Workin' for a livin'... Or not.

I have had this oddball thing happen, more than once, that I am at a store, and I get someone that all but yards me over by a sleeve, and demands to know where something is.  If I know, I tell them that I don't work there, but it's on X aisle. 

Okay, I was truly evil once, this lady would not accept that I didn't work at the place, and that I was to take care of some problem.  After somewhat patiently, then not so patiently, explaining that I didn't work there, and didn't know how to take care of said problem, (I think it was a return for a wrong size sweater, or some such, not a big deal, but...), she wouldn't take no for an answer,  I finally told that it was a problem for "my" manager, and she needed to go up to the front and talk to Sam Igness.  She stormed up to the front, saying she'd tell him what a rotten clerk I was. 

Then I left.

To this day, I hope there was no one by the name of Sam Igness there...  And since I didn't work there, I still wonder if they had a clue who, or WHAT she was talking about.

I have a habit of wearing vests, and I make sure to check what color they are at various stores, I learned early on, that is a sign you will get grabbed for info, returns, or whatever else the retail folks have to endure...  I think the worst was an electronics store, I had nearly the same color vest, and some guy came up to me and asked about some foo foo thing for his stereo.  I told him I had no clue.  He said, and they HIRED you?  I said, no, and I think it might be a good thing.  Then walked off to get my item.  He snorted and said something, but I wasn't going to respond, good or bad. 

Surprisingly, it hadn't happened in a while.  But, I guess my karma wasn't paid up for the week...

I was at a restaurant, at the coast, (we went over to see the storm come in, during high tide, AWESOME!!!!), and after a 2 1/2 hour drive, I had to pee.  We walk in, Husband holds the table, and I walk back to the bathroom.  Now, I have a gray hat on, with a sparkly band, a red vest over a light grey sweatshirt, and jeans.   I don't know about you, but this doesn't strike me as "food handler" clothes, especially with my hair down, and around my shoulders.

I  walk to the front, and this gal comes into the place with a bag... And then walks in my path and stops dead.  Did I mention I had to pee?  Badly?  I start to move around her, thinking she had just accidentally walked in front of me, but no.

"You work here, take this, I don't know where your garbage is!" 

I stepped back one, then with a side step, I said, "No, I don't work here, and I don't know where it is either."  I then hot footed it to the bathroom.  Only when I get through the entry door of the bathroom, do I realize she is FOLLOWING me, and NOT happy.  Luck was with me, when she entered the bathroom, she saw the trashcan they have right near the door.  She slammed the bag into the can, and said, "I am going to tell your manager!  I have a right to-" the door closed at this point, so I don't know what she had a right to, and quite frankly, don't care.  I finished my job, and saw she and a gent in the back of the restaurant, eating, and she never accosted me again, so that's good. 

Oh, and what were the severs wearing at the restaurant?  Black, allllll black, shoes, slacks, black shirt with name on one side.

Yeah, I can see how that my outfit could be mistaken...

More knitting stuff, sigh.

I had this great idea to knit up a long vest for a trip Husband and I will be taking in the future.  I printed out the pattern, picked out the yarn, with a bit of help from Mom (thanks!!), and proceeded to work on it. 

First thing, I put on my circular needles, and POP, one side came off.  This was not terribly out of the blue, I had trouble with the needle before, but it still meant I had to find some way NOT to lose stitches, and ask Husband to please fix it, if he could.  He did, (thanks!!). 

So, while he was doing that, I scared up another circular needle, so I could see if I could keep up the momentum.  Which was great.  At first.

Knit, LOTS of stitches.  This does seem like a long, long row.  Huh.  Well, the pattern is going well...One whole section finished.

Knit the  next row... 5 stitches?  There is supposed to be 4.  Uh, oh. 

For anyone who doesn't knit, lace is more or less a big math problem.  When one stitch is off, it can make the whole pattern go wonky.  So, I ripped the row, and started over.  Finally, it's correct.

Reading the blasted pattern, it was about 4 point, 6 point tops print, and so I had to keep picking up the pattern to read it.  But, it looks nice, and I am just... 6 stitches?  WTH??!?!?  Ok, rip, and knit again.  Dang, this thing seems to be large.

I showed it to Mom, and she agreed.  I still thought I had worked it out correctly, but decided to get a "for sure" measurement.  After a bit of awkwardness, Husband told me the measurement...

Oh. Crap.  I mis-measured, and had a full two sizes larger than I needed.  Bah.  Okay, not the end of the world, rip, and start over. 

And so I did.  Looks a bit less daunting.  Knit, knit, yes, this looks good, knit, now to the lace... You know, I am going to type that nonsense up where I can read it from a distance of more than an inch or two.  That's better, now back to knitting.

Okay, all set.  Knit, knit, knit, crap. 5 stitches again.  SIGH.  What is the problem?  I know the pattern is fine, I did the first section with not too much problem.  So, ripped again. Knitted again.  Then I notice that I made one loop, about 2 rows down, way too large.  It didn't come out as a nice lacy opening, it looked more like a tear.  Hmm.  Then I notice I am SIX STITCHES OFF AGAIN...

Ok, that's it.  I was genuinely thinking about what lighters or matches I had in the house.  So, I very carefully ripped it out, completely, put it in a sack, and put it away for a bit. 

If I don't finish it by the time I leave, well... I have other things to wear.  But I was hoping this would be a nice thing for my trip.  But having my eye twitching, and Husband enduring some extremely  unladylike language when I discovered my mistakes, does not make for a good experience for either of us.

So, I am working on a basic hat, and a basic sock. 

Haven't screwed those up yet...

siiiiiigh...

It's SPRING BREAK!! (also known as one week of rain...)

In seriousness, it is closer to half a week of rain.  Today, for example, is very nice, and few clouds.  So, the kids will get some pleasant weather to go create havoc and chaos... Heh.  This is from someone who's idea of spring break was to go home, do laundry, and sleep for about 2 days... Then see what things I needed to get ready for, for the next school session. 

Not really a party animal, no. 

Meh...

Well.  Hmm.  Found out our doctor is retiring.  I am not pleased much about that, but, on the bright side, we don't have to hunt for a new doctor, there is one taking his patient load.  And, looking him up, he seems to be freshly minted from our doctor school nearby.  I think this might be a good thing.  I just hope I don't seem old, broken down, and decrepit.

Oh, wait...    (Hee hee!!!) 😃

Well, we need to trim another wing.  Mon Ami, that lovable stinker, has figured out how to get over the fence.  We have trimmed one wing, thinking this would stop him.

Ahem.

I watched, as he got waaaaaay back from the fence, took a fast run, then jumped and flapped right near the gate, managed to get his feet on to the gate, then jumped down, into the wide world of  Not In The Henyard.  This is not going swimmingly for Husband, as there are little land mines about.  And Mon Ami, he just wants to follow me about like a puppy, can't understand why I put him back in the pen.  Someone must have spoiled him.  Can't imagine who. Cough...

I have been working on knitting a vest for myself.  I think it will be quite nice, especially in cold weather, as it is a good, thick wool.  It's red, (Think Cola Can red), and the pattern is really nice...

Except.

I have a problem with one little part.  It's called a fleck stitch (it looks something like this...)  This should NOT be a problem.  But it is.  And it's about 1/3 of the patterns, alternating, on the vest.  I have the back finished, and so far, haven't found any major boo-boos, so I really need to make it match on the front.  I started, and found I was continually making a mistake of putting two rows of knit and purl in, when you only need one.  I think this was because the pattern calls for this fleck stitch, and then moss stitch, which is ALL knit and purl.  So I frog*.  And knit. And frog.  THEN there was my bright idea to knit both of the front panels at the same time.  Until I realized I had managed to knit both fronts, as both LEFT fronts.  And, I had made the same blasted mistake on them, so they had a couple nasty squares that were screwed up.  So, frog again...

So, I started knitting alllllllll over again on the LEFT one.  SLOWLY knitting on that one.  Husband noticed that I had started another project...  I told him I needed to put that away for a day or two, and do some mindless knitting, so I don't go seeing if anyone wants it for target shooting.  So, I will get it out, and with severe trepidation, measure to see if it is coming out equal with the back, and then finish, and start on the Right half. 

And do I want to do this vest again? Yes.  Do I want to do fleck stitch, oh, **** no!  In fact, I was thinking of doing no pattern at all, just using blocks of color, or textured yarn for the accent.  But I do need to finish this one first.  Dang.

As far as the blanket, I am doing something with a stitch that I just came up with, and have later found out it is an actual stitch that has a name.  (Yep, right here, if you want to see...)  I just made it up, when I found out a stitch I used didn't show up well on my sock, so I did this instead. 

The funny thing, most knitters see it, and comment on how odd the stitch is, the way I use it.  One or two even said that it doesn't look good.  But, I have come to the opinion, it's my socks, I will knit little bumps, or not, or colors that are different on each sock, or whatever, as I am not doing for anyone but me.  So dere.  I guess I have been a bit irked by some of the folks telling me how "off" some of my knitting is, I know it's not everyone's cup of  Camellia sinensis.  I have things I could comment on other's knitting, but I figure, they enjoy it, and you know, life is too darn short to worry about a funky color, or oddball combination of stitches.  If they like, go forth and knit, dang it!  Considering I have even been told I was a witch one time, because of what I was knitting**, I tend to be a bit shy of showing off my stuff anymore... 

Woo!! So, off the soap box.  Anyway, the blanket is another co-creation with Ding kitty and my knitting.  She keeps pulling yarn balls out at night, and then wants attention.  I give it to her, and the cycle repeats.  So, I had to do something with it.  I have made a simple garter stitch blanket for the trailer. Also, a lap warmer, my Mom likes to have something in my car, as an electric car tends to use up electrons very quickly when the heat is on... 

So, this will be the Linen Stitch Flow blanket.  Flow, because when you change colors, the first color alternates with the second, then goes to the second, so it isn't quite as jarring.  (Especially since she picks out some color combinations that are... unique, to say the least.  But it's fun to see what she comes up with.)  I was worried when she first started doing that, but she has never eaten the yarn, or done anything but pull it out, carry it into the hall or front room, then sing for me to come see.  Kinda wish she'd do that at times other than 2 am, but hey, it's a cat thing...

* frog, based on the sound a frog makes, you rip-it, rip-it... Also known as throwing something in the frog pond.

** I was knitting with yarn I'd spun, and she'd noticed that I'd spun it counterclockwise.  In front of a large circle of ladies, she pipes up, LOUDLY, "Oh, you're a witch, then?!??"  You could have heard a pin drop.  She then continues, "Only witches spin backwards!"  Um.  Oh.  I had no response, and she finally left.  I don't think the red left my face for a half hour.  None of the other women said a thing.  I don't know if they did think me a witch, didn't know what to say, or just were as dumbfounded as I was.  It still didn't do too much for me...