There’s a story about a relatively new hard-hitting gang in the next town over from where we live. That’s right. They started in the produce section of my grocery store. They’re an intimidating bunch, as reported in The Dig. They go by the name, ahem, “Fruit and Veggies.” Aiight?

Posted by Tina as Uncategorized at 9:59 PM PDT

I finally have a pic of the Loop-D-Loop Ballet T. We don’t have a full length mirror at home so I took this in the bathroom at work. Embarrassingly enough a co-worker walked in on me and I had to explain.

I only need one more referral for my free iPod. Any takers?

My house is a dusty mess right now. But the floors are spectacular.

Not much else new that’s worth filling up space about.

Posted by Tina as Knitting at 9:59 PM PDT

We’re going on vacation!! I meet Sean in Seattle in a few weeks, then we’ll drive toward San Francisco and fly out from there about a week and a half later. Maybe I can find the winery that makes my favorite discontinued wine, Edmeades Pinot Noir. I long for it.

Posted by Tina as Current events at 9:58 PM PDT

Yay, yay, yay! I got the coolest tea maker from my secret pal today! It’s a portable teapot that you can use anywhere to make superfresh tea with tea leaves (and there were four awesome flavors in the box too — can’t wait to try tomorrow!). I really have the best SP. She’s been sending me the cutest, funniest emails. The boys in my life are all giggly about the SP thingy — but I don’t see them getting special gifts in the mail, so who’s giggling now? I’m super lucky.

The funniest thing… the other night when we were down at my Mom’s in Jersey Sean and I were flipping through the channels. It was really late and the only thing that was on was that show Kept with Jerry Hall — so we’re watching it and rambling on about how stupid it is… there was this one guy who was all pimped out — and it was just kind of funny because he just looked so American in this English manor house standing there in a Kangol and red leather blazer with a green shirt. But he seemed nice enough… whatever. So then the next morning when we’re driving back we stop at a Starbucks and he strolls right in. And then I remembered that on the show he mentioned he was a barista. So there you go.

But then on Friday night I was knitting and watching What Not to Wear, and this girl named Melanie B. was on. She looked really familiar, but I had no idea why. Then they showed the people that set her up — they were in some unfamiliar office… it was driving me crazy… And then they showed her walking down the street… and she was directly in front of my house. This Melanie, I walk by her every day on the way to the train. She’s seems so nice… always reading a book while she walks. Yay Melanie.

I can’t think of anything else right now. Except we had Jenny and Jeff here again last night and went to an outdoor screening. Unfortunately it was under a flight path in S. Boston and planes kept going over at key moments in the film. But it was fun to sit and drink beer outside and watch the film. They left for Newport this morning.

For one last time the house is being torn apart. Jon and Sean are laying the rest of the bamboo floors down over the next few days. It’s supposed to be really hot over the next few days with storms in the afternoon. Might make it tricky, as they’ll be cutting wood on the porch. I’ll help by cooking and moving stuff out of the way when they need me too. I’ll try to incorp as many cold things into the meals as possible. Ice cubes, icicles, nice cicles.

I know I need to set up an archive system for this dasterdly messy site. I’ll get to it.

Posted by Tina as Funny little things at 9:57 PM PDT

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
I prefer to wear natural fibers, but I will knit anything. I depends on the project. Sometimes it’s more practical to make a baby sweater out of an acrylic blend when the Mommy’s too busy to handwash.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I do not spin, though I would like to try. I do crochet.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
I’m not a big fan of perfume, but have no allergies.

4. How long have you been knitting?
I learned to knit when I was about 8, though I didn’t know how to start a new row by myself until I re-taught myself to knit, about 6 years ago.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I do have an Amazon wishlist.

6. What’s your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Hmm, I tend to like coconut, almond and fruity smells, but nothing overwhelming. I like the scents Juba and Ananya from The Body Shop. I also like Indian Gardenia.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
On occasion! I like gummy stuff (swedish fish, sour patch kids — the softer gummy stuff) and sour stuff. I also like hard candies like jawbreakers, everlasting gobstoppers and atomic fireballs.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I regularly make recipes from Martha Stewart Food magazines, and I’m also a gardner. I’m really into that You Grow Girl book.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I am really into music and actually play in a band with my husband Sean, and his brother, Dan. I guess I listen to mostly indie bands. Some of my favorite bands are Shellac, Cat Power, Mary Timony, Ted Leo (he played at our wedding), Death from Above 1979, Les Savy Fav, TV on the Radio, Pelican… but I also like all sorts of older stuff like Neil Young, Love, Led Zep, blahblahblah.

10. What’s your favorite color? Or — do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can’t stand?
I’m not a big fan of purple, but I like just about any other color. I’m pretty into green this year, and lean toward autumn colors like dark red, deep orange… that kind of stuff. I’m not hugely into pink but will definitely rock it.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I’ve been with Sean, my husband, who I’ve been with for 10.5 years (since I was 19) and we were married Aug. 30, 2003. Though I’m really a dog person at heart, we have two crazy cats, Peanut and Kiya. Oh, and a bunch of fish — some gouramis, pleckos and silver dollars.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
Har har, just to be happy and stay positive.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
Right now I’m knitting with Manos Del Uruguay’s Cotton Stria and it’s really soft and nice.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Anything that’s really itchy.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
I’m a legwarmers and kneesocks kind of girl, so I’d like to work on making a bunch of original patterns to wear in the fall. But I’m not the most innovative person, so it’s going to be a big push. I’m really into Teva Durham’s new book, but some of it seems a bit impractical. I’m really into her creativity and innovative designs though, and hope to have half as much talent as her some day. I follow Stephanie/Glampyre’s designs quite closely as well. She’s an amazing talent.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I don’t really have one. I guess it would be sweaters since that’s fairly new to me. I really like things with puffy sleeves, but haven’t tried yet. That’s something I hope to do by the end of the year.

17. What are you knitting right now?
A couple of things. A chevron summer top from the latest Rebecca, and I am about a third of the way through with Bad Penny, but it’s wool, so I’ve put it down for a bit. I just finished the Ballet T from Teva Durham’s book.

18. What do you think about ponchos?
They have their place in society :) I made a big chunky one about four years ago that I love, but didn’t really want to wear it this year because there were ponchos, ponchos everywhere. I also made a shoulder warmer last summer when we were on tour in Europe.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Circular.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Bamboo.

21. Are you a sock knitter?
I have yet to try, but the yarn, pattern and appropriate needles are in my stash.

22. How did you learn to knit?
My Mom taught me. Then I didn’t knit for a long time and I re-taught myself with online tutorials and the wonderous assistance of Maggie Righetti’s books.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
Four years? Fingerless gloves I never finished because I didn’t understand the instructions. Must finish.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
I like Deery Lou, Clancy and Cornelius.
I also like birds.

25. What is your favorite holiday?
Thanksgiving. Food.

26. Is there anything that you collect?
Vinyl records, vintage hairnet packages, graphic novels, some comics (Hate, Eightball, Optic Nerve). Oh, and plants.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
None.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Not really, I’m pretty stocked up right now! I would like to look at some older Rebeccas and the latest Interweave Knits.

Posted by Tina as Knitting at 9:49 PM PDT

I’m wiped out today because we had a show last night. But I’m inducing that refreshing feeling with my favorite homemade Stash English Breakfast iced tea and piles of peppermint Eclipse mints. (None of that wintergreen dirty socks flavor for me.) On the Eclipse site they have these arrows in the image on the right but no link. I had to view the code to see if I was missing something, which is annoying of them and nerdy of me.

My friends just had a baby boy, and though I haven’t spoken to them yet, I hear his initials are S.O.N. which is awesome. I can’t wait to meet him. I see a baby sweater in my near future.

So yeah, I’m tired and haven’t had a chance to sift through the vacation pics yet. But here’s a pic of Sean and me at my aunt and uncle’s farm.

Posted by Tina as Current events at 9:46 PM PDT