February 2008 Archives
Yesterday I was fiddling around with my mp3 player, updating playlists and loading new music, and came across this John Mayer song. It really resonated with me because I feel like I'm waiting for MY world to change, and rather impatiently. Almost every aspect of my life right now feels like it's in a holding pattern.
My unemployment claim filed nearly 2 months ago is still mired in red tape, with no end in sight. Each time I've called to follow up or get a status update I speak with monotone, uninterested people who clearly have no interest in doing their jobs or truly assisting anyone with anything. And that's IF I can get a live person at all--it usually takes several times due to busy signals or recorded messages stating that all representatives are currently assisting other customers. When I finally get a live person on the phone, I have to explain the situation all over again, because there are no notes on my account documenting the dozen or so previous phone calls. It feels like a conspiracy to delay paying me benefits until I've found a job and no longer need them. Aarrggh.
Then there's the potential job itself, which may finally be formally offered to me IF the legalities are finalized today as expected. Based on all the preparations that have been made and the professional history of these businessmen, I know that change of ownership is almost a sure thing, but there's still the tiniest chance that something could go awry at the last minute. Once the company changes hands the already completed offer letters can be extended to the core staff. I will breathe a big sigh of relief once I get that offer letter in my hot little hands and KNOW that I have a job!
Then there's the guy, of course. That's still......on hold. Although we've talked frequently since our lunch several weeks ago, we haven't discussed "it". However, if I understood his implication it will be several more weeks until the "statute of limitations" is up in this somewhat juvenile social code of ethics and we can pursue....whatever it is that we want to pursue. Although it's a bit frustrating, I know he feels that he's doing the right thing, so I'm waiting. For now.
Since life is not all that inspiring at the moment, let's turn to yarn, shall we? I'm still somewhat mired down by this funk and don't feel the creative juices flowing, but I did work on the log cabin a bit yesterday. It's getting there....
The color combo still looks pretty to me, and I like the Log Cabin technique, but I'm not sure the blankie will have enough body once it's done. It just seems a little limp somehow. Plus the wrong side looks.....very much like the wrong side, even with carefully woven in ends. I'm intrigued with the idea of basting or quilting a fabric backing onto it once it's completed. Don't know if that's possible, or even advisable. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it--for now there's plenty more knitting.
Although I'm not feeling up to a knitting challenge at the moment, I have one in mind for the next time the urge strikes. In my relatively short knitting life I've stuck with small projects, mainly gifts. I have yet to knit an actual adult garment, for myself or anyone else. On loan to me from Steph is a book on jackets (Jean Frost Jackets), and one in particular has captured my particular attention. Many of the designs looked a bit boxy and unflattering to me, but this one I really like. Plus it calls for a bulky yarn, and should knit up quickly, which should keep this short-attention-span knitter interested enough to complete the project. It's called the Chardon:
If I could actually get a job (or a date) I could actually wear it!!! :)
Another Valentine's Day has come, and thankfully, gone. I resisted the temptation to acquire a doll in the likeness of Cupid and viciously jag needles into it, along the lines of a voodoo curse. Instead, I plan to check out all the candy, now on clearance I hope, and make out like a bandit with various chocolate goodies in red heart-shaped boxes. Wah-hah!!! In particular I'm craving one of those Whitman's samplers, the yellow box with two layers of candy and a chart to help you distinguish the strawberry cream from the nut chew. It's been years since I've had one of those....
Due to yet more dogsitting gigs and job searching, it's been difficult to find time to blog, or even knit enough to have blog fodder. I did begin Yarn Harlot's Unoriginal Hat with nice hefty yarn donated by Stephanie. It's my first time at both cabling and chart reading, so I figured it would be a good learning experience. Since I don't own a cable needle, I just used a smaller DP. At the halfway point, here's what it looks like:
Despite the understandable assumption that being unemployed leaves a person with vast quantities of free time, I've found that nothing could be further from the truth. Aside from the black hole of time consumption that's called internet job hunting, I've also tried to stay busy by picking up odd jobs on the side. For the record, I'm immensely thankful for these opportunities, because they are helping with the financial pinch. However, these things can have the effect of putting a crimp on one's normal routine.
Take my most recent gig: house sitting for my friend Angela while she visits family in New Jersey. The house itself probably would have been fine sitting there all by it's lonesome. It's the furry inhabitants that were the main focus of my attention. Allow me to introduce you to Paolo and Speck...
These little charmers are Angela's babies, so I had very specific instructions as to their care and well being. Not that it was too hard: other than an inclination to yappiness, they're otherwise fairly nice dogs. And affectionate! The golden one (that's Speck) is pretty attached--he likes to be wherever you are. So if I'm reading the paper over coffee, he's laying on the rug nearby. If I'm watching TV, he's snoozing on the couch next to me. When I'm ready to go to sleep, he finds a spot on top of the duvet where he can feel where I'm at and snuggle in next to me. It's hard not to get a little attached. But only a little.
Especially when this is the site that greets me at the top of the entry stairs whenever I return to the house...
