Spring Cleaning

In the spirit of spring cleaning (which I rarely do) and trying to minimize my tasks - given I am always on multi task overload - I am contemplating merging my two blogs to one - on Word Press (gasp leave Blogspot?) and focus on Ravelry and play games on facebook. All of these entities take up entirely too much of my time and tend to un-focus me when I am attempting to do other things (while these windows are open as well.) In otherwords it keeps me BUSY and many of you pentecostals know what "BUSY" stands for!

Stay tuned for an update and redirect.

The good news - I have been knitting! : )



Knitting alot - as you can see below!






Catch you Ravelery (bonzaiknitz) and Facebook (as me)...

Multi-tasking OVERLOAD

I am not sure if it's my multi-tasking overloaded life that has caused a slump in my posting or the fact that I have been spending what little internet time I have on Ravelry...... but I have failed miserably to update my blog (in a while). This week I have had a few days off and tried to relax. I have discovered I am not a person who can RELAX. My gosh I am addicted to chaos. I am addicted to running from one appointment to another. I am addicted to multi-tasking. I am addicted to NOT sitting still.

I was watching the news (only because I was still up working) and saw a special on people who multi-task. Apparently there is a new "disorder?" for "us." It's called multi-tasking overload. HOW ORIGINAL!

As I understand it - the blackberries, multiple windows simultaneously open (sorry Leopard), the lack of actual personal communication face to face and increased work hours/weeks has created this overload.

Symptoms?

• Frequent Headaches

• Memory failure (of simple things like your children's names in mid sentence and of appointments and commitments)
• Inability to complete tasks
• fatigue
• insomnia/sleep disorder
  
• blurry vision
• Stress
• nausea/IBS like symptoms
• irritability
• muscle aches/body aches
• dry skin (I am not sure about this one? Is multitasking just sucking the life out of you?)

One mom was quoted as saying "I come home and the kids are jumping all over me with what they have done for the day and I want to scream - enough - I can't take one more thing! My brain hurts."

I paused....... mi gosh that sounds like??????

Then I came across the symptoms for CFS or Fibromyalgia.....

• Frequent Headaches

• Memory failure or inability to concentrate
  
• Inability to complete tasks
• fatigue
• insomnia/sleep disorder
  
• blurry vision
• Stress
• nausea/IBS like symptoms
• irritability
• muscle aches/body aches
• dry skin
  

Now I am totally confused..........

Until told otherwise I will be multi-tasking and opening as many windows I possibly can on my relic of windows at work and my soon to be upgraded MAC at home.

In the meantime I am trying my best to relax. I still twitch when I hear an ambulance go by or think I FEEL my blackberry buzzing on my hip.... (when it's not really there..... it's on my dresser with the EDGE disabled by the DH). Today I cleaned the house from top to bottom, dust bunnies, marks on the wall (how do scuff marks end up on the top part of walls - where feet should never be? and that lone hair on the ceiling? and dust bunnies under the bed? ), purged books I have read - donating them to charity for a book sale, reorganized closets, reorganized drawers, reorganized the knitting (and the scrapbooking) and did laundry - you know the laundry that rarely gets done - the comforters, the pillows from the sofa, the throws, the curtains (yes I finally put curtains up today) and finally collapsed at 2230 t0 KNIT. I couldn't stand to just sit and knit all day without having something to do while knitting (computer, blackberry, reading online for work, etc....) Of course my DH was twitching because I can't just clean ONE room at a time - I have to float from room to room - fragmenting and multi-tasking my cleaning. He a mono-task individual. Give home two things to do and he decompensates quickly.

Pathetic..

Maybe a two week vacation I would finally be able to relax????????

Just a reminder.........

Vickie Howell gave me blog a shout out for this - I can't let it get bumped to the bottom -

Check it out - Vickie Howell has a podcast!

Check out the podcast on Itunes! Or click on the above banner to take you to the link!

ENJOY!

A monumental occasion in knitting

IT IS DONE!!!!!!!!

The Linen Kilt from Knit 2 Together is done!

Happy Dance - (as Nat puts it) - is what I was doing.
I need to block it and hem the waist (or seam) but it is done!!!!!

And the Last Minute Purled Beret from Knit n Tonic is done as well!
Here it sits on a plate blocking.

This was yarn I got at a cute little Michigan Knitting store (in Jackson - GASP).
It was in the clearance basket.

So look who adores the hat!!!!!!!

Let me remind you - she JUST turned 10 years old.
(eventhough this picture lends itself to her looking older)

I am afraid Rowan has lost this Nat to her sister!

Two projects in one week - I may faint!!!!!!


(big grin!)

Now onto those WIP.......

Nothing but Honest

Sorry for the absence...... I have been busy at work, at home, with school things and knitting. Okay - and I have been obsessed with getting my ravelry page set up.

What I have found (and I haven't gotten all my projects, WIP, FO, Wanna be projects on the page) is that Ravelry forces me to be honest about all my CAST ONS (WIP) and realize that I need to NOT buy anymore yarn, books (except for Cat Bordhi's new book - cause I have been wanting it for the longest time) or knitting projects till I at least finish some of the projects I have at hand. When you post a project and then post the "start date" and it happens to be 2006 and you realize that it's "hibernating" you are a bit humbled and realize what a two timing knitter you are. Just like (some) men (and women I suppose) - as soon as some new, fresh, pretty yarn and new, fresh, funky pattern comes across my sights - I am on it!

I hope to have them all up by the end of the week - but alas - life occurs - and get going on my projects (WIP).

With that said - I have put limits on my stash additions. Since starting my fitness/weight loss/nutrition makeover I have vowed to not buy yarn till I hit certain milestones (first 5K - sock yarn, first 5K under 30 minutes sock yarn, ten pounds a sock pattern from loopy ewe.....).

Perhaps I should put my projects on some bonus point system - every three WIP I finish I can buy and maybe cast on a new project?????

Oiy - such a dilemia - so much yarn, so many needles, so many patterns, so little time.

IT HAS FINALLY HAPPENED!!!!!

TODAY
- just about FIVE minutes ago -
I just got my invite to Ravelry
AND
joined!!
(In less than twenty seconds)

Yipee - doing the freakazoid dance around my place!

I want to absorb myself in the uploading but I have so much work to do!!!!!!!!!

Resist and behave - I have to finish my work!

- BONZAIKNITZ -
check me out!

(I am not fully loaded - I am not even slightly loaded)

Vickie Howell

Check it out - Vickie Howell has a podcast!

Check out the podcast on Itunes! Or click on the above banner to take you to the link!

ENJOY!

Race for the Pennant

I am patting myself on the back today as I have mastered a new knitting technique.

I am now knitting two socks on two circs! It took five frogs and many counts to ten - but I am up and going.

So what am I doing tonight while I am knitting my two socks (on circs)????

Watching....

And....

and.....

and.....

to watch the

race for the pennant!

Wild Kat Socks

Yea Tofutsies! I finished the August Sock Club pattern on the August exclusive yarn. My gauge is way off which is why they fit my 5 yo well. They were suppose to fit me. (oopse). They were suppose to be for Ro to begin with but nice to know I need to go up a needle size (or two) on the next pair.


I love the pattern and the colors totally fit my red head Rowan. The pattern flies once you get into rhythm.


I had to hog tie my daughter down to get them off from her. She is going to wear them to school tomorrow. I finished the majority of them in Utah where I was last week at a conference. I promised her I would have them done when I got back..... WRONG





I finally finished them tonight after the run this morning. I propped myself on the couch with the knee on ice (runner's injury) and knit away. As you can tell - she is quite the model.


I can hardly wait to get the Roc-Toe-Ber socks -fiddlesticks - in the mail. I got my new harmony needles from knit picks while I was gone. While I am waiting patiently for the yarn from tofutsies I am casting on from my stash, a hand dyed sock yarn from To knit perchance to dream. As I am casting it on I have NO idea why I hadn't cast on before. It's beautiful yarn! I love the colors.

Perhaps in a week - there will be another pair of socks to post. I am trying two socks at a time on circs. Ro's Wild Kat's were on circs - my first attempt - one sock at a time......

knit on!

Personal Accomplishment

I read in the Fall Edition of Vogue of a woman who ran a marathon in London and knit a scarf. I am truly amazed.

Today marks a milestone for me........

A little over eight (ok it's been ten now) weeks ago I started a program of running and dieting (gasp not the "d" word). It's not really a diet - it's a changing my lifestyle. For those who are interested - go here.

I had a goal to get back into my clothes that I moved here in AND finish a 5K in good time and finish it feeling GREAT. I didn't knit anything - but I did run and run well for me.

Today I ran the Bucktown 5K and finished in good time and not winded, gasping for air or ready to die at the end of the finished line!

By the way - I have increased my water intake to a minimum of 5 Liters a day, try to exercise at least four times a week and eat six mini meals a day. This truly is a healthy lifestyle change.

To test it - I went out of town to a conference all last week and ate out three times a day. I was petrified to weigh in this week but wanted to keep myself honest. Guess what - I LOST 2.8 POUNDS while gone!!!!

I am dancing around doing my best snoopy celebration!!!

Next Goal - Turkey Trot.

Fruit Loop Socks

Luckily the DH took pictures of my latest FO!!!! (Yes I finally have a FO!!!!!)



I have nicknamed them the "fruit loop" socks. They were casted on as a pair for Nat and then thought they would be too big. Upon finishing the first one - Nat tried them on and fell in love with them. How could I resist her blue eyes..... staring up at me.....


I know - the toe turned out a bit funky. I am not sure why. The second sock looked a wee bit better.




This is not a SWTC pattern nor is it the Summer Daze pattern - it is Bellatrix from soctopia. I love the pattern and I love how it looks in this yarn.

I believe she is wearing them to school tomorrow.....

I am not attempting to master a sock on two circs - for Rowan. This one is Wild Kat - the June Tofutsies exclusive pattern!

Back to knitting and Dr. Who!

Blast from my past

While perusing the bloglines I found a post that referred to this link. This book - oddly enough - was one of my favorite books growing up. What a blast from my past. I am not sure this is an accurate description of me - but maybe the issue is that I talk too much about talking rabbits. (Just like the flying monkeys - they do exist!)

You're Watership Down!
http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
by Richard Adams

Though many think of you as a bit young, even childish, you're
actually incredibly deep and complex. You show people the need to rethink their
assumptions, and confront them on everything from how they think to where they
build their houses. You might be one of the greatest people of all time. You'd
be recognized as such if you weren't always talking about talking rabbits.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

By the way - thank you Lorinda - I am apparently 12970 days old. Today my biorhythms are all whacked. According to this link - I should have not gotten out of bed today much less leave my humble safe abode to enter the harsh reality of the world. It's a wonder I was even physically able to get out of bed - according to the physical biorhythms I am giving off. Intellectually I can not even complete a sentence (according to my biorhythms) and I am not in harmony at all. Egad - maybe I better start the day over.......