Bigger on the INSIDE

Squeeeeee

Thank You onemilljellybeans thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou

squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

and one more time for emphases

SQUEEEEEEEEEE!!!

I received my Doctor Who secret pal package today! I will do my best and only use lots and lots of ! and not boldly shout every single word!


I knew this box was full of WIN the second I laid eyes on it
and
and….hmmmm… two weeks….hmmm….a little worried about that……..fun. FUN! is good

forget all worry and lay it out
The box IS BIGGER ON THE INSIDE! Look at that loot! Ok…gasp…under control again

Joey comes over and SQUEEEEEEEEs
Yes. That is his squeeeeeee face. He is very reserved. He is squeeeeeeeing like a 11yo girl on the inside. So am I!

I stop to contemplate crack on my box wall
Now I am worried

I stop and read the letter. onemilljellybeans you are an evil evil evil person and I LUVZ you forever for it. A person after my own heart.

That right there. #1. That one…
…is all I get to open today.

That’s right! If I can keep control of my squeeeing fangirl insides I get 2 weeks of opening FUN! I don’t know if it’s the worst or best part she nicked the idea from me.

Stop right now if you don’t like

Spoilers!

I would squeeee again but all the air is gone and I may be seeing little black spots around the edge of my vision. That is so totally awesome!!! !!! !!!
The outside is FREAKING AWESOME! Look at that stitching! The textured leather cover! River Song is going to knocking on my door asking for it back.

But wait! There's more.

The inside cover is awesome!

The inside is MADE OF AWESOME!

Did I say I wouldn’t shout. Ignore that.

Also? Hand model is never allowed to touch it again. Ever ever again. I may never be allowed to touch it again. Except that I love blank books and I love using them too. While my scritchings aren’t worthy the beautiful outside will class them up.

And to prove I’m a good obedient girl Everything back in the box until tomorrow.

Tomorrow may come at midnight. Just saying.

Knitters Know Everything

Knitting fan sights are the best. Look! what they found me.

And I'm off to KAWS. Spinning classes here I come. Also! Mary Zicafoose is my hero. Off to have dinner with her and my 120 closest friends.

Wild Abandon April

I had grand plans for April's theme but I scrapped them for even better one. Wild Abandon April! Sometime last summer, on my knitting list, people started talking about birthdays. About how they don't celebrate them anymore. Someone posted, dripping with disapproval, about how a coworker celebrated a birthday month. A Birthday Month! I didn't even know that is an option. Sign me up. So Wild Abandon April it is.

First, and I do mean April 1st is Joey's birthday. Baby Dog is 14. When I started his cancer treatments 5 years ago I made a deal with him that he had to live to be 13 for it to pay off. Him being a dog and it being cancer it's wasn't really a deal I thought he would keep. Not only did he make it to 13 he lived each and every day of that year and is still going.

Second is yarn. I haven't bought yarn since the beginning of November. That's five months of not buying yarn. Five long, hard, arduous months of not buying yarn. So I'm buying yarn every week in April. I had better get on that today or I'll miss this week.

Third is knitting whatever I want. As much or as little with no thought of finishing or goals or contests or anything. So what am I knitting now? Christmas gift socks that I can enter into a contest. Also, a lace shawl also for a contest. But whatever I want. Right?

March is over and I haven't taken photos. But I did finish things. I actually finished four. I may pull out the camera today. Or maybe not. Wild Abandon April! Oh baby, I live a crazy not taking photos life.

Who, Me?

The scarf is finished. It's a little short but I ran out of yarn. I have faith that it will lengthen with time. Long scarves always get longer with wearing. Or if I want to hurry it up when I wash it I can hang it to dry instead of laying it flat.

The fringe turned out great. It only took me about 5 do overs to get it even. Not bad. The cast off edge was more difficult than the cast on one. It kept on spreading a bit and the same fringe looked a bit thin on that side. I finally fixed it.

Making the fringe is Easy Peasy. I used one full skein of yarn for the tassels. I cut the skein in half (that’s 2 cuts). Divide each half into 9 equal groups. Evenly space the nine tassels along each end. Using a crochet hook make Lark’s Head Knots. That's it. But easy doesn't mean quick. See above about pulling it out and put it back in about 5 times. It's worth it.

Thank You!

I received my prizes for being the grand prize winner of the Slogalong hosted by my very favorite podcast Stash and Burn. I was listening to the new episode and about dropped my knitting when I heard my name. Right there on the air!
And what a fantastic bunch of prizes it is too! The Shetland Trader pattern book where I want to knit about every single thing in there. Some wool/silk/cashmere sock yarn from Pigeonroof Studios that is way too nice and soft for socks. I'll use it to knit the hat or shawl from The Shetland Trader.
A messenger bag from Yarn Play Cafe. I love messenger bags and I now carry it everywhere.

Finally, a whole bunch of pattern downloads. I'm already knitting Pickers Delight and I also received the patterns for Seedy Slouch Hat both from Christa Knits. Then from our very own Sarah Wilson the patten for Red Velvet. I like look of the drapy vests so I'm excited to knit it. Then two patterns from Robin Ulrich the gorgeous lace shawl Fontana and the sweet little wrap Brandywine Falls.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, everyone!

So in honor of Stash and Burn March is going to be March to the Finish. A month of taking UFOs and finishing them up taking them from the to do list to the done list.

While I had grand plans for March and knitting, this month it is kicking my butt making me want to go back to bed and stay there until July. So to take the pressure off of myself I only expect to finish one thing a week.

Hmmm one thing a week. That's still quite a heavy goal for knitting. I'm dedicating this year to being wound just right. So March is half over and one thing is finished so finishing two things seems much more in line with the possible. Oh, I feel better already.

Pithy Knitting

The lettuce I planted on Feb 1

Notice the bare spot in the center? Damn cat. I knew going in that I had a plant eater of a cat and yet I did nothing except to try to train him to leave it alone. That works about as well as that sounds. However, I've started feeding Sumi-e a little more in his food dish at night and the lettuce is bouncing back a little.

I'll camouflage the mowed down lettuce with a little more fan girl knitting.

It's Elizabeth Zimmermann's Very Warm hat. When I learned to knit I asked my instructor if I could only buy one book which would it be and she quickly answered Knitting Without Tears.

To this day I credit that book with teaching me how to think about knitting. If it doesn't look right it probably isn't. Have a cool idea? Well, do a gauge swatch and just knit it. Her patterns are always so simple and so brilliant and written so that any weight of yarn can be used.
I knit this hat using fingering weight yarn scraps. The black side is alpaca, the softest alpaca I've ever felt. The black is Henry's Attic Alpaca left from weaving a scarf. The color scraps were passed off to me by another knitter and the ball bands long gone. Since even the softest alpaca makes me itch the inside is Jojoland Melody.

I noticed a trend in my fan girl knitting as the month went on. Dr Who, Harry Potter, Elizabeth Zimmermann are all British. I like that my themes have developed themes.


Upward and onward into March.

Hermione

I love Hermione Granger and all her knitted hats. I picked the one from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

This hat must have been knit by Mrs Weasley since Hermione doesn't pick up the needles herself until Goblet of Fire. I love how she starts S.P.E.W and leaves little knitted hat all around the commons room in Gryffindor tower.
Pattern is loosely based on Cables and Bobbles Hat knit in my favorite Cascade Eco. If I had to knit in one yarn forever this would be it. The larger yarn was a good choice for this hat. It made the patterning stand out and while it's a touch snug but I know Eco will bloom and loosen in the blocking.

I didn't like the anemic bobbles I saw on so many hats out there so when it became bobble time I really bumped them up and did then nice and big.
I'm really pleased with how this turned out. Maybe someday I'll make the matching mittens.

Donna's Scarf

The knitting part is finished because I've run out of yarn. It's not as long as it's supposed to be but once I add the tassels it will be plenty long for actually wearing.
The holding the yarn double worked well for adding the texture.

Yarn Cascade 220 Sport 6 balls (and I really wish I had 7 or even 8 for a longer scarf and more tassels)

Gauge 3 spi
I’m using a size 6 needle but I knit loosely. Most would need a size 9 at least.

With yarn held double through out
Cast on 31
k1 p1 rib, slipping first stitch of each row.

knit until scarf is long enough to wrap around neck once and still reach to the knees. Add tassels with large knots.

Save at least one skein of yarn for tassels. Tassels should be long enough to reach from knees to top of boots. 7 to 8 inches on me and I'm shortish. Even better, make the tassels first then knit until the yarn runs out.

I also knit the hat Rose is wearing the last time the Doctor see her on New Years Eve and the last time we get to see him, David Tennant, as Doctor.
Sockhead Hat, the same one I knit before. It still kills my hands. I still can't stop making them. When I saw Rose in it I sat strait up in my chair and, of course, I had that shade of purple in the stash. Really, it's the hat being in the show rather than the show having the hat that made me knit this one. I'm such a fan of the Sockhead Hat I'm casting on another one. Once I can feel my fingers again.

Sqeeeee!!!

I just melted into a puddle of want. Knitting. Iceland. Photography. Music. Food. Iceland!!! Ponies. Sweaters. Can we say Iceland? I don't think I'm going but I do think I'll get a passport so I can dream about it. Do I dare post a link?

ps. I took a class with (not from) and read his blog back before anybody else did. Back when it was a photography blog and not a knitting blog.

Iceland...Knitting....Photography...Photography of Knitting...

ICELAND!

Dr Donna

So part of work is that I received 2 Amazon gift cards.
It's probably not surprising that I spent one of them on Dr Who DVDs. I'm saving the other one... for Dr Who DVDs.

So of course for Fangirl February I must knit some Dr Who knitting! This project is just falling into place. My favorite companion is Donna. With Donna at his side 10 finally gets some depth. This season is deeper, funnier, sweeter than the others and my favorite. I'm only a little bitter of the way Donna is written out. Ok, maybe a lot bitter. The problem is Donna doesn't wear knits...

Oh boy was I wrong. As soon as I pull out the season to look again, on the very first disk, at the most opportune time she is swathed from head to toe in knits. A sweater coat that is to die for, my favorite color of purple gloves, and a scarf. A most spectacular scarf. If there is ever a moment that I personally identify with Donna it's now. She is standing on the hill explaining how she knows what she wants and is out looking but it seems like she will never reach her dreams. And she is wearing a scarf!!!

I will have a Dr Who scarf and not a TB one that people will know a mile away. This one wouldn't be spotted even by the people in the know. And the best part? Nobody has knitted it! Ok, I don't believe Nobody has knitted it but a quick search on Google and a detailed search on Rav (more than a million knitters) and I can't find a one. That's enough for me.

It's crazy long and a vibrant color of deep blue turquoise. It has good drape and flow with a bit of texture. For the longest time I thought a waffle stitch.

This is the screen showing it's just huge yarn. The texture is huge knit stitches.

Now the problem. I'm only using stash yarn.
My stash cupboard. That yarn is a little too light.

This yarn is just the right color and I have a lot of it and it's thick. However, I can't wear mohair around my neck. I just can't. I also can't knit a crazy long Donna scarf and not wear it.


But I do have this yarn. I'm supposed to knit jammie bottoms out of it to go with my sleeping sweater but I maybe don't have enough. I bought all the store had and it still might be 2 balls short. Because of that I haven't cast on yet. It is super soft and a nice Turquoise Green.

In the sunshine much more Turquoise blue. It's sport weight not extra bulky so I'll have to double it. It's also not as much yarn as I would have chosen but I'll knit until it's gone and that's how long the scarf will be.
I also pulled out my purple yarns. The one on the right is the exact color of her gloves. The one on the left I actually bought for gloves... last year... the year before... Long before the DVDs. This whole project is just meant to be.

I Love My Job

Wait. That's not right right. Let me mull that over. Nope, still don't love my job. However, there are parts of it that I do appreciate. Like my supervisor.

A few weeks ago something went down. I checked on it every step of the way doing due diligence on little information. As soon as it was over I knew it was incorrect. I went to my supervisor and she checked into it for me and said it was good. I said it wasn't. She checked again. Still good. So good Big Boss came out and told me I worry to much and that I did fine. I let it go. I knew better but I had done all I could and, besides, maybe I was wrong.

But it ate at me. I let it rest for 20 days before going to Supe again and saying I still didn't believe I had it right.

Instead of telling me that "No, seriously, we had this conversation 20 days ago. I, The Supe, looked into it then and it's fine. Let it go already." she got a whole bunch of important people involved pulling them away from their regular work and looking into it when I know none of us have any time to spare. Really looked into it deep. She also did this after Big Boss said it was fine again just that day. He's the one in charge of this and new and I can tell all the supervisors are scared of him. I don't know why, but they are.

And when it finally came out that I was right as I knew I was (which is the whole point of this story. Everyone thinks they are right. I strongly suspect she thought she was right too. I know for sure Big Boss knew he was right) and that my being right actually meant that I was very wrong. What did she do? but fill up my cube with Balloons and Thank You cards. It was mortifying.

Her cube shelf is devoted to all things Twilight down to some pretty smancy action figure dioramas. A real fangirl there. I liked the books. I really like the costume designer Tish Monaghan and her use of super cool knitted accessories. So I knit Supe the hat Bella wears in Eclipse in gratitude.
Except I can't give it to her. I was doing my job. She was doing her job. Even filling my cube with balloons and cards is part of her job. My giving her that hat would mortify her just as much as the balloons did me. I'm ok with that. I even think it sort of funny.

What I can't have is her to start thinking of me in any way but what she already does.

While no one else there would think anything of a hat she might start to think that people think that we are friends. And then she could think about talk of favoritism. And in that she could start holding me tougher standards when picking. I could be passed over, not helped, or given, or even earn as much if she had to think about what others might think. Right now, I have received more than a fair share of notice it is because I get things done. Nothing else, and it has to stay that way.

So I knit the hat in thanks and this time it truly is the thought that counts and nothing more since it will only be a thought.

February Gardening

February is just the right time to think of plants. February through June. By July the magic has worn off and the drudgery in hot weather has set in. But February is the best month, the dreaming month, when gardening is all unicorns and butterflies, and when the short days are really grating on the nerves and anything green would be a welcome change.

February first was a blizzard and I was driving home in white out conditions. It had taken me an hour to drive 10 miles and I had another eleven to go. I just had to stop driving for a while. I'd also had an hour of snow to think and dream on this so I pulled into a Walmart and bought everything for an inside garden; a window box, dirt, a light, and some lettuce seeds.

I've always grown plants with them doing very well for about 8 months and then needing repotting and finally dieing after about two years. That was until I was given a small green Rubbermaid container of dirt. It was a special blend of 3 expensive dirt and my inside growing changed. It turns out my problems were all from inferiority dirt not a lack of care as I had thought.

I can't bring myself to pay the money to recreate that blend but now I do mix my cheap ass dirt with a tiny bit less cheap dirt.

I mix and I mix

and I mix some more
Rocks to keep my cheap ass dirt blend from clogging up the all important drainage holes.

I'm not a believer in transplanting when doing container gardens so I direct sowed into the growing pot. I'm also not a believer in treating them any different than any other house plant. No heating pad, no covering with paper, no coddling. I just deep water the first day and once a week after that.

But I am a believer in lights. I just found out this winter that the energy saver bulbs can be used to grow plants! The 23w=100w is the one I'm using on a 12 hour timer. The lettuce seeds sprouted on day 4 the spinach on day 5. That's a full 5 days sooner than the package said.

I'm so excited about this it's all I can do not to buy more flower boxes, more lights, more seeds, never mind that I don't have the space for them. Also, this set up cost the amount of 10 bags of lettuce and I can't believe that I'll be able to grow that much. I'm not even sure I can grow more than one salad worth. It doesn't matter. I'm such a fan of February gardening.

Fangirl February

New month with a new cutesy name. And what does every cutesy named blog need? A fangirl!

I'm going to geek out and maybe even squee a little this month although I may be too old and too solidly midwestern reserved to *glomps*. Unless it's a bunny rabbit. I luv to snoogles a soft fuzzy wuzzy bunny rabbit...Ah, wait, where was I? Right... Fangirl knitting.

My only caveat is I have to knit from my stash. I know how I am. I would go to every LYS, browse all sites and order 6 different yarns in magenta just so I could have the right match. Then I'm left with 5 colors of magenta and I don't even like magenta. So knit from the stash.

Jumping Out

Jump in with January is over. I finished one thing for next Christmas. One kids sweater.
I did better on my 12 pairs of socks. Two of them are this years Christmas but I have evil thoughts about squirreling them away for next.
I like how holding two sock yarns together blend the colors. I also like I only have to cast on 44 to 48 stitches to make Men's sized socks.
I don't at all like how being off by 4 stitches can make the sock go from fitting around my Dad's 10 inch foot to My brothers much much bigger foot. Even so, I'll be knitting more double stranded socks.

I also finished one of the 6 socks for work.
The yarn is Knit Picks the pattern Mock Cable Lacy Toe Up Socks except that I knit them top down. I frogged them at work and started them over from memory getting some of the details wrong, like forgetting to mirror the pattern.
A nice match for my favorite shirt.

Finally, I finished a scarf. 2 rows alternating of Noro and purple hand spun.

Jump In January

This is working out really well except that I'm having the same trouble that many knitters before me have mentioned. It is almost impossible to knit a year in advance. Everything I've knitted on the last 2 weeks are gifts. But 2 of the projects are hangovers from this Christmas/New Years, one is for right now, and one more is supposed to be for next Christmas but I will gift it as soon as it's finished. So of the 5 projects on the needles only one of them will get squirreled away for next winter.

I can't show photos of any of the projects I'm knitting right now so let me dig up some old ones. I feel like this year of cutesy themed months was spurred on by Slogtober which I did well in but never posted the results.

LFS I finished sweater is great. Good color. Good shape. Mind numbing to knit. The finished sweater is worth it but never again.
Every part of knitting this was a joy. Maybe not the part where I shortened the gorilla arms with a pair of scissors but all the rest was a joy. It took me a while to warm up to the finished sweater. The neck wasn't quite what I imagined and it took a while to forgive it that. Bonus, I learned a new way of applying Icord. It's in one of EZ books and is the best.way.ever. Being Elizabeth's way I'm not surprised.
This is the third* and last time I have knit this yarn. First into a failed sweater, then into a failed wrap, now it's a successful Clapotis. I finally found a project worthy of my pink handspun.

*The failed wrap post seems to think that was my 3rd time knitting it. For the life of me I can't remember another incarnate but maybe...

January Snow

I love January. The fresh year. The only month we really have snow. The very best part of all is no wind. It all adds up to one of my favorite months of the year.
I love shoveling light fresh snow to clear the driveway on a windless day. Wearing a hat and mittens and sweater and not needing a coat from the exertion. Working outside right now makes me feel alive and makes my blood jump and lungs crackle.
I love wearing the layers and layers of knitted clothes inside. Sweaters over sweaters. Legwarmers over long underwear. Hats and fingerless mitts to bed. And no wind. Come February the wind will kick up and no matter how much I wrap up my windows it will leak it's way in through the walls and nothing is warm. But in January I can be cold and warm at the same time. This is knitters weather.
I also love the January secret pal boxes.
I opened this one up right before getting in the car for the annual January trip and I forgot to take photos. I love everything in this box. The spring green yarn made from corn, the pink and burgundy spinning fiber and the mixed batt by Drunkard's Dyelot is all wonderful and so me. It's like my secret pal took a look in my stash to find just the things that I would get for myself but didn't. And the dark chocolate orange. I love that too. Thanks Batty! It's perfect.

Jump!

A few weeks ago as I was working on Slogtober all through October, November, and December I had the idea. Wouldn't it be fun to have a theme for every month in 2011? Like a modern day Knitter's Almanac? I mulled this over from time to time but was held back because I couldn't think of a cutesy name for January, the very first month.

Until today! Today I was mulling over ideas for what I actually want to be knitting in January and it's my Christmas presents for next Christmas....getting a jump start... Jump into January!

I don't want a repeat of this Christmas when life got in the way but I had some knitting obligations I felt like I had to fill and zero time to do it in. Also, I've just picked 2011's year's New Year's Kiddo's sweater theme and want to start while I'm still excited about it. And the best part? The part that truly shows my brilliance. No Photos! It's all a secret. Yes, I'm starting a blog thread with a month I can't blog about. I love it!

I've also joined a Rav group that has the goal of knitting 12 pairs of socks this year.

In the past I've had a jobs were I had to dress up but couldn't wear knitted socks just hose. I've also had jobs were I could wear hand knit sock because it didn't matter what I looked like. Now I can wear hand knit socks but I need to be dressed nice too. In a matching outfit, nice. All my hand knit socks are fun bright colors. All my work shirts are pink, lavender, and aqua. Hard to wear rusty orange socks with that.

So of those 12 pairs of socks 6 of them need to match a work shirt. To make it into my work wardrobe. I wish it was all 12 but looking through my sock yarn it might be hard to make 6. Not much pink, aqua, or lavender in there.

Loosing The Twist

I normally don't do New Years resolutions but had thought to do one this year.

The last 3 months I have been a little exuberant with purchasing. I had a whole post composed in my head about consumerism and re-examining my life of plenty and making a resolution to not buy anything for the next 3 months to make up for the last 3 months. And as I was going over my spread sheet of all my purchases of 2010, with a little look once and a while at my yarn spreadsheet for fun, playing with the graphs and pie charts. I do love a budget pie chart. When a little voice bubbled up in the back of my head....

"You know, you are wound a little tight."

This is said to me from time to time in my Tuesday night spinning group (I miss that group). Mostly I take it as a complement. I think I'm wound just right. But in a flash I had a glimpse of what she is seeing.

After all, with the last 3 months being an exception, last year I spend $40 or less a month. Sure, I could go to zero as an experiment for 3 months and make it too. Or crash and burn and have yet another missed goal to beat myself up over. But what would it matter? A months worth of grocery money in my bank account. And while that is good the pay off doesn't seem to be worth the sacrifice.

So instead; I will keep up my spreadsheets tracking all my spending and my yarn because knowing gives me pleasure and power too. To keep being mindful of my Quaker faith and with that embrace living simply. To empty out my storage unit. That last is a real goal that will impact my budget and my relationship to stuff in a fell swoop. It will be hard too.

Finally, to keep on being wound just right.

Food in My Teeth

Today I was named Producer of The Month for January. The really big boss came and shook my hand. The big boss told me he was proud of me. Regular boss gave a speech about me. My photo was taken so I can be on the work TV all month. I think I had food in my teeth. Even if I didn't, I was super uncomfortable about the whole thing and couldn't make a natural face for the photo. At least I was wearing one of Mom's necklaces and a sweater I knit.

Yes, the month of January. This is not because of something I did last month, or something I did once. This is for superior work every day for the last 6 months. Miss America is crowned for the up coming year not last. I am just petty enough to notice I am the first from my group to get this. After that? Meh.

I do what needs to be done. I help people. I do the job I'm paid for. That's why I'm paid. I get bored so I do more work. I ask people about what they are doing when they fix a problem I can't fix so I can fix it next time. Or actually, since I don't have the authority to do anything how to get strait to the people that do. It's surprising where they end up. It's no more, no less, then I do all the time. Every job I've ever had. My knitting projects. It doesn't feel special.

My test is next week. After months of being told we had to pass it on the first try, I was just told I really had 3 tries. What a complete relief. I should actually pass it on the first try now. Under the pressure I'm not sure I could have pulled it off. So one week, or maybe 3, and I can go back to blogging about knitting. After all, it's the important stuff.

Nobody's Keeping Secrets Around Here

Yesterday was the Secret Santa reveal at work. I wasn't there. I was having the best Christmas shopping day evahhhh. I was collecting my normal wage while doing my own thing. This is the first time in my life I've had a paid day off that wasn't involved with driving cross country or puking. I am doing it again. In fact, it might be the only kind of day off I ever take again. Well, except for that driving cross country trip in June.

And since I can't let anyone down I did go to work and drop off my own Secret Santa gift. I thought is more fun since I didn't label it and I wasn't there. Sneaky. Fun.

So today, on my desk, was my last Secret Santa gift. The big one. There was a book. 2 bars of dark chocolate. And the best part? The part that made me laugh? Index cards! I love it. I also needed them. I was out again.

Working... Every Night and Day

All I've been doing is working, thinking about work, dreaming about work, and then thinking about work some more.

I'm trying to get my insurance license. It's the first time I've been paid to study. Add that into my department head putting his head out on the line to tell his bosses that he can have all 12 people pass on their first try and then my team lead picking me from her group, me who had only been under her for 45ish days, to represent her and I have a big pile of "don't mess up and disappoint anyone" stress and guilt churning in my gut.

I know my team lead is stressed too since she used to work under Big Boss before. I'm not sure what one has to do with the other but she is counting on me to make her look good with him and I can tell she is worried. Google says that 30% of the people that take the test pass that means 70% don't.

So I've been making flash cards. The little stack is the ones I got right. The big stack the ones I need to keep studying. This is an old photo and shows chapters 1 through 4. We are on chapter 14 now so the stack is much much Much larger. However, the stack of the ones I know is larger too. The two are about equal in height right now, the questions I have down pat and the ones I have no idea. We are covering 6 more chapters this week and then the test is next week. I have to call and schedule it but I admit to dragging my feet a little since learning all 6 chapters by next week is intimidating.


But while this is a work post it's not a test post. Instead I'm writing about something cool about my job. It's the break room. Not the Internet cafe, or the skeeball and basketball hoop in the break room at the other end of the building. (I came up with the theory about 3 years ago when taking tours of offices and design studios the cooler the break room the more the company expects and the less of the chance to use it. That is true. I haven't yet touch a skeeball. I'm just happy to make it to the restroom and get caught up on my work email during my break) No, this is about a little child-sized book case in my break room.

The bottom shelf has Connect Four and Monopoly and Chinese Checkers (see above on how usefully they are) and the top shelf is lost in a sea of news papers. It's the middle shelf that is cool. It's a little lending library where people drop off book they are finished with. Most of the time we are pounded with work but once and a while, on an odd Sunday, an 8 hour shift will have 12 calls and we are tied to our desk unable to do anything but wait to be set free. That's when the lending library is so nice.

There are only about 20 books. Most of them are romance novels and then comes the Christan inspirational books, which leads to the christian romance novels. A nice smattering of mysteries with a person that seems to enjoy British ones best. A book on raising chickens is tucked in there and a little SiFi with Robert Silverberg's Lord Valentines Castle. I think the same copy that was on Dad's nightstand most of my childhood years. Sitting between the bodice rippers is an odd copy of Ayn Rand that I always mull over. Ayn Rand, here, among the light reading. However a new book takes the cake. Debbie Macomber just showed up on the shelf. A knitting novel just shows up. Just like that. How cool is my break room?