Little Things

This morning I was standing on the bus completely absorbed in recapping a meeting that didn't go very well in my head. I'm pretty sure I had a huge scowl on my face, because that's my typical bus face. Someone got up and I sat down in their seat just as the woman next to my nudged me and with a huge smile on her face said, "What a beautiful ring!" nodding to my engagement ring. It was like someone turned on the sun. It's amazing how with a few words of kindness and a smile your mood can turn from gray to pink.

Here's to more pink days...

72 - 69

And it feels SO SWEET!

I might have been a wee bit too vocal during the UT game because Mew was getting a little freaked...

Too Many Humps on My Hump Day

I'm having trouble conquering the obstacles on my Wednesday. Still, I take comfort in the little things like when I look to the left I see:

Sweepy Mew

And right:

Dweaming Bear (yes that pumpkin's from October, DON'T JUDGE ME!)

They can't cuddle together, that would be unheard of. They like to flank you and then conquer you with cuteness!!

Yesterday and today I've been thinking of what inspires people, artwork, peers, music, teh internets... I find work life to be less than inspiring. It physically hurts when I go out to lunch and find myself with co-workers saying, "I never go to the art museum. My teacher in high school showed me a painting of a mountain and asked me what I thought it represented. What? It's just a mountain!" sigh. And so I asked, "So if you went west to Colorado and you saw the mountains would you think, 'eh, they're just mountains!'?" Everyone laughed, but I was being serious. Maybe a bit too serious for a co-worker lunch, I admit.

Monday Joe and I went out to The Filthy Libertine, a semi-recently re-opened gastro-pub down on Clybourn. Gastro pub because the food is classy, but not over priced and the drink selection is prime. I recommend the gnocchi with pork belly and the beignets. Anyway, Joe used to work with a couple of people that now work over there. Monday nights they have guest chefs come to bartend, and this Monday, it was ::swooooooon:: Dale! Yes, Dale! If you'll remember, I'm a huge fan of Dale. So you ask, did you get pictures? HA! Do you know me AT ALL?? How could I pass up an opportunity to totally humiliate myself even after I spilled my drink all over my lap?? That's right, Dale made me a specialty cocktail and delivered it himself and I spilled it all. over. my. lap. And then he made me another one. That one went down the hatch.

Later, Joe bought Dale a shot and he was nice enough to give us some good conversation. That's not Stan, that's Dale, I promise. Do not be misled by the shirt. No, really, NOT STAN. Maybe I should photoshop that out because you look confused. DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT STAN. IF YOU ARE A FRIEND OF STAN, I CANNOT TELL YOU WHERE STAN IS OR THE LOCATION OF HIS SHIRT. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT FOR ANY INFORMATION RELATING TO STAN. THANK YOU.

The following captions by Joe: "This is Joe getting shitfaced with Dale
This is Joe puking into Dale's underpants
This is Dale cleaning Joe's puke out of Dale's underpants
This is me hugging Dale"
Some pictures may have been removed due to adult content.

The whole experience left me wishing I could see the same sort of passion in someone in my own field. I was, and still am, a bit jealous. I mean, Joe got to meet a guy that inspires those around him with his artwork, his creations, all the while taking some shots and eating some amazing food? I feel so cheated! Why can't Engineers put something together of this caliber? There's really no reason why we can't.

What's That Noise?

Shh... Do you hear that? That's the sound of Kentucky fans crying. As my friend Lee said, "Kentucky's playing last night was almost as bad as Ashley Judd's hair..." The Commodores handed Kentucky their worst loss in the school's history last night. It feels so sweet!

Now I want to make t-shirts for March Madness. Help me by voting on a t-shirt slogan.

Here's my selection of originals:

Commodores, like pirates, but sexier.

Commodores, we don't just play with our dinghies.

Commodores, we get to have swords.

If you ain't a 'Dore, you ain't shit.

Then, I was thinking about references that only my friends from Vandy would get, here's to you ladies:

Commodores, we don't do that.
Yes you do.
I know.

Your team has a disease, called obnoxious.

Then I just went on the random, nobody would probably get it but I like it anyway.

Vanderbilt, no, not in Indiana.

Commodores, cuz two points on your hat are better than one.

I Heart the Continental

"The cham-pan-gnay you have thrown stings my eyes!"

No, not that continental, THIS continental. I have been knitting up a storm practicing the continental knitting method. Yes, Chicagoland, that wasn't the heavens blowing snow, it was me with my knitting skillz. I've found I like it a lot better than the other way just because it's feels more like crochet. I have to wrap the yarn around my finger in the opposite direction, but it feels more natural. And I can go faster. What can I say? I like immediate results. Which is why I am so happy that I have finished three, yes count 'em, three wrist warmers (pattern from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts). TA DAAA SCIENCE!

My first pair in jade. Finished in the airport with help from my companion knitting expert, Mom

I also made a pair in pale pink and a manly pair that are ribbed in black. I like the size of the men's, but I think the women's size will stretch and fit better. Next on my project list is a baby sweater. I'm taking a huge leap here, from square projects to non-square projects, but I think with the help of my mom, Joe's mom and maybe the ladies at my LYS I can conquer it! I love having a wee community to get help from. Warm fuzzies.

P.S. Can I do a little praise the Ravlery Gods? First of all, I discovered the tab under my friends page called 'friend activity.' Within a nano-second I can see all the projects my friends are working on, what they've updated, what they've 'faved' and what they've queued. I can't even count how many more cute projects I've found within the smallest window of time. My other Ravelry epiphany? Did you notice my new sidebars?? Aren't they amazing!! I have to say, it's been about four years since I've done any real coding, and back then it was your basic HTML, a little Java and mostly MathCad. I can't get over that all I have to type is photos:true between two little parenthesis and bam! Instant photos! That whole sidebar with photos took me about 15 minutes to figure out how to put on my blog. I spent most of that time picking the color for my progress bars. I am blown away.

These progress bars might spoil me. I update my Ravelry more than my blog. I hope this doesn't become a trend because I do like adding bits of info. on here, especially since not everyone is on Ravelry and not everyone is into crocheting and knitting.

Okay, I'm done with my gushing!

Friday

On this Friday I'm kind of burnt out. My challenge to you is to do what I'm doing, which is recounting this skit. With any conversation I have today. It goes a little something like this:

"Hi Jim, Dave asked me to see if you coming to this morning's meeting."
"At 10:30?"
"No, actually he's over in a conference room right now."
"Hrumpf! I guess he meant easter-"
BANG!
Oooom whatcha saaaaaaaay

"Do you have hard copies of these drawings?"
"No, but the electronic ones are on my computer, let me go print them."
"::Sigh + eyeroll:: You should really have hard cop-"
BANG!
Oooom whatcha saaaaaaaay

"It's Friday! haha Are we having fun ye-"
BANG!
Oooom whatcha -
BANG!
Oooom -
BANG!
Oo-
BANG!
Oooom whatcha saaaaaaaay ahhhhhh that you only meant weeeeeell cuz you diiiid

I know it's kind old, but I don't care, I'm still amused. Almost as amused as I am about Laser Cats. Almost, I mean, they're cats, with freakin' lase- BANG! Oooom whatcha saaaaaaaay