailed a lot later than they were supposed to, or never mailed it at all when they said they did. But now these folks who had been waiting for six weeks for their yarn were getting extra prizes It was weird.

I’m not sure what the odds were really. There were 4 our of the 7 remaining yarnless people whose names were drawn out of 40 prizes. With a total of 270 people eligible for prizes out of 277 participants. Any math isn’t hard barbies out there want to figure these odds out? 2 other prizes that were randomly drawn were real-life friends of mine too. Which is why I’m probably so insistent that these drawings were totally random.

It’s reassuring to know that if I keep putting good things out, keep working on projects even if it feels like I’m doing all kinds of work for little return sometimes that it will balance out. I’ve been rethinking the reasons about why I give gifts and if I have weird buried expectations in there and how I really shouldn’t do that. I should just give, without expectations, and be happy with whatever returns. Because it all evens out right?

I’m going to try not thinking about wars and senseless violence and men who get rich off of other peoples’ blood or stealing from respectable peoples’ retirement accounts Or that asshole who thinks that he’s the only one trying to get anywhere on the freeway being mean to other drivers and think about the simple balances of fortune I watched this week.

I’ve been asking the prize donors who had winners that are still waiting for yarn if they would mind throwing in some extra stuff and they were totally accomodating. And everyone I emailed about filling in as a swap angel has been wonderful about it. And my good friend, Laurie, was totally happy to give me some of her yarn to send to people whose prizes I was mailing out. These are good people. We all understand disappointment and want to do what we can to make these people feel better. I hope their generosity comes back to them three times over.

In non-karmically-related news:

Two of our snb friends had surgery this week and I’m happy to say that both made it through just fine and are relaxing at home with their spouses taking excellent care of them.

I’ve got a lot of prize packages going out this week and some yarn to spin for another donor project package I’ve got going and washcloths to knit to send to Louisiana and patterns to print out so they can be given out at the exhibit and roving to dye to send out to the prize winners and possibly more yarn to dye and spin for Reenie and Angela’s Charkha project although I’m not sure if my stuff is good enough to stand up with theirs. Whew!

I feel good though, if a bit busy, and an interesting post-menstrual serenity that I’ve noticed happening the last few months, a nice trade-off for the longer and stronger nightmare cramps that are also more recent. The house is still clean and the cats are playing like kittens, especially the 18 year old. I can tell that Kurry feels really good these days you’d never know she was that old. Winter needs some exercise she’s a bit bored I can tell but it’s also the time of year where she gets to lie in the sun on the den floor in the afternoons so she’s very happy about that.

Cody’s ipod that I got for him for Christmas broke but he called Apple and it’s actually still under warranty so they’re replacing it without even charging for shipping.

I’m working on several different versions of the fleur des lis including an illusion knitting version (from my own pattern not the one published January 2006 that I still suspect used my chart) in black and gold (closest Saints colors I could find) Debbie Bliss Cotton Cashmere.

And working on some toe-up socks in my silk merino frappucino handspun that are going to be totally decadent treats for my feet.

And spinning. Cody has figured that I will need to spin 30 skeins of yarn to pay for the balance on the cruise so I better get to it! LOL

I declare a naked day!

If you need me, I’ll be sitting in the den knitting and watching tv wearing nothing but my skivvies.

Consider this a warning if you ring my doorbell.

We went up to Santa Fe today. My parents are staying at a hotel in Albuquerque this time but they like spending time up there too. Mostly because Dad likes his breakfast burrito from Cloud Cliff Bakery and we like to shop at the outlet mall up there. But there’s usually some plaza walking too.

Most of my time in SF is really weird for me because suddenly I’m a tourist in a town where I used to live and loathe tourists. Anyway, we were in the little Mercado where the Blue Corn is (as well as a new bar grille thing on the bottom floor called Sleeping Dog Tavern)- because that Mall one has a decent public bathroom - and I saw a big scarf/shawl thing that looked a lot like the one I made out of Artfibers yarn in the window of a shop with lots of floaty deconstructed flowery gauzy clothes. You know the kind, lots of linen and old looking lace - like Molly Ringwald but with crystals. I used to love dressing that way when I lived up there. It kind of fits. Anyway, I went inside to find out how much that stole was (300 dollars btw) and found all kinds of mixed media knit skinny scarves with dropped stitches and little milagros tied on with ribbon. I could make them in approximately 2-3 hours. Those averaged 100 dollars. There were also some freeform crochet sweaters by Valentina Devine but those cost a small fortune. Regardless of the downtown Santa Fe markups, it was a reminder that I’ve got to get back into creating items for the Etsy shop.

I know it’s common for people here to dislike Santa Fe for a variety of reasons. But I do miss some aspects of living up there. I went to the parts I liked and lived in my own world, usually at night, sneaking down to the Barnes and Noble every once in a while for some megacorporation chain coffee and access to lots of books. Now I live within two miles of that B and N and take day trips to Santa Fe. Life’s funny.

I just (re)started a pair of top down 2 socks on 2 circs this morning using some Greenwood cotton lycra striping yarn I bought in February. This time is going much more smoothy because I’m using the pattern that came with the yarn rather than vagely follow a pattern in a book.

The ride home was really rainy. There were roads that had been completely flooded by water and clay earth in Rio Rancho coming in from Bernalillo. Crazy. On the one hand I wish it weren’t so muggy and I worry about all the problems with water washing out and flooding new houses and streets, on the other this state really, REALLY needs this rain. This might be the end of a six-plus year drought and replenish that ever-drying water table the city’s been wrestling with that bothers a lot of anti-growth people (ironically the most vocal are usually imports themselves). Seriously it’s been like living in the friggin dust bowl here. It’s annoying and I have to go find some mosquito protection for the dog but it’s important and I’m willing to deal with that for the sake of a city I enjoy (for the most part).

I was just thinking about some odd things I’d like to do someday. They’re not earth-shattering but I thought they were fun.

Someday..
- I want to have pink hair. Not fluorescent pink but kind of a midrange cotton candy to barbie pink
- I want to get a puppy and kitten at the same time so they’ll grow up together
- I want to get the back bedroom set up into a nice studio
- I want to enclose the back porch and make a breakfast / morning room
- I want to have a pool or at least a hottub
- I want to get a hedgehog tattoo
- I want to lose at least 100 pounds
- I want to travel to Europe again
- I want to knit the perfect sweater for myself
- I want to play the piano again
- I want to read all of the 100 greatest books

The wind last night was cr-aaaaaaaazy. With the roadwork behind our house the visibility back there was about one car length ahead. Laurie had to drive around fallen branches and sometimes entire limbs on Rio Grande Blvd. The power went out at Flying Star after we’d been there about fifteen minutes. So we all sort of went our separate ways. Laurie, Beth, and I went to my favorite sushi place in town. It was all very exciting. And kind of scary. So not a lot of knitting got done last night. But I rarely get any actual knitting done at those stitch and bitches.

Next week we’ll be meeting at Ramona’s house for Beverly’s goodbye party. I’m very sad she’s leaving. I meet these great women and they move away! Wtf? But I know Bev will be happier back in CT with her SO and the dogs. But I’ll miss her! At least I know she’ll be coming back about once a month for meetings at UNM.

The Dyeorama stuff is really calming down now. Everyone is matched up and has their information. People seem to have contacted each other like good little participants. Let the dyeing commence! One crazy lady has already sent hers out. lol

I’m going to be off the computer most of today. I’m working on my super secret project so I can get it mailed off. The bummer is I can’t post about it here for a while. And it’s really cool. And is green so it’s appropriate for Project Spectrum! But no. I have been sworn to secrecy. And I’m very proud to be doing it. You’ll hear about it someday though.

I’m also going to keep plying that pretty green silk blend. This stuff is wafer-thin. At least the thinnest I’ve spun. And there’s a lot of yardage there. So it’s taking for-eeever. I can’t wait to finish it and spin something completely insane and bulky.

Still waiting for my phone. I’m going to call Cingular and bug them today.

t’s still pretty windy today. Was getting some gusts when I was out there taking measurements and photos of the prefelting secret project. No grit in my teeth today though.

You have reached Noelle’s blog. Noelle’s not here right now. She’s going to spend the entire day away from the computer spinning on her wheel and knitting on the incredibly cool shadow shawl. There will be much Tivo watching. And a pizza will likely be consumed.

If you’d like to leave a message, please click the comment link. If this is an emergency please use the telephone number she has previously provided to you.

Have a good day!

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

I totally overslept for my Saturday knitting group. I was busy having a freaky dream about my car breaking down and being stuck on an old family compound which was inhabited by ten really hot Italian brothers (as in related to each other, not of the cloth) who were all vying for my hand and heart with their studly bodies and smoky eyes. I thought one of them was secretly in love with my sister because I saw her photo on the wall. She’d had her wedding there or something. But I kept thinking one of them harbored a crush on her. I was in love with the strange little artistic brother they kept hidden away in one of the remote houses where he stayed and made his beautiful little miniature art projects. Ya know, this wasn’t even one of the strangest dreams I’ve had this week. But it was certainly the most fun. Reminded me of the one I had about shopping for leather pants with Edward Norton. Let me tell you, that guy looks good in leather pants. Or at least he did in my dream. These are the rare times when my brain is a fun place to be.

My dreams are more vivid than they’ve been in years. Which I’m not sure is a good thing considering vivid dreams were a part of my recent diagnosis. Which I’m still supposed to write about. The good part is I don’t get “stuck” in the dreams in the same way I used to since I’ve been on the Trileptal.

So the first item on our big list for the day was missed. Part two was shoe shopping. We both need shoes. Mr. Man needed a new pair of black business casual shoes for work. He’s been wearing the same pair since early 2001. They were such good shoes that no others can live up to their standard. We’ve considered just getting these resoled and after today’s progress we still might. Not sure what he’ll wear in the meantime though. We came *this close* to buying some black Dr Martens for him but in the end he thought they pinched in at his toes too much. It’s better he decided that before we bought them. We did get some good brown hiking type shoes for him, which was the other kind he needed.

For me it took trips to both the Shoes on a Shoestring stores and some other place I can’t remember where he got his brown shoes and I still haven’t found a pair that I a) like and b) think are cheap enough for me to feel comfortable buying. Although I did see some kickass black biker boots in the men’s section but they didn’t have my size.

Somewhere somehow I have gotten to a place where spending over forty dollars on shoes has become too much. I’d love to tell the person I was ten years about this because she would laugh and laugh. The problem is I’m after something somewhat specific: mary jane type shoes - could be a clog or have an open back but the toe must be closed. My toes are yucky. I’m not a pedicure kind of girl. I’m wanting a much less bulbous toe than I usually get - very slighly pointier but still not like put your eye out pointy I hate those. See it’s all in my head! Gah! And I need brown. Brown shoes. Because I’ve been buying a lot of brown things lately. Chocolate brown and pink. And the only brown shoes I have are these fabulous ankle boots which look great with pants but soon it will not be boot weather and I want little mary jane clog thingies. But closer to the ground than clogs. Baby clogs. Clogs light.

So I found these great shoes. They are pretty much exactly what I want. Brown with little subtle pink flowery accents and everything. Not. On. Sale. Like 109 dollars. For cute little brownish pinky clogy shoes? At a discount shoe store? Nuh uh. If I’m spending that much on shoes I’ll be buying that in a really good brand from a store where I have to ask the guy to go get them. If I have to find the size myself I’m not spending over forty bucks. Fifty at the absolute most. Ok, sixty but that’s the absolute top. One hundred and nine is completely unacceptable.

I know a lot of you Manolo people are like “Man that’s chump change” but I’m not a Manolo girl. I don’t like dainty shoes, I like to feel the earth beneath me and not worry that a strap is suddenly going to break and I will come crashing to the earth. I have to concentrate enough on walking with plain old normal shoes. The best shoes I’ve ever worn in my entire life are my Doc Martens (any of them) and my black Chuck low tops. And this resurgence of kitten and wedge heels (not to mention the old school wooden hooker Candies shoes) make my ankles hurt and my stomach bile slowly rise in anticipation of the horrors that would happen if I tried walking more than twenty paces in them.

So I’m very happy for the Manolo fans out there who love their expensive strappy shoes. More power to ya (and definitely your arches and ankles) but I’m just not in your shoe strata. As one of the highly coiffed and be-makeuped ladies kept saying as she was trying on some (apparently wide) sky high strappy shoes at the Shoes on a Shoestring store: “these are for flintstones feet!” I have flintstones feet. I actually murmured that after the fourth time she squawked what she seemed to think was a really witty thing to say. Then the gaggle of these OC housewife wannabes stumbled and tripped in their scary tall shoes over to a different part of the store.

So, three shoe stores and we have one pair of shoes to show for it. And they’re not even for ME!

After shoestore number one we needed coffee. My sunglasses had broken and I wanted to stop by the Avenue next to the Starbucks (yeah we’re big westside chain whores blah blah) and get some. The Avenue also has shoes so I thought that would be convenient. We also wanted to see if there were any more corduroy pants like the ones I’d gotten over Christmas because I love these pants and they seem to have gotten stained or something in the wash, or the texture dried strangely in the dryer. Hopefully that was just a weird detergent or dryer thing and I can fix it. So there was lots of clearance rack scouting. As usual I accumulated a huge pile of clothes to try on. In the end I came out with two cotton fishnet sweater thingies off the clearance rack. And sunglasses. Not having a lot of luck today.

Then we were supposed to FINALLY get to the new Trader Joe’s. And I was going to call Scout and meet her so we could do odd organic TJ shopping together while Cody hid in a corner. He’s scared of hippies ya know. Ok not really. We made it to the parking lot at 8:45. Guess when they close? Yep. 9. I know Ms. Scout goes to bed pretty early anyway so we decided to just go eat dinner. We went to TGiFridays because I like their Jack sauce stuff. Yes it was another chain on the Westside why do you ask?

A lot of driving. A lot of stores. Oh, we went to the pet store (yeah, the Petsmart chain) for a new retractable leash as well. So that’s two sweaters, a pair of men’s shoes, a leash, and a pair of sunglasses. That’s all we have to show for it.

Tomorrow? We’ll be hitting Torrid and Trader Joe’s. Dammit.