Inert Knitter

In all honestly, I’m a terrible cook.  I can cook little things really well.  Spam, saimin, portuguese sausage, bacon…that I can do.  I can do those things fairly well.  Ask me to make anything else?  I dunno.  I do pretty ok with Penne and alfredo, I can do a Cannelloni pretty decent.  Today I decided to do a Filipino dish.  I don’t know how to cook Filipino anything.  I know that it’s a watch and learn kind of culture…but I wasn’t too interested in the preparation as much as I was interested in the final product and the act of eating it.  I was craving pork guisantes and I told Dan.  He suggested that I make it for dinner.  Now, I thought that he was a little crazy…pork guisantes for dinner…at his house?  I didn’t know if his dad would eat it or not.  His dad is a big steak and potato kind of guy.  Filipino food?  I dunno.  I tried…and i kind of failed.  It’s not inedible.  It just doesn’t taste the same.  We put too much tomato sauce.  My mom ended up telling me that the tomato sauce was really just for the coloring than the flavor.  I wish she had told me that before I put two cans of tomato sauce and a can of paste.  Sigh.  I made pork guisantes stew.  It’s ok.  Practice makes better.  Next on my to try list is lumpia.  I want to learn from the best.  Unfortunately, Auntie Merced lives in Kalihi and I don’t want to drive all the way over there just to learn how to make lumpia.  I’ll have to ask my mom…again.  Those are the two filipino dishes that I want to master.  Pork guisantes and lumpia.  Once I get those things, I’ll be happy.

I decided to work a full 32 hours again.  Now that’s only 8 hours away from full time, but that makes a big difference.  I’ve gotten tired of not having cash…and I have a loan to pay for.  I know nothing about my client other than it’s at a school that I’ve worked at and I’ve gone to.  I’m crossing my fingers and hoping that the new building was opened so that I can sit in an air conditioned FSC next to the front parking lot because Makakilo is so damn hill-y.  Damn those hills.  I also decided to take on five classes this semester…because I want stress.  I can do it though.  I’m capable, I just need to prioritize.  I need to set goals for this semester.  I just…need to figure those out now.  What’s different though from this semester and last semester is that I’m only going to school for 2 days.  The other classes are online.  Three to be exact.  Well, that’s if I can even get into the classes.  Two are open only to outer island kids.  Bummer.   I do hope I get into those classes though.  Two writing intensive classes and a methods course.  I’m asking for trouble.  We’ll just see how that goes.

There it is.  I asked for hair just below my shoulders.  She cut it..and then it dried above..my shoulders.  Poo.  I think it’s cute though.  It is certainly a lot better than what it was.  I was glad that she actually finished the style instead of just letting me leave with my hair wet.  I’m happy/not happy.  Ah well.  Can’t do anything but let it grow now.

Here we are at PCC right before the awesome night show.  I forgot how fun PCC really is.  I failed to realize how great Hawaii really is.  Everyone looked happy to be there.  Hawaii brought joy to all…they had good kalua pig.  It was really fun.

We ate yakiniku and Coldstone.  This was the first time I ever ate Coldstone and I must say that I was not disappointed.  I was actually quite happy.  I’d like more.

Time to blog, time to blog.  I do hope to at least blog once a week.  I should also make it a goal to blog about knitting or crocheting…at least a sentence.  This blog post though…pictures.  Just some pictures.

I got me a new water bottle.  What’s so special about it?  Nothing, really.  I was just excited to get another one after I lost my super awesome Nike one.  Lesson? Don’t buy a ridiculously expensive water bottle and forget it at some elementary middle high school.  I needed a water bottle anyway.  Work is going to start kickin’ in soon.  We’ll have to see how that goes.

With the coming of a new school year means the coming of work.  I…eat lunch at work so thus, I need absolutely adorable bento boxes!!!!!  99 cents!!!  YAY!  The pink and green ones are the same, they have a separator inside to keep apart the meat from the rice.  It’s niiiice.  The blue one is a three tiered one.  It’s small.  Good for snacks or perhaps craft supplies.  I haven’t quite decided yet.

Danny got me some super cute chopsticks with bags.  I said that I’d eat my meals with chopsticks and he pounced on the idea….so he got me chopsticks.  I use them.  So far I’ve been using only the blue one, since..they’re the same thing just in different colored bags..lol.   I think they’re cute though.

My brother came back from the Philippines and gave me an uber awesome bento box!  He didn’t think I’d like it, considering that it’s a box in a box in a box in a box, but i like it cause I can have matching boxes for everything I eat.  Lol.  I’m not that peculiar, I swear.

I also got a faux Tokidoki bag and some slippers.  I think the slippers are too big, but meh, good enough.  Much better than what I have going on now.

Proof that I’m actually working on something that involves yarn.  These bathing suit bottoms are taking a long time because I’m always dissatisfied with how it looks.  So far, I’m ok with how they look.  So far.

I didn’t take a formal haitus. I just…haven’t been updating the way I should be. To make up for this fact, I have pictures! Yaay! Pictures! No yay? Ok. Fine. Let’s start with the around the island trip last Sunday. Since I was the driver, I was a bit lazy to take pictures. Lame excuse, I know. But, still, I didn’t take out my camera as much as I should have. Poo.

Terrell prior to picking up Timmy.  He’s still not completely up yet…he might be.  He devoured two cans of energy drinks.  He should be up after all that.

Mark @ Islands at Ala Moana.  We hijacked Justin from Networks so we could have a drink before yakiniku.

Timmy talking to some unknown gentleman.  I think.  I really don’t like how the straw is more in focus than Timmy.  The straw isn’t my main subject.  Blargh.

That ends the pictures from the first around the island.  I took more pictures, yes, but they weren’t really that good.  Ah well.

This is the second around the island that Danny and I did.  We took Jeffy around the island and actually took more stops.  These pictures were taken at some random lookout past Hanauma Bay.  We didn’t go in because there was no parking and we’d have to pay to go in.  We’re poor.  Paying was not an option.

Meet Spencer Jr.  I forget where his name comes from.  He belongs to Janell.  Apparently, she’s supposed to bring him everywhere she goes.  This was taken at some random lookout while going down the road near Hanauma Bay.  We were forced to turn around because of brush fires.  I’m sure this valley used to be something spectacular and beautiful. Now it’s just covered in houses and some funny looking metal roof house.  Not…as pleasant as it used to be, I’m sure.

Jeff looks super excited to be at the Pali Lookout.  It, like it usually seems to be, was very windy.  It was a very bad skirt day.  Lucky me, I was wearing a skirt.  We took a little hike down and saw the Pali road.  It was a nice hike.  I had slippers on.  I never want to do it again.

Peacock like scrap, brah.  I didn’t straighten the picture.  I was lazy.  Tilt your head if necessary.  We went to Waimea Falls Park just to kill time between eating.  We had stopped at Romy’s shrimp place to sample some good shrimp, not failure shrimp like we had before.  We also stopped at Ted’s bakery and had some cake/pies.  We love Ted’s cakes.  I’d like more.  The reasonable stop was Waimea Falls.  This peacock was a big ham.  He would walk up to crowds, make himself look pretty and then realize that he’s too good for our presence and leave.  Prissy little peacock.

Second peacock shot.  I love taking pictures in natural light.  His colors pop and look so bright.

Jeffy smoking.  My mom went a bit…meeeeeeh…over his smoking.  What can you do?  He’s of age.  Let um go.

Finally, my favorite shot ever:

My new favorite picture ever.  I’m going to marry this man.  He means the world to me.

That’s the end of that.  I don’t really have much in the world of knitting to discuss.  Oh!  I finished the cable lace scarf for Aubrey, so that’s one gift right in the kisser.  I need to block it and then all pau!  I’m working on the easter vomit Clapotis.  It’s really not that bad.  Maybe it is.  I’ve decided to not decide yet.  Perhaps i’ll dye it…or I’ll leave it as is.  I dunno.  I’ll figure that out later.

A few quotes that I liked in the Stitch and Bitch ‘07 calendar.

“To be successful, the first thing to do is fall in love with your work.” –Sister Mary Lauretta

“Nothing will work unless you do.”–Maya Angelou

“A multitude of small delights constitute happiness.”–Charles Baudelarie

I hope to be successful…and love what I do.

I have two Works In Progress that need to be finished. The scarf that was supposed to be finished…oohhh, three weeks ago and a hat that will be gifted for Christmas, I hope. I’d love to put ribbon through the M1 holes…because ribbons always make things awesome. I asked Janell if the scarf was close to Tiffany green…I don’t think it really is…but meh. It’s green. Green=sufficient…I guess. This is only a quick update. PIctures will follow later. My dear Danny has my camera.

Speaking of camera.  I helped Danny with his instructables….instructions for the BBQ contest.  I took a few hundred pictures too many.  I think it was because I was using my 50mm and I loved how it look.  I think I really want a 35mm.  As useful as zoom lenses are, I love the way pictures look with a fixed lens.  I think I did good.  It sure was yummy.

I started on Tagalog rosetta stone. I’ve learned…nothing much really. Lol. We’ll have to see how that goes. I sound very haole…when I pronounce the words. it’s pretty sad. I do hope to get an A for my classes over the summer. It’d be nice….really it would be.

Boy, it’s been some time since I last blogged. Lots have happened, I guess. I’ve had class and done decent on exams. I found a kitty in a kennel on my car, who is hammin’ it up at Danny’s and marking everything upstairs. He’s cute, talkative, social, playful. Very kitten like…I <3 him but Danny……he doesn’t. Sigh, he might have to go to the crazy cat lady in Pearl City, but I don’t wanna. I love him.

Brittany’s grad party was this weekend. It was very fun, very exciting, very snazzy. To sum it up, I was under the influence for a good portion of the day/night. We checked in at three-ish. The drinking began. Bow making under the influence is not the best way to make bows. Vodka and me, we’re not friends. It leaves me in this odd dizzy haze, which causes me to have loud, somewhat inappropriate conversations with my auntie, uncle and Sabrina. Danny said I did a good job covering it up, I guess. I dunno. I have decided that we should vacation. Somewhere fun, somewhere away from home. Money must be saved by all the cousins, we will have a smashing good time…;D.

We ate at Mac 24/7 on Sunday for Brunch. It was more..lunch, than breakfast, but it was yummy. Danny and I shared fried chicken and waffles. There was an awful lot of chicken, and the waffles tasted yummy, I wanted more gravy, but…all they gave was in this cuuute little gravy boat. Ryan had the massive pancakes. Super yummy, it was the size of a fricking steering wheel. It was good. Aubrey had steak with onion rings, and that was delish. Mark had meatloaf, Janell had…..y’know I don’t remember. Sabrina had…an omelette..i think, and Brittany had the fish. I thought the restaurant was really cool. It was nice and open, very snazzy and hip looking. I did enjoy it.

Random photos:

This is the yarn I snagged from Isle Knit downtown. It really is such a cute hole in the wall. Sock yarn in the front for Dan’s socks, the light blue is made of Llama fur, the brown is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino (Cashmere and merino wool..yum), the black with other colors in it is Encore Colorspin, wool/acrylic, and lastly rustproof t-pins, unless everyone wants some brown red spots of rust on their Christmas presents.

I think this was before the drinking began, but I’m not too sure. I’m still making bows. I wonder where Ryan is for this picture.

The ladies get ready for the party.

Me=Buzzed (look at how red I am) Dan=quite amused.

Ryan eating a pancake burrito. Dan’s face=priceless. Ahahaha.

Lastly, my favorite Danna shot.

Ridiculously long post…with not a piece of knitting involved.  What kind of knitting blog has no knitting?!  Lol, this one apparently.

It’s looming over my head! Lol, it’s only June. I’m working on a baby green cable and lace scarf for Aubs, but I don’t quite know if she’d like it much. I dunno. My list is as follows:

1. Danny-I really don’t know what yet.
2. Mark-a knit black and white checkered brimmed hat that he’s been begging for.
3. Mom-recycled yarn shawl
4. Dad-…..no idea. I’ll probably cave and do a home depot gc
5. Nanang-socks!
6. Uncle Mario-probably same as dad
7. Mom Johnson-recycled yarn shawl. I’d love to find a nice lace weight that I could dye.
8. Dad Johnson-…same as my dad, lol.
9. Granny-prayer shawl, maybe
10. Kelley-star blanket
11. Jeremy-maybe same?
12. Ashley-cabled purse
13. Justin-brimmed hat
14. Michael-star blanket
15. Janell-???
16. Ryan-similar to Mark perhaps?
17. Aubrey-cable and lace green scarf/slouchy hat in same yarn
18. Arlene-blue slouch hat/maybe a bag
19. Lev- purple slouchy hat
20. Sabrina-cabled hobo bag
21. Terrell-…scarf for Seattle
22. Aaron-same
23. Auntie Naty- Gah, I don’t know, shawl’s all around.
24. Nanang Leona-Ditto.

I might add people later. I want to make more gifts for more people, but that’s the core..core group. I need to need to make for them. Blargh. I hope to be done with the scarf by next week? Maybe, then I can start on le hat, then I can cross her off the list! I don’t know if I want to block now, or maybe get them all done and then block all at one time? I dunno. We’ll see. Ahahahaha…I probably am delusional.

I am sick.  I hate being sick.  I heartily dislike it.  Most people who get colds get the whole…sore throat, cough, sneezing, maybe aches.  Me?  I get that, plus a ridiculous ear infection.  Gah.  Damn you otitis media!  Damn you to hell!  So much for it being a nice, sunny, warm summer.  I get to start it off fighting off infection.   Greato.

The very thought of going to class is making me even more sad.  Jesus, why’d I sign up for a class that meets every fricking day?  I do hope this clears up before Friday.  I need to work, considering that I didn’t work last Friday.  My job is bumming me out.  It really is my own doing.  Deciding to sub has made school easier, but finances hard.  If I work like I did before, it makes life hard as a whole, I needed a break.  Now it’s June and I’m sad.  Next, next semester I tell myself.  I’ll do the Monday to Friday gig next next semester.  I’ll need to anyway, I need health insurance.  Will ear infections count as a pre-existing condition?  People get ear infections all the time, right?  Ugh.  I need me some relief.

On a nice lighter note, I finished-finished my notebook cover.  I know I blogged about it like…last post or whatev, but I didn’t provide any proof of a finished product.  Well, B L A M:

Beautiful isn’t it?  Lol, it’s my first finished product in some time.  I wanted to weave ribbon through the 6 stitch cable part, but I haven’t found the perfect ribbon yet.  Please, don’t mind the crappy sewing machine, ball winder, red dismembered sweater and crap on my floor.  I’m a busy girl with busy things to do, like knit book covers, heh.  I knit it with Lambs Pride Worsted, on size 6 and 8 needles.  The pattern, from Ready, Set, Knit: Cables, called for 5’s and 7’s, but I didn’t have any in the shorter, not 14″ needles.  I liked working on straights for this instead of circs.  I like to go back to straights once in a while, but I favor circulars.  Partially because I don’t like my needles hitting the table, cause I like to rest my arms on a table and partially because Danny got me a set of interchangeable circular needles for my birthday.  That sweetheart.  I love how he accepts my crazy fanaticism about yarn and knitting and how I need to purchase a certain sweater from savers because it’s made from cashmere or angora and it would be too expensive to buy the yarn new and i just have to have to rip it apart.  (Talk about a run on sentence.  I think this post is good now.  My guilt for not posting pictures has been washed away, now that…pictures have been posted. Sleep sounds good right about now anyway.  I have class at 11am and it’s 430am.  It’s going to be a pretty tough day.

Talk about dedication to one’s craft. I just finished blocking the book cover I’ve been working on for a week.

I finished it about…a week ago, so I’ll be finished finished in about a few hours. Hopefully. This is my first time steam blocking…well it’s my first time blocking anything, so I’m crossing my fingers and hoping that it does ok. I purchased an UBER cute small ironing board. Uber fricking cute. Dan, being the Dan he is, had to tease me. Just because something’s small doesn’t automatically make it cute….but it helps sometimes. I’ll take pictures, I swear that I will. I just need to take out le bulky camera and take it. I can do it, I swear.

So, on another note. I’m a new godmother. Yay? I don’t really know the parents well, as cute as this kiddo is. So, if I’m not close to the parents, why exactly, am I a sponsor? Easy. I’m confirmed. It helps to be the only girl in the neighborhood. I didn’t exactly say yes either, my mother made sure if it. Thanks…mom. Meh. Daniel went to church, surprise, surprise. Sadly, he must accompany me to church again this weekend. I can’t say no when the cousins ask. That’s like impossible. I agreed to take pictures during their confirmation mass. Joy. I do hope I at least get free lunch. The Daniel and I do appreciate good food…:). My brother was filling me in earlier, telling me I need to take at least three pictures per family…then asks…do you have enough space for that? Now, unless there’s a ridiculous amount of people getting confirmed, I think a 2 gig card will handle 3 pictures per family. Now, remembering to clear my card before taking the pictures is a whole ‘nother story. We’ll have to see.

The Christmas list hasn’t even been dented. I have lists, I have names, I have ideas of what to make, but am I making them…..well yes. I’ve decided that a double knit scarf is probably a bad idea in Hawaii, even though it’s cute and I’m sure sometime in her life it would be handy. I’m not sure….I hope so. I’ve gotten over my icky acrylic issue. Acrylic is cheap, acrylic is everywhere…and after washing it in the washing machine with a butt load of fabric softener, it’s actually quite nice. So my list of thirty people, as of now, is still a list of thirty people. Great. I gave myself a deadline. By December 13th, 2008, I expect to be done with my list. Daniel, my sweet buttercup, decided that I should have some kind of consequence for not finishing. What kind of consequence, you say? A $50 dollar fine. Seriously? Where am I going to pull that kind of money from? Jesus, that’s why I’m making presents this year, lol. I don’t intend to spend more than 30 bucks as a whole on yarn and what nots. Mmm…now I feel a bit delusional. Ah well.

Marie Digby sounds like Mandy Moore. She’s got a pretty face that reminds me of Kristen Kruek. After Terrell send me her youtube videos, I thought, meh, he’s probably into her cause she’s hot. But after watching a few of her vids, I find her very talented. I love her song “Stupid for You” because it reminds me of what Danny dear and I have. There was quite a tizzy about her because she was signed to a record label before she put her vids up. Youtube apparently is only for unknowns that want to live the American dream to be found by some hot shot producer singing covers. Heaven forbid that you come across someone who happens to be signed already. Whatever. She’s a good singer. Her music might be too poppy for me. Me? Le queen of pop. I love pop. I loved every single Backstreet Boy and dubbed NSync all mine. Perhaps, at first listen, I just wasn’t in the mood for the super happy “Say It Again”. Whatever it is, I think she’s got a lot of potential and I wish her the best.