Time Sure Flies ... Bzzz, Bzzzzz

I can't believe that it's almost Thanksgiving. Shit where the hell did the whole fucking year go???? Maybe it's because I've been unemployed for the majority of the year but it feels like it went by super duper fast. Not just fast mind you, but super duper fast. I really don't know where this year has gone. And worst yet, I have done nothing. Absolutely nothing. I haven't finished any major knitting projects, I haven't even started writing that novel I'm going to write, I haven't lost weight, and most importantly I haven't gotten a new job yet. I'm hurting man. I really need to start making some income. I'm so desperate that I'm even answering job postings on Craig's List. And most of those are complete and total scams, but what else am I supposed to do???
Anyways, the interview I had at the beginning of the month didn't work out, I was turned down because of my credit. How am I supposed to keep up my credit score when I've been unemployed for 10 months???? I'm sorry but when money ran out I decided to buy food instead of making timely payments on my credit cards. And recently, I haven't even been sending payments and the calls have started but I don't know what they expect me to do? Sell a kidney? I'm beginning to feel desperation breathing down my neck. I completely broke down earlier today when I was driving to pick up my brother from school. I don't know what I'm going to do next.
I had two more interviews this week and then another one on Wednesday I need one of these to work out. Because if they don't, I'm not sure what else I can do.

Another Week, Another Interview

Sunday night ... shudders of nervousness run through my body. I have a job interview tomorrow. I hate interviews. I really and truly suck at them. I don't know why. But, it's either nothing comes to mind and I'm a bad mime trying to take up time with useless hand gestures and contrived facial expressions meant to convey understanding or my mouth doesn't stop to communicate with my brain and all this blather tumbles forth. Either way not a good way to make an impression on a potential employer. This time I've at least made it to the interview. I've been applying for every conceivable job I could think of for the last couple of weeks and haven't gotten a call. Not even Wal-Mart called me, and they hire everybody and their dog. I'm not sure why they wouldn't want me. I have a theory ... I think it's because I have a college degree. Honestly, that's the only thing that makes sense. I have retail experience, customer service experience, I speak english, and I know all the local Wal-Marts like the back of my hand. If I were Wal-Mart management I'd be jumping through hoops to get me in, but alas no, not even a call. Is there a certain degree of dumbness you must obtain before being considered for a low level job of Wal-Mart cashier? I think so. I think there are hidden questions in the Wal-Mart application that only people with IQ's in the single digits see, weeding them from the herd so that Wal-Mart management can employ them. Don't believe me? Go to your local Wal-Mart, ask the nearest associate, if you can find one, and ask them the simplest question such as "Do you carry buttons?" and all you'll get is a blank stare and them looking around frantically trying to find another hapless associate to pass you off to. And yes, that is a preposition and yes I will end that sentence with said preposition.
I'm still working on my double knitted scarf, it's slow work this double knitting thing. I need to find a new project but I've been worried about tomorrow's interview all week long so I haven't wanted to start anything new that might take actual concentration. Hopefully, tomorrow will go smoothly and then I can cast on Aeolian Shawl from Knitty.

Double Knitting

Today I'm trying double knitting for the first time ever. Double knitting is when you knit both sides of a piece at the same time creating a double sided fabric. I've never done this so I decided to try it out. I'm knitting a "Harry Potteresque" scarf with thick stripes. I do believe that this is the coolest thing ever. Grant it, I live in southern Texas and will never have the need for a scarf much less a thick scarf and that I only have one ball of each color so the scarf will be rather short, but beyond all this is the sense of satisfaction that I was able to get the hang of it and I'm just loving the finished project. And fingers crossed for a cold front sometime in the coming weeks.

What to knit, what to knit, what to knit

Unemployment continues... Why is it even though I am unemployed I still do not look forward to Monday mornings? Is it a psychological thing??? Now, there's something to ponder about.

In knitting news -- I finished the Traveling Woman shawl I was working on. I took pictures of the finished product, but unfortunately I forgot to place the memory card back in the camera so the pictures on the camera and I have long lost the wire to connect said camera to computer. I would take pictures of it with the memory stick in the camera, but I have already gifted it away. I gave it to my 3 year old niece who loves all things girlie and pink. I placed it inside a Disney Princess's lunch box and she absolutely adored it. So did her mom, who has already asked to borrow it. It was a nice shawl, but a little too pink and girlie girl for me. I like giving my knitting away to my niece she just thinks it's the coolest thing. A couple of weeks ago, I was babysitting and trying to work on a different project when she asked when I was going to make something for her. I quickly took up the ugliest red acrylic yarn you have ever laid eyes on and knitted up a square with size 9 needles. Pretty simple 1x1 ribbing on either end and a center of garter stitch. I quickly seamed the squared in half leaving an opening and abba cadabra a glove. Rumor has it that she wore it all week long and even to school. Kinda made me feel bad that I made it from such ugly yarn so Traveling Woman was my way of apologizing.

Now, I'm trying to think of what to make next. I'm liking these quick knits. Cast on, a week later a pretty shawl good times. I promised my sister I'd make her a shawl in purple wool I have stashed. I just need to figure out which design. I might make another Springtime Bandit I truly enjoyed that knit. I'm going through all the design on Ravelry at the moment trying to make up my mind. I was also eying Eunny Jang's Endpaper Mitts. I looovvve the way they look, but at the moment I don't have the needles free to begin the gloves, but I'm dying to try out the colorwork pattern on a scarf maybe... now, there's an idea.

Still Unemployed ....

Last time I was on here it had been five months since I lost my job, well, now it's eight and I'm still unemployed which by the way still blows. I've applied everywhere I can think of. At this point I'm not picky, I need a job!!!! So, if anyone out there in internet lands happens to stumble upon this blog and reads this and you have any ideas related to finding and actually getting employed please let me know. I'm desperate, people. I've even applied to Wal-Mart and the local convenience stores, but they won't have me. In the last couple of months, I've been to three interviews all of which I thought had gone okay but none of which panned out. So, internet gods, I implore you I need help with this job thing. I'll sacrifice my first modem for any help on the job front.

I'm running low on sock yarn. I only have 15 skeins left and I used up by Knit Picks Andean Treasure in Wild Rose last week when I knit the Springtime Bandit. I really loved the way it turned out, but I've sent it off to my best friend up in Dallas since they actually have winter like weather there.



Currently on the needles is a Log Cabin Afghan, a giant granny square blanket, and Traveling Woman Shawl. Those are the ones that I'm pretty sure will get finished.

OHhhhh, I almost forgot I also have one sock done of Monkey Socks. I'm sure the second one will

get done eventually. I made the leg much short with only three pattern repeats instead of six. I really don't like long socks.


Also on the needles, but about to get frogged is February Lady Sweater and EZ's Tomten Jacket which has been languishing for the past two years. Although I love the Feb. Lady Sweater, I've decided in my old age and wisdom that I don not have the patience for sweater knitting. That might change but for now the yarn that I'm gonna get from those two projects will become scarfs or hats or something easy and fast to knit.

Unemployment Blows

So, I lost my job back at the end of February almost exactly three years to the day I started.  I was part of what at the time was called a "reduction in the workforce" attributed to the fact that business had been sucking the last few months and banks weren't making loans.  At the time I was "let go" I was told that as soon as business started picking up that they would call me back.  I wasn't holding my breath for this because let's face it unless your business is porn or liquor it was highly doubtful that it would pick up any time soon.  And at first I was okay, no biggie, I'll file for unemployment, look for a job, take a mini vacation.  Right?  

So everything was all good, but now it's almost 5 months later and I still don't have a job.  Five months!!! And unemployment has gone caput and I still don't have a job.  So I spend my time looking for a job, not as easy as it sounds, updating twitter with inane comments because my life sucks, trying to knit, which is not as easy as that sounds with the stress of maybe running out of yarn before I find a job and am able to buy new yarn, and trying not to go insane in a house full of people all of which in one way or another are associated with the local school district so they are all here all day long because it happens to be summer.

As I said unemployment blows.

WIPs

Ok, I have a confession to make. It won't be easy but I think it is my sacred duty to shout it to the great infinite web universe. After today I will need to hide my face everywhere I go in shame, but it is time I admit it to at least myself. I'll just take a deep breath and try not to cry as I type this ---- I AM A HORRIBLE KNITTER. There I said it now I can go on with my life. I like knitting I really do, but then I go on Ravelry and it's like holy mother fucking shit I'm no where as good or talented or patient as these people. So I get a bit depressed and eat ice cream and cast on a new project hoping that this project will be the one that unlocks my inner knitting genius. It of course doesn't work and I'm left with the dilemma of either having another project on the needles or frogging the thing. I usually end up frogging but not always so let's see what is currently on the needles:
1. Tomten Jacket -- I started this jacket last summer for my nephew and have not finished it. I need one sleeve and half of the other to finish. I don't think it fits my nephew anymore. Six year olds tend to stretch a lot. Not sure if I'll finish it for the sake of finishing or if it'll go to the pond.
2. Laminaria from Knitty -- I'm determined it make this my first finished lace project. I'm on the second repeat of the blossom chart. I started this in May and I'm working on it whenever the mood for lace strikes.
3. Rib Socks -- one down one to go started this a couple of weeks ago as when my brother started driving school I work on them as I wait for him after class. Hopefully this will be done by the time he gets his driver's license.
4. Whisper Cardigan from Interweave -- started last month as my late night show watching knitting and then stopped watching late night tv and stopped knitting on this. I finished the first sleeve and am currently working on back.
5. 2 Log Cabin Blankets - don't ask me why because I don't know. I might have to do with watching the quick progress the Yarn Harlot is having with it but mine are slow going bordering at being at a complete stand still.

As soon as I find my camera I'll post pics of the culprits.

Twitter anyone?

To twit or not to twit isn't that the question everyone asks themselves nowadays??? I'm really going to try to start up the blog and hopefully get pictures up and stuffs but for now i'll tweet twitter id: grimmdef