hy's blog

Happy Monday! The week is not starting out well. My VPN certificate did not work so I had to dial into my usualy telecon w/o an agenda since I was unable to access my work email. It wasn't until almost 10:30 this morning that I was able to retrieve a new certificate.

Last night, me and Richard went our first alumi event. It was a wine tasting soiree hosted by an Alumni couple. I wasn't really that keen to go but since we already RSVPd and Marlis was with Alicia, we went.

Anyway, we were there, chit-chatting with some of the other alumni, most of them were non-Montrealers, when JP and Stephanie walked in.

JP was living in the upstairs flat and studying at the same uni as I was. I ended up living with his room-mate the year after JP graduated and moved away. This was more than 10 years ago!!!
What a small world! It was good to see them and to catch up.

I went on Saturday (Oct 21). Yup, even though I had a midterm for school the next day, I still went. It was a bit overwhelming as it was my first fiber festival. I wish I went with someone more experienced though. I still managed to buy some yarn and some cute stitchmarkers!
Pix coming soon!

1. FIRST NAME? hy (these are my initials!)
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? no
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? can't remember
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? sure
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? I don't eat lunchmeat
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? yes
7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? online blog; used to have a paper journal when I was in high school and uni
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? depends
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? oatmeal with dried blueberries, toasted almonds, maple sugar, and soy milk
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? yes
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? sometimes
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? vanilla gelato (mine, of course!)
14. SHOE SIZE? 8.5
15. RED OR PINK? red
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I like myself!
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My family and friends in Montreal and in Basel
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? I didn't send it to anyone!
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? jeans, orange t, socks
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? the quietness of the house when both daughter and hubby are fast asleep
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Plum purple
23. FAVORITE SMELL? my daughter
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? my friend Sean who called me to ask me if I was planning on going to yoga class tomorrow afternoon
25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? their teeth
26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from? never met her. She is my SP9 coordinator
27. FAVORITE DRINK? water
28. FAVORITE SPORT? slalom skiing (to watch); alpine ski (to do)
29. EYE COLOR? Brown
30. HAT SIZE? don't know
31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? no, I can't put anything in my eye. Hence no eye makeup either
32. favorite food? sushi
33. scary movies or happy endings? happy endings
35. summer or winter? winter
36. hugs or kisses? hugs
37. favorite dessert? fresh fruit (is that too boring?) ok, creme brulee too!
38. who is most likely to respond? didn't send it to anyone else
39. least likely to respond? same as #38
40. what books are you reading? The Quality Audit Handbook (for school) and The Year of Magical Thinking (Joan Didion)
41. what's on your mouse pad? i have a laptop
42. what did you watch last night on tv? we don't have a tv but we watched a Pedro Almodovar movie on DVD "What did I do to Deserve This"
43. favorite sounds? silence
44. the rolling stones or beatles? beatles
45. the furthest you've been from home? Hong Kong
46. what's your special talent? cooking
47. where were you born? hospital in Kowloon
48. who sent this to you? Pinched it from a SP9 participant

I finished the left mitten very very late last night. Marlis was thrilled and wore them to school today.

I used Artfibers yarn "Basque" (that's the mc), the pink yarn is also from Artfibers too but don't know what it is because I found it in their sale bin.

I was at a yoga workshop given by Kofi Busia this weekend. There are 3 things to keep in mind:
- Spine straight
-Legs straight
- Arms straight

Sounds so simple yet it is difficult to keep to it. The workshop was great, as usual. He is such a great teacher with wonderful anecdotes. You don't feel like you are working too hard. Well, dhanurasana to adho mukhasvasana back to dhanurasana is really really tough, esp if you don't have a strong dhanurasana!! (which I don't!)

Namaste!

Got this from Shelby's blog (http://shelbyknits2.blogspot.com/): she is our coordinator for SP9 (she got this list from someone else, etc)

List your favorite:
Actor - Al Pacino (for the acting); Jude Law (for looks!)
Actress - Parker Posey
Animal - Koala bear
Band - Depeche Mode (I am sooo eighties!)
Book - The Blind Assasin (Margaret
Bubble Bath - can't stand it!
Candy - Rowntree Fruit Pastilles
Color - Red
Drink- Water (at room temperature)
Flower - Tulips
Food - Sushi
Lip Balm - Carmex
Lotion - Fresh Sugar Lychee
Movie - Cinema Paradiso
Place - My home
Song - Goldberg Variations by JS Bach; A Case of You (interpreted by Diana Krall)
TV Show - I don't own a tv
Yarn- Just one?!? How about the yarn I DON'T LIKE? Araucania Cotton
Vacation Spot - Prague

I finally finished the Big Bad Baby Blanket from the Stitch n Bitch book. I started the blanket back in April and just completed it today and blocking it. The lucky recipient of this blanket is Fabian Rafael Remane. He decided to make his appearance 2 weeks before the due date, definitely made me hurry to finish it. Of course, I gotta ship it to Basel so it might take another few weeks before he receives it.
I used Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino PPPM colourway 111 (I think!). A little less than 8 skeins (I think!)

Look what I got in the mail!!
Tilli Thomas yarn!!! I started swatching it together to make a scarf using basket weave pattern but it looked too busy and weird so I ordered another skein in the light grey instead. So still waiting for it. What should I do with the purple skein?????

From the thoughtful Kelli: www.knitterbunny.blogspot.com

THANK YOU Kelli!

Like all the action photos??? Not sure why Marlis has decide to lose her eyes purposely for the camera.

I have yet to send my package to my spoilee. I am still shopping.

Does that Chamomile lemon tea taste good with a dark chocolate raspberry square...yummy-licious!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

Likes: natural fibers

Favourite yarns so far: Mano Del Uruguay, Cascade 220, Mission Falls, Artfibers Basque

Dislikes: Synthetic fibers and novelty yarn


2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have a Lantern Moon needle roll but most of the time, my needles are in a zippy bag with my WIPs.


3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I have been knitting since Novemver 2005. I learned using some websites.

Skill level: beginner-intermediate. I am always learning new things as I knit.


4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Yes. But I don't think it is very current.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)

Cinnamon and vanilla

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

I DO but I need to stay away from that stuff!!!!!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

Just knit.


8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

Music collection is too long to name!! Variety of music from different countries.

MP3: probably not. Am a CD kind of girl.


9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

Fav: Reds, greens, purples, oranges: autumn colours, I guess.

Maybe yellow wouldn't look so great against my asian skin. Would probably make me look more sallow. And peach makes me looked washed out and tired (hmmm, I am tired!)


10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

Married with a 3 yr old. No pets.


11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

No ponchos.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Sweaters for my daughter, scarfs, and more recently, mittens!


13. What are you knitting right now?

Men's Zip cardi from Last Minute gifts
Scarf using pattern from Artfibers
Bulky raglan sweater by Melinda Goodfellow for my daughter
Mittens using Ann Norling pattern for my daughter
Swirl scarf from Shibui Knits

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

YES. A person's got to be insame not to LOVE handmade gifts!!!!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Circs so far. I am loving the Pony Rosewood circs I bought to knit my Swirl scarf

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

No, I just use chairs

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Not yet 1 yr old!!

18. What is your favorite holiday?

All holidays because each one has a special meaning!!!

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Seems like I am collecting lots of size 5.5 mm cir needles! Everytime I start a new project, I seem to end up buying a new pair of 5.5 mm needles each time!!!!

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I am contemplating getting a subscription to Interweave Knits but I already bought the Fall Issue.

I am a subscriber to "Brain, Child" mag and "Ladybug" mag for my daughter

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I am learning new things every day so hard to be specific.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Not yet but I have a feeling that my spoiler from the Knitters Tea Swap 2 is going to send me some sock yarn!

Size 8.5 feet, narrow.

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

Jan 12. Capricorn!

I am at the local library now, there are some seriously strange characters there. This freaky dude sitting near me was here last Sunday too. And every time I change desks, he seems to follow me. I don't think he is stalking me.

Last week, when I was here, he was also here, copying words out of some a guide book. And surprise, surprise, he is doing the same thing today. At least he picked a different city! He doesn't annoy me but his incredibly smelly feet do! I opened the windows and get some fresh air in and it doesn't help.

I really should move desks again but I need to find one with an electrical outlet.

I should be doing my homework instead of blogging...