Weekly Cartoon #4

Boyfriend curse. Fact or Fiction. Could it be in their DNA to not appreciate the art of handmade gifts, much like their inability to pick up their socks and replace the toilet paper? This mysterious phenomenon needs further investigation.

Yup. Another purple shirt

Pattern is basically the Rusted Root with eyelet lace instead of leafy lace down the side. I removed the puffs on the sleeves, and added a crochet edge to the sleeves and the bottom of the shirt.
Yarn is Cotton Classic that Ana sent me.
I am so in love with the top-down raglan pattern; I was able to finish this in 9 days b/c it's so stinkin' easy. I may never do another seamed sweater again.

The best part of every day

When the sun goes down, and the curtains are drawn, it is time for FLASHLIGHT RAVE!!!! John, Perrin, and I turn off all the lights in the house, crank up the tunes on the radio, and shake our booties while running around with flashlights. I'm sure it looks like Watergate going on over here every night, but it is what I look forward to every day. All the troubles of the day are washed away by our silly ravin'. Right before bedtime, we climb under the covers of our bed and chase each other's light beams until Perrin giggles himself into a stupor.
My boys are my biggest joy. Even though there are times when it may seem overwhelming, and I feel utterly inept, these times of pure happiness strip away all the moments that made my head want to explode and make it easy to look forward to the adventures of the next day.

I just remembered this is a knitting blog

Prepare yourself for massive purging of TMI, which as many of you know is my specialty. But if I pour it all out here, you're all spared having to listen to my bitching in real life. You're welcome.
I have been knitting....quite a lot actually. The chunky green sweater was done in a week (check out the flickr for the pic), I'm almost done with Christmas knitting (minus Brian's hopefully awesome sweater), and I'm more than halfway done with a cute little lacey raglan for myself. Right now, knitting is the only thing keeping me from crying my eyes out.
This has been a very tough week for us here at Casa de la Wright. Perrin has officially become the schoolyard bully, and I can't for the life of me figure out what's going on with him. Is it normal 2 yr old behavior or am I the world's worst mom? It's nearly impossible to find another mom who will admit that her kid is ever anything but perfection, so it's difficult to gauge what "normal" is. Although normal for any offspring of mine is definitely subject to interpretation. My one major insecurity is always worrying that everything I do as a parent is screwing the kid up. I pretty much rock at everything else :) My own mom was so extraordinary that it's almost impossible to live up to those standards.
In other news, I am socializing. Helen and I have started our own little knitting group, and it's a very much needed opportunity to get out of the house minus toddler and talk to a grownup. I dig her. I realize that after I hang out with a new person, I go home and replay the entire dialogue in my head and critique myself on whether or not I was inappropriate. A habit I formed back in the day when I totally offended every person I encountered. I find myself trying so hard to keep conversation safe and small-talky that I don't really show my true personality. I'm now understanding that holding back a little bit might actually be a societal norm I didn't pick up. Maybe we're supposed to save our truest selves, the part of us that can be dark or just a little too weird for public, to the people we know will accept us in all our forms. And that keeping these social experiences light and fun doesn't mean we're being fake. I'm learning that telling someone my entire life story isn't necessary for them to know who I am or to decide if they want to be my friend. I'm still learning, still developing these social skills that I never really acquired growing up.
So......I will have knitting pics up soon. No cartoon this week just cuz I didn't feel like drawing one. Try not to cry yourself to sleep in disappointment. I must go do laundry. Good day.

Happy birthday to my one and only

Today is my husband's 28th birthday. He is my hero. My one true love. Most people spend their entire adult lives trying to find that one person who sets them on fire and makes them feel safe and loved. I was lucky enough to find that person when I was 21. John is an extraordinary person. Kind and selfless. He carries himself with the confidence and dignity of a man twice his age, yet he can tell the dirtiest jokes that would have a 13 yr old blowing soda out of his nose. The night that John and I revealed our feelings for each other, my best friend told me that he would take care of me for the rest of my life. I truly believe that he would leap in front of a bullet for me and our son. I believe that he would run to the far end of the earth to make us happy. So, today I honor the love of my life. The man who makes me tingle still and folds me into his big arms every night to keep me warm. I love you, babe.

In lieu of toon....cashmere goats

The first snowfall

Not even Halloween, and we've seen our first Chicago snow. Perrin thought it was the coolest thing in the universe and just had to go play in it. It snowed furiously (or in my southern opinion) for over an hour, but by the afternoon the sun had melted it away, leaving only these pics as proof to my TX clan that it ever existed. I've been reassured that this is yet another freakish weather event, much like the heat wave just a couple of months ago.

Ana Rocks!!!!

Last week, I ordered some gorgeous stitch markers from my friend, Ana. Today, I check the mail and lookeeeeee!!!
Not only did she send me the markers I ordered in a lovely wooden box, but she so generously and awesomely sent me some extras and some yummy yarn. Ana is the bee's knees.



Thanks Ana. I love it all.

Weekly Cartoon #3

My kid sister, unintentionally promoting a band she despises all in the name of comfiness and boyfriend loyalty.

Some Chicagoing pics

Me and my darling boys from the skydeck of the Sears Tower.



Me and Jason laughing hysterically at the bronzed Bob Newhart at the Navy Pier. It was his idea. Aren't we cool?



Perrin not quite understanding the concept of the telescopes.



My absolute favorite painting at the Art Institute. The Eventuality of Destiny by Giorgio de Chirico. I was practically hypnotized by this painting, even though the gallery also contained several Monets and Picassos that I had never seen before in real life.

Tattoo vs. Yarn

The never-ending saga of two over-the-top obsessions (borderline addictions) that are constantly threatening to steal all my money. I have 9 tattoos and have been debating getting a new one - a half sleeve of a phoenix flying out of the fire on my upper left arm. A stunning work of art it would be. A $400 or $500 work of art. The process of getting tattooed is a major high for me and the finished product makes me insanely giddy.
And then there's yarn. I have a weakness for cashmere. And it's sweater weather. The combo is enough to make my heart race with excitement.
So, let's face it. Part of being a red-blooded American is mind-numbing, crippling debt, so I'm fulfilling my patriotic duty by racking up the digits on my credit card.
Well, we'll see which addiction wins the battle.

Chicagoing, Christmas knitting, and basement flooding

Oh, so much has been going on in the last several days. Our best friend for like a million years came up from Austin to visit us this last weekend. We took him to oodles of touristy places like Sears Tower, Shedd Aquarium, Art Institute, Field Museum, and the Navy Pier. He loved it, but he did admit it was a bit chilly for his liking (it was in the 50s and WINDY!) We gorged on Chicago-style pizza and italian beef sandwiches and hung out at the Irish Pub in downtown Downers Grove. Pics will have to wait b/c of the next craptacular event....the rainstorm from hell.
Last night, from 9:30 to 6:30 this morning we were without power b/c of a killer rainstorm. Due to the power outage, the pumps in our basement that prevent it from flooding were not working. This morning we found our basement in 6 inches of water. John's childhood mementoes were destroyed in this flood. Apparently, the layout of our (rented) property is such that when it floods, the water is siphoned into the basement INTENTIONALLY and then pumped back out into what we have now learned is our neighbor's basement. When the electricity goes out, so does the pump. Shittiness all around I tell ya. Our landlord came by this morning and helped John get the rest of the water out and installed some fans to dry it out. Anyhoo, b/c the power was wonky, John's computer is off, which means I can't access our album's website for photos.
In other news, I've been working on Christmas knitting and developing my own pattern for a top designed to wear over a longer sleeved shirt. I'm making it with this adorable lilac paper yarn that an old SNB bud gave me a year ago. We'll see how it goes. I have finished a pair of socks that will have an owner this Xmas; I just don't want to reveal who that person is b/c she reads this blog.
I also wanted to say a big Thank You to those who have been amused by the cartoon. I have so much fun drawing them up, and I'm glad I'm not the only one who gets a giggle out of my warped sense of humor. I've decided to do them twice a week - one knitting and one non-knitting for my sister who loves my drawing but doesn't knit. Jen, hope you dig 'em cuz they're all for you, babe.

Sunday cartoon (now with color!)

The rudeness of some people will not be tolerated whilst I'm knitting.

Rusted Root pics

Here she is - my new favorite shirt in the whole world. And a pic of me and the kiddo hanging out in our new front yard.

New feature: Knitting Cartoon

Combining my love for sketching, snarkiness, and extreme knitting, I've decided to start a weekly cartoon here on the blog. Every Sunday night I will post a new cartoon all about the life of the obsessed knitter. Hope you dig. Click on the pic for full-size.

Blogs and the art of wasting time

I've become obsessed with knitting blogs. I could spend hours upon hours reading about a perfect stranger's battle with lace and only slightly feel as if my life is being slowly drained away. It's harmless voyeurism into the lives of fellow knitters. Since I'm far too lazy to actually figure out how to put buttons on the sidebar or even do the links properly, I'm going to just put a few here for anyone who comes to my blog. These are my absolute fave bloggers.

P.S. I finished Rusted Root on Thursday, but the weather has again become cloudy and rainy, so pics will wait for sun. Let me just brag a little and say this is the most adorable thing I've ever made by far. Almost flawless as well.

Enjoy the blogs

http://ysolda.me.uk/wordpress/
http://entrelac.meowingdog.net/
http://www.insubordiknit.com/
http://intarsia.meowingdog.net/
http://www.grrleighknits.typepad.com/
http://angelknits.blogspot.com/
http://robincat.blogspot.com/
http://www.glampyre.com/blog/

And this one, although not a knitting blog, is written by a knitter. http://www.nataliedee.com/

Let me just take a minute to say

how incredibly smokin' hot I think this guy is.



He had a cameo on "Friends" in the episode where Rachel goes to London to stop Ross's wedding (yeah, I'm one of THOSE people) and thought he was adorable. Flash forward to one of the best shows on television, "House," and my bitchy English boy fantasy reawakens. We'll pretend that on the show, he doesn't have to speak with that ridiculous American accent (which, if I had never seen him on anything else, might fool me). Let us all bask in the yummy goodness that is Hugh Laurie.

Mama and the toddler

We have our differences. He enjoys jumping in mud puddles and licking worms. I do not. I enjoy being clean and um, not licking worms. Some days we are the best of friends, giggling over the things that make toddlers giggle and just generally digging each other's company. Some days it seems that his entire purpose is to try to get me to tear out my hair, and I, in turn seem to aim only to ruin his fun. There is definitely a delicate balance between the stay-at-home mom and her child that I've not quite mastered but am figuring out as I go. Perrin and I spend all day every day together; that kind of arrangement is sure to drive anybody stone-cold bonkers. And like with any relationship, it's easy to lose sight of how to get along. It's easy to slip into a place where it's hard to relate to one another, so we stop trying to see the world through the other's eyes. I know it's hard to be 2 yrs old and want so desperately to have some control over your world but be unable to share that with the one person who is always there to tell you what to do. Sure it's a pain in the ass to clean the kiddo up after he's wallowed around in mud, but the excitement on his face is worth it. This world is a daily adventure for him, and it's often so easy to forget that things that I've seen a million times are still new to him. He's not yet desensitized to anything; maybe I'm jealous of that in my adult cynicism. Wouldn't it be great if we could hold onto that part of ourselves that never feels rushed or organized? Why is it so hard for me to remember and so easy to want to hurry him up when he's watching ants for ten minutes? Being a mom gives us a second chance to see the world as a child does, and I think it's more of a challenge for some of us than others to slow down. For a toddler, there's always time for everything. Maybe that's the attitude we should all have.

Rusted Root Progress

I'm making great progress on Rusted Root by the lovely ladies at Zephyrstyle. This is my first attempt at lace, and despite the crappy photo quality, I'm actually doing it -gasp!- correctly. It took several hours of practicing the section over and over on scrap yarn, but I was determined to get it right. In my quest to be more feminine and less punk, this was the first pattern that really got me excited. Puffy sleeves and cute lace - could it be more darling? (See past posts for pic.)
I'm knitting it with the Lorna's Laces Dove cotton/wool blend I nabbed at the Knitty party at Loopy. It's not my favorite yarn to knit with only b/c it's a little hard on my overly sensitive hands, but it's beautiful. Oh, and if you've noticed a similarity between all the things I knit for myself, yeah, I like purple.

My dad is James Bond

This kills me. My dad totally looks like Daniel Craig, the dude that is playing the new James Bond. This cracks me up, b/c at my wedding, my dad kept joking about how he looked like James Bond in his tux.