MondayLunchCrew

This site maps the world based on different criteria and let's you visually see some numbers around the world. While I don't like how they've represented it in terms of style, I do like what it's sayings. It brings to mind two things:

1. A West Wing episode from Season Two where they discussed how the world map should be redrawn because it's too northen centric. Gee I miss how good that show was! I'll definitely have to think about putting some early seasons on my dvd list.
2. The Penguin State of the World Atlas. I first saw it at my favourite bookstore, Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe in Washington, DC.  The design and layout of this book is a lot more to my liking.

A map is such a symbolic and simple representation of a very big concept and it's very interesting how certain prejudices stems from just the visual representations on it that are European or northern hemisphere centric. While it's not likely any new world maps will be accepted over the ones we're used to these days, it's very interesting to take a look and ponder the possibilities. For some further reading and to take a look at the map mentioned in that West Wing episode:

• Peters Projection
• An Explanation and Guide of the Peters World Map

Other interesting maps: http://www.odt.org/

Labels: General

Was reading SubwayKnitter today and it got me wishing I could be in Boston checking out these ducks in person.
My friend Dave is travelling soon on a holiday and he'll be passing by Washington DC. This just reminded me that my last photo trip was in March of last year to see the Cherry Blossoms. I'll be missing it this year.
Jenny is in Paris for the next two weeks or so and wrote about cafe creme and a croque monsieur today. This got me wanting a 'creme' and a 'croque madame' myself.

Tried to answer the question from yesterday about which sock pattern to do. Tried to swatch today and came to the wonderful (being sarcastic here) realization that I can't do either of them, my dpns are the wrong size for this fine yarn and I need to find needles. Went to Passionknits and instead of getting needles, I got little service (no one was in the store either, which is NOT good) and they only sold dbns in 4s not 5s (which is what I wanted.) So, walked out with only a couple accessories that I was looking for, u shaped cable holders to try and 'stoppers' for the end of my needles since I lost my other ones. I'm not satisfied, but at least I did get something.

So, no knitting to tame my wanderlust. I'll just have to make do with doing a bunch of reading for my work. Yes I do know that, working != travelling and working != knitting.

Labels: Travel

I know I shouldn't feel this way but I do. I hate the vest. Sigh, I'm so disappointed. I finished knitting and sewing up the vest today. I picked up the stitches on the neck band, I did all the things you're supposed to do and I put it on and I think it looks hideous. I guess it's just a little too tight for my liking and the bulky yarns in a tight vest makes me look extra fat and exaggerates all the knitting stitches so even good stitches look like crap. I'll block it in a few days and see if it looks any better. If it doesn't, I'll see if my skinny sister or mom might like to have it, otherwise, it'll likely go to donation or something. Unless I have the heart to rip it up and take the yarn back for something. Goodness knows what I want to make with that yarn. I am rather glad to have knitted it. I am pleased about finishing it, and the knitting itself was good. But I am really pissed that I wanted to have something to wear soon and there it is, can't wear it. It looks like crap on me. Take-Aways: 1. I may have to never knit bulky yarns for my own clothes ever again. I look like crap in them. 2. I need to knit vests up a size at least, or it'll look crappy. 3. Don't get my hopes up too much on any sweater since it may never look as good as you wish when you are knitting it. I'll just have to go wear my phildar sweater some more and try to feel better about myself. That sweater looks great on me. Agh... And I wanted to quickly pick myself up with another project since I was so bummed out about this one. I went and got out this sock pattern I wanted to try, then read the instructions more carefully and realized that I'm missing a set of double points that it calls for. Sign... Two choices now. Run out and get the needles, or go back to knit a tried and true pattern. We'll decide some time this weekend.

Labels: Knitting

I figured that I need to give some progress on what I've been up to craft wise. Here's the cross stitch piece that I've been working on. The John Clayton Paris piece, almost 50% done: And on the knitting front, I've been working on a vest in Lion Brand Woolease quick and thick, it's moving fast, here's the back and front as of last night. The front is nearly done today. Soon, piecing together and working the neck and armbands. I needed to work on something quick and cheap and this sure fits the bill. I'll have the vest in time to wear for the spring. The Back: The Front: That's it! Quick Flour photo, she's just had her spay surgery and she's in a lot of pain and is rather cranky. This photo is from before her surgery:

Labels: Cross-Stitch, Flour, Westie

For those who are not Canadian, the Juno's are the Canadian version of the Grammy's. I don't watch the grammys and I don't watch the junos. But I did decide to take a look at the list today on itunes to check out what songs I might want to get. And what do I see? Joel Plaskett is nominated for Songwriter of the year. I am so pleased! Joel went to Halifax West High School with me way back in the day. We were in music classes together. Sometimes when you look at who you've gone to school with and are green about people who's been more successful, more famous blah blah than you. But I'm genuinely happy for Joel in his success. He's always been passionate about music and it's nice to see that his obvious hardwork is paying off. Honestly I've not listened to his music since the Thrush Hermit days, but now that I'm back in Canada, I'm sure to get exposed more to his work. I really hope he wins. It also helps that when we were in high school he was always nice to talk to even if we didn't hang out in the same crowds.

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Some updates on me: I'm no longer a lady of leisure these days as I've taken a contract to do some work. So, I am officially working for myself. It's a very exciting time. Great that my first clients are some of my dearest friends and it's fun to work together. Then again, it would be that if it wasn't them I probably would not have taken a contract. I'm learning something new again and it's fun to do that again. It's been a while. I'm not sure this is what I want to do long term, but it's a start at trying something new and we'll see what I learn from this experience. Last weekend, I went and got some Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick to make a vest - Patons, Bella vest. Bella is a yarn that's discontinued and I think the Lions brand one is working out okay. I was looking for a cheap and easy to get yarn (At Michaels). The back of the sweater is done in a matter of a few sessions at night (not able to knit as much now given my working during the day). While it is satisfying to work up something quickly like this with such fat yarn (on 9mm needles), I am finding it hurts my hands a lot more. So, I'm not able to knit for any extended period. That, is not satisfying.

Labels: General

Found out about this link on the web site from the knitomatic mail list. Wonderful web page with knitting patterns from the 40's. The site in general is quite wonderful and full of good information about textiles etc. And for anyone who's never gone, the next time you're in London, definitely make a trip of it. It's a low key museum with a lot of interesting and diverse things to see. And espeically if you are interested in fiber arts, they have one of the best (if not the best) collection in the world.

Labels: General

I'm so proud to show off my gold!

Labels: Knitting