Efeblum

woohoo!

2009-04-06T14:21:52Z

The seventh WMC book isn't the last one! The 8th Confession comes out in three weeks :D Huzzah!

long time no post

2009-04-06T12:29:12Z

It seems I've been quite neglectful of this old thing. We'll see if I can change that.

Some things I've done while I was away:

-Developed an affinity for peppermint tea
-Become more proficient in the art of crochetery
-Tangled a hank of malabrigo sock yarn into an unusable mess (;-;!)
-Discovered there's a library right by my house
-Made lots of lists
-Got a new library card
-Various other things

In my absence I also managed to contract a mysterious and debilitating disease, the cause/name of which still remains unknown. Its symptoms have manifested themselves in the form of a nasty head cold and/or sinus infection, followed by a week (so far) of incapacitating coughing. My entire body aches. Woe is me, indeed.

Read the seventh Women's Murder Club book this past weekend. I'm afraid it may be the last one. Too bad the ending left so much to be desired, if it is. Sigh.

designeyness

2009-02-23T12:19:19Z

Well...

I suppose I'm an unofficial graphic designer now. :D Boss Man has me designing logos for his coffee sleeve business/website. Huzzah! I designed a plain coffee cup one -- kinda generic... supposed to be for stores just starting out -- and now he wants me to design the wedding sleeves! It's so cool. He's also going to use my redesigned punch thing on our sleeves at the store! Aaaaand, best of all I'm getting PAID TO DO IT! Gah, who knew drawing coffee cups and beans in photoshop could be so cool. :D

On another designing note, I've designed a couple hats, but haven't yet written up the patterns. One of these days I'll get around to posting them on ravelry.

yarn... and making it

2009-02-16T14:14:58Z

Saturday, AB and I went on our River Knits Yarn Shopping Extravaganza. :D It was wonderful! I got so much new stuff... Let's see. Yarn wise, I got two balls of Noro Silk Garden, one ball of Noro Kureyon, two balls of Berroco Pure Merino, two balls of Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk, and a skein of beeeeeautiful purple Malabrigo sock yarn. I also got a spindle (!!!) and some black roving for practice. Which leads me to....

My first foray into spinning! I declare it a rousing success. I took to it like a fish to water, some would say. XD I spun up all of my roving within two hours of getting home. I soaked it and set the twist last night, and skeined it up today. I'm so proud of it! I can't wait to get more roving to spin up. I can already tell this is the start of a lovely relationship -- there're just so many possibilities with it. I can't wait for it to get warmer outside so I can start dying my own roving to spin (I decided dying would best be done outdoors... it's pretty messy, lol)! Until then I'll occupy myself with experimenting with plying and textures and whatnot.

In other, less related news, my Etsy store is FINALLY open! I only have two purses posted as of right now, but tons of more things are in progress for it. I think I'll be adding some handspun yarn yarn to the mix sometime in the future. Maybe even spindle kits for spinning your own yarn! Aaaaahh, possibilities! Love!

pandora radio rocks my socks

2009-02-12T18:52:25Z

I'm so happy I found out about Pandora radio. I can actually listen to good music at work now. XD I was getting so tired of the same songs over and over. The internet is indeed a wonderful thing. :D

There's another BS BS group coming in tonight at work. *sigh* I like the extra hours, but I hate working late, then coming in super early the next day. Oh well... at least they're in the back room so I don't have to listen to them. XD

AB and I are going on a River Knits Yarn Shopping Extravaganza on Saturday. I abso-effing-lutely cannot wait. It's gonna be amazing! I keep thinking about all the lovely things I'll get. ^_^

Bah, there's not a lot going on today. Boo.

some goals and such

2009-02-09T13:17:08Z

I've decided to switch my coffees to sugar free syrup and 1% milk. Will switch to skim eventually, but I just can't make myself take such a leap all at once. Luckily for me, our sugar free flavorings are really tasty. They taste really close to regular, too -- it's hard to tell a difference :D I'm kind of anxious to see what kind of difference this will make. Most of my daily sugar intake comes from my coffees, so switching to sugar free might actually make a visible difference, especially in conjunction with moving around more. :)

While I'm on such a subject I believe it's a good time to make a list of some things I want to accomplish/add to my normal routine:

-start walking more and driving less
-no more takeout!!
-stop snacking so much >_>
-cook more healthily
-start those freaking videos already
-generally be less lazy
-(totally unrelated, lol) clean up my foul mouth XD

It's really past time for me to step up and start taking better care of myself. I've already accomplished a huge goal by quitting smoking (it'll be 5 months in about two weeks!!), and I'm really proud of myself for it. It's an awesome feeling, and continuing working on my health will definitely amplify it. I'd love to be a little lighter and leaner by my birthday (in August, ha), and that's totally doable if I just bite the bullet and get started. It won't be easy, for sure -- old habits die hard -- but the results will definitely be well worth it. And well deserved!

I'm already thinking about all the money I'll save by not buying shit food. Oh the yarn I'll buy! ^_^

On a completely unrelated note, I really don't like it when people order cappuccinos and mean to order lattes. Srsly people, don't get mad at me for making the drink you ordered. Learn the difference. Kthx. :P

i enjoy open letters

2009-02-09T03:50:08Z

Dear Boy,

Sorry I've been acting like such a snark lately... I hope you know it's only because of my monthly female issues. Worry not, though, for I shall be back to my normal, lovely self by tomorrow. :)

And while I'm at it...

To the asshat who tailgated me the entire way home:

STOP DRIVING LIKE A DOUCHE! Seriously. If you're in that much of a hurry, just pass me. You should probably be careful though... your frankencar didn't look like it could handle much more douche-nozzley driving. And just so you know, I was driving extra slow on purpose specifically to piss you off. Hopefully it worked >:)

some words for my coffee cohorts

2009-02-09T03:33:16Z

To my dearest J and Boss Man:

I understand that my handwriting and descriptions are better than yours, but that does not give you a free pass out of updating the soup board. This hasn't always bothered me -- the first couple times I let it slide. Recently, however, every time there are new soups, the board has been left for me to update (you are quite the culprit of this, BM, as you simply take down the soup board and put it aside for me... J, thank you for at least writing up the names of the soups). Large, legible handwriting, which I know you are both capable of producing, is all that's required; you can google the soup name to come up with a description. So please, next time we get new soups in, take the time to update the board. I will sure appreciate it. :)

snow! bah!

2009-02-02T16:48:24Z

It's snowing again *sob, cry* Why can't it be spring yet?

Unrelated, I love it when AB offers to bring me lunch. Quite lovely :)

some musings about colors

2009-02-02T14:17:04Z

I've decided I really like the way rich, saturated purple looks against my (pale, ghastly) skin. Yay, contrast! :D

a lovely, workless weekend

2009-02-02T13:05:18Z

For the first time in a very long time, I had last weekend entirely off. :D It was lovely.

Alex and I took a day trip to Chicago on Saturday. We originally planned on going to the Museum of Science and Industry for a couple hours, then lunch at the French bistro he knew about, then to the Art Institute, and then a trip to Loopy Yarns for me. Our original plan didn't quite pan out, but we still had a really good time. We ended up getting to the science museum right as it opened, and admission was free (!!!). The museum was a little kid-ish, but it was still really cool -- the U 505 exhibit, especially. There was a chick hatchery in the genetics area, and we got to watch a chick pecking out of its shell :) There was one that had just hatched that was having a lot of trouble staying upright. So cute XD I took a whole bunch of pictures there, most of which came out either too dark, or blurry XD Hopefully a bit of tweaking in Photoshop will remedy most of them.

We stayed at the museum for nearly 3 and a half hours, so we missed lunch at the bistro (boo!). Our plan B was to drive around the city to look for somewhere to eat. That turned out to be a bad idea..... we were lost within 10 minutes. We decided it'd be a better bet to just GTFO of the city and back onto the interstate headed for home (yeah, we're kind of pusses.... no sense of adventure, lol). So we missed out on the art museum, and I missed out on the yarn shop, but whatever. It was still a really fun trip, and it was awesome to actually do something for a change, instead of sitting around at home all day.

On the way home, we stopped for lunch at Cracker Barrel in Hobart. It was pretty meh.

Yesterday was lazy day :D I woke up pretty early (for me, anyway lol) and made the batch of chicken noodle soup I'd intended to make Saturday night. That's what we ate all day yesterday. It was totally awesome. So delicious! After that, I knitted on my Noro sock, played Pokemon, and took a nap for a couple hours. Then we (mostly Alex) built a snowman, and went shopping :) I bought a lovely purple sweater, and a large plastic bin to store some yarn in. Tres fab!

Back to the old grindstone (LOL) today. Hasn't been too busy yet... here's hoping it picks up!

note to self...

2009-01-30T12:31:48Z

Do not ask co-worker about the BS BS. You don't care.

oh noro, how do i love thee

2009-01-29T18:08:07Z

Cast on for a sock last night with my skein of Noro Silk Garden Sock (colorway S258). I was a bit skeptical of it at first, after hearing so many neutral/negative reviews of it, but the bright, saturated colors won me over. I don't really find it scratchy to work with, but that could just be because I have kevlar hands XD. I've only found one twiggy thing in it so far, and no knots or breaks (yay!). There are a few thick/thin spots, but nothing that's really bothered me yet. The fabric it's producing is not quite as soft as I'd like it to be, but I'm almost certain I can fix that with a quick swish through a wool wash :) And the colors! OMG the colors! They are just gorgeous! The cuff is orange and green and very carrot-like, and I love it. So, hearts from me to Noro Silk Garden Sock. I have a feeling this is the start of a beeeeautiful relationship. :)

So, no PS last Sunday... sorry about that. I meant to post, then forgot, then remembered today, and said eff it. I'll post two next week. <3

always tip your barista

2009-01-25T23:57:05Z

To all patrons of coffee shops across America:

Please, when ordering more than one drink at a time, ALWAYS TIP YOUR BARISTA! Think about it. You always tip your bartender for your drinks, so why not your barista? What we do isn't much different (save for the booze, of course.) At most independent coffee shops, we do everything one step at a time -- our machines are not automatic. Getting your half skim half soy 145 degree sugar free vanilla-caramel half-caf latte at a place like mine takes significantly more time and effort on the barista's part than it does to get it at Starbucks. Please show them you appreciate the effort they take in making sure you get your drink the way you want it. Just throw a dollar in the jar, it's not that hard!

* * *

Yeah. I just had a family of four come in and order 4 drinks. Their total was nearly $12.00. Didn't tip a penny. And now they're spread out playing board games and watching tv even though they KNOW we close in half an hour. Bah. Bunch of savages in this town.

PS Sunday when I get home. :)

Writer's Block: Five-Finger Discount

2009-01-22T23:23:22Z

I used to steal food from Subway all the time when I worked there. I didn't feel guilty at all XD I figured they save enough money by paying everybody so badly that they'd have enough to cover the extra food cost. I don't really think they cared much anyway, and it really didn't matter.

One time when I was still in high school I stole a package of beads from Walmart, just to see if I could get away with it. I felt a little guilty at first, but not for long, because Walmart is an evil corporation that steals the souls of all who contribute to it. So now I think of the beads as less stolen, and more liberated. XD

postsecret sunday

2009-01-19T04:15:03Z

It's still Sunday :)

basketball... ftl!

2009-01-18T18:20:58Z

Working the BB game today at the coffee place... So far it's been pretty dead. I've had several people through asking if we have sandwiches, which we don't yet. Every single one of them left when I said we didn't. One lady even commented "that happens every time I come up here!" We've never had sandwiches, and we just got soup in last Wednesday. Learn to deal, lady. >:P

It's like people don't realize this isn't End Zone Cafe anymore, even with how different everything looks. They must've also missed the giant sign outside that says "LOCAL MOUNTAIN COFFEE". And apparently they didn't notice that End Zone was closed for an entire year before we opened in this location, either. I really don't understand how oblivious people can be. Seriously, my mind is boggling.

So, to everyone who came in today before the Iowa game, I'm very sorry we're not the place you're so used to (despite it being closed for a year...). Someday we will have sandwiches to go with our soup -- maybe even salads too! -- we're just taking it one step at a time. Please be patient, it'll be worth the wait. For now though, embrace the change! We have a lot of stuff you'd probably really enjoy if you just give us a chance.

With that out of the way, I finished my Boku ankle socks, and I looooove them :D Ravelry pics will come soon. PS Sunday, too. :)

yarn!!

2009-01-18T04:09:41Z

Went to River Knits today w/ AB. It was wonderful, like always. :D I got 2 balls of Berroco Pure Merino Nuance in Cerise Attenuee that I'm going to use for Dizzy. Might CO for that tomorrow while I'm at work. I also got a ball of Noro Silk Garden sock yarn in the same gorgeous colorway as the ball of regular Silk Garden I have. I need to find a pretty pattern to use it for. :)

In other knitting news, I finally learned short row heels, and I think I'm in love. XD I've got the double wrap method memorized, and I'm planning on using it for the next pair of socks I make... which will most likely be with my Silk Garden. <3!

Working the BB game at the coffee place tomorrow. Hopefully it's the same as last Sunday -- that was very manageable. Not too busy that I felt overwhelmed, but not so slow that I was bored. Basically like how it should be normally. Hopefully we'll get to that point. I really like working there, I'd hate to see it go under. :(

Woot, PS Sunday is tomorrow!

what a day to get a flat tire

2009-01-14T20:18:45Z

It is snowing today. Not just a few flurries here and there. It's snowing. For reals.

So of course today would be the day that my car decides it wants to get a flat tire. At 6 in the morning. On our way to work. Thank goodness Alex and I were close enough to the coffee place that we could roll into the parking lot and go inside where it was warm... otherwise we would've been SCREWED... so severely that it deserved to be in all caps.

I called my dad and he came out and helped Alex change the tire. I gave him some free coffee for his troubles. :)

Yep. My car sucks. Luckily, my dad is awesome, and always willing to help me out with it. Thanks dad :D

We got the soup in at the coffee place today, and it's sososososo good! It seems to be a big hit so far. :) I'm anxious to see what other varieties we'll be getting in!

insomnia :(

2009-01-14T05:53:51Z

I have to be at work in 5 hours. Sigh. I should really try to go to sleep.

In happy news, I'm almost done knitting my first cyan stripes sock! Yay! I'll probably finish it tomorrow, then CO for the second one :)

sad

2009-01-13T02:08:20Z

I just dropped a large, delicious looking plate of fettucine alfredo on my kitchen floor. It broke. Everywhere.

I think I'm going to cry :(!

an open letter

2009-01-12T17:28:02Z

To the ROTC guy who just came to the coffee place:

It usually drives me insane when people order their drink as a super extra huge whatever. Due to your dazzling beauty, however, I will make an exception for you. :)

Dumb Girl

2009-01-12T16:10:30Z

This just happened about 15 minutes ago.

Me: Hi, what can I get for you?
Dumb Girl: Uh... I'll have a white chocolate and caramel expresso (she pronounced it wrong [cringe])
Me: Do you want milk in that, like a latte? Or just the flavoring and single shot of espresso?
Dumb Girl: Just the flavor and the expresso.
Me: ...Ok.

So I make the drink the way she ordered it. White chocolate and caramel flavoring with a single shot of espresso. Since I'm nice, I gave her a double for free... the shots brew two at a time and I would've just had to pour the other one down the drain. Anywho, I digress. So I make her drink. Keep in mind that what she ordered is only two ounces of liquid (in a 12 ounce cup since she wanted it to go...) Seeing as how the cup isn't even a quarter of the way full, I ask her:

Me: Do you need a lid for it?
Dumb Girl: Uh, yeah [snottily]
Me: Ok. [puts on lid, hands her cup]
Dumb Girl: This is really light. [takes off lid] This isn't what I wanted. It's barely full.
Me: [angry] This is just the flavoring and espresso, like you asked for. So you DO want the milk in it then?
Dumb Girl: Yeah.

GRR.

I charged her for two flavor shots because she was dumb. :)

PostSecret Sunday

2009-01-12T00:22:35Z

In coffee shop news, it was much busier than I expected for the BB game. I got 13 bucks in tips! Huzzah!

Writer's Block: Morning Decisions

2009-01-11T16:04:55Z

Both! Blueberry pancakes with sausage. It's delicious every time! <3

Now I'm hungry. Nom nom.