BTT: Booking Through...Friday

Well, I'm late as usual, but I thought I'd give 'er a go anyway.

Booking Through Thursday: Where Don't You Read

I think just about the only place I've never cracked a book was in the movie theater, though I've done plenty of reading while watching TV or movies at home. Especially if what's on is someone else's pick.

Now I'm Just Showing Off

Actually, now I'm just relishing the feel new yarn I've never worked with before. Can't wait to cast on.



It's up it's up it's up it's up! I've been ready to croak waiting to get a link up of my new-bag-which-is-absolutely-the-coolest-thing-ever. There's a matching needle case, but that's isn't on the site as of now. Funny, they say "4 in stock" but when I was there last there were 24 CASES in the stock room. Enh, whatever works.

FO: One Half

Check out the first of the pair - a single hose made for kilting.
There are some errors that have come to light since casting on for #2. Peek inside that pink circle, and you'll see a 1x1 ribbing that splays out instead of lying flat. I changed to 2x2 ribbing for #2, and I omitted my little trick of casting onto two needles instead of one for a nice loose start. It works well with regular fingering weight socks, but it turns out to be a horrid idea on this pair. I think when I finish with the deuce I'll take out the first at the cast on, rip down about four rows and try to reknit from the bottom up. In the process, I'm going to have to add an additional row of back cables because I mistakenly started with them on the twin.

That's my leg, btw. The sock is baggy in all the right places, so I think I might've been successful on the fit. Now, if only I had another six weeks to finish these suckers.

The Need for Speed

This arrived over the weekend. The photo does not do this color justice! It's a rich mix of ultra-dark purples with some darker blue and maybe a bit of black mixed in. I'm sure after it gets a little life back (they really pack it in over at WEBS it will be all kinds of soft, yummy fuzz. I'm going to wait for just the right pattern. Meanwhile, I'm contemplating trying my first real lace project - a pattern from Eunny Jang's blog and a skein of Helen's Lace in natural from my favorite LYS. I want to wear it to my friend's wedding in July. Aaannnd...still waiting for some lace-weight from Knit Picks. Mmmm...yarn.


Proof of actual progress! Once I made it past the cable pattern reapeat, I started really cruising. Which is good, because my deadline is two weeks off and that is sock number one you're lookin' at. I have this gut feeling I might need a bit more time. The picture overemphasizes the heel a bit, and the fact that my ball of yarn is tucked in there doesn't help. But overall, I think the sizing and shape will work out really well. Next sock gets planned decreases so they go a little more smoothly. That will make the socks not identical, but the only person who'll really care will be me. The other day, hub asked how my "sweater" was coming along, and I just went with it. Now that I've turned the heel, though, I really need to hide the thing.

Now for something totally diverting and pointless.

Normally, my husband and I are watching about five different TV shows at any one time. A couple of things have ended or are in between seasons, so we're looking at some new stuff. The first two seasons of Hustle have been fast-paced, funny and have departed from typical TV drama format rather admirably. It definitely helps that each season only lasts for six episodes. That way there aren't any filler epi's that don't further the story arc. Like, say, Lost. My take on the third season: is it over yet? My current favorite show by far right now is Doctor Who, with Heroes as a very close second.

Happy Ending, or Nearly

I am in awe of the motivational power of a well-distributed letter. I've spoken to our complex manager at least fives times in the last two days. Real trouble-shooting has been going on. There have still been a couple communication break-downs on their end, which is shaping up to be the long-term state of affairs that may be the final straw, but at least there has been an effort to really look at the problem.

The part that really blows my socks off was the call I received today from the owner's office, and it was from the previous manager (Theresa) that rented us our place. She has been moved up to supervise (all?) the properties and their managers. I now have her cell phone number, an apology, a rebate on June rent, and the assurance that this is not the kind of thing they want going on. I am to call if I have any more concerns.

The implication that I have an over-active imagination with regards to household appliances has evaporated. Theresa has a get-it-done attitude, and suddenly Marilyn is trying the same route.

Now, if only the things in my apartment would just stay in one piece for the next year and a couple months so we can stick it out long enough to save for a house.

Coincidence, Or Fate?

Knit Night was of special interest to me tonight because apparently it was "first Thursday" the city so there were very few people in attendance at the store. It was kind of nice to sit with a smaller group and get better acquainted with my fellow regulars. Jenni gets a shout - it was fun sitting and chatting with ya. Things started to clear out around 8:30pm, and I stayed until the last as usual, though this time I finally pitched in and help clean up glasses and chairs. I guess part of me just wanted to stay with the yarn just a few more minutes.

My project bag has been an inauspicious combination of diaper bags and Knit Purl store bags. I keep checking out various bags, but nothing has really spoken to me. My LYS/Knit Night shop announced a new bag/needle holder line by ShibuiKnits (which nobody seems to have a pic of yet) at a wonderful KN price, it took me all of seconds to find my wallet and grab one off the wall. This baby has pen/needle pockets, a cellphone pocket, card holder, snap-in zip pocket, a long needle zip pocket, two water bottle pockets inside, a magazine-sized flat pocket outside and is probably big enough to store six knitting projects. I lurv it. I was meant to have this bag. Now, how to tell my husband? Should I distract him with nudity?

About the knitting - I am acutally doing some, but its the k/h. Progress is being made - I'm almost to the ankle - but as the birthday is only two and a half weeks away, I think I might just get the toe kitched up by then. Not really worth photographing anyway.

A Challenge to My People Skills

I have a problem with my apartment complex, and I need to vent just a little. Consider yourself warned.

I live in a rather large complex that is fairly low-rent in both the per month sense and the cheapskate one. Until recently, however, the place was managed by a very nice woman who was always polite on the phone and responsive to maintenance issues. The new office manager is much less fun to interact with. My problem was originally with my dryer, which went from finishing a load of clothes in a single high heat cycle to (in it's current state) two and a half or three cycles on high heat. I first let the office folks know TWO MONTHS AGO that there was a problem. May has rolled around the manager has basically all but told me the problem doesn't exist.

It isn't that the problem hasn't been approached. But three new dryers later, the manager is still convinced I need another one. I've called several times to see what the plan was and haven't been called back. The maintenance folks have come in without permission. I actually had a face-to-face with the manager, to no avail. Can you see how I might be losing confidence here?

So you know what I did? I sent a letter:

April 27, 2007

Cambridge Crossing Apartments
Beaverton, OR

Dear Marilyn,

Per the Terms & Conditions of our lease agreement, I want to document in writing the malfunction of our dryer. As you know, the dryer stopped working for the second time since our arrival at Cambridge Crossing around the first of March. When I first called in the problem, it was taking the dryer at least two full cycles on high heat to dry a regular sized load of clothes. Two replacement dryers, a new wall plug and a cleaned vent later and the problem hasn’t been solved. Now the dryer takes at least three cycles at high heat for a full-sized load of clothes and two cycles for a pair of jeans and a couple shirts.

Your attempt to fix this issue is much appreciated. However, the problem still exists and my frustration continues to grow. I have been reduced to finishing one load of laundry a day, which I feel is an unnecessary burden. When I am this frustrated, a failure to respond to phone calls for information about the status of the dryer repair seems like insult to injury. Not to mention that Oscar’s entry into our apartment to replace the plug without permission to enter is in violation of our lease.

I’m sorry to use such harsh language regarding this ongoing problem, but we’ve been without a properly functioning dryer for going on two months. Please do anything you can to get this cleared up in the next week or so. Feel free to call me at any point to let me know when Oscar will be coming by again.

Sincerely,

Mel

cc: KS, Attorney at Law
Kinsel Ameri Properties, Inc.


Note those two cc's at the bottom? My lawyer and the property owner, respectively. Time to bust out the big guns.

Needless to say, I got a call immediately after the letter arrived. And they've been by this afternoon to try testing the wall socket for proper output. ... I just got off the phone for the second time in an hour and a half with the manager and she actually came through with a new idea. Actually, the idea was credited to the property owner, which means their letter arrived today as well.

I am tired of the implication that I'm the problem and not the dryer. To quote: "the previous tennants didn't have this complaint". How does that sound to you? I just want the bloody thing fixed. The major resistance to an actual professional electircian makes me wonder about a couple things...

Phew. I actually feel a bit better. Sorry for unloading.