The peer pressure – I know.

Well it’s also because I’ve been needing a distraction from work – quick little breaks here and htere… Holy crap I’ve been trying to do this quiz since about 3:30pm!

It started to snow here again about a 1/2 hour ago. We’re expected another 10cm tonight. And just when the streets were getting clear too! Businesses were opening up again, sidewalks were being salted and shovelled… Piles of snow were being mounded from snow plows.

See how that pile is taller than the bus stop sign? And how we can never get away from Starbucks too?
But even after all this brown snow was being shoved off to the side of the street, the City of Victoria, aka the City Of Gardens, was still able to get their city crews out on the streets and decorate their city for the holiday season.

That poor guy under the awning is so going to get a pile of snow dropped on him if he ever looks up.
However, not everyone has embraced the snowy season. What about all those poor people who convinced themselves over the summer to purchase a fuel economy vehicle?

Definitely haven’t seen many of these around the city these days… That was was still covered in snow and parked there when I walked to work this morning.
Scooters are normally a great idea in the city. You can save money on gas, quickly get from point A to point B and enjoy the summer air. Today though, aren’t you glad you have a car? Well, even if you still have your “all season” tires on.

EDIT: If anyone wants to read about my package I got from my Secret Pal, it’s all here. I got yarn! Woo-hoo! More yarn! :)

I’ve been rather busy lately and haven’t been online much the last few days. I have skimmed through most of your journals, so don’t think I’ve skipped anyone! :)

Friday night’s party was good. I had a fun time, but I think most of the night, I was too pre-occupied with “playing hostess” rather than fully enjoying myself. I’m just on the Staff Association, but some how I took on more responsibility than I thought. Eventually, everyone was coming up to me when they needed things. Music turned up (or down in the case of the hotel staff), when to run contests/giveaways, which gift was what… etc. I didn’t even have time to go get seconds and by the time I came back to finish my dinner it was already cold. The food wasn’t as fantastic as previous years either, as I have heard they changed head Chefs, but all in all, I think everyone else had a good time too. I was so busy (and having fun) that I didn’t have time to take many pics. I did have one of Jon and me, but it was a horrible horrible shot that I will save myself the humility and just deleted it.

After that, the weekend was nice, but a snowfall warning was in effect. Now, if you don’t know Victoria, or the west coast, you don’t know that it rarely snows here. Maybe once or twice a year and when it does it turns into slush in no time. No one is ever prepared. Plus, we only have like, 2 (ok, there’s probably more, but you get my drift) snow plows in the entire city, so all the little streets never gets cleared. So, by the time Sunday hit, the city was in turmoil. No one has snow tires (though Jon does because he grew up, up north, so he knows to be prepared – and he’s just crazy prepared like that to begin with) and no one has proper snow boots. You should see some of the women in this town. Yes, they may have on boots, but they’re stelleto or look like they should be on the dance floor, not in the snow. No one knows how to drive in this weather, so when Jon and I hit the road to go grocery shopping, it was good to see not a lot of people were out.

I had brought some of my plants in from the balcony a couple of weeks ago, but some stayed outside. This was from Sunday morning.

By Monday, the plants are fully under snow. I don’t expect any of those ones to survive and bloom again in spring.

This was Monday morning.

It’s a good thing I already had pre-booked the day off. I had planned a whole day of staying in anyway, so it turned out well. Even Jon had the day off as his boss called in the morning to tell him to take a snow day.

I got most of my plans done for the day off. I did a load of laundry (though I wanted to do more, but I ran out of loonies), I cleaned, sorted and organized. I even ventured out into the snow because it was sunny and I really wanted to walk out in the winter wonderland.

That’s a poor car covered in snow in the bottom left hand corner there… That’s what a lot of cars looked like.

I didn’t get much knitting done. I worked on the secret project, but I really think it’s too small and I can’t convince myself to frog it either. I’m really hoping I can block it out to size, otherwise, it’s going to be someone else’s gift.

I worked a bit on my SKB because I couldn’t tear myself away from the wonderful yarn.

I had finished one ball of yarn and started a new one and used this new technique I found about weaving in ends while knitting. It’s amazing, really easy and I just need to practice a bit more. :) If you knit, learn it. It’s awesome. Learn about it here.

Got some sewing done too. I promised myself to finish those couch cushion covers for our new foamies… So they’re done. Not the best work, but they are finished and the couch is much much more comfortable.

This is also my knitting spot (where the blankets are) until Jon and I buy a new chair which will sit in it’s opposite corner.
And to top off the day, I did some baking too. :) A new recipe for Cheddar Shortbread, but I don’t know why it’s called shortbread. It doesn’t taste like shortbread and it’s more savory. It’s got a kick of cayenne and some thyme in it. I don’t think I’d make it again though. They taste good, but not a cookie like I was hoping for.

Oh and I was going to surprise Jon with these too.

Cinnamon buns!!! But since he also had a the day off, they weren’t quite the surprise anymore. They really could have used more gooey-ness to them. I’ll know for next time. :)

My next day off better not include this much snow, but I plan to do more baking and knitting. Only 2 more weeks away! :D

So the company party is tonight. Only this morning did I decide that I wanted to wear my new pants and began seam ripping the hem. I only got through one hem before it was time to leave for work. I don’t actually know if I’ll have time to hem them after I get home.

Then I haven’t decided yet between two tops. They’re both black, but one I’ve never worn before and was a gift, or the other one where I’ve worn it a couple of years ago to the same party…

Then there’s the matter with my hair. As the days got closer to the party, staff members have gotten hair cuts, hair dyed and hair well, fixed. Here, I’m currently sitting in shambles in jeans and my Canucks hoodie – I don’t think I even combed my hair this morning (it’s Friday, what can I say…) I’m thinking of flipping it out and throwing a scarf type thing in it.

Gah.

At least I worked lots last night and got a bunch of stuff done. Today’s workload isn’t so bad, but I do have to help set up the location just after 3pm. Maybe after that I can leave for home and get back in time to hem.

I knew I should have hem those pants when I first bought them – uh… almost a month ago!

I go to the post office by work so often that I walk through the door and the lady knows me by my name already. Wow.

Sleep last night wasn’t any good again. I’m so tired and exhausted today. I was talking to some co-workers about my tossing and turning and it turns out, 3 other people have the same symptoms! We’re blaming it on something to do with the weather. We all are able to fall asleeep, but it’s the waking up a gazillion times in the middle of the night that’s killing us. I could really go for a nap right now, but I should probably work for through the next hour as I haven’t been doing “work-work” today, but rather lots of work to prep for the company party tomorrow night. Phew!

With that, back to work.

Things have been pretty, well, all over the place. I haven’t been sleeping well lately, even though I go to get at the same time every night. I end up falling asleep, but then I toss and turn so much in the middle of the night that I wake myself up. Jon even said I woke him up a couple of nights ago. I think I need a new pillow.

This past week I’ve been working on the music for our company Xmas party which is this Friday. I’ve got 4 hours of music, so hopefully that’ll last us during the “dancing” portion of the night. I’m pretty psyched about it and hope that the staff likes the mix I’ve got – well, they better! They requested most of it! I’ve been busy that I haven’t had time to go look for a new outfit and I hate how nothing fits, so I’ll just wear a top that I wore a few years ago and if I have time, I’ll hem some pants I bought a few weeks ago and ta-da! Oh and my knitted wrap to top it off.

Knitting has it’s ups and downs. Knit nite last night was good and I made a lot of progess on my unmentionable project. I’m just afraid it might be a tad small. That project is now priority number one, then I’ll get back to the Sister sock and the SKB – because I love that yarn from Knit Picks and can’t wait to continue knitting the SKB with that. I have too many projects on the go. Oh and my Knucks! I did finish the one glove weeks ago, but haven’t had time to start the 2nd, so I can’t even wear them yet! Ahhhhhhhh! Oh and I want a cozy for my new phone too. Gah.

I was just thinking that I need more knitting time and it just occurred to me that I’ve got this Monday off! Hurray!!! A whole day to sit at home in my jammies and knit. Sweet.

Some projects to remember to start (more for a note to myself and in no particular order):

• Ornamental Stocking (from knitfish)
• January B-day Socks
• March Cardi From Berroco
• Possibly Ivy From Knitty
• Stretchy Socks
• Man Socks

Well, time to get back to this whole “work thing”, so I can have money to buy more yarn (but just think! All those projects I’ve just listed, I already have yarn for them – that means I can buy MORE yarn for MORE projects. Oh dear…)

I’ve been a very very busy girl this past week. I was alone in my dept all last week and it was so busy, I was going crazy by Friday morning. So during lunch, I had to leave the building. I went for a walk and landed at the cell phone store and I picked up a new cell phone. My old one was 4 years old and was going to bite the bullet soon. The volume button was broken and the screen was slightly cracked. Oh and I wanted a camera phone too because I was tired of carrying my camera with me too… So now, I have a match made in heaven.

The camera is pretty good… Though the zoom isn’t so good. It’s got a lot of features and so I got to test it out and play with it all weekend.

First off, Nicola was in town for 2 days. But even before that, I figured I would have some time to go to Beehive (I waved at the store for you sadie6!) after work and help knitfish decide on yarn for her man’s knitted present. Which I still say, it’s black, but it’s the smarter choice and the end product will be much better. And while I was there, of course I had to get some more yarn (cuz you know, you can never have too much.)

The Mega Boots Stretch was calling out to me even though I won’t have time to knit it up until the new year. Oh and the grey Kroy for some secret socks which cannot be blogged about, but have already been cast-on.
I got home late after hitting the yarn store. But it was OK because I came home with cheddar (as requested) and a surprise bubble tea. Jon was very pleased and not upset at all that I had (not lied), but did not disclose the yarn store information. Hee hee, whoops!

Nicola didn’t seem to mind that I wasn’t even there when they had arrived. She was too busy playing a game that consisted of small pieces of paper, a tiny ribbon and some tape. Ah… To have a mind like a 4 year old again…

In the morning, I offered to make breakfast. Chinese pancakes!

They’re not Chinese at all actually, but that’s the name Jon had given them after I had made them for him once. They’re more like sweet finger pancakes. Eaten right off the pan! No syrup needed, so kids don’t get sticky fingers!

When I was a kid, my Sis and I wanted pancakes, but we didn’t know any recipes. So her and Mom got together and made one up, which I still use today. I remember my Sis making them really tiny or into fun shapes or letters. So the only “kid” thing I knew to do (to entertain Nicola), was to make these pancakes for her – which she looooved.

They were a hit! When I was a kid, I loved making holes in my pancakes, so I showed Nicola how and she became a donut making master. She loved that trick. ;)
Later that afternoon, we went to Gyro Park, but it had been raining so hard that the playground looked like a pool. Off in the distance there was so much water that the ducks were wadding in the grass. So we went and tried to feed them.

We didn’t have any luck. They waddled away from us and eventually flew away.
So instead, the sun came out and Jon and I took them to visit the UVIC bunnies! I love bunnies!!!!!!

That last pic is my fav. She kept yelling at the poor bunny to do something! “Do something!!!” She loved it when it would jump around, but this time, no jumping.

We capped off the day with some lunch at my fav fish ‘n chips place in Estevan Village. Which also meant that while the fish cooked, I walked across the street to my other fav yarn store in town…

The Boutique de Laine
Jon was truly surprised that I came back with nothing. I bought no yarn. I just wanted to check out their sock yarn selection (which seems to be much much better/bigger than Beehive) and see if they had a mailing list for me to sign up – yup!

After all that they took a ferry home and that evening Jon and I went went to catch a BCHL game: Victoria Grizzlies VS the Langley Chiefs. I of course knitted between periods.

I didn’t get much done on that sock, but my hat, that was a different story.

Grumperina’s Odessa Hat – Done!
I changed it to a rolled brim with no beads. I love it – especially the swirly top.

I was afraid I was going to run out of yarn (I only had a single skien that I bought from Salt Spring back in the summer time), so I skipped 2 normal rows when I was decreasing for the top and it still looks fine.

So that was the weekend – and the camera testing. Oh and guess what else the camera does?

Pre-made frames that you can stick someone’s head in!!!
The camera’s got a lot of features and since mostly I use them just to blog and not really much else, this is the perfect phone/camera combination for me. Plus it’s got a radio (which is a feature I really wanted) and mp3 player – now if I can only figure out what I’m doing wrong! I can’t seem to add any music to it. Oh and I one annoying thing about the phone, it doesn’t come with any default rings like my last phone. I hate music as a ringer, I like actual ringing. Blasted!

Code name knitfish, code name red__thread and code name catscandance: Our mission – to procure yarn this Friday evening.

The enemies (aka non yarn lovers aka Jon’s family) will be arriving late Friday evening. This will give us a window of about an hour to visit the Beehive. I will probably get out of work at a decent time (read: 5pm), so I can meet you all there. I should (probably) leave by 6pm at the latest, so I can get home in time to portray my girlfriend duties of saying hello and playing hostess for the weekend.

A confirmation phone call will be delivered to knitfish by Friday afternoon.

This transmission will self destruct in 30 seconds. (OK, it won’t but that was fun to add!)

I’ve just helped carry 4 pallets loaded full of boxes of ceramic mugs for work down into storage. They were left in the rain. So now I smell like wet cardboard. That’s hot. It’s the new hip scent. You should get it yourself. It probably sits on store shelves next to wet dog.

My arms are sore and weak. I’m going home now. Heck, if I walk home in the rain, my clothes would probably be cleaner then they are now. Sweet.

We didn’t go over to Vancouver like we usually do every long weekend. This time we decided to take it easy and not rush out for a ferry in this crazy windy weather. Instead, my Brother came here and gave us a visit.

He stayed over at my Sister’s place, so I didn’t actually hang out with him as much, but I wanted a long weekend of my own too. We did have dinner together twice, breakfast once, caught a Salmon Kings hockey game.

Even though it was a long weekend, I feel like I just had a regular weekend. Where it was only Sunday yesterday, but I guess that’s also a good feeling because in reality, it’s Tuesday and that means only a 4 day work week!

In between visits from the Brother, Jon and I went out and bought some new high grade foam for our couch. Our current cushions are so worn and out of shape, that we decided to fix it up. So all weekend, I’ve been measuring, cutting and sewing new cushion covers – with a zipper too I might add. That way we can zip it open and throw the covers in the wash when they get dirty (read: Mary drops food on the couch – again.)

I ran into a snag last night sewing the darn thing though. I had measured incorrectly am short about 2″ on one side. Which sucks. At least I think it’s about 2″. We’ll have to do re-do the math tonight and hopefully Jon and mark and cut up 2 new pieces while I’m at knit nite tonight. ;)

Also over the weekend, I finally had a chance to get to the ridiculously far away post office (in the pouring monsoon rain I might add) to pick up my parcel – which was what I had guessed – my bag of yarn from Knit Picks. It was the first time I had ordered from them and if I want some really nice yarn for cheap again, I’ll order from them again. I had bought Andean Silk in Sangria to make the Simple Knitted Bodice. I got home with the yarn and immediately knitted a swatch and cast-on too. I’m only about 12 rows into the pattern now. I can’t wait to go home and knit more of it. The yarn is really soft. I think I might bring it with me for knit nite tonight instead of my usual sock.

No pics. I was to distracted with visiting, knitting and sewing. I’ll get some pics going when I get my head together and figure out what I calculated wrong in my sewing pattern. Did I already mention that I hate math?