Buttons, buttons, who's got the buttons?

Well I don't have the buttons. I guess that is another item to add to the to do list: Figure out how to add buttons on blogger, so I can add Destash... and really make it visible.

And I know this doesn't count:




I know Grumperina has a tutorial. I just need time to get the tutoring.

Starlight at the end of the tunnel

Yes, I am finally near the end with Starlight. Committee work, grading, and computer woes, have really s-l-o-w-e-d this project down. :(

I am up to my arm pits, usually not a good thing, but in this case a very good thing!


It is final exam week... so I won't have much time. Add to that 2 committee meetings and a going away dinner for a friend, and well... I am over booked again this week.

One HURRAY! I was accepted on Destash

Yes! Cash for, well not all, but SOME of my stash, because all would
1) clog Destash, and they would kick me OFF
2) cause me to have a nervous breakdown
3) cause me to restock... rapidly. (I bet my LYSs would love this).
4) all of the above.

As I tell my students, when "all of the above" is a choice... it has a good chance of being correct.

I took some photos today, and on my list of things to do tomorrow:
make them look good
carefully read the instructions to post on Destash.

Cursed Dell Still Not Right

A friend from work was able to save, we think, all of my documents and programs. YEAH!!! But guess what is not there... my internet drivers?!?! I didn't even know the computer had drivers for the internet. I thought it was a program. But whenever I try to access the interenet... I get the same *@%* message...

In the mean time I am backing up the files and preparing for my next attempt at fixing this problem. And it is exam week.

Doesn't it just figure?

Knitalong in Memory of Mary Read

FYI

Here is one way to give in memory of the Hokies.

CURSED DELL TECH SUPPORT

ARRRRGH!!!

The Dell Techie Geeks, housed somewhere in India, told my son that installing new operating system disks would NOT erase personal data!!!!!! He did it! I am so screwed! Everything for my summer classes was on there. Yes, I can recreate... but it will take weeks of hard work.

My final exams were on there. Again, they can be recreated... but more time.

All our music has been deleted. DAMN.

And all photos are gone.

I am FREAKING mad. I talked to 3 different levels of support/management... and no one could do more than say how sorry they were.... OH yeah... and they'd be sure to talk to those two technicians so that they wouldn't make that mistake again!!!! How EXACTLY does this help me?!?!

The next level up Geek is supposed to call me on Tues. I want them to pay for Drive Savers, and I don't care how much it costs them.

GRRRRRR!!!!!

Seriously, does Mac outsource their tech support?

Virginia Tech

I just visited Rose-Kim Knits to check our her weekly "What the Hell is This?" ...aside... Thank you, thank you, thank you... jessica for the entertainment, especially this week.

On Tues., she said: "I'm tired of our response to violence. All the endless obsessing over the killer and searching for something in his behavior that will explain the terrible thing he did. The headline "VA Tech Killer Had Mental Problems" just makes me think, 'No shit.'"

Me too.

I too am saddened by the deaths and injuries to these young people and their professors. I am sickened by the violence wrought by one unbalanced individual.

But I too am tired of our response.... actually, I am a little angry at our collective responses to such violence because I think the on air, and other media obsession with such individuals....encourages other unbalanced people to follow on this path.

And that most definitely is NOT our goal. TV stations, radio stations, and other media sources must "sell;" it doesn't mean we have to buy. I refuse to look at the images, or read one word about the killer.

I will read and think about those lost and their families.

And I will vote for sensible gun control, because the Virginia Tech massacre truly should not have happened.

cursed dell

After a week, many phone calls, downloading programs, turning "stuff" off, turning "stuff" on, and generally talking far, far too long to tech support at Dell, my USB drives and printer are still not talking to my computer.

This all started when my son's Dell DJ (mp3) died. This is the third one, and we have a warranty, so, no big deal.

BUT when he received the replacement, the pop-up said..the DJ had been bought for use in a foreign country; therefore, it wouldn't work in the U.S.

Back to the Dell help lines... after hours of work, the decision was to ship this one back and have another replacement sent.

In the meantime, my DJ stopped talking to the computer.

Another call to the help lines.... and so it goes.

Anyway no photos this week because of the cursed Dell.

I am beginning to lean MAC.

TS is Officially Driving

Jeremiah is officially driving now. He's taken his first ride in my car without an adult! He drove to Moe's Music to take in his small amplifier. He caught it on fire!

Monday night we saw Great Big Sea. They were great ;) (one person who shall remain nameless... who reads...but doesn't comment... asked: was that an intentional pun? ... hmmmm..... you KNOW me.... what do you think?)

I cannot believe the theater didn't sell out! In Newfoundland we wouldn't have even gotten close to them! Here in Norfolk, we sat right on top of them. After the show we chased them down at their bus. These guys are Canadian superstars, yet they stood for photos with us, and chatted kindly with the kids and all the people out there waiting. These guys really are superstars.

I am volunteering at the Spring Craft Market at the VB Convention Center. I am knitting, and knitting, and knitting, on the Starlight Sleeves. I am up to my elbows. ;)

Yesterday, my computer decided NOT to recognize my camera or printer! Therefore, I cannot add photos tonight, and I won't have time to figure this out tomorrow. Maybe my wonderful TS can figure it out.

I hear people with Apple computers do not have these problems!

Turkish Cast on, Toe-up, socks on Magic Loop

I have a finished object... or does it count as two because they are socks?



Call me anal, but it bothers me that the stripes aren't matching exactly.

I took Joanne F's. sock class at Ewe Knits. She is an excellent teacher, and provides clear handouts with both well-written instructions and clear photos. She's well prepared, very organized, and patient as all get out. What more could one ask in a knitting teacher? Thanks Joanne.

A note on the Importance of Guage

During March's Guild meeting, Jackie S. demonstrated steeks on Linda J.'s Norwegian sweater. Linda fitted the sleeves, and wore it to the meeting in April.

Doesn't it look great?

But Linda says looks can be deceiving. She recommended checking gauge when you move from one-color to multi-color knitting. Though we cannot tell by looking, Linda demonstrated that the top, stranded part of the sweater was much tighter than the bottom.


The thing is, all of us KNOW this.... but how often do we ignore this knowledge, and just forge ahead? I rip, and rip, and rip... because of errors with gauge... even though I know better. I guess I am on a slow learning curve on that one.

Snow in April, in VIRGINIA BEACH!

First of all, as all the locals know, we had snow today! Amazing! At about 9:00 April 7th, it was snowing quite heavily. I finally dragged myself outside to take photos at about 9:30, and awakened TS to come pose for a few.





My neighborhood is beautiful this time of year. Here's a photo of my dogwood tree in bloom.... tiny, but this is the first year it has bloomed, so I am excited and think it is beautiful despite the puny amount of blooms and the snow.




Now, check out my neighbor's dogwood trees in bloom.


My view definitely beats their view. ;)

Gathering of the Guilds

Last weekend, Tidewater Knitting Guild of Virginia participated in the Francis Land House's annual Gathering of the Guilds. My mom, Linda Johnson, and I set up. Here's a photo of us and some of our knits.
The spinners were across from us, and here's a shot of Faye R. at her wheel.

I could easily see my knitting in the baskets set up next to us.

Bobbie B. brought Peter Rabbit along. While she was there, she worked on Mrs. Tiggy Winkle. Bobbie's critters are beautiful, but I cannot believe the amount of sewing up required for each! UGH!

We had a good day, and look forward to next year.