And … I got this beautiful opal necklace for Christmas too. How could I forget?

Thanks Mom!

Posted by Tina as Funny little things at 6:14 PM PST

What have I been up to, you ask? Oh, lots. And 2008 is going to be good — I can feel it! (Even if Barack Obama doesn’t take NH tonight.)

Christmas was super-nice. We spent time with my family in NJ, then planned to head back up to the Cape to Sean’s family, but everyone had the flu! :( We’re heading up to Loon Mtn. this week with his family, so we’ll have our Secret Santa trade then. I am so fricking excited for that. I can. not. wait. to give my gift. I’ll post more when it’s been gifted.

And on to the most important part … what did I get??! A new sewing machine. A super beautiful, non-thread jamming, easy glide along, non-scary buttonhole-making Janome. It’s a real peach. I started this dress (the one on the right) in a nice goldy-yellow herringbone, but have had some achy back problems, so I’ve taken a week or so off of sewing. Among other gifts (my family goes a little gift-crazy) I also got some new Earth boots, and a really amazing pair of hand-made scissors I’d asked for.

My knitting, as usual, is slightly complicated. I have one “I’m stuck,” another “I have to back pedal a bit, but it’ll be a quickie once I get going” sweater, an inch of ribbing for a vest that that I ripped and restarted the other day, an EZ hat that I am about to rip and restart on a larger needle … and there are a few more, but I’ll spare you the drama.

For houses, we decided that neither of the two houses we’ve been looking at (see my Flickr account) are quite right, so we’re going to keep on looking. We’re leaning more toward staying in the city at this point — I don’t know if we can roll in the ‘burbs just yet.

I can’t believe I only have three more days of work, then I’m on vacation again, but you’ll hear no complaints from me! Hopefully by the next time I post I’ll have learned how to snowboard. And if that doesn’t work out, I’ll likely spend the week finishing up all those knits I mentioned …

Posted by Tina as Knitting, Funny little things, Sewing at 10:50 PM PST

That’s how I’m feeling right now …. my feet are freezing, but the rest of me is warm. I’ve been preparing for Christmas, but the city’s covered in ice right now, so getting around has been difficult. Last night I waited for a bus for a long, long time, then ended up next to a guy who was singing along to the Cocteau Twins, which can be difficult to listen to, if you know them. (The singer sings in a nonsensical language … it’s made up). It was pretty funny. There was also the balding man on the train who checking his reflection in the door window, and plucking hairs from his head.

Yes.

And these are the reasons we are hesitant to leave the city. The people (wouldn’t I miss that stuff if I didn’t live here?), the mass transit (it could be improved, but can’t everything?), the access to anything you can think of …

So we’re focusing a bit more on house-hunting around here instead of elsewhere. This one’s in the running right now.

It’s in JP, was built in 1914, and had teeny tiny rooms, a fireplace, a small yard, and a slate roof. It’s very New England. We’re going to look at it again this week. Know anyone who wants to buy our condo? We will really miss this place when we leave. Never mind that that bus ride last night dropped me off 100 feet from our front door.

Also, wasn’t Freaks and Geeks the best? I’m about half way through watching the only 12 18 episodes, and I’m so sad it’s going to end.

I’ve been knitting too, just one gift this Christmas, and I wish I had put in the effort to give all handmade items this year, as many others did, but I just don’t have the space to create all that much, and knits are usually slow-going. I do have the sewing bug though, and am looking forward to having more space to use all of the fabric and patterns I’ve been collecting for the past couple of months.

Happy holidays!

Posted by Tina as Funny little things, Houses at 11:42 AM PST

Today’s our 4th anniversary!

Posted by Tina as Funny little things, Current events at 11:10 AM PDT

Kind of made my day. I’m not going to write back, but at least it assures me I don’t look as crazy as I think I do, juggling my iPod, knitting, and iced tea on the train every day. Some guy actually said to me once as I got off the train, “I’m just admiring your multi-tasking …”

Posted by Tina as Funny little things at 11:50 AM PDT

If you eat your ice cream with mindfulness, you understand you are eating a cloud.

I’ve been listening to this Buddhist Dharma podcast for about a month now, usually on my way to work in the morning. I highly recommend Zencast, which is a series of lectures by Gil Fronsdal and several others. The podcast offers many tidbits of wisdom …

I’ve been knitting quite a bit, and also sewing as well. I was going to wear this dress to a friend’s wedding a few weeks ago, but it just felt a bit too tenty, and not quite wedding-y, so I have yet to break it in. I hope it’s not too much of a waste of fabric, but I may take it in a bit. I’ve been running, and I’m feeling in shape, and the dress doesn’t really show that :)

During my morning commute, I’m usually knitting if I can get a seat. As I got off and switched to the red line yesterday, a woman asked me if I teach knitting. It’s not the first time I’ve been asked, and I’m starting to wonder if it’s something I should try at some point. I shyly told her no, but sent her off to find Windsor Button.

I’ve been working on a gift for someone, so can’t really post on that, but my Rib Yoke Cardigan is done, and I’m very flattered that one of my all-time favorite knitters gave me a nice compliment.

Posted by Tina as Knitting, Funny little things, Sewing at 10:48 AM PDT

We visited NYC and went to see The Colbert Report on Monday night. That’s us sitting on the left in the back row, furthest two seats on the right, in the video below.

We went to Spice Market for dinner (below), Central Park and the Museum of Natural History.

And we visited the Hongs at their amazing penthouse which looks out to the Empire State Building, but we had to whisper because the little one was asleep. Sharon’s brother’s doing this Staremaster thing — a staring contest with famous Japanese people — (which is really funny), so we watched some spots from that as well.

Posted by Tina as Funny little things at 10:19 AM PST

I received this Charles Harper print as a Christmas present from Sean this year. I’ve loved his work for quite some time now, but this print has a special significance to us: on our wedding day, while we were standing in the receiving line saying hello to everyone, we had a visit from a ladybug. She landed on my bouquet and I noticed she had two dots on her back — one for me, one for Sean. I’m lucky to have someone in my life to share and remember such sweet things with …

Posted by Tina as Funny little things at 8:27 PM PST

Posted by Tina as Knitting, Funny little things at 2:38 PM PST

… a gallery, link from Boing Boing

Posted by Tina as Funny little things at 2:55 PM PST