So lets review, shall we?

Yeah. Updating the blog. Some day I will get to that. No pics this time kids, the external hard drive has crapped out and the Mini is still on the rocks.
I hope everyone in reader land (about 4-6 of you I think) had a good holiday! Mine was ok. As in ok because no one is dead. That is always wonderful. (and I mean that! I am a firm believer that no one dead = pretty damn good)
The cats forgave me for leaving 4 days . Although one is doing her damnest to prevent me from typing as I speak. Hime likes to sit on my left arm. No idea why.
Binged out on food on the holidays. That's because I'm going hard core low carb with a friend (good excuse to binge, right? I thought so!). I've gained back 15 lb from the 20 I originally lost, so I have quite a bit of backtracking to do. So far on day one I'm doing pretty good. I should be crazy in about 72 hours or so. Check back, we'll find out!
I got the 23rd through the 27th off this year. Loved. It. Headed out before the big storm hit. Became crazy cat lady and worried that the power would go out here in an ice storm and I would come home to frozen dead cats. (I probably need more medication for this. I hear kids also solve this problem, as you give a rat's ass about the cat if you are severely sleep deprived with a mobile bottomless money pit to chase after). This of course did not come to pass and the cats were just fine. Thank you cat sitter Angie.
Got to the parents to find out that Christmas was canceled. Lame. Super lame. But this in a way was very very good as I had not finished my main knitting project: my first baby sweater in about 5 years for my Goddaughter/niece Emma. (Sorry Emma, Auntie is still slow) After realizing that we would eat nothing but Christmas cookies for 3 days solid staying at home (because the original plan was to eat at others' parties), the parents and I did manage to get out to wal-mart for some last minute holiday meal supplies. Mmmmmmmm. . . . Ham. :-D
The 26th was our immediate family Christmas. That went off very well! Children were very good! Almost no blood shed! (Jason's nose is better I hear) And my favorite part was when Emrick accidentally opened Emma's present and stated to everyone "Look what Santa gave me!!! Baby pajamas!!!" (He only read as far as the Em on the name and thought it was his. Pretty funny actually)
I went back to EC Sat night only to have to get my butt up at 4:15am to pack the car to see the college girls down in Madison. On the last trip out to the car I conveniently forgot about the glaze ice on the street thanks to the new inch of snow on the ground covering it. Took out my ACL on the way down (that is a reoccurring injury. Sucks. Now I'm going to limp for another 4 weeks) But I also landed very hard on my right hand. The knee was more of the immediate issue. But when I realized I could solider on I got my butt into my car and made the 180 mile trip down. Not the most intelligent choice I could make, true, but I would miss Becky, and she now lives in Ohio.
Madison was awesome! I gimped along on my bad knee. We did get to Lazy Jane's for breakfast and to State St for shopping. So at about 5:30pm we were all getting ready to go our separate ways when I noticed that my right hand hurt. Now it didn't bug me all day. I was carrying stuff and holding things. Didn't feel a thing. I look down and my palm and wrist was all bright purple and blue. Shocked the hell out of me! I drive home and now the hand is starting to bug me. I get home by 9pm and load up on the Tylenol and go to bed.
Monday morning:

Now it really hurt. Then I realized I had a problem when I started crying while trying to type. Not good. So I had to go into the doctor. At least this time I have health insurance!! Nothing is broken. My x-ray looked really good actually. But I'm still sore and it has been 8 days. In fact typing still bugs me. Pulled all my finger tendons and the muscles in my forearm. Happy times. Got a nifty brace though! This has also slowed down my knitting progress quite extensively. Sucks. I'll find out more on Wed at the follow up dr's appointment.
Now I'm sitting here thinking "What the f*&$ happened to Christmas?!?! Its done already?" It sure seems that this one was over pretty quickly. And then reality came back with a cricket bat. My hand wasn't the worst of it. (*Hugs* Jessie)
But no one is dead. This is very very good. I'll take that!

Hope all of you (all 5 of you reading this that is) have a wonderful new year! I swear I will try to write more. Just like I swear I'm going to try and keep my house clean this year. Don't hold your breath.

Ro

Demands for New Content Received

Currently the Mini has decided it doesn't like to function. I am trying to get it up and sorta running again. Although I think I have had it with this one. Work is hell. Cats are not letting me sleep.

I swear I will write a new post with new pics as soon as I get the "rehabilitated" Mini up and going. I wish to dear God that threats of physical violence would work on computers.

So I work from home now. . . .

This is Fraggle. She's an electric blanket whooure and an impediment to my work environment. I started working from home in January. It's actually really great! But there are a couple things I've had to get use to. Things like feeling home bound. Realizing that bathing should be done more often. And you know when you've finally gotten use to working from home when you go to look for work clothes in the pajama section of the clothes store.

When I IM my Philly co-workers that I should put on clothes because I have to go somewhere, they always respond with "Oh, your working naked again?" NO. I just mean changing into outside clothes.

I really really like working at home. But because of my ADD it can be quite a challenge as well. The really good thing is that if I'm having a not so good day, I can make up work in the evening if I have to. Since I also have a one bedroom apartment, it means my computer desk is in my bedroom. Only 4 feet from my desk to bed. Midday naps kick total ass. Forgetting to set your alarm to wake up from said naps kinda really sucks though.

Since my one heat vent in my apartment is in the living room area, and I flat out refuse to use the space heater in my bedroom, I invested in an electric blanket this winter. LOVE. IT. Best thing I have bought this past winter. I'm not the only one who loves it though. This is were Fraggle (the electric blanket whooure cat) comes in.

Below is Fraggle:

When I get up in the morning I move my top two blankets with me to the desk because it is right by a window and its not too warm out yet. Back in mid winter Fraggle would be at my feet or trying to get on to my lap soon after I had fed her in the morning. Now since the sun has changed positions, she spends the mid morning sunning herself in the living room and comes in at about 11am. Fraggle is 10 years old now, so she is getting old and crochety. And I don't blame her because the electric blanket is totally awesome, but if I move and she doesn't like it she starts to let me know by meowing or sometimes even growling at me once!!

This is Hime :
Hime thinks Fraggle is a total bitch. (she is too) Fraggle won't play with Hime. In fact, Fraggle hates anything else on four legs. This is kinda strange since she was raised with 4 other cats at various times of her life. She's never gotten along with any of them. Anyways, Hime is usually looking at Fraggle like this above picture and you can almost hear her saying "Fraggle you are such a &^%$#@ whooure"

Fraggle's response?
"Bite me"
Fraggle also seems to have an issue with my speaker phone, and will come running into the room and start to yowl if I don't hold her while the phone is going. I think it might hurt her ears. I've cut down the use of the speaker function because of it. She also comes running in if I start singing. *Sigh* And she won't really get off me unless I stop singing. . . Damnit. . . .


Anyway, this is where I usually see Fraggle in the day! Either at my feet or in my arms! And when she's in my arms I usually have to work a bit later that day because it's really hard to type with 9lbs of fluff and claws in your arms. . . .


Woo, I better get to bed~! Everyone have a good week!

K so I'm a nerd/geek/dork.

http://www.helloquizzy.com/tests/the-nerd-geek-or-dork-test



I just had to share with everyone!
Enjoy!
Ro

Your result for The Nerd? Geek? or Dork? Test...

Outcast Genius

52 % Nerd, 65% Geek, 57% Dork

For The Record:



A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.

A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.

A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.



You scored better than half in all three, earning you the title of: Outcast Genius.



Outcast geniuses usually are bright enough to understand what society wants of them, and they just don't care! They are highly intelligent and passionate about the things they know are *truly* important in the world. Typically, this does not include sports, cars or make-up, but it can on occassion (and if it does then they know more than all of their friends combined in that subject).



Outcast geniuses can be very lonely, due to their being outcast from most normal groups and too smart for the room among many other types of dorks and geeks, but they can also be the types to eventually rule the world, ala Bill Gates, the prototypical Outcast Genius.



Congratulations!

New Puter and I can put up pictures now!!!

I got an HP Mini last friday :D YAY!!!! My first "real" computer that I own. Its such a cute tiny thing!! Here's a picture for ya'll (thanks for the pose Jessie)

The pictures on this blog never go to where I want them so if a pictuer seems to be at the top and not make sense I'm sorry :P
Knitting pictures~! Here are the winter mittens I made out of Noro sock yarn. It has been really really cold as most of you know, and these are great for under other mittens.
Anywoo, what am I working on now? Oh God. . . 3 sets of mittens two shawls I have to start a baby sweater for a new neice coming in July, two pairs of socks in the works for me, one for my mom, one for Jessie, Oh lordy the list goes on. Here is a picture of one of the sets for me. They are Koigu socks I got at the dog, and I'm going to put claudia handpaints (grape jelly color) as the heals and toes. I have big feet (size 11 to 12 womens) so I need three balls of koigu to make a decent pair. Gets expesive.

Well, I'm starving. I'm going to go dig for food in the kitchen. OH!!! And my friend Gracii is coming up tomorrow :D I can't wait!

Ro

First Business Trip Ever!!!

Yes, that's right! I'm flying out to Ft. Washington PA next Tuesday for my first ever business trip! I have to say my co-workers over there are wonderful, and I can't wait to meet them! We talk every single day over the phone and usually IM as well.
Then on Friday night Stacey is coming down from New Haven to spend Friday night and Saturday with me! YAY! *does happy dance*

I'm also getting my new work computer while I'm in PA, and my new work phone. When I come back I will start the set up to work from home. Anywhoo, back to work. Hopefully I can get some pictures up after next week of my trip!

Hi! I got a job!

So. . . . after a very very very veeeeerry vvverreeererery long struggle with permanent employment. I. Have. A. Job.

Job people!!!! We're talking 401k. We're talking health insurance!! We're talking vacation time. PAID vacation time. We're talking I'm still hourly and going to be making oodles of OT (for now). We're talking that I CAN SUPPORT MY FIBER HABIT!!!!

I've also moved. From big to small and I can't be more happy! Only bummer thing is that the downstairs guy smokes and it comes up the vent. (He's not suppose to smoke. I don't understand why he thinks I will not notice!) So most of the yarn is staying in the Rubbermaid bins until I get a good air purifier.

I will have pictures up soon when I can. I have several things on the needles, but it might take a while. I'm really busy with work. This is the "crazy" time of the year for what I do (I've been doing it since last Dec).

In fact I have to get back to work :( But there you are! Positive news. Been a long time comin' people!

Still not a knitting post, but very cool

Who wants to see Stephen Hawkings sing?!?!?!!?!?!?! ME! I know this is a commercial, but I LOVE it!

YES!! We have a camera!!

I love my friend A. A rules. A gave me a camera, just because. I'm not sure that A realizes I will be using said camera to post knitting as much as I can. . . when I'm around someone else's computer. Unfortunatly, I have not had a chance to take many pictures. I also have to get a memory card for the camera, but I did take some pictures. . .

BEHOLD!!! The Hanzo Hat



A little history about the Hanzo hat. This weekend is No Brand Con in Eau Claire Wisconsin. No Brand Con is a Japanese Anime convention. At this con they play a horridly horrible movie from Japan called "Hanzo the Razor". It's a movie that was made in the 70's about a Samuri cop during the Edo period (mid 1800's). Its horrid. Its a classic. Every time I go I take some pretty clashly Noro yarn (its japanese. . . get it?!?!) and make a awful hat to go with an awful movie.
I will have more pictures later. . .because it's also my Mom's 60th birthday tomorrow and we are having a big party on Saturday. Fam pics coming up!

One last shot I have for you today is my kitty cat Fraggle.

Videos I love

I love this video. Just thought I would share!


Who can forget the Llama song? sigh



Another classic I absolutely love!



I promise I will actually write something soon!

I -swear- I'll get a camera soon!

I know this is a boring non-picture knit/emotional crap dumping blog. I have soooo many cool things I'm working on and no way to show them off unless I beg and plead a relative/friend for use of a camera. But that isn't the only stumbling block. I have no personal computer of my own. That's not as bad of a problem as no digital camera (as you can tell!) Yes, it does put a crimp in the writing time, but oh well. I also don't have an Internet connection at home either, so it's pretty amazing I get up what I do!
Christmas was fabulous, only due to the fact that I was (and currently am) still employed. How long this will last? No one really knows for sure. I am working on one major lead for a permanent job at this time, but I don't want to get my hopes up.
I also have been pretty sick and finally went to the Dr on Tuesday for a sinus infection I have been carrying around since right after Christmas. You know it's bad when I go to the Dr, since I don't have health insurance. I'm almost feeling "back to normal" as well. That's a really good thing since I need to be on my toes for the current contract I have, and the possible opportunities coming up!
Speaking of work, I better get back to it! Hope everyone has a wonderful new year!

Whack out good ol' time in Eau Claire

It's so nice to be home! I've been visiting friends, (Jaci what are you doing on Sat? I know I have yarn to pick up!) Working my tail off, (14.25 hours yesterday!) and I even made it to Knit Nite at Borders on Tuesday!! That really made my week!

Big things are afoot for the Christmas holiday! I'm finally going to finish a baby blanked that I started over 3 years ago. It's going to a very special baby named Wyatt (Wy-wy for short, I love it!) I'm hoping to get some pictures of him and (the mostly pink) blanket on the 24th. There will be many digital cameras, so i should be able to get some pictures sent to me! I really should look into getting my own camera, but that's neither here nor there at this point. Wy-wy is my cousin/sister's long awaited baby that she was finally able to conceive and have last May. Boy did all the hard work pay off too! He is one of the happiest babies I have ever seen! This is surprising only because of the extended family he comes from. . . Ah I'm not worried, the corruption should begin soon! (I'm just kidding by the way, my extended family has a wicked sense of humor and tend to be very sarcastic. This can be exacerbated by coffee and martinis/bloody marys. Christmas is almost always a riot in the Rohow household)

While I'm glad to be home, I'm also very happy to be heading back to Minnitonka to work after christmas. I like the office there much better. I like the dressing up and the protocol. I also really like the people I work with, well. . . maybe not so much the Dragon Lady when she's in one of her moods. . .

Speaking of which, I should get back to work! Break over man!

I'm going to try and write before the holiday, but in case I don't: Everyone have an excellent holiday season!

Working in Eau Clarie this week!! YAY!

Because of all the Overtime I get to do these next couple of weeks, and because of the holiday insanity, I was able to negotiate working in Eau Claire for the week!
I haven't slept in my bed for more than 4 nights in a row since june. I can actually work all the OT i'm needed to work, plus be at home with my kittys! I'm so happy! Time for a happy dance!

does happy dance
Come on you dance too!
grabs reader into pathetic yet jolly happy dance

I'm just happy to be home for a while. I'm calling it my "business anti-trip" since to work at a different office, I actually have to travel 99 miles less than if I were to go in to my regular office.
Don't get me wrong, I love working in Minnetonka. And after Christmas I will go back working there. There is more opportunity, and I know I work better with my supervisor when we are face to face rather than a conference call and web conference. Lots of work to do though. . . I better get going on it!

Ooooh. . . . I'm so excitied to be able to hang out at "the dog" this week!!

Last Minute Save!

I'm back in Minnetonka! Started a new contract job today! I was basically hired in 5 hours. . . that's the fastest I've ever been brought on! Now they just have to tell me what to do. . . Whoops! Gotta go!
More later!

Farewell to thee, Minnetonka?

I found out this past Monday that today is my final day here in Minnetonka. The project was winding down anyway, and my on-site boss is taking a new position in a different department. I've informed my temp company, but of course its going to take a couple of weeks to get hired somewhere else. Lo and behold! The admin assistant that sits just around the corner from me, she needs temp workers asap! So I happen to mention my last day is today and I am looking for any work right now. I also have the added benefit of being in this company's system! I have log-ins and e-mail/IM addresses and access. I even have my own extension and a desk, a computer already set up too! They are seriously considering me!!! My current boss gave me a glowing review and told the admin assistant I could run circles around the two temps they already have for this contract. I <3 my boss. She tried so hard to get me hired permanently!! This new contract would not be permanent, nor long term, but it is much much better than unemployment for 2 weeks to 3 months!! I should find out something by next week. :-D

Oh, and Dixie you are so lucky I found out Monday about my position ending instead of last Friday or I wouldn't have bought all that yarn in one sitting! :P But I'm already about 1/3 way done with my mom's first sock!

The Good, The Bad, and The Cripple

So, I've really done it this time. But I will get to that in a moment! PICTURES!!: Like I promised for Halloween, I have a couple. I'm waiting for a couple more and I will post them when I get them.

Here I am with my nephews Emerick and PJ. Emerick went as Boba Fett, and PJ is Yoda.



And here I am in my Renaissance costume pulling the wagon!



That was the good, here comes The Bad: I am once again SOL on my job. It will not become permanent, and I have no idea how much longer I have. Because of this I have put myself back up on the job market. It just really sucks because I like what I'm doing, but there isn't much work to be done these days.

The Cripple: *Sigh* I missed a couple of steps on Sunday the 11th and landed wrong on my right knee. I went down like a tree. I previously severely injured my right knee last July, and it took months to get it close to "normal" again. I'm back in a full knee immobilizing brace, and cannot stand on it for long. I can't believe I did this!! I'm looking at months of wearing a brace, not being able to stand or rough-house with the kids, or even doing simple things like carry laundry up from the basement!!! At least I didn't sprain my ankle this time around, but it still sucks something huge.

I better go, gotta get back to work!

Starting to feel a bit better

Its been a rough couple of weeks! I will get into that more tomorrow. Yess, I'm gonna try writing tomorrow too.

Tomorrow I get to to trick or treating with my seestor's boys for the first time! Yay!! *claps!*

Emrick is going as Boba Fett, and PJ is going as . . . . wait, get this: Yoda! He's SOOO cute as yoda too! The Yoda costume comes with a little soft had with Yoda ears and a wrinkly forehead. I do have a scary picture of me wearing said hat. . . . But it is disturbing:

I'm done and I won!!

Very very good day yesterday and today!
First off: I FINISHED THE WEDDING SHAWL!
*does obnoxious happy dance!*

Ok ok! I found the pattern here for a Pinecone shawl And I used less than 1000 yards of silk lace weight from Claudia's handpaints on a size 3 needles. . . and I almost went CRAZY. (I'm knitting the shawl in my profile picture)

I'm going to try and get pictures tonight, that's when I'm blocking it. It's going to be all ready to go for Saturday's wedding! Only thing is that I wish I would have made it slightly larger. The bride is very tall and willowly and I would have liked a deeper point. (longer point?) But my mental health wasn't worth it. And I don't think I would have gotten it done in time.

And I'm also getting sock yarn from Jaci!! Check out her blog at Confessions of a Knitting Diva (not like your going to get a ton of hits from my site, Jaci. :-D ) So now I can go back to working on everything else people want me to make for them. . . Keep wishing guys! Who knows when I will finish something else. Oh, wait. . . I also finished a hat for my nephew Wyatt from Shelly's quilt stich pattern hat. I will try and get a picture of that too. . . with him wearing it! He's so cute! So I guess I can't say that I don't finish anything. . . I just don't finish much!
Like that Print-O-the waves stole I put on hold to finish this shawl, I think that's next on the finishing list.

Cheers!

Another car accident

This time I'm the one who hit someone. Darn it!!! I rear-ended a 2007 Infinity with my good 'ol Buick yesterday at about 6:30am when I was trying to get from 94 east bound to 494 south bound in Woodbury, MN. They stopped really fast. I couldn't. My car stalled as soon as I hit them and I had to push my car witht the help of the other driver to the sholder past the bridge we were under. My airbag didn't go off, so I must not have been going that fast. I smashed their back bumper all up, and I do feel really bad because the guy I hit had two other car-poolers with him and we had to wait for an hour for the state patrol to get to us. . . . even though the nearest weight station is less than 7 miles away and we were causing a traffic jam on one of the busiest intersections in the cities. . . .

After the trooper arrived and left, I got to wait for the tow truck. That was another 40 minutes. Then the tow truck had to pick up another van and drop it off before he could tow me alllll the way back to New Richmond. I got home at 11 am.

Funny thing is. . . my car is running just fine. (knock on lots and lots-o-wood) I only have a bend license plate in the front of my car. I waited to start it at home just in case the engine stalled again. I am sooooooo lucky. Now I just have to wait and see how much my insurance goes up. This is only my second accident that I have caused. (I backed into someone 10 years ago. . . )

Now I get to see if I can learn from my mistakes and quit driving like an idiot!

Weight Watches and stuff. . .

So. My Mom is a lifetimer at weight watchers. She has dropped about 60 lbs over the past several years. Me? I could stand to loose about . . . well let's be brutally honest here, about 100 lbs. I spend 2 nights a week at my parents house now while I'm working in Minnetonka, and WW night just happens to be one of the nights I stay over. Mom hasn't gone for a while, but she has been wanting to start up again. So I went with. I know I need to do it. This is of course different than wanting to do this, but if I wait until I want to do this it could be too late in regards to some health issues. I'm so picky about my food that I don't like the idea of lists showing "good" foods and limiting portions. But I also know enough that food should not be a comfort, and that's what I use it for. (Like most other people who like to eat!!)

Le Sigh. It will probably do me a lot of good though. I have recorded my eating habits in the past, I'm not really afraid to do it. I'm afraid of the system they use. I don't like limits(aka the point system and core foods system). I'm also aware that I don't eat consistently enough through out the day, I usually have a huge meal towards the end of the day and don't eat much in the morning or early afternoon. But I do like making detailed lists and being anal retentive and sticking to a pattern! In this way I think I will do very well on the program. I also really like the support system.

Now on the knitting front. After reaching 361 stitches per row, I have finally started working on the edging on the wedding shawl!! HOORAY! I have 16 days to finish and block the f*#ker. Then I. Will. Be. Done.

Then back to socks! Just in time for Socktoberfest!!