Friday is always an interesting day

It was an eventful day. I officially become a professional graphics designer that is also a business owner. I’ve been in a daze as I wasn’t aware I had finally grown up?  But, yeah…reality rolled into my life today. It’s kind of cool, kind of shocking and a lot scary.  How did I celebrate…I took a five hour nap! Yeah, I’m just a party animal these days!

Knitting was accomplished today. I’m almost through a band of knit/purls. There are 18 rows of knit 4/purl 4 in different combinations. Irritating to keep switching back and forth between knitting and purling. This is why I rarely do a moss stitch (knit/purl). But, the skirt is zooming along, at least by my standards. I try to knit at least an hour daily on it. Thin yarn/smaller needles=A HELLA LOT OF KNITTING!

I forgot to cook dinner, but hit up Applebees. Had the bourbon chicken/shrimp sizzling thing. Note to self/anyone: yeah, that plate is fucking hot!  Had the blonde brownie thing…OH DEAR BLESSED GODS ABOVE! It was like sin in a spoon! So came home and found the copy cat recipe. I had to..it was THAT GOOD.

Serves: 4 (or 1 if your really hungry!)
Ready In: Under 60 minutes

Ingredients:
Dough
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup flour, sifted
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (or more if desired)
1/3 cup butter or margarine (melted)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1  egg, beaten
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Dough
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Add baking powder, baking soda and salt to the already sifted flour. Then sift dry ingredients again.
Add chopped nuts and mix well. Set aside.

Add brown sugar to melted butter and mix well. Then add egg and vanilla extract. Mix well.
Add flour mixture, a little at a time, until mixed well.
Stir in white chocolate chips. Spread out dough in a 9-inch pan.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Use a toothpick or fork to test if it is cooked in the center.
Serve warm with ice cream

http://www.recipesecrets.net/blog/recipes/copycat-applebees-walnut-blondie-with-maple-butter-sauce/

Then to top the sin on a spoon…I discovered a new music service. it’s called Piki It totally rocks. You simply pick a few songs, then it streams in music suggested by other users based on your picks. It’s kind of a “discover music” service. I’m really picky about music. I’ve stuck with Pandora for years now. I love that thing. Works on my surround sound through my Tivo. Streams in my car, on my phone, on my tablet, on my computer. This is giving it a run for it’s money.  If I can stream Piki through my apple mirror play…it’s a done deal.

This will come in handy when creating. I will freely admit, I can code/design/create better if I have music with a heavy beat going on around me. I totally learned C++ listening to Godsmack, Pantera, Mudd, etc. I have NO idea why? If I’m not creating, I will literally listen to rain storms or soft stuff like that. Okay, I have a few 80’s nights here and there when I want good dance music. Piki, though…totally have a music crush on it right now.

So overall, it was a very mixed kind of day. Music, yarn, major life step, great food…yeah..think it was an all inclusive day. Oh…I forgot…great friends and good wine. Oh and cats. Oh and a dog. Yeah..see…MAJORLY EVERYTHING!

A Gloriously Sunny Day

While I am a huge winter lover, there is something to be said for a lovely spring day. Not too hot, not too cold..just perfect. I’ve lived in a lot of places and pretty much nothing tops a spring day here. 

I’ve been knitting like mad on my skirt. Doesn’t look like much just yet, but it will.

I love the color of it. The green is just so springy. I’m hoping it will wear well into the fall and winter. Kind of a winter bright? Either way, I’m glad Rilana inspired me to knit it. It’s way out of my area of expertise and comfort zone, that’s for sure. However, it’s good to step out now and then.

I think I’m going to shampoo my rugs tomorrow. My arm is healed enough that I think I could get it out and filled without too much trauma to myself. I’ve been dying to shampoo them for weeks now. I was aiming for once a week, but then fell down the damn stairs. *laughs* Now, they really need it again. When you have older carpeting, you have to work five times harder to keep it in good repair.

Hmm, off to get some work done and then some knitting. I’m still debating what to make for dinner tonight.

TGIF!

I'm sitting here perusing google+, debating putting the sweater sleeves on hold till August, and watching out the window if its going to rain or not? I'm dying to start my skirt. I need to go to the library. I need to take a walk. I have stuff to do, yet am happy sitting here with my coffee debating the knitting dilemma.
The yellow sweater is finished except for the sleeves. Do I put it off and let the sweater hang over my head or push through and finish it and get it done? Grrr, I hate decisions like this! I think I'm going to push through with the sleeves! I'm going to finish the sweater, damn it. Lol. *runs off to knit madly like a fool*

from the iPad

*updated* I gave up on the sleeves. I know..I'm a weak willed person who deserves to be flogged. I swear I will get them knitted. Maybe when it's closer to fall. I really do want to have that sweater for this winter. I'm pretty low in the sweater department.  That is a sad state of affairs for a knitter, let me tell you! Tonight, I cast on for my skirt. Oh that reminds me, I need to print out the pattern..which means I need to put paper in the printer.

Well, this has been an interesting day.

Took a stroll today and walked a mile. Literally! I hit up the library and picked up a new book:

30 Min-knits, What you can knit with an hour  It's full of cute little idea for scraps of yarn. I love it and plan to knit quite a few things out of it. I do love my library system. Between all the branches, they have a very extensive collection of knitting books. I have taken to checking them out and if I really love the book, I'll order it off Amazon.

Then I took a stroll to the local coffee shop -a non Starbucks kind of place. Had a fantastical white chocolate mocha and then strolled over to grab a late lunch. After that I strolled home, all the while missing the sporadic rain bursts we had all afternoon. My sunbreaks held so that I didn't get drenched.

I managed to get some writing done at the Library. They had the fireplace on and it was quite um, snuggly? *laughs*   The whole afternoon was quite pleasant, to be honest.  I plan on settling in tonight after dinner and getting some knitting done. I really want to get these sleeves knocked out so I can start on my skirt.

Tonight, I'm running out for chinese. I'm thinking honey walnut shrimp over fried rice? Sounds kind of yummy, although Lisa is making barfing noises at me via text. Yeah, she pigged out on BBQ tonight, no wonder. Hmmm, BBQ? Nah...I'll stick with my Chinese.

I applied to be a beta tester with Trimet. 1300 people applied for 150 spots. I have my fingers crossed that I get chosen. Gods, I would so love the ease of just getting a ticket off my phone instead of having to schlep to the store to buy a bus pass. Who the hell keeps exact change on hand for the train/bus? Not me. I rarely have cash to be honest.  Hmm...I hear dinner calling me.

Minimal is the New Black

I’m not sure what has happened to me? I blame the Mayans and the 2012 stuff *laughs*. I’ve been on a huge purge..which if you have been reading, you might have been clued in to. I’ve jettisoned a SHIT load of stuff.

The first phase was cleaning out my closet. That was an embarrassing seven lawn and leaf bags of clothes to donations. Next up was purging the nine million books I had. I donated exactly 712 books to Goodwill and still have three bookcases full to go. Of my huge double bookcase, I still have about three rows of books if you shoved them all together. Apparently, my pagan/knitting/cooking library is considered extensive?

My desk area is on the purge list. I ditched my desk for a new sleeker, narrower/longer one. While it’s barely wide enough for the monitor, keyboard and some wrist space..it’s long enough to hold it all. It has two rather large roomy drawers that I was able to fit all the various boxes of crap I had stored on a three shelf wire bookcase. Next step is to shove all the cords and surge protectors up into the cord channel on the underside of the desk. Basically all I want under my desk are the hard drives, my big “Century” book I use as a footrest and my garbage can.  It’s a WIP (work in progress)

Once that’s done, my living room will be done except for a new sofa..but I’m getting that from the family. They are bringing it over once the weather clears up and we have some consistent sunny weather. It’s white leather and has it’s own brown fabric cover for winter. I love a couch that has moods!

I do need to move the terrarium *an old 50 gallon fish tank* to the dining area and get it planted. I just want some greenery in it. Nothing fancy. Once those few things are done…LIVING ROOM WILL BE DONE! whew.

After that it will be bedroom time. All this downsizing has been hard. I admit to being somewhat of a sentimentalist and hanging onto stuff way longer than I needed it. I wasn’t ready to be on Hoarders by any means. I did, however, tend to hand onto stuff. I did learn once you toss out about the first ten items…the rest just flows right on out the door. It does get easier once you start tossing stuff out the door.

It’s hard to believe I once lived on a 40ft sailboat? *laughs* Talk about minimal lifestyle. Everything I owned outside of the boat/fixtures could fit into three HUGE duffel bags. It’s very true, that once you have a dwelling on land, you will increase your lifestyle to fill your place up. Hence, why I tend to like smaller residences. As it is, I have over 1000 square feet and am having to really work to downsize it.

I’ve even ditched a CPU and am running strictly off a laptop now. I have to figure some way to get the lap top off my desk or stand it up. Other than that…I’m happy with it. Does everything my old CPU did pretty much. I do need a new laptop, but for the moment, the whole thing is working. Hooked up into a dock and I basically have a desktop arrangement without the honking big CPU.

For portable, I’ve downsized to my iPad/keyboard. With my arm being bad, I pretty much lived off my iPad for two weeks and everything went off like a champ. Work was done, play was done, life moved along nicely. I do admit, I would like to downsize a bit more and have been eyeing the Samsung Galaxy Note II. A friend of mine has a iPad mini that has LTE service on it and added an app that allows his google voice to call into it. Basically his iPad mini has become his phone. I’m waiting to see his data usage on it?  When I get on a plane, I want to carry a medium to small purse and call it a day! No more briefcases/huge laptop bags. I want to travel light. Schlepping crap through an airport just sucks ass.

Speaking of handbags/purses. I’ve totally downsized that. The one I have now carries, my iPad or Kindle, money, ID, sunglasses, spare charger, inhaler and minimal makeup..and it’s done. The thing is super slim and weighs next to nothing. It’s by Baggalini and it’s the best bag I’ve ever had for just running around with. Gone are the huge days of a huge tote bag. Admittedly, I do not commute to work via public transportation. I can leave a good portion of all the extra junk I carried in the boot of my car if need be. But for everyday stuff to carry, it’s super light and portable. If I take the Kindle and not the iPad..even smaller.

Over all, I confuse the hell out of myself, because all this is a huge first for me.

4-7-13

Geez, the month is flying by. It's the seventh already?  Feels like it was just Easter. This being laid up thing is messing with my time realization, I think.  I have some mobility in my arm, but if I turn it the wrong way or try to hold something heavier than a feather, it reminds me that we are not healed yet. *grumbles* At least I can do some things and not just sit like a lump in a chair with a remote in my left hand.

It's been typical spring here. Chilly, rainy and cloudy. I'm enjoying it while I can because once summer gets here, it's like perpetual sun. While I fully intend to enjoy the summer this year, I am appreciative of the cooler, less sunny days.

I'm on the bottom band of the "big comfy pullover" sweater. Once that's done, it's on to sleeves and I'm done!!! God, I hate knitting sleeves. They are never ending, it seems. I also tend to make mine a bit longer to hang down onto my hand. Saves on knitting wrist warmers for winter. I'm totally loving the mild yellow of the yarn. It's quite popular since it's always sold out when I go to the shop. After the sweater is my skirt. That will be something to knit and wear.

I've also been eying a skirt pattern that a friend sent me. Its for a long maxi type skirt and I think I might attempt it. If I can find the right type of material. I'm wanting something like a light knit or maybe a crinkly cotton? I'll know it when I feel it. Soon as I can drive, I'm off to Fabric Depot. It's a fabric heaven.

I think I hear a bagel calling me? Yep..breakfast or brunch seeing how late it is.

Ten days in and finally I can type.

It's been ten days since I fell down the stairs. I can finally type without having to be doped up. I'm under orders NOT to sit at a computer for more than 30 minutes at a time and no more than 4 hours per 24 hour period.

This sucks!

In this past ten days, I have taught myself to knit continental style. Yeah, the no knitting thing was not even negotiable. I would go stir crazy if I couldn't keep busy. It's a given fact that I can't sit still. Never have been able to and trust me it's way too late to attempt to develop that skill set.

My little seed pots are sprouting. We have microscopic green on some teeny tiny tips. I have babied those seeds. Every night I cover the starter boxes with blankets to protect them from getting cold. Mind you...they are sitting in my dining room, but still..they could catch a chill!

It's kind of a mystery as I have forgotten what got planted and where. I just know there is Basil, Oregon, Dill, Catnip, Rosemary, some watermelons and pumpkins in there.  My bell peppers are getting planted in empty milk jugs. Hey, I recycle where and when I can. Not the most decorative, but functional.  I can always knit the milk jug a cover! *insert mad laughter*

After days of lovely sunshine, we are in for about six days of rain. Yeah, our April Showers have moved in and set up house. My rose bushes could use the water, so I'm not bitching too much about it all.

Hmm, I see what they mean about the typing...this is kind of painful.

Second Day of April

Today is day eight of being incapacitated. Blah. Exactly eight days ago, I decided to descend my stairway by rolling down it and landing on my right arm. I managed to give myself a spiral fracture in the radial head of my elbow. This means no cast, just a sling to keep the arm still. Along with the fracture, I managed to pull all the muscles in the various parts of my right arm and hand. Its taken me these eight days to even be able to type!

I actually learned to knit continental (where you hold the yarn in your left hand and most of the work is done with your left) because I was going nuts! I am not one that can just sit and watch tv. I usually watch tv and knit. In fact, I think the only reason I watch tv is so that I knit. Somehow, the two are firmly entrenched with each other. I've not managed to use my laptop yet, the angle is odd on my arm. At the moment. I'm using the keyboard that goes with my iPad. It balances on my lap perfectly so that I don't have to angle my arm. *sighs* It's better than nothing.

So for a week there has been limited knitted, alot of reading and tv watching, no cleaning, no cooking, no computer (although I thank the Goddess above for my iPad and iPhone) and no outside. I did venture out on Saturday and went to Ikea, Costco and Target. By the time I got home I was exhausted and fell asleep sitting in a chair watching tv. Last night I cooked dinner and today I can feel it. My arm is killing me.

Yes, I know. I'm supposed to have laid off the arm for three to six weeks. Pish, like that was going to happen? *snickers* It took me a day to knit with my left hand. I have no patience with being down for the count. It sucks.

New classes started yesterday. This semester is heavy on journalism, writing and getting thoughts onto paper. They are the classes you have to take in order to graduate. They have nothing to do with graphics design, nothing to do with the direction I'm headed. That aside, I think I will enjoy them, though. I love writing and putting thoughts down into words.

Now, I'm off to see what I can scrounge for lunch. Always an adventure with one hand.

from the iPad