2006 December Archive at adam knits!

Archive for December, 2006

Buried Alive 30Dec06

I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to write this post, seeing as I’ve been sitting at home all day, but here goes.

We’re trapped!!! Someone come help us!!! Ok, it’s really not that bad, but there’s definitely a lot of snow here in New Mexico. So much in fact, this storm has set a new record for the most snow Albuquerque has ever received. I think it’s 14.8″ at the airport and counting. I have around 18″ at my house and it finally stopped snowing a bit ago.

I woke up this morning to find that a big branch from my front tree actually snapped off. This poor tree has been cracked and broken for a while now, and all the snow hasn’t been too kind to it. Luckily the fallen branch missed my neighbor’s car, but only by a few inches. He ventured out into the weather before I took this picture, but man was that branch close. There’s also another branch on the tree that’s very close to breaking. I’m not entirely sure this poor tree will live to see the spring.

The dogs usually love the snow, but they’re not too keen on the fact that it’s taller than they are. Poor Emma couldn’t even go into the yard until I dug out a path for her. She kept getting completely buried!

I’ve done a lot of knitting (almost to the heel flap on my Yarn Pirate sock) and yarn winding today, but I’m starting to get restless. It doesn’t help that I’ve been home from work all week (Sandia Labs closes the week after Christmas); and that all my family is on the westside doing puzzles and eating good food, while I’m stuck here. My roommate is here, but he never leaves his room and doesn’t talk to me much, so that’s not much in the way of human interaction. So send me some cherry comments ok? It’d help to know that there’s still people out there in the world :)

This is Adam, your Mount Everest Albuquerque knitting correspondent, signing off.

Tags: albuquerque, home, snow, socks, vacation, works-in-progress.

I Support a Cell Phone Ban 28Dec06

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Man, what is it with me and car accidents lately? Granted, the last one was mild and no damage occurred, but do I just have a sign that says, “hit me?” or something? Last night, I was on the way to the parent’s house for a nice dinner, when a lady in her fancy schmancy Lexus decided that she was going to change lanes without looking. Here’s where it gets good though. See I wasn’t in her blind spot. She hit my driver’s side on the rear with the passenger side front of her car. I was almost completely past her, and she just changed lanes right into me.

God was definitely watching over me, because I didn’t spin out or lose control and neither did she. The first thing I remember though is looking over at her car, AND SEEING HER TALKING ON THE CELL PHONE! Oh I was so pissed. So we pulled over into a parking lot and she sits in her car for a bit, finishing her phone conversation! I was so mad I wanted to rip the cell phone out of her hand and stomp on it. There is little to no damage to my car (really, is this thing made of magic metal or something?), but her fancy car had a huge dent in it. She kept saying, “Oh my gosh, my car is going to cost so much to fix!” Ok, I’m sorry, but isn’t it your fault?

Anyway, sorry to gripe, I was just pretty frustrated with the whole thing. At least it’s her insurance that goes up, not mine.

In happier news, I started a sock yesterday. Shhhh! Don’t tell my Mom that I only got 2 rounds on the shawl done yesterday! But I just couldn’t resist the siren song of my Yarn Pirate in Malamute anymore. I know I’m weak, but you would have caved too, admit it.

Tags: a nerd's life, gifts, socks, why me?, works-in-progress.

Christmas Hangover 27Dec06

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Blarrrgh. I think I’m finally getting over the hangover from Christmas…there were lots of gifts, tons of food and much lying around. How can that cause a sleepy delirious state for the day after? It also doesn’t help that I have the week off, so I don’t have a whole lot to do other than lay around.

It’s especially difficult not to sleep lots, when my bed looks so awesome with its new bedding! My parents gave me new sheets, an awesome duvet, along with pillows and a very cool fur blanket. My old sheets were falling apart, and I was in much need of some updated stuff that matched my furniture. Isn’t it swank?

I also got a very cool gift from my Brothers and Victoria, Knit Picks Options! I was super excited to get these, as I’ve been hearing so many good things about them. Thanks guys, I love them!

My gifts went over well too. My Dad absolutely loved his socks, he wore them around the house all day. I have a feeling I’ll be replacing them before too long, but that’s a good thing. I gave Mom a few knitterly things, like a tape measure and Go Knit Pouch from Scout’s Swag, but those were just stop gaps since the real gift isn’t quite done yet. That’s right, The Project That Shall Not Be Named is actually A Garden Shawl for my Mom. I wrapped up the unfinished knitting in a gift box, along with a picture of the final product and gave that to her. Might not have been the best idea…now every time I call her she wants to know how much knitting I’ve gotten done. “You need to hurry up and finish!”, she says. It’s still going to be a while, I have around 60 rounds left, but there’s almost 400 stitches in a round now, and I’m not terribly quick at the lace knitting yet.

I’ll take pictures of that today, so it can have a proper unveiling post, but I figured I should spill the details now that Christmas is over. That’s all for now, I’m going to see if I can’t get a few productive things done today…after I make pancakes (with chocolate chips!) for breakfast that is. Anyone want to come over? :)

Tags: christmas, cooking, family, gifts, holidays, vacation, works-in-progress.

Merry Christmas! 25Dec06

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We’re having a lazy day in the Church house today, we actually just finished wrapping the presents an hour ago. (Yeah, we’re a bit behind today…) A slight crisis occurred involving running out of gift wrap, but thankfully we have friendly neighbors. My brother’s fiancee just got here so we’re about to get started. Lots of lounging around and eating steak and pie will occur, I can’t wait!

is it present time yet?

Lots of knitting updates to come next week as the Project That Shall Not Be Named will be unveiled soon.

Have a Merry Christmas! And best wishes to you and your family. :)

Tags: christmas, family, holidays, vacation.

Darlin’, Christmas is Coming 24Dec06

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“Salvation Army bells are ringing. Darlin’, Christmas is coming, do you believe in Angels singing?”

Oh, sorry…I was just singing some Over the Rhine. :)

Anyway, Christmas is almost here, and the preparations are underway at Chez Adam. It’s slightly odd and out of character, but I’m actually looking forward to Christmas this year. See, I’m usually a total scrooge. I really love the idea of Christmas, but it seems that people get so caught up in the motions of the holiday that they forget why they’re celebrating in the first place. Not to mention all the shopping. That stresses me out big time.

But for some reason this year is different. Even though I’m not totally going all out (I don’t have a tree or lights up), I think I may actually enjoy Christmas this year. It’s been a good year and I have a lot to celebrate. My Dad has a job that he loves for the first time in years, my Mom is happy, my brother is getting married, and lots more. Not to mention all that’s happened in my life this past year. God has truly blessed me and my family, and that is certainly reason to celebrate.

And even if there’s not tons of decorations at my house (ok, none), I still managed to come up with some festive activities. I just finished making some tasty Tiramisu to take to the big family gathering tomorrow night. It’s funny because I’ve never brought food to the big family shindig before. This was the first year my Aunt called me to ask what I would be bringing. I’ve been out of the gift exchange for the kids since I was 18, but I suppose I’m finally a “real adult” now.

try not to drool…

So I’m bringing some Tiramisu and some Mulled Wine. If you’ve never had mulled wine before, you should definitely try it, it’s a real winter treat. All I do is poke some oranges with cloves and roast them in the oven for a bit, then cut them in halves and mix them in a crock pot with a bottle of dry red wine, one cup sugar and some cinnamon sticks. Let the wine chill in the fridge overnight, and then heat it up in the crockpot about an hour or two before serving. MMMMM!

mmm, gotta love the grown up drinks.

I hope that whatever you’re doing this weekend that you get to have a wonderful and relaxing time with friends and family. We all deserve a little break, especially from all the Christmas knitting. Make some mulled wine, that’ll help you unwind ;)

Tags: a nerd's life, christmas, cooking, family, holidays.