Cambios.

A lot has changed in this past month...I've moved out, bought a bike (and have become a little obsessed with riding it, i must say) gotten back in touch with some people who I've missed dearly, and become close with someone who I've known as a casual friend/acquaintance for several years, but now I see in a different light. They're caring and fun, and it's nice to be around people who look forward to spending time with you, you know?

Anyways...this means I've been on a wee bit of a hiaitus with the knitting and general old-spinster-tasticness that usually consumes my life, but I'm getting back into it.

I've also registered for school for this month, and I'm SO excited to go back. I've missed it. I never thought I would miss it, but I did :). And now, I have a super awesome bike to ride there and back! I don't have any pictures of me with it, but I DO have a picture of me wit hthe first bike that I bought (which I later traded in for my current baby).

A super excited me with a Trek 8.2 DS, the day I bought it.

The ride mate and I, on the train back to Dana Point after riding to Oceanside...Total miles for the day: 37. Awesome.

The NEW new baby. Trek 7.3 Hybrid. YUM. Lurve.

 One of the stops on our most recent ride (Newport Dunes-ish area. 11.8 miles of gorgeous surroundings...swooning over here!)

Things I've learned recently:

1. Excedrin 30-45 minutes before a long ride makes a HUGE difference in muscle fatigue.
2. Good friends make everything ok. Even if it's just for a night, or a few hours, it's ok.
3. Malabrigo really IS as awesome as everyone said it was.
4. Biking outside in the morning makes the rest of the day a lot better...and biking at night after work makes the shift shorter, and it the best way to end a stressful day.

Hope you're all doing well...knitting pics coming soon, I promise. :)

<3 Gabs

Retro Knitting.

(Clearly, my knitting stalked me all the way to work this afternoon. And now it refuses to leave my desk. What am I supposed to do?)

Got a new app on the Droid today...Retro Camera! It's way neato. It makes all your pictures look...retro. Yeah, that was probably more explanation than you needed but hey. Aaanyway, just wanted to test it out, and at the same time, give you a look at another work in progress. It's a hat for a friend of mine who might be moving to San Francisco. He's a baldy bean, and he asked me to make him a few hats to keep his head warm in the cold San Fran winter months. This one's almost done, I've finished 2 more for him, and then 1 more to go.

After that there's arm warmers for a friend who moves to Philly, a beanie with a moose on it for my coworker, finishing a shawl for the mama, aaaaaaaaaaaaand Christmas gifty knitting is underway as well. Good thing, too, because moving day is Saturday, and I'll need something to keep me entertained in the new place!

Stitch love,

Gabs

What a Bum.

I'm a bum! Well, not really. But as far as blogging goes, yes. I'm a big certified bum. BUT in the knitting/crafting/working world...it's been busy busy busy over here. I have a ton of projects in the works, as usual; exciting for me, though, is this: I've completed my first "for me" project! Yup, that's right, I've made something for me to keep. Forever. And not because I made it for someone else and they didn't want it.

I call it My Bum Hat. I used Rowan's Felted Tweed Aran yarn in color Ivy for it, on size 8 circular (and later, double pointed) needles. The pattern is courtesy of Jared Flood at Brooklyn Tweed.  I wanted a yarn that was kind of nubby, if you will, with some texture. I LOVE how this hat turned out! It stays on my head, but its not super tight, and it doesn't cover my ears completely, so my head doesn't overheat when I wear it.

A close-up of the cabling on the crown. It has a 1x3 slip stitch cabled pattern that decreases to a 1x1 pattern as the crown narrows at the top. Time consuming, but totally worth it. This hat seems so artsy and cool to me. I feel happy when I wear it. :-)

 

Anyways, I have a LOT more projects to put up here and show you guys, but I didn't wanna put them all up at once. Thanks for sticking with me...I know I get SO excited over this stuff. What can I say, I'm a crafty, nerdy, creative bug. 

 

Gabi

Mas Proyectos

SoooOoOo...more projects!

First up...it's Phil the Phish! (Ok, maybe just Phil the Fish, but it's more fun to match the spelling to the alliteration, no?) Phil is a dead fish beanie that I made for one of my fave coworkers, Jo. She's an awesome coworker, and she's always bringing me treats and coffee and such to work, so when she asked me for a hat, and she got SO excited over this one, I just had to make it for her. Aaaaand...

She loved it! (sorry for the crappy quaity of the pics; they're off of my phone and the lighting isn't super awesome-o here in the laboratorio). She's brought it to work the last few days to make sure that ALL of our coworkers get to see him. She's so sweet.

THIS adorable girl is my other supremely cool coworker Rebecca. She fell in love with Phil today, so she decided to try him on as well. He tried to eat her face, but it looks like she survived. ;)

Me and Jo...she insisted I take a picture with her and Phil (that Phil, he's SO HOT right now! Movie, anyone??) I think my face looks fat but hey.

Ah, the pink blanket. I made this blanket for Kyle's mom for Mother's Day...and as far as I can tell, she loved it. If you know me, you know I absolutely LOVE giving gifts. I would rather give 25 gifts than receive one any day. Especially when I'm giving people things that I've made. I don't make things by hand for just anyone, only for the people that I really care about, and who mean something special to me. Kyle's mom is fantastic; we always have a good time when I'm around her, and she's very loving and accepting...who better deserves a blanket?! The running joke is that when everyone else is freezing, there's a very good chance Kyle will be sweltering, so I told her that it's for those nights on the couch when the fan is on with the A/C because he's hot, while everyone else is huddles under multiple blankets/sweaters. She seemed to think it was a good idea. :)

In other news, we went and saw Thor and Rango last night at the drive-in. Verdict? Thor was thoroughly entertaining, and I LOVE that they're tying in Iron Man and other movies, getting ready for The Avengers. Very cool. Rango...the animation was absolutely fantastic. The story itself left me a little wanting, if we're being completely honest. Though, the references to a whole bunch of other JD movies were really cool (Don Juan de Marco my fave, obviously), and the cast was really neat. Isla Fisher and Bill Nighy both did pretty convincing accents, quite the accomplishment in my book.

Well...it's been an okay day at work...off in 24 minutes and I'm listening to some Damien Rice on my phone ("Rat Within the Grain" = AMAZING. Go listen. Like now.). My coworkers are play fighting over work...maybe I should go help?? :) 'Til next time...

Gabi

Projects!

Welp, it's been a while...but I'm back! Not that very many of you care...haha. It's been a month since my last post, and it's been a busy month. Besides Easter (SUPER fun), working, the gym, and prepping for Mothers' Day, I've finished so many projects! A couple of hats, a scarf/shawl for my Crafty Peep Swap partner...I know I'm forgetting a few, but not to worry, they'll all make it up here. :)

Wanna see?

You know you do.

Ok so it's not  the best picture of this thing, but it was still uber fun to make, and i can't wait to make more of this stuff! This was the shawl/scarf I made for my Peep Swap partner. It was SO cool, I'm not gonna lie. I'm sure there will be a better picture of it eventually, my super sweet partner was really excited when she got it in the mail, and I was so glad. Even though she told me the stuff she likes, I was still nervous sending a gift to a total stranger, so it was nice that I hit the jackpot on that.

Apparently my project pics are at home, on my camera. I could have sworn I had more on my phone, but alas, no estan aqui. It's alright though, there's one I can't post any pics of yet anyways, because it hasn't been given to anyone yet ;) That should be remedied by tomorrow or Monday. I'll be sure to keep you posted!

Gabi

Hump Day

Not feeling so talkative today. Not feeling so awesome today, actually, would be a better way of putting it. So, here's some pictures that I'm using to cheer me up. Maybe they'll do something for you too?

 "It is ok, I will watch you from this couch here while YOU get ready to go to work!" *Doug voice* (Doug from Up...tell me you've seen that movie)

"I have brought you this leash, please take me for a walk please please PLEASE oh PLEASE take me for a walk!"

Anyways, that's all I've got for now. Think after work I'm going to go home and work on one of my many crochet projects. Got a few that I need to finish for Mothers' Day. Ttyl.

Gabs

READY for another weekend :)

Well Helloooooo blog! It's been another week...what can I say, I'm getting used to this whole "journal about life" thing. BUT, Kyle suggested that I take pictures of projects that I've done so far, and that's what I kinda started this blog for. Nothing too exciting to report yet, but I DO have a few to take pictures of. I don't have pictures of all of them, but that's because most (ok all) of them were gifts, so I'm gonna have to go track down their recipients and pin them down long enough to take pictures of them. :)

1)  This is a lavender lapghan (like an afghan, but smaller. For your lap. I'm sure you got that.) I started this one about a year and a half ago, and I'm JUST getting around to finishing it now. It's gonna go to my amazing cousin Alex, who's currently in Washington, with AmeriCorps.

2) This is the FIRST hat I ever knit the right way (i.e. on circular needles, for anyone who knows what that is). I made it back in October, and it went to Kyle. Since then, he's also gotten some Celtic fingerless mittens and another beanie, with earflaps. You can see his rendition of said hat here. I'll try to get an actual picture of it soon. :)

3) THIS handsome fellow is Bugsy. He's a Boston Bull Terrier, and damnit his lil ears get chilly sometimes when he's hanging out with all us peeps in the garage. So, his mama asked me to knit him a beanie, and it think he looks pretty spiffy. He didn't even seem to mind wearing it that much! You can't see it, but the chinstrap fastens on the other side with this awesome black-and-white polka dot button. SO cute.

Anyways, I hope you like these projects; there's much more to come, as soon as I can get pics. Three more hats, gloves, blankets, ahhhh! Apparently I've been a busy crafter, and I didn't even realize that. Haha.

On another note, I'm so ready for this weekend! Sat, Sun, and Mon off...pure bliss. Mom's outta town with the bf for the weekend. I got Tangled on Blue-Ray (Kyle doesn't know it yet but he will be watching it with me. Shhh...oh wait. What's that? He follows this blog? Damnit...foiled again!). Who knows what else I'll do?! I'll keep you posted!

Gabs

St. Paddy's/Wedding/Weekend Recap

Sooooo...
Last Thursday was St. Patrick's Day, and I got to spend the evening...at work. It was REALLY busy, though towards the end of my shift, one of the E.R. doctors was starting a dialysis catheter and was nice enough to explain what he was doing (I think he saw the crazy in my eyes...I get that way with medicine; I think it's SO cool) and let me help him out a bit. Really neat. After that, I headed over to the apartments to see Kyle and hang out with people, but it turns out most of them had already left for the bar, and the ones who hadn't were headed to bed. Seeing as I had to be back at work at 0430 on Friday, I was a big fat ball of fun, and went home to bed as well, hahaha.

I got to wear my favorite green sweater...yay!

...AND my green Vans. Everyone was laughing at how green I was that day.

My DELICIOUS Irish dinner. Forgive the cabbage, I know it's not a true Irish thing...I just love cabbage. The Corned beef from the cafeteria...amazing.

Friday night, Kyle and I went to the Mission Tiki drive in, and saw Paul and The Adjustment Bureau (awful). Paul was...funny. Not as good as I'd hoped it would be - the main guys are the same ones from Shaun of the Dead, which was much better, in my opinion. It was still fun though, we went in our jammies and got some McDonalds on the way for dinner.

Saturday, we had a small birthday dinner for Aunty Audrey...me, mom, sisters, Cameron (sister's boyfriend), Chris and Pas (cousin and girlfriend), grandma, great aunt, and Kyle came over for dessert and...CRANIUM! Greatest game ever. So much fun. Everybody went home, and Kyle and I did nerdy computer things 'til about 1 am, hahaha.

Sunday morning, mom, A.A. and I went and met Dan (mom's boyfriend) at Corner Bakery for coffee/breakfast. Yummy. Did some random last minute shopping for pantyhose and cards and stuff before we got ready to go to the wedding. Oh yeah, the wedding...

Was cold.
About 40 degress with the wind chill factor.
So it was dresses, heels, and...snow jackets? Yup. Mom and aunt were in their snow/ski jackets and I LUCKILY had Kyle's pea coat. I looked really cute, to say the least. Hahahaha....About halfway through the evening, it started dumping rain on us...Thank goodness Kyle was able to pick me up earlier; we left at about 8:05 pm, and I was SO ready to put on my jammies.

We spent the night in Dana Point...FUN! And in the morning we drove up PCH to...

Kyle wasn't feeling very photogenic. Still cute though. :)

SUGAR SHACK! Kyle's been talking about this place for forever, and I wanted to finally try it; let me tell you, it was delicious. OMG good. There was rain everywhere, but luckily we got a seat inside, and I had some great eggs and Hollandaise sauce. Yummy yummy! Plus, Kyle hadn't been there in a really long time, but one of the waiters still recognized him. Fun. He took me home after, and I had to get ready to go back to work :(. All in all though, it was a fantastic weekend.  I don't get to get away very often, and I enjoyed every second of it. Now, I'm on day 2 of my 6 day stretch at work, and it's not been too awful so far. I'm hoping it stays this way. Thanks for listening to my epic weekend stories (not really, but hey) all, I'll be back soon.

Off to the gym!

Getting Ready for the Weekend...Eek!

My cousin Angela is getting married this weekend, and we all know Gabi loves any excuse to buy new shoes. I ordered my dress this past Sunday, and it came in the mail yesterday afternoon. I was looking for a pair of emerald-green shoes originally (yay green!), but alas, nobody seems to have the same taste in crazy colors as me. BUT, I did find these adorable Jessica Simpsons online and Nordstrom....happy...

(pardon the quality...phone picture. Oh, and pardon the AccuChek machine, computer, and desk...I'm still at work. Shhh.) I had to order them in a 9 1/2 online and pick them up in Riverside this morning. Then I visited my mama at work in Ontario to have lunch with her before coming to work myself. Pretty productive day, all in all. Hahaha.

I'm super mega excited for this weekend...my Aunty Audrey (yes, I still call her that) is coming into town on Friday for the wedding this weekend. Kyle and I are going to the drive-in in Montclair Friday night (we may or may have gone on Monday as well) to see Paul and The Adjustment Bureau...we bring our own snacks and food and nerdyness. Plus, $7 per person for TWO movies?! Even if they're bad, you can't beat that. Plus, you get to watch from the comfort/security of your own car. Amazing.

Saturday night, we're having a belated birthday dinner for A.A.'s birthday, which was Feb. 8 (but she lives in CO, so it's the best we could do). Sunday is the wedding (fun!) in San Juan Capistrano, and then Kyle and I are staying in Dana Point that night, and hanging out at the beach on Monday, since that's my regular day off during the week. I tell ya, I haven't had a fun weekend like this planned in a long time. I'm excited! Pictures to follow, of course.

Welp, I think my shift is officially over...I'd best be scooting my butt on home, I wanna try these babies on with my dress! And it's been a reallu busy shift...I may or may not be finishing this evening off with a bottle glass of red wine. Mmm...

I'm Here!

So, I got told by a certain someone the other day that I should start a blog...So, here I am. At first, the idea didn't really appeal to me; I've never been one to keep a journal (even though my mama always said I should...it just always seemed a little useless to me). However, I've realized that there's a lot going on in my life right now that I'm thoroughly enjoying, and I will want to remember how I'm feeling about things right NOW, as they're happening.

My life may not be extraordinary, but it's happening. And I want to remember it.

To start, maybe you should get to know a little bit about me, eh? Well, either way, you're gonna get a little bit of history here, so, enjoy the ride. :)

This past year has been exhausting, emotionally and physically and mentally. March of last year, I was still REALLY trying to go to school, I had just started working full time, and I was really trying to make a certain "relationship," if you can call it that, work. I put it in quotations, because of course it was a relationship; everyone that's in your life for an extended period of time has a relationship with you, but I'm referring to a romantic relationship here, and in that sense, it was at best a pseudo-relationship. I wanted it so, SO badly, and I liked to pretend that it was a real relationship sometimes, but it wasn't. I did backbends for this person, and I realize now that that's now how either party in a healthy relationship should have to act. April 2010, I cut it off. It was unbelievably hard...probably one of the hardest things I've ever done. May, June, July...they were excruciating, I won't lie. But you know what? It got a LOT easier in August, when this person began coming around again, begging for my attention right as I started to show interest in someone else.

That same someone who told me to start this blog. :)

This is not meant as a pity party; believe me when I say I am MUCH happier now. I'm still not perfect, but that whole experience last year really opened my eyes, and while I know that there is compromise in any relationship, it can never be one-sided. I won't do that again.

This blog is a way to communicate my erratic, inane, emotional thoughts, with no pretense of being about anything but me. If you know me, you know that I'm constantly thinking about other people. I worry more than probably any person should, and I think it could be very nice to be able to vent here (I type way faster than I write). There will definitely be pictures of my projects (let's be honest, between those and my dog, there's probably no more room in my phone for pictures), maybe a few random poems or two (yes, I've been known to write). I invite you to stop by any time you please, and let me know what you think!