One more thing...I'm living in a neighborhood that is "up and coming." Over half of the houses on my block are currently being renovated. But, around the corner and down a block things look a little different. When Andrew and I first looked at our place the biggest concern was whether I feel safe or not. We decided to take the place even though we knew that there are often people hanging out in the streets by the Section 8 housing units.

Well, things were just dandy until yesterday. Just after I got home we heard sirens screaming close by and saw emergency vehicles tearing up our block. Later, I came to find out that 4 men were shot in a drive by. One of them died. So, just as I was getting comfortable, I've got a wake up call. My neighborhood isn't perfect...I'm not moving anywhere, but I will have to keep my wits about me.

It's shaping up to be a really unmotivated week. I got back from new york completely deprived of sleep and I still feel tired 2 days later. I had a blast over the weekend when, in reality, I didn't do anything out of the ordinary. I just did it in a different city.

Andrew and I are still trying to get our dryer fixed. Our landlord called 2 times Friday night and 2 times Saturday morning while we were away. He kept calling Andrew's cell phone, so I decided to answer the damn thing and put us out of our misery. Turns out he wants us to try a different company to get the thing repaired. As long as I can get Bounce-fresh clothes this weekend, I don't care who cleans the god-forsaken thing.

I have also been trying to figure out the poncho idea. I have the yarn already. I just need to decide on whether to knit it as a single strand (22 st = 4") or double it (16 st = 4"). That might not seem like a big deal, but the number of rows per inch is very different. The pattern I'm kicking around in my head right now is from lacy scarf pattern that I have. I'm thinking of using that stitch pattern as a motif for the poncho. I tried casting on last night but had to rip it out this morning once I realized that I was supposed to start on a wrong side row. I'll give it another whirl tonight.

Busy, busy...I've been doing a lot of busy work. Last week I was in training...this week I just can't focus.

So, here's my only thought for the entire week.



I know this strip is a few days old, but it still tickles my fancy. Okay, I'm off to New York for a long weekend.

You wanna something else that's pretty cool...how 'bout another article about celebrity knitters.

Oh, those crazy brits! Here's a good laugh to start your day. It seems that the marketers of The Hulk are resorting to dirty tactics in the UK.

Day 3 without a dryer. I was able to do a load of laudry yesterday, but my apartment doesn't allow too much space to hang things to dry. The heavier items were still wet this morning but hopefully by the time I get home tonight they'll be dry...Then, shampoo, rince, repeat.

So, I'm going to joint a new knitAlong...I'm becoming obsessed with knitting even more. Especially since I have what one might call a stash growing in my closet. The mercerized cotton that I had bought to make the Straight Neck Pullover can't be made to fit the desired guage so it looks like I'm going to have to pick another project. I'm going to join the Cleo knit along...assuming I can make the yarn bend to my will. I'm going to do a quick swatch tonight and hopefully start by the end of this week.

Okay, so I've determined where I can host some pictures without spending an arm and a leg. So, I should be ready to post some pix this week...of course that's if I can get my washer fixed and finish Eyelet...Here's the story:

Andrew had left a pen in his laundry a little over a week ago. It got all over the inside of my dryer...causing me to "loose my shit" and get into a fight. After the happy resolution, Andrew told me that he would clean the inside of the dryer and always check his pockets before doing laundry. So, Sunday afternoon he went to work cleaning the dryer. (In case this happens to you, nail polish remover is the best cleaner for the job). Once he was done, we got to work on minimizing the laundry pile. Well, once it was time to put the first load in the dryer we found that the dryer was not working. It seems that maybe Andrew had been turning it the opposite direction that it usually spins in and the belt that cuases it to spin had somehow come undone. The damn thing wouldn't spin...it got super hot...but no spin.

Andrew, being the guyly-guy that he is decided to take it into his own hands and fix the machine. He pulled it out and took the sides/back off and went to work trying to fix the errant belt. After about 2 hours or cussing and banging, he said uncle and put everything back together and called our landlord (LL). LL told told us to call Sears and get an estimate. Depending on how much it would cost to fix the old washer/dryer, he might consider buying a new one. Yesterday, when I got home Andrew told me that LL had given him the wrong number so couldn't schedule someone to look at the dryer. He told me he was worried that we'd have to pay for the repairman so decided that he wanted to try one more time at fixing the damn thing himself...two hours later, still no dryer. Andrew calls LL again. LL says he will come by and take a look at the washer/dryer. Hope I can do laundry soon!

In the meanwhile, I'm trying to work out a concept for a poncho. In the Spring I had gone to NYC and saw a Brooklyn Handknits poncho in Williamsburg. It was super-soft and very cool looking. Unfortunately, I couldn't handle the pricetag. Well, ever since I've wanted that poncho...not that I'm 100% confident that I could pull the look off. So, I've bought some really soft merino wool in a Plum color. The yarn is very light so I'm going to be doubling it. All I'm trying to decide now is how to make the poncho either in 2 rectangles sewn together, or as one piece done in the round. I'm leaning toward option 1 because that's how the Brooklyn Handknits piece was made.

Fuckin' fuck fuck! I picked a fight with Andrew this morning and have been in a funk all day. Usually I would never do anything like this...but I actually pulled him out of bed and demanded that he hear my rants and displeasures. This or course might backfire in the long run (aka when I get home this afternoon). I got up this morning and couldn't stand the fact that a pen that he left in his laundry had ruined a load of mine...including the pair of pants that I was going to wear to work today. The whole situation fuckin' blew and now we'll both suffer the consequences.

Also, I seem to have caught a yucky summer cold. In my opinion they're the worst. But, it give me the occasion to introduce the cool mood indicator that I picke up from imood.com

Alright...for all you local kids who have been here for a while. You may already know about Fort Reno and their free shows on Monday and Thursday nights during summer. But for those who don't check it out. Last night I went to my first show of this season. I saw Antelope, Dame Fate and Trans Am...a true crowd pleaser! Now they had mentioned that this was the 10th anniversary of them playing Fort Reno. Gee, I remember their first show there.

And, that brings me to my point. Somehow, this hangout that is associated with my immature high school days is still, by far one of best places to see a free show in DC. The crowd usually gets into the band...whether they've heard of them or not. Unfortunately, every year there's a threat to discontinue this concert series. So, check out their schedule, go to a show, and buy a shirt! It helps them raise money and they're pretty cool.

On the knitting front...I'm half way down the 2nd piece of the skirt. I'm going to make a point of getting the picture situation worked out this weekend. And I think I'm going to start on the Straight Neck Pullover from Hollywood Knits.