my baby done left me...

I was going to leave you with some bad blues-y lyrics here, but you likely know that eb surely didn't leave-leave me. No, she is with T in Syracuse checking things out. In a college town. On a Saturday night. With her 18 yo son. Hmmmm...I bet they are sleeping.

EB will not be back until Wednesday, and I have no earthly idea what time. I took the liberty of doing a little retail therapy to deal with my loss. I even did it on Friday morning before she was gone. She didn't leave until some ungodly hour today. But I knew my grieving would be severe. I went to the Texas Weaver's Conference. Any guesses as to what Texas weavers weave with?

I had done some side hair on Monday, so I had some cash on hand, and I was a very good grrl in that I used only my cash on hand. No credit cards, though every vendor assured me a credit card was no problem. Yuppers. I was very good. Only used my csh. All. Of. It.

I was showing the booty make that loot to deter a trip to the gutter, to Irene this morning over breakfast, and she agrees I will be knitting up some mighty fine things with all my new pretties.. I got some loopy stuff, some pretty and soft mohair, some cotton, some handpainted wool...lots-o-pretties. Maybe I will snap a pic in the morning.

And it will all fit into the bins I have without necessitating a trip to Targay for more.

I think that means I was very, very good. woo.

bird season

Nola just had the first baby bird of the season completely in her mouth. That means I just had the first mama bird of the season in my hair.

She dropped it on command, she is such a good girl, and for the first time, Lilli Munster got a little taste of baby bird. What a tag team.

Birds are all fine and recovered. Me? Not so much.

Charming.

Into the washer she goes

I felted the Dancing Grrls Bag this morning. I need to let it dry some and give it a shave, and maybe it still needs another trip through the washer. One can never be certain about such things. I think I like it, maybe. It will be an awesome knitting bag of nothing else, and there is still a lot of finishing to be done on it.

After two trips through the wash, the bag has shrunk from roughly 16X16 inches to 15X13 which is close to the suggested pattern post felting measurement of 13 high and 16 wide. Maybe no more washer time for this beauty.

It still needs 5 rounds of crochet around the top which will take away the slight waviness, and then a twisted strand drawstring. Also it will need a six stitch i-cord strap which is sewn on with metal rings. I might modify that part somehow. Or I might not. It depends on what I think of it after I get the crocheted edging done.

This bag also calls for little dolls to be buttoned on and I am definitely ommiting them as I think they are a bit unseemly. Overkill if you will. Just a little *too* folkish for me.

On another note, I have an interview for a potential salon manager opening. It is not a definite opening yet, and it might lead nowhere, but it is an interview. This means a little shopping is in order, so eb will not be out to play on Sunday until later in the day. Her assistance is required. Cross something, please.

Dancing grrls bag

Dancing grrls bag
Originally uploaded by queenmaxine.

The pattern is from Berroco in Ultra Alpaca and they call it the Doll Bag. I used six colors instead of eight and I used different colors than suggested. Pre-felting my bag measures about 16 inches square.

There are more pics up on Flickr, a detailed shot of each ro. Even the chart I totally fucked up. It's the charm of the handknit, says I.

The next step is to felt this in the washing machine. Cross something for me.

so gay scarf

so gay scarf
Originally uploaded by queenmaxine.

It's just so gay. Really. And it will be in the mail tomorrow.

ahhhhhh...

TtheLBJ(tm) that neither of the primo jackasses work on Friday.

no more being nice to jackasses

That title was what I said to one of my favored coworkers as I was leaving work tonight. No. More. Being. Nice. To. JACKASSES!!!

One of my coworkers is such a jackass(okay, really there are 2 total jackasses and 3 who are jackasses just 50% of the time). Could you tell? I have strong obstacles in dealing with her and she is definitely vying for the top of my challengeswithjackasses list.

So the favored coworker has a problem with the way she was booked this evening. The chi would not be good as it was set, so we did a little juggling. I first called client A, none other than eb, and asked her to come earlier. Then I called client B and asked her to come a little later. No problem. Then, Client C was 30 minutes late, yes, arriving at almost the same time as client B who was coming later.

So the favored coworker does part of client C's service, not what she was booked for, but favored coworker is good at adding on extra services and then juggling them in with everyone involved remaining happy. As she finished up a wax for client C, client B arrives. During the wax, she learns that client C would also like a hilite. Also, not the haircut she was booked for.

Rather than say no to one of her clients, she asked her if she would mind if the jackass did her as she had no client booked this evevning. (Everyone, no matter how much of a jackass, should be booked this close to Easter. It's a fact of salon life that is often hell for us little old receptionists.)

Client C said that would be fine as long as the favored coworker was doing the cutting.

So favored coworker talks to jackass who readily agrees, because not only is she a jackass, but she is a greedy jackass. Also, a whineyass jackass. The whole time she was getting it together to do the hilite for client C, she was whining about why should she do only the hilite? Why did favored coworker get the wax and cut?
i
You see, greedy whineyass jackass contends that I give all the walkins to favored coworker (I don't) and if I had given client C to her to begin with, she would be doing all 3 services. Jackass also has a hearing problem, well, a listening problem, because favored coworker had clearly stated this was her regular client.

Client C comes up to pay and was apparently upset. Maybe she just wanted to be out of the salon, but when she saw her total she was genuinely shocked. I asked her if jackass neglected to discuss the price with her and she said yes. So egomaniacal receptionist that I am, I used the power bestowed on me by the boss lady, and I cut her ticket, no questions asked. I have had this problem with jackass padding her tickets before and the ticket has a spot for the stylist to specifically go over all charges and list the total fee for the client to initial, It's sort of required script that most stylists ignore, but when I know it is an issue, I tell the boss lady and she reviews it with the stylist personally to avoid future issues.

She also felt that jackass delayed in getting to her and when she sees her hair in the daylight tomorrow, she will not be seeing much hilite, so that will be an issue for another day.

Then, she asked who was working the desk this morning (not me) and told me she specifically said she could not make 630, it would definitely be 7, and if she had been properly booked, no magnificant shuffling would have been required.

Client C was satisfied and jackass loses commission. I can't wait til tomorrow to chat with the boss lady.

Harvest Moon

For the last three days, I have had Harvest Moon by who? Yes, Neil Young, that's right, I have had it on repeat in my car cd player. Everywhere I have gone, I have been feeling the island breeze. It is such a soothing and beautiful love song. By Neil Young. Who'da thunk it?

"Harvest Moon"

Come a little bit closer
Hear what I have to say
Just like children sleepin'
We could dream this night away.

But there's a full moon risin'
Let's go dancin' in the light
We know where the music's playin'
Let's go out and feel the night.

Because I'm still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I'm still in love with you
On this harvest moon.

When we were strangers
I watched you from afar
When we were lovers
I loved you with all my heart.

But now it's gettin' late
And the moon is climbin' high
I want to celebrate
See it shinin' in your eye.

Because I'm still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I'm still in love with you
On this harvest moon.

I feel for you...

I went to Galveston this morning and had a sit-down on the beach. It was a nice way to recharge and refresh my soul if you follow. On the way down, I listened to Neil Young. I have to admit I listen to that cd far more than I thought I would, and I think for the most part, I have not been dreaming Neil Young since buying it.

On the way back I listened to Chaka Khan and Prince. Prince has two greatest hits cd, and I was listening to what I think is the second one, the naughty one if you will. The following are the lyrics to "Do Me" and if you do not already own a copy you should go directly and download it from iTunes. Then play it really loud for your lovergrrl.

Do Me by Prince
Here we are in this big old empty room, staring each other down
U want me just as much as I want U, let's stop fooling around
Take me baby... kiss me all over... play with my love
Bring out what's been in me for far too long
Baby, u know that's all I've been dreaming of
Do Me Baby, like u never done before
Give it to me till I just can't take no more
Do Me Baby, like u never done before
I want u now, I just can't wait no more, can't wait...

Here we are looking for a reason for u to lay me down
For a love like ours is never out of season, so baby please stop teasing me
what ya do, I can never love no other, u're the best I ever had
Whenever we're not close to one another, I just want u so bad

So Do Me Baby, like u never done before
Give it to me till I just can't take no more
C'mon, Do Me Baby, like u never done before
I want u now, I just can't wait no more

I said ooo...ooo...oooo...ooooooo
Do Me Baby, Do Me Baby, give it to me
Do Me Baby, I want u now
Do Me Baby, give it to me
Do Me Baby, Do Me baby, don't wanna do it all alone
I want your love.
Do Me Baby, give it to me
Do Me Baby, This feeling is too strong, make me wait 2 long, I want u now



Now go drink some tea!!

Knit for Peace

knit for peace close-up
Originally uploaded by queenmaxine.

Today was/is Knit for Peace day. i think the idea is something more focused on producing a statement sort of piece of work, but I heard about it just a few days ago, and in that time, I could not really organize something statementish. So I decided to go to the Rothko Chapel and do some Mindful Knitting.

I was at the Rothko from 4-6 this afternoon and I worked on this wrap I am making. I bought the pattern and the yarn at Tara Jon Manning's Mindful Knitting retreat in Vermont last weekend(2 weekends ago? impossible!) I did 17 rows in that time, about 2 inches, which translates to 1,462 stitches for peace.

The yarn and pattern are by Margaret Klein Wilson whose company is Mostly Merino. I would link her as well, but her site isn't quite done yet. Her product is unbelievable. I amusing Mostly Merino Singles which is Light Sport/Fingering weight. 2 oz = 250 yards. 77% Merino
& Corriedale Wool and 23 % Mohair. The color is Cinnabar.

Divine.

undertaker dude

undertaker dude
Originally uploaded by queenmaxine.

Three young boys followed William to the door and watched him. One came back to where his family was waiting in the bar very excited. There is a totally cool undertaker dude.

At this, his father went to the door pasing the other two boys on the way. He asked one to point out the undertaker dude as he was intrigued. The boy passed by saying "Can't miss him."

True that.

Then the father just came back to the bar saying there really was an undertaker dude.

Virgin Snow

Virgin Snow
Originally uploaded by queenmaxine.

How I totally resisted buying this I am not sure.

yarn and more yarn

yarn and more yarn
Originally uploaded by queenmaxine.

A thing of beauty

A thing of beauty
Originally uploaded by queenmaxine.

Is it not the cutest thing? I was very skeptical at first learning to knit in the round continental. Then I was on overload as Tara told us we would now be knitting two handed stranded. I got it. And I like it. Now to do it again on my own.

Let the sun shine...

Let the sun shine...
Originally uploaded by queenmaxine.

Lot's and lots of snow in Vermont. Highland Lodge offers 60 miles of cross country skiing and one of the employees said this last weekend of the season was absolutely the best snow all winter.

Let the vacation recap begin

dinner
Originally uploaded by queenmaxine.

William told me to call him when I checked into the Lake Placid Hilton so he could get dinner in the oven. He said it would be about half an hour after that he would see me, be hungry.

Me: Do I need to come to your place?
W: No, I am cooking at work and I will bring it to your room.
Me: Sweet!

He should have said be *very* hungry!

Knaked Knitting

I hope the neighbors enjoyed my hour of knaked knitting as much as I did this morning.

And I'm Home

I flew out of Albany yesterday and had a stop over in Cincinati where my connection was delayed due to a weather ground stop in Houston. I was supposed to arrive at 6:20 and I actually arrived close to 9. Not too bad because I could knit while I was waiting, but I was ready to be home in my babygrrl's arms.

Once in the air, the flight attendant, who I would wager was somewhat older than me, and hetero, was doing the pass with crackers, cookies, and beverages. There were peanutbutter crackers, cheese and crackers, and Biscoff cookies. I covet the cookies at all times so it was a no-brainer.

Me: Biscoff, please. Can I have two? They really are the closest thing to heaven I can believe in.
FA: Sure, sweetie, I'm wearing a few pounds of them myself. (She coyly said as her ample bosom was right in my face causing my eyes to zoom into an obvious stare)
Me: (very casually, not missing a beat) And you wear them so well...
FA: (slightly flushed, likely wanting to say my eyes are up here) Thanks (I think).

Those cookies were delish. Expanses of snow and knitting pics coming soon. Really.

Mostly packed.

Does that mean I am ready to go? No. It means yesterday was almost a slug day, and I shipped home some dirty clothes, books, and jars of crap I bought so my suitcase would not be to stuffed or overweight. There was a plan. I am sitting here today hoping I don't need any of the dirty clothes before Tuesday, their scheduled arrival in Houston.

So I still have to deal with the piddly crap. When I am packing for home, I always take a sort of inventory and try to appreciate stuff I brought but did not really need so that next time, I might pack lighter. When we doe a 4 or 5 day long weekend, I find this much easier. When I am gone for a week or more, this becomes more a challenge.

In an hour, I must be off to the airport, so time to get my ass in gear.

Oh, the irony...

Since leaving the house early yesterday morning, I knew I was forgetting something. Camera? Nope. Knitting stuff? Unuh. Directions, confirmations? Got 'em. Sneakers, socks, sweaters? All packed...

The list can go on and on, and it won't change the fact that the cute fuzzy and warm felted mittens I made with my own hands, the matching scarf, and various other warm cuddly scarves, are all sitting in the closet at home. As soon as I walked out of the airport into the cold with my neck exposed, I knew. It is just wrong. Woe, is me.

I am off in a moment to run down the street to the yarn store, yes, if it wasn't something close to zero degrees, it is close enough for a stroll, and buy some super chunky yarn that will be a scarf before bedtime tonight. Motherfucker.