I woke up this morning to an empty gas tank, and $2 per gallon of gas in Seattle. And to top it off, according to this morning’s paper, the gas companies have a formula for neighborhood-by-neighborhood pricing — basically what they think that neighborhood can bear. Unfortunately, I’m in one of those lucky neighborhoods.
But thank goodness for a very small gas tank and great gas mileage (50 miles to the gallon, 2 gallon capacity). Even though the gas gauge light was blinking at me this morning, it only took 1.5 gallons — $3. I won’t have to fill up for another month. Although, if things continue as they are, I will be using my Vespa a lot more! As long as the weather cooperates, that is. In Seattle, that can be a little dicey. But in an El Nina winter, there has been lots of opportunities for some really fun scoots to and from work. Hence the lost of knitting time on busses. As you can tell, I’m not complaining.
My department was just “re-organized” from IT to Finance yesterday. Today was the first divisional meeting. While I was standing in the back of the room, I looked around and there was this woman with fire engine red hair (color of my spinning wheel) from the roots to about half way down the length, then it faded to black, with some reddish brown in between. She had it way up in fluffy pig tails beginning at the crown of her head. (and yes, she was all dressed in red and black to match her hair) It was all I could do to keep myself from pulling the drop spindle out of my computer bag and grab a handful of that hair. I think it would spin beautifully! Is that bad of me?
And before you ask, yes, there are certain people in my company that pride themselves in being different. They seem to congregate in a couple of departments. Her department being one. The woman sitting next to her could have doubled for Boy George during his Karma Chameleon period. Boy, am I dating myself!
America’s Cup Update
Wow! Team New Zealand is just having bad luck on top of bad luck. Their mast broke today during the leg 3 of the 4th race. What a scary sight. I’m glad that no one was hurt during that not so little incident.
Score: Alinghi 4, Team New Zealand 0.
And in case anyone is keeping the other score:
Race 1: Broken shackle before the start of the race; took on 6 tonnes of water; broken boom during leg 1; titanium ring on the genoa shattered (still leg 1); blew out a second sail (yes, still leg 1) and then gave up and was towed home.
Race 2: Outsailed by Alinghi on the last leg of the race, minutes from the finish line.
Race 3: Bad wind call by Team New Zealand, and a great call by the Alinghi weather team.
Race 4: Broken mast in leg 3.
I finally finished Mom’s red socks that I started way back in January. And, yes! they really are that bright and shiny! I took a couple of detours while working on these socks (Fuzzy Feet, 2 socks on 2 circulars, and the start of the Timber Frame). These were primarily my bus project, but I haven’t been riding the bus during the past couple of weeks, so I decided to just sit down and finish them. Yeah! I promised myself that I wouldn’t start the Lorna’s Laces socks for myself until these were finished. What an incentive!
Here’s my variation to the Philosopher’s Wool Timber Frame pattern. I’m making it with Green Mountain Spinnery Mountain Mohair in Moss and Raven. I’m following their instructions for weaving in the yarn. There is absolutely nothing to snag fingers on!
I still need to work on my tension. The outside looks slightly corrugated because my right hand tends to knit a little tighter than my left (I normally knit continental). So even while weaving, I’m pulling that stitch in a little tight (indented). I’m glad that I decided to do a “practice” garmet before tackling the Kilim Jacket. Hopefully, I’ll figure out how much tension to put in by that time.