My Little Piece of The Net

 
Goals for the 26th year
  • Quit Smoking.

  • Write to Someone I Admire (Can be anyone from friend to celebrity).

  • Send 27 Post Cards (I miss connecting with people outside of the internet).

  • Leave the State for vacation.

  • Pay off my credit cards.

  • Give handmade gifts for special occasions. (Due to my schedule, I will give as many as I can)

  • Publish writing.

  • Sky dive or bungee jump.

  • Start a work out routine.

  • Debate with someone and try to see their side.

  • Walk for a cause.

  • Take a dance class.

  • Read a book a month (at least).

  • Give a gift to a stranger.

  • Hang out with my brother more often.

  • Seek Grammar/Writing Education Opportunities.

  • Volunteer my time outside of school.

  • Stop to reflect on the good things. (May decide to blog it, may decide to write it down in a journal).

  • Maintain a sick time balance at work.

  • Save up for a cushion/emergency fund.

  • Slumber Party/Diva Evening. (I miss sleep-overs!)

  • Learn to walk in heels!

  • Bring lunch to work (at least 3x a week).

  • Take a financial workshop.

  • Learn to cook/cook more often.

  • Go Camping!

  • Stop spending all my money on coffee!

Book Review Coming Soon
Monday, April 30, 2007
I finished Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. A book review to come after work is done. I wanted to let all of you know that I am feeling better. I have a dentist appointment today and I am going to have him check out the tooth that was bothering me too. Couple of new projects going on so stay tuned...
posted by Valerie @ 11:02 AM   0 comments
Blogging Question
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Hopefully there is someone out there a little more savy with html than I am. I want to create a list for the 50 book challenge but I don't want it to take up the entire right side of my blog. What can I do to condense it into a smaller list where you can scroll through them and look ? I would also like to do this with my links since I am getting quite a few of them now. Any help would be appreciated.
posted by Valerie @ 12:46 PM   2 comments
Hello Again
So all of you will be happy to know that I feel a lot better. I have been popping pain killers like tic tacs but that along with the penicillin for the absess has seemed to work. My bottom lip and my gums are really tender and the tooth still hurts but at least it's not that radiating pain anymore. Which means I can function as a human being should be able to function. I also only feel mildly ill, which I think is my side effect of the pain meds. Grim has been a trooper through all this. Hugs and kisses on command and help when I need it. He really is a sweetheart. Anyhow, Thursday night I casted on again for the Calorimetry. By lastnight I was finished. Dun dun dun.




I believe it is going to be a birthday present. We'll see, I didn't necessarily make this for myself. I just wanted to make sure I could in fact, make it. What do you guys think ? I still have to sew on the button and everything. I can't believe how huge it knitted up to be. I even decreased the CO stitches from 120 to 100. I can't imagine what it would look like if it was cast on according to pattern.

Nothing else really to report. I have been lounging on the couch watching movies. Lastnight's Ghostwhisperer was reeeally creepy. I hope we get to see next weekends. Speaking of Creepy, I LOVE SUPERNATURAL. It is my latest obsession along with Charmed obviously. It is such an awesome show. We have two more discs then we have to wait for the second season to come out on Netflix. I don't know how we're going to be able to wait but alas all this come to those who wait (so they say).

I am reading one of the books on my to read list. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.. oh shoosh. I know it's a kid's book but I happen to like Children's books and Young Adult. It's nice to read about something other than mass murderers and vampires. Also, it's a break from the sex crazed Anita Blake novels, which are also an obsession of mine. It's a really good book all in all. I keep making my comparisions between the movies and the book. Mistress Pounce was right, the second movie is actually closer to the book. The songs are even pulled straight from it. I still like the first one better, I think. Anyways, I am to the part where they are in the inventing room and coming up to the gum machine. It's my favorite part of the movies. -=giggle=- That and of course when Veruca Salt gets thrown in the garbage.

I am also reading another book not mentioned on my list. Death's City by Sandy Mitchell (I think), good book, it's the last in a Warhammer trilogy. I can't explain Warhammer so you'll have to do a check on it if you're interested. It's a roleplaying setting and it gets a little complicated.

Alrighty loves, hope all is well and you're all enjoying a wonderful weekend.
posted by Valerie @ 10:01 AM   5 comments
-=weeps=-
Friday, April 27, 2007
I have to wonder if I pissed off a diety of some kind. Today I had to call in sick for nothing other than tooth pain. Not even the same tooth but an entirely different one. I started feeling it dully on Wed night and then yesterday it kept getting progressively worse until I was a full on crying and shaking mess. My lip is swollen to a Bubba Gump proportion and all I want to do is sleep until it's over with. I woke up at 5 and called off sick. I am waiting for the pain med to kick in so I can go back to bed.

I'll keep ya posted.
posted by Valerie @ 5:40 AM   4 comments
Calorimetry Concerns
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
So I got pretty far on it and had to frog it. The first reason being that I didn't have an even amount of stitches on both sides. The second being there were holes developing. Check out the pattern, linked to the left. My problem seemed to occur when I started Row 7. I started getting holes every time I would move the stitch marker back. Now, this is what I was using. Malabrigo yarn and Size 7 needles. I did a swatch and it knitted up perfectly with the specifications. What do you guys think ? Was I getting holes because the stitches on either side were uneven. Would the Malabrigo be a bad yarn to use and that's the reason why I have holes ? I just don't want to start it with that yarn again until I know for sure that it's not the yarn or the needles it was my error.

Oh.. also, I want to know. Does anyone know of any good forums/clubs/blogs ? I really like the Classic Books KAL but I don't think I understand it fully or would be able to read as often as they do. The Sexy Kntters Group is being rebuilt. I just want something new to be apart of.

Anyways, I should be working.. So I am going to get back to that. Any help is appreciated!!

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posted by Valerie @ 10:01 AM   4 comments
I know, I know
Monday, April 23, 2007
I really need to keep myself on top of my blog, it's been a week since the last post. Shame on me. Anyways, on with the show.

Knitting related: I have finished the Shawl for Jan as well as the 2nd washcloth for Get Stitchy's April Along. Here are a couple of shots of the shawl. If you want to see the cloth, check out my finished projects to the right.




What do you think ? I am pretty happy with it. I plan on sending it out to her tomorrow or Wed. I hope she likes it. I'll keep you posted on her response. In other knitting news, I finally started the calorimetry. I knew I was eventually going to start another project. I don't even want to look at the gloves or the poncho at the moment. I'll pick those up when I am feeling more confident in my ability to pick up stitches. Oh! I got my stitch markers from my partner today. Have a look!


I am not sure if you can see them. My camera isn't that great with close ups. One is of my new boots , another is of my green hat for the Knit Along, one is this great picture of Grim and the other two are related to Day of the Dead. They are so creative. I hope she likes the ones I made here!


I adore the Garterlac Washcloth too!!

In Life: I am still working and going to school. Finals are around the corner and for this one I have to work with a group. Blegh. I don't care much for the whole group thing. Not to mention a group has to agree on the basis for their own Utopia. Eeep. -=giggle=- Oh well, I don't anticipate it being to hard. We'll see. In other news, the club night I usually go to temporarily closed down. It's heartbreaking to me for a number of reasons. The first one being that a friend of mine put her heart and soul into running that night. The second, there are very few good Industrial/Goth nights in Albany. The third, it's where I met all of my latest and greatest friends. Le Sigh. I think I am going to try and get out to Original Sin this Saturday. The other Goth/Industrial night in Albany. Everything is going well other than all that. I have a couple other things that are irritating me but I will withhold mentioning them for the time being.

Latest Weekend: Grim was gone from Thursday to Saturday so it was a little lonely. Neurotic me ended up sleeping on the couch because I just couldn't get comfortable in the bed without him. Friday, I got a bunch of things done around the house and then went to go see Sunset Aside with Mistress Pounce and Vin.
The lead singer, Will, is a friend of ours and it's always interesting to see him. His home truly is on that stage though. It was a lot of fun with a couple of hiccups. 1. Everything was reeeally behind schedule and we got there earlier than we should have, 2. The creepy guy. That was pretty much it. Saturday I woke up a little late and hauled ass to my mom's house so we could go to our spa day. Let me tell you, the world would be a better place if we all got to get a half an hour massage on the weekends. It was wonderful! We both walked out of our areas looking like pudding. -=giggle=- We went to a yarn store, I didn't see anything I liked. Then we got Taco Bell and watched Ghost Whisperer. Came home, took a nap and when I woke up Grim was kissing my forehead. I chatted with him for a bit then headed over to Mistress Pounces for ladies night. Applebees food, Charmed and assorted Stitching. You can't get better than that. Sunday I woke up late and we pretty much just hung out.

In other news: Grim and I have gotten ourselves addicted to Supernatural. It's the new Charmed in this house. Although at least now I can watch all the Charmed I want and he doesn't make me wait until he's there to watch them. -=giggle=- OH! My Hackmaster Membership came in the mail on Saturday. See!


I know, I am such a dork! -=giggle=- Oh well. It's not crack, so it's not bad for me. Anyways, I can't wait for July. I need a vacation. -=giggle=-

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posted by Valerie @ 7:18 PM   5 comments
Grindhouse
Sunday, April 15, 2007
What an awesome movie! It's a little long but worth every moment. The first one, Planet Terror, was my favorite. Gotta love zombies and a machine gun for a leg. It was terrific. The second one Death Proof was good too but I am not a fan of car accidents. Don't get me wrong it was still fantastic but it just wasn't my favorite. I am a little strung out on coffee and popcorn. So I think I am going to bring this to a close. I am probably going to adjust this site a little. Add some music or something. I also saw something on another blog that I really liked. It's called the 50 book challenge. You pick a bunch of books you want to read that year and challenge yourself to read them all. Maybe that will motivate me to do some serious reading.

Anyways, night night loves.

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posted by Valerie @ 1:40 AM   2 comments
It's been a while
Saturday, April 14, 2007
It's been a little longer than I intended but oh well. Things have been a little busy around here. Despite being busy though, there is very little that is new. In my new pictures you will see some of the clothes I got in NYC. Here are closer shots though.


You gotta love half off sales. I also got a pair of jeans and a long viynl skirt. Viynl doesn't like to be in pictures so one of these days I'll wear it and snap a picture. Then the bestest birthday present. First the story.
I knew I was going to be getting a corset. I didn't know when it was going to show up though. So I would come home and look for it and nothing would be there. Le Sigh. So I come home and I see a note on my mailbox, you know the "sorry we missed you" notes. So I ran upstairs praying that they were still open so that I could go get it. I drop my bags and tell Grim that he must have missed them. I go to call them and he's like "wait give me a hug, you just got home." So I put the phone down and give him a hug and kiss hello. This is what happened.
Grim: Honey, I don't want to get you upset but you need to go smell those blankets over there. I think Sigh (my cat) had an accident.

Me: Are you serious ?!?
Grim: Just go look, I am not sure if I am right or not.

So my heart is going to break. If this is true then Sigh is probably going to have to leave our house. So I go over and frantically start smelling. Then... the corset falls out. I could have KILLED him, but I was so happy that A. my cat didn't pee on our stuff and B. I finally got my corset! Here's the beauty.


Beautiful Right ?!?

I am in love with this thing. I have to learn how to properly wear it but it is seriously gorgeous!

In Life: I have been frantic about this silly speech we have to do for speech class. I decided to do a presentation on volunteers going to Saudi Arabia. Well I have to have some sort of visual. I openly admit I half-assed this project and I was really upset with it and myself for doing it. So Thurday rolls around and I am actually getting more upset about it. My wonderful teacher didn't make me do the presentation until next week! -=does a dance=- I am putting all my effort into making it beautiful tomorrow. I also have a test to study for. In other news, Grim, Amy and myself are going to Origins this year. I bought the badges yesterday. I am going to have to work on Memorial day to get the time off but it will be worth it. I can't wait to be honest with you. Gaming is going really well. Last Warhammer campaign we were arrested for being Heretics only to be freed and put on a mission so we could escape the Witchhunter. Character Concept: A Loud Mouth Apothocary. Lastnight we played a WoD game but I think that is going to be scrapped. Character Concept: Shaman who can see the realm of spirits. Her deceased daughter follows her around aiding her in different situations. I love gaming. I seriously can't wait to go to Origins and see all that I can see.

Knitting: I curse the damnable poncho. It's evil incarnate. I can not for the life of me shape or knit that damn hood. Argh! I will put it down for a while and concentrate on something else. Probably the shawl. I have lined up the next couple of projects for me. The Mason Dixen Night gown and the Calorimetry. Those both should be fun projects. Of course I am still working on wash clothes now and then, but I made at least one for this knit along.

Tonight: We're going to go see Grindhouse with a bunch of friends. It should be a lot of fun. I can't wait to see the movie. I believe there was a lot more that I wanted to write about. Alas I seem to not remember. My blog might be moving to a different server soon though. I'll let you know when that becomes more of a possibility though.

TTFN
posted by Valerie @ 6:19 PM   4 comments
Latest Daily News
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
to be posted tomorrow. I am tired.
posted by Valerie @ 11:14 PM   4 comments
Public Service Announcement
Sunday, April 8, 2007
I will post about my dancing goodness later in the day.

HAPPY EASTER!!
posted by Valerie @ 1:41 PM   0 comments
One more thing
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Here are some better pictures of my knitting needles. I decided to put them in a vase on my desk.


See ya later!
posted by Valerie @ 7:09 PM   6 comments
My Package
came in the mail yesterday! I would have posted lastnight but by the time we got home from game I was EXHAUSTED. So I am posting my goodies now!

I got 2 skeins of Rowan Polar, it's a lovely and SOFT Wool, Alpaca and Acrylic blend. Sooo nice, and it doesn't feel itchy at all. -=does a dance=- Although I have a problem. I am not sure of the weight. -=giggle=- I am still a little new to the whole gauging process. I also don't know what I am going to make it into yet. I was thinking a calorimetry, but Grim said he didn't think it would look right with how short my hair is. So it's back to the drawing board. Don't get me wrong I am sure I will find something to make soon. I have been a pattern hunting fiend lately. -=giggle=- My Secret pal Also sent me 4 Hershey's Dark Chocolate cutes, that have cranberries and blueberries and raspberries in it. There are only three in the picture because I ate one, and it was YUMMY! You'll also notice my little lamb and around his neck are three skull stitch

On another note, my SP finally posted about the stuff I sent her. It turns out she lost her digi-cam and was waiting to find it before she posted. Oh well I am just glad to hear that she liked what I got her.

Knitting wise: I am working on my second wash cloth for Get Stitchy. It's called the Chinese Wave Cloth. I am not seeing the wave yet but apperantly it's gonna show up somewhere. -=giggle=- Here's the start of it.
markers. I adore everything!! THANK YOU VERY MUCH SECRET PAL!

My camera wasn't cooperating and it was about to die so this was the best shot I could get for the time being. I worked on a little bit of the Shawl today while I was at the salon. That's it progressing very slowly. Oh well, better to progress slowly than not at all.

Life wise: I went out and got my hair bleached and cut today. My scalp is very sensitive now for some reason. I know it's the bleach but the cheap shit never burned me. So I got all the icky colors out and re-dyed it. Now I am back to bright as hell purple. -=does another happy dance=-. Lastnight we had a great session of Warhammer, even though I almost started hating Grim for his storyline midway through. For those of you who don't know what Warhammer is, it's a roleplaying game, like D&D but very different story. Tonight is our friend Dani's Birthday and Alien Nation. Yeah for dancing and friends!! I'm wearing some of my B-day presents so I'll take pictures so you can all see what I bought in the city. I think that is about all for now. I am going to go get a nap though, I am a little sleepy.

I'll write more as it comes to me.

TTFN! Thanks again Secret Pal!

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posted by Valerie @ 6:50 PM   4 comments
My New Needles
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Look at these beauties made just for me!

I love these needles with everything! Above you have the full set together.

These are the Day of the Dead needles I asked for. I have always loved the way those specific skulls looked. So when I saw she made them I fell in love.

Then I saw she made custom needles. Which got my wheels turning. What did I really want made into needles. Grim and I are huge H.P. Lovecraft fans (him more so than me) but he was playing Call of Clthulu at the time and it struck me. I want Clthulu and Dagon needles. I sent her a couple of links and this is what came of it. Sorry the picture is fuzzy. The elder gods are not much for having their photograph taken. A link to her myspace is to the right under Scarry Merry. Seriously go and buy as many as your paycheck will allow. I have been talking to her alot and she is a very very lovely and nice person to know. Show some support for a fellow crafter if you can. I'm already plotting my next set. -=giggle=-

In other news... other than the topic of moving being in alot of conversations lately there isn't much else. Grim and I are probably dissapearing to Origins around the 4th of July. Yeaahh! Comic books, RPG and other goodness. I am also looking into the possibilty of traveling around a bit this summer. I love getting in my car and just driving. It's a pain in the ass but I seriously find it peaceful.. I am taking this summer off from school so I can get myself together. My emotions have been all out of wack lately and I don't like it. I hate having bad lows like I have been.

I am however sleeping better for now. My doctor prescribed me some medication that should help me stay asleep instead of always waking up. Tuesday night was terrible. Again, I had a REALLY BAD NIGHTMARE and I woke up, had a clove and relaxed a bit


Knitting wise:

One down and a couple more to go. =)
posted by Valerie @ 8:23 PM   7 comments
April Knit-Along
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
The wonderful Hattie is heading up the April Showers Knit-Along. This gives me the opportunity to finally knit up some washcloths and bathroom stuff. I hope around Thanksgiving someone picks to do something with kitchen patterns. It's going to be the only way I get motivated into making that oven mitt Grim has been asking for. -=giggle=- So I started on one of the wash cloths lastnight. Here's how it's looking so far...

And it's done with this yarn..

So that's the first one and then I am going to cast on a couple more and call it quits. I did not get to Knitting Group tonight. I had a doctor appointment and to be honest I was too tired to move. I shouldn't even be up now but I desperately wanted some relax time. So I haven't been working on my other projects. I needed a break from the shawl. The poncho I haven't been able to evenly pick up stitches and the gloves while I now know how to pick up stitches aren't cooperating. Anyways, here's the yarn for the other wash clothes.

That's pretty much it I believe. I am very interested to see if my SP ever posts the things I got for her. I don't know why I am soo grrr about the fact she hasn't yet but she hasn't. -=shrugs=- Call me weird, but she shows off everyone elses stuff (she's in a bunch of swaps I guess) but not mine. Makes me think she may not appreciate what I got her as much as she says. Or maybe I am just being too tempramental. I am known for that sometimes. -=giggle=-

Anyways, TTFN.


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posted by Valerie @ 10:58 PM   5 comments
Now This is Sexy
Monday, April 2, 2007

anyone who says they aren't are lying! -=giggle=- Or just have different taste than I do. These are the boots I have been ranting about. I won them on ebay for more than half off the original cost. I will admit, I have found a couple of flaws in them. For examples, scuff marks on the toe and one of the zippers is jammed. I don't plan on wearing them all the time. If I do I will just unzip the upper part and walk around with the three sections instead of four. I will tell you though, these things are a b*tch to put on. My corset should be here in two weeks or so. -=does a dance=- My knitting needles are finished and in the mail. My SP said my package was going to come soon. Yeaaahh! I am all kinds of happy at the moment. I also have another reason to be happy but I don't want to jinx anything so I will wait until later to disclose.

I did not knit at all today and I probably won't knit tomorrow either. I really have to sink my teeth into my next speech. That's all the news for now lovelies!

TTFN!
posted by Valerie @ 10:11 PM   6 comments
Quiet Sunday..
Sunday, April 1, 2007
I thought I would get some blogging in before I start spending quality time with Grim. I believe I did well on my speech in class on Thursday. I might add though that I get annoyed with debators who aren't focused and who don't stay on topic. My opponant used a fear based arguement that I have heard many times. I stated my facts and what I considered to be the major points against abortion. I think we ended up coming to a stalemate. We'll see how the grades are given though. Hopefully I did well on this. I will say, that while I was not very excited about this project I really did learn alot. I still consider myself to be pro-choice but perhaps now I will think a little more before I start jumping to any opinions on people who believe otherwise. Once again, I am in the middle on something... Not completely unlike me. -=giggle=-

On to other news.. My SP finally got her package in the mail. I was soooo worried that it had gotten lost or something. -=does a dance=- She liked everything inside and I have already started buying things for package number 2. I am having a lot of fun with this.


My knitting needles, my new boots and corset should be arriving in the mail soon. I can't wait!! I have seen what the knitting needles look like and I will tell you they are GORGEOUS! I can't wait to knit with them and take pictures of them. Scarry Merry seriously has some real true blue talent!


So here's my weekend in a nutshell.. Friday, we just hung around the house and did our own thing. Saturday we went to Grim's family's house for dinner and a movie. We watched Downfall, a movie based on Hitler from the eyes of his secretary. It's straight from manuscripts from the people in the bunker before the Reich fell and it's awesome! Depressing but awesome and we got it for only 3 dollars. Gotta love deals. It was nice seeing the family again. Today we went to hang out with a friend of ours before he went back home. We had breakfast at a little diner.. Then my stomach started to rebell and I have been hanging out at the house ever since. Grim and I watched, When Harry Met Sally, because I had never seen it before. I have been knitting a little on the shawl. The poncho is at a standstill until I figure out how to evenly pick up 60 stitches and then I also have to figure out something else involving picking up stitches with the gloves. Ba! -=giggle=- I'll ask someone at the knitting group on Tuesday maybe. Without anything else to work on though I have been seriously concentrating on the shawl.

On another note, after all projects are done I am currently working on.. This is what's next for me!

This is someone else's picture of the Mason Dixon Nightgown. I can't wait to make it. I already ran out and bought the yarn! Here it is!

I think it's going to look really lovely when I am done. Then after I start and finish one, then I can make another one and play with the colors a bit. I made the vow though that this doesn't get started until I get my stuff knitted for Jan and my mom. -=smiles=-

Anyways, That's pretty much it.

I'll blog more tomorrow!
posted by Valerie @ 7:53 PM   4 comments
Flash Your Stash
It's April 1st and it's time to flash your stash!! -=giggle=- Here are a couple of pictures of the current yarn I have collecting in various areas of my house. Enjoy!


Above: The Closet Stash

Above: The Beside the Bed Stash

Above: The Under The Bed Stash

Above: The Newest Edition To The Family!
posted by Valerie @ 7:23 PM   2 comments
About Me

Name: Valerie
Home: Troy, New York, United States
About Me: I am 26 years old. I work, go to school, participate in roller derby and knit every chance I get. Oh, I also love hanging out with my boyfriend (Grim) and two cats (Kiya and Sigh).
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