StrungOut

Missing Mojo

One thing you probably don’t know about me is I have drive. But When I lose my mojo it gets ugly around here. I may not be sure of all of the ingredients of my mojo but I do know one key ingredient, at least for me. That my friends is EXERCISE! I’ve always been active. When I’m not everything just goes down hill. I stop taking care of myself… No Manies, Pedies, Facials… Not to mention my body spreads and my ass sags. Trust me it’s an UGLY visual. No mojo = depression and no drive, not to mention crankiness. In other words Sparky loses her Spark. That’s where I find myself today. I don’t know why I do this to myself. Meaning this isn’t the first time I’ve fallen off the workout wagon. Angry Santa is definitely a contributing factor. But I’m an adult and I take full responsibility for my lack of actions. I’m changing things around NOW. I started with my face. Ladies microdermabrasion aka a

Power peel ROCKS. I have them done at Ole Hendricksen . My dermatologist also does them, so look around. They’re the best $150.00 you can spend on your face, once a month. Your skin will look younger, brighter… (Ole's Products are fab as well, I’m a convert.) A must for any holiday parties. But the power peel should be done a couple days before as with any facial. Friday, (hopefully I’ll have time) is my tootsie day. Then hopefully next week I plan to restart my workouts. Which used to be 2 hours 4x aweek and an additional 2 hours (an hour per visit) with a trainer.

No wonder I had an Ex tell me “ I don’t know what you’re doing...But you now have the ass of a 14 yr old, so keep doing it.” He's a musician (guitar player) I told ya I'm SUCKER for musicians.Checking out 14 yr old girls. GROSS especially at his age. But you know I loved to hear him say those words and NOTHING makes a girl feel better than knowing he wants you and knowing he ain't getting any of that ass EVER !  I got the trainer after the break up (he left me for some psycho, who ended up committing suicide. Long story). SQUATS ladies they’re painful but they pay off big time. I’m going to start with cardio and after a couple of weeks I’ll call my old trainer. Trust me you’ll hear me whimpering in pain.

I belong to a beautiful gym. Hey I was a member of my YMCA for years. But they stopped taking care of the equipment. Before that I had a membership at another gym but it was crowded with posers. What I’m saying is I don’t go to a gym because of  it’s looks, I go there to work out.When people pay $$$ every month to a gym they workout!! Girls don’t hang on the equipment like ornaments. Plus the equipment is repaired or replaced pronto if there’s a problem. (Listen to me I haven’t set foot in that place for…. never mind how long) 

Fuck it’s expensive to get old, see middle age coming. Ooo, that reminds me, I need to start loading music for my xmas iPod. I can’t workout without my favorite rock n roll streaming through the headset. For now my old tired Walkman will suffice.

If anybody out in blogland wants to go hiking up in the hills... Let me know

Presents and the Bizarre

If anyone needs a REALLY FAST knitted present. I highly recommend the Basic Hat Pattern from the Stitch Café. I knitted this bad boy while watching a movie (Big Fish).I had to have Angry Santa try it on, it’s a smidge big. But nothing a warm washing won't remedy. I can tell she liked it and didn’t want to let me know (teenagers). The sizing is my fault, I thought it would look better with more ribbing.

It only took 1 ball of the Turquois Print 127.

Of course I bought 2 balls just in case, so I’m going to knit a hat for me in a different pattern, after the holidays.

Now I can work on my second sock. When it’s done I’ll be starting another pair. (I like knitting socks.) Although I haven’t chosen the pattern yet. You can see I’ve wound the yarn.

Doesn't it just scream SPRING TIME.

I’m pretty sure the pattern will come from the book  Sensational Knitted Socks

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File this under Bizzare. Yesterday I had the strangest thing happen. I got a call from a guy with the EXACT same name as someone else I know. It was confirmed by caller ID. That’s not the weirdest part. The weirdest part is both of these guys were referred to me by the same person and she didn’t catch it. Don’t ask me how you miss something like that.

No these are not blind dates. These referrals have to do with work. How many of you know 2 people with the same first and last name. Technically you can say they both live in the same city, Los Angeles. One lives in Hollywood and the other lives in W. Hlwd. This new guy told me he actually used to get the other guy's mail.. How weird is that?!?!?

Til we meet again

You made millions laugh and taught them much if they were smart enough to listen.

When we meet again I bet you’ll be teaching me how to ride that unicycle.

My Body ain’t no temple today

Here it is 15, that’s right  boys and girls, ONLY 15 days until Christmas and I am stuck in the house!! Not by choice either. I’m allergic to basically oh, EVERYTHING! Last night I broke out in hives, no they were HUGE WELTS. They were all over my chest and back. So I loaded up on  Allergra and went to bed. I wake-up this morning and I'm  fine. After about an hour my thighs are itching, so are my palms, Yep they’re back and spreading. I was going to post photos but no one really needs to see that, now do they?!?! I can’t go get my tree, clean (I’m allergic to dust)…

But I can SHOP and let me tell you Knit happens is having a SALE on Blue Sky Alpaca yarns.

I bought out the Alpaca Silk in Plum. So get to clicking on the link. I may go back for more.

While I’m on the fiber/knitting front, I’ve finished my 2 pairs of gauntlets, see..

Here they are in Charcoal Brickett

and.............

Here they are in Cooked Charcoal.

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Yeah, for me I completed my first knit along!!!! The last to join, but not the last to finish!!! I love this pattern, easy, yet interesting. It’s the first pattern that I’ve been able to knit myself, with no help.

They fit perfect.

Since I'm house bound, I'll probably finish my second sock.

I’ve already done the heel. For some reason I had more trouble knitting my second sock than the first. Which I know doesn’t make any sense, but that’s me.

Too much going on

Just a quick post to show off my goodies that came in the mail! Let’s start with the books, shall we

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I’ve already loaned out Alterknits, I should get it back to night at Knit Night.

I was trying to finish my 2 pairs of gauntlets and guess what!?!?!?  I ran out of yarn. So yesterday I covered a good portion of So. Cal. When I found myself in the Lake Hollywood area (yes there really is a lake). Burbank is just a hop, skip & jump. So off to Unwind I went, only to find out that they don’t carry Zara. BUT, on the bright side, they still have yarn 50% OFF from the sale I missed. So I came home with this.....

It’s Silk! The BEST part, ONLY $4.00 a hank. I’ll be making a stripped something. Unfortunately there wasn’t enough green so I bought peach to make up the difference.

In other news…. It only took 24 years but soon Eddie Van Halen will soon be a single man. The papers have been filed.

He’s the only musician that I have met that I couldn’t speak to.(I've met and hung out with many famous musicians) I never believed I could be star struck but he’s my dirty little secret. A story for another time. Wine will have to be involved (lots). EVH Rocks my world or did when he was young. I haven’t seen him lately and he’s got more than a decade on me.

The things I'd do to that man right there.

Let's just say...He'd be wearing a great BIG smile and nothing else.

Here Knitty, Knitty

YEAH!!! The new Knitty is out. It’s FAB-U-LO-SO. There’s a ton of things I want to knit. Now all I need is a ton (o.k. 2 tons) of time. With the Grand Daddy of all holidays coming up who couldn’t use some extra time?

I'm sorry did someone ask me what this is? It's something I forgot to disclose on my last post. There's no translation necessary is there?

Everyone sees my daughter’s hat made out of the Print 127 and the scarf made out of the Sari yarn, right? The scarf is for me, unless I’m a present short (God Forbid). I came home early to meet the UPS man (of course he'll show up tomorrow when I'm not here). He should be bringing me my (much needed) wine shipment. Last month’s shipment has all (2 bottles) been drunk. No, I don't need an AA intervention. One bottle was taken to a party.

Not to mention the postman is expected to leave me yarn & books. Hey I know I was good this year (video iPod still mine). Which explains my $364.50 Neiman Marcus order I placed. No it wasn’t for a Prada wallet (maybe next time).

The sad part is it was for silverware. And it was on SALE. I have NEVER had a complete set of matching flatware, forget a nice set. So I figured I deserve it. December 13^th is the expected arrival date. Hopefully I'll be posting pictures of my loot tomorrow. Now I'm off to work on my guantlets. I may have to make yet a third pair.

Only in Hollywood

Well, I missed the 2 big yarn sales (SHIT!!!), Yarn Lady’s bag sale and Unwind had a 50% off sale. I also missed a private Quick Silver employee only sale, Sorry Yen. I had to work, sorta of… Gather round kiddies I have a tale to tell. I have a friend  (actually I have several) that has a movie company, who doesn’t in Hollywood. Well, he had to go out of town this weekend. I take his dogs hiking up Bronson Canyon sometimes, so I don’t have to go alone. It’s a great workout and my dog is too old ( he’s 14 ½  years old). Anyway schedules change and a scene had to be shot at the dogs house Saturday.   Problem!?!? The dogs don’t like just anyone. Multiply that by a film crew=DISASTER.

So my day begins when it's still pitch black outside (5:30am).The crew was to arrive @ 6:00am, which they did. I took this about 6:30am. The Hollywood Hills are fucking cold, but very beautiful and extremely quiet at this time on a Saturday morning. This was taken from the roof/patio.

The best thing, I had my own PA. She actually brought me coffee @ 6:00am. Only in Hollywood can a pet nanny have her own Personal Assistant (You're the best Vie). Since I know the house intimately I was the go to gal. The boss also left instructions that if I wanted to leave, production was to cease so cars could be moved so me and the dogs could go hiking. (Which we did.) Talk about star treatment.

Guess who's ready for her close up???

Now you know why I haven’t been doing much knitting this week. This all started on Thursday night. Getting the "set" ready. However during the shoot I had time to order some sock yarn. A dismal replacement for missing 2 huge fiber sales and I made a gift tags. I’ve only printed 2 but I've made about 5 different ones. So with out further adieu...

Cool huh!!! I really can't Thank Dave Daniels’ Cabin Cove enough. He's so nice, he made me my first gift tag and then I caught on and went wild. I am now going to finish printing the rest of these bad girls. More Pictures to follow I'm sure.

When did this day end you ask???

Why @ 10:00pm like all normal work days. Please don't ask what time I went to bed.

Can you believe I was this close (literally up, way up the street) to the Black Sheep Knittery and I didn’t have time to stop in.  I will get to that yarn store before 2006 ends. I swear!

Naughty or Nice

I LOVE the holidays. Usually I’m done with my shopping by October 1^st       at the absolute latest because I HATE the crowds.Well, as we all know my daughter has been an angry Santa lately. Hence I haven’t been in the mood to buy her diddley do. The other day I went to Costco to renew my membership. I just happen to quietly ask “Hey, do you have any iPods?”   “Why yes, we just got in the new ones.” In a hushed voice “ There’s only 12”.Needless to say I came home with the best present a teenager could get.

My darling daughter not having a clue, yet thinking she knows everything, once again had the attitude of a big smelly TURD. So I’ve decided to keep the video iPod for myself. (I was going to return it.) She’s going to have the smallest Christmas on record. Sucks to be her. (I'm looking for lumps of coal.)

On another musical note, I stumbled across some great knitting music. I listen to a wide variety of music. There’s always music on in this house. One day I was in my LYS and I heard a female voice I didn’t recognize. So I inquired about it and was told it was Eva Cassidy.

The sad news is she died a few years ago and she was only 33 of malignant melanoma (Girl had some pipes).

I’ve found her CD’s used (about $8.00) on Amazon.com.  I usually buy new cds or get them from cd baby ( great site for indie music). So the artist gets paid. But since She has passed, you don’t know who’s getting paid.

I have 3 of her CDs which are all good. I’d say my favorite so far is SongBird, But Live At Blues alley isn’t far off. Her Music and a glass of wine makes for a relaxing night of knitting.