Back to work

Yes, I am back in the working world. Just in time, because I had to file an unemployment extension to get me through the last two weeks. I am working as a training director at a local not for profit organization. It is the same type job I had before I made the biggest mistake of my life job move at the beginning of the year. For all of you who need a reminder of the job from hell take a look and the archives from January through March. I am making significantly less than I did in the job from hell, but not much less that my previous position. I am meeting some nice people and I have a huge office and free lunch. The job is close to home, casual and flexible. So things are looking up.
On the knitting front I am working on the Through the Loops Socktoberfest Sock http://www.throughtheloops.typepad.com/designs/ It's an interesting pattern, far from vanilla.

Keeping with the Halloween spirit

Your Halloween Costume Should Be

A Girl Scout

What Should You Be For Halloween?

How appropriate. Happy Halloween!

Friday funnies

Columbus day weekend...fall is here

Fall is offically here. I mark the beginning of the fall by my birthday, which was 3 days ago. I love the fall, the colors, the apples and yesterday was the most beautiful day 70 degrees and the brightest blue sky ever.
Enjoy the weekend.

Your Autumn Test Results

You are a energetic, warm, optimistic person. You approach everything with a lot of enthusiasm. When you're happiest, you are outgoing and expressive . You love celebrations, and you enjoy showing off a little. You prefer change to come slowly. You need a long transition period when your life changes. You find solitude to be the most comforting thing in the world. Being alone with your thoughts feels very peaceful. Your ideal day is active and full. You like to keep busy with your favorite things, and you appreciate a routine. You tend to live in the moment. You enjoy whatever is going on, and you don't obsess over the past or future.

The Autumn Test

I've been busy...

I have been so busy with stuff the last few weeks that I have not had a moment to myself. So here is a quick rundown of the past few weeks:
DD#2 turned 14 and DS turned 10 a couple of weeks ago, my how time flies!!
DD#1 tore her hip flexor...ouch... and is out of soccer for the season. Her best friend is the ice pack. Her worst enemy is the physical therapist who she sees twice a week.
My in-laws celebrated their 50th anniversary with a surpize party at my house over the weekend.

Boy, don't they look happy.
So we had 40 or so folks, most of whom we did not know, to our yard for dinner on Saturday night. My DH was a good host while I tended the to the food and drink.
Finally knitting and work. Well I am making progress on my knitting. I started a simple cadigan for a 3 year old lady last week. Nothing exotic, just a seed stitch border in purple with lime green for the body. It should be cute and functional.
Work - I have had a few promising interviews, one even checked references, but no solid offers. It is getting rather depressing. But I will survive.

Food for thought

Shamelessly stolen from an old friend.
Bold the stuff you've tried.

1. Venison
2. Nettle Tea
3. Huevos Ranchero
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese Fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht Hot and cold
10. Baba Ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
14. Aloo Gobi
15. Hot Dog from Street Car
16. Epoisses
17. Black Truffle
18. Fruit wine made with something other than grapes - not so fond of this. ever.
19. Steamed pork buns - OMG yes. all dim sum all the time, if I could.
20. Pistachio Ice Cream
21. Heirloom Tomatoes
22. Wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and Beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de Leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi
32. Clam chowder
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Cottage Cheese - I would rather starve
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream with tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat's milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth $120 or more -
46. Fugu
47. Chicken Tikki Masala
48. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
49. Chutney
50. Sea Urchin
51. Prickly Pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald's Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob Chips
61. S'mores - once a girl scout always a girl scout
62. Sweet Breads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs' legs
67. Churro
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain the chips are addicting
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie - please. can anyone honestly answer no to this? really?
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini - yum on a hot day
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe Beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft Shell Crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole Pablano
96. Bagel and Lox
97. Lobster - born, raised and still living in MA what do you think?
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

Enough said...

How did I do all of this when I was working?

OK, so here was my week...
Tuesday - design invite for in-laws 50th. Get boy off bus, pick up spouse (we are down to 1 car for the time being), pick up girls at school, talk oldest into team pasta party (you only need to make an appearance) work from 6 - 9 at the Y (that was a disaster, but a story for an other time) and hope that dad worked with the boy to get homework done.
Wednesday - run around town to get soccer uniform, card stock for invites, cub scout hand book, lunch with DH, get call from youngest daughter to find out that she has been called up to play with older sister, so I MUST drive 40 minutes to the game, go to game, get home at 7, dinner, homework and drop into bed.
Thursday - I got a call to work, thankfully DH could get the boy off the bus. Worked, dropped DH off at work, picked up girls at school, boy to practice, while he was at practice I went to school open house, pick him up, drop oldest off at friend's house, feed youngest, do homework, pick up oldest, practice spelling with the boy, put him to bed and pick up DH.
Thank God it is Friday, all I have to do is pick up a birthday gift, work, get DH, drop off at the birthday party and crash. Grampa is helping with the kids today. Thanks
So it seems that I have no time to knit. I am hoping for rain over the weekend so I will be trapped in the house knitting and reading other wise it will be games and the Sterling Fair.

Summer is offically over

The kids are back in school. Back to homework, clubs, sports and scouts.

You are a Black Coffee

At your best, you are: low maintenance, friendly, and adaptable At your worst, you are: cheap and angsty You drink coffee when: you can get your hands on it Your caffeine addiction level: high

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

SPS question of the week

What Olympic event would best describe your knitting style?
This summer I think it would be the marathon. I keep going and going and it just seems to take forever, but eventually it will get done.
Thanks goes out to my pal as I got a sweet little package over the weekend.

August ... thank God

July was an absolutly horrible month for me. My cat died mid-month, he was hit by a car and when my husband went to go retreive him a few hours later he was gone. I hope my neighbor did not bury him in the dumpster. The following week a dear friend and mother of three, Maureen, died. She had undergone some surgery for a broken ankle and had a blood clot that she did not know about. My youngest dd was really hurt by this news. She would always play soccer on the parent's side of the field to talk with Maureen during the games. Finally my dog Bailey passed away. My husband and I know that it was more than lyme disease. The poor boy spent the 5 last days of his life all bloated from his ribs to his hips. He was buried in the yard and my husband visits him every morning.
No news on the job front. I had an interview at Girl Scouts last week where the director of HR dismissed me after 10 minutes because she thought that the salary that they were willing to pay would not meet my needs. I am getting frustrated in that I get interviews but then no calls or thank you for your time letters.
As for knitting, I feel like I have kind of lost my mojo for now. I have not had much interest. I know it would be good for me to get my mind on something other than misery, but I am so lacking motivation.
I am glad to be done with July. I am hoping that August brings good news and good fortune. I will keep you posted.

SP 12 question of the Week

I know that I have not been doing well keeping up on my SP12 questions of the week, but this one was quite timely. This week's question is that knitting project do you take on vacation with you?
I was at the beach in Maine last week and I brought my sock and the felted bag that I was working on. Working on a wool at the beach am I crazy? No I was knitting the i-cord strap. Mindless knitting for the beach.
Enjoy the summer.

yes, I am still alive

I am surviving wihtout in home technology. It's not fun, but it works for now.
Knitting
OTN - I have the origami bag from Ann Budd's bag book. I also have some rolling rock socks from sock bug going too. I got a lot of knitting done last week as I took the train into Boston for an interview. On the ride home there was a medical emergency that delayed the train for an hour. I learned that I am a control freak and I like to come and go as I please. So working in Boston and taking the training is not for me.
My very sweet yellow lab got diagnosed with lyme disease last week. The poor dog is so sick and all he wants to do is to lay out in the shade of the yard. So I sit out with him and knit.
On the job front - still in a holding pattern with a number of jobs. I get in and get an interview, but then I don't hear a thing.
Plans for this week. My oldest is in Maine with a friend for the week, so I will take the other two up for a day trip sometime soon. I do love York Beach, ME it's small, safe and clean.

Still in a holding pattern

Yes folks I am still in a holding pattern and the folks at the local library are my new best friends. The children are going through Facebook with drawls and I am struggling with the online job search. Yes, life without a computer is difficult, but doable and the library has air conditioning.
So, what has life been like this month? There have been 2 main topics for the month - kids and job hunt.
Job hunt - I have had a number of job interviews. That is good, no offers but I expect some soon. I have a couple of interview frustrations, first is going for an interview and never hearing one way or an other. The other is pumping $20 of gas in the car and driving an hour for an interview that when you get there you find out that you are not remotely interested in the job. Why can't they pre-screen you over the phone?
Kids - They got out of school on June 12th and the oldest went to OR to visit her aunt. By week 2 of vacation the younger kids were "BORED!" So the saint that runs the local day camp where the oldest works cut us a deal and the young ones are happy in camp.
Knitting - Well after all this did start as a knitting blog. I have some beautiful 100% wool that I am waiting for the perfect felted bag pattern for. I also have the rolling rocks socks on the needles, but they are not going as fast as I would like.
I hope everyone has a happy and safe Fourth of July!

We interupt this blog

We had a really horrible thunder storm last week. It woke up the whole house, knocked out the power and fried our home computer. So for the moment I am working around the limited town library schedule for computer time until we get a new one.

Secret Pal question of the week June 12

Revelry is posting a SP12 question of the week and the question for this week is...
What is your favorite summer drink? It has to be Sam Adams Summer Ale. Yum! Clean, fresh and goes well with burgers and lobster.

Secret Pal Swap 12 Questionaire

Last spring I was in my first and last swap. I did not have a good experience. My angel was wonderful and lavished me with gifts, but I know I did not have the full swap experience. So a year later I decided to try an other one - the tried and true Secret Pal Swap. As with all swaps here is my questionaire
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I knit a lot of socks and I really like natural fibers. Right now I have some bamboo yarn on the needles. Oh so soft! I do not like fun fur or any yarn with the word fun in it i.e. novelty yarn.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
A zip lock bag

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
Mom taught me to knit when I was about 10. I did not pick it up regularly until about 2 years ago. I am an intermediate knitter who is willing to ask questions if I get stuck.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Nope

5. What's your favorite scent?
Citris

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Chocolate

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I don't spin, I know if I start I would be hooked. Right now I don't have a lot of time to do other crafts. Maybe in the summer when things slow down.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I am a child of the 80's, but I am open to anything, but disco and cheesy pop music.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I am open to almost any color that is not radioactive - no neon brights please.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am married with 3 kids - 2 daughters 16 and 13 (God help me) and a 9 year old son. We have a cat and dog. The dog is a retired service dog, a very sweet lab.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I will wear scarves and mittens, both with and without fingers.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I love socks. They come in so many different patterns and I can take them anywhere. They also look so impressive to the non-knitters.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Embossed leaves from Favorite Socks.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Sure

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I prefer circular

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
About 9 months

18. What is your favorite holiday?
I would have to be Christmas. It's a lot of work, but everyone is so happy.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
No

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I do not subscribe to any knitting mag. I would love a copy of Bird in Hand mitts.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Magic Loop

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I am a basic size 8 1/2 medium shoe

23. When is your birthday?
October 7th

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
knitpurlmom

Where have I been?

I find that by not being at work I do not blog. I read other blogs but I do not write. So here is the reader's digest condensed version of the last 6 weeks.
On the knitting end of thing I finished my noro jaywalkers. They are a little big, so they may be going to my sister. I started and finished a clapitos and I finished on sock in the embossed leaves pattern from Favorite Socks. I am about 90% done with a scarf for the third grade teacher. All I have to knit in the next 3 weeks is a couple of wash cloths for teacher gifts.
On the work front - my old company had a full time opening, but they felt like I was not qualified for it. I interviewed for a state job that I was more than qualified for, but did not get. I have an interview scheduled for tomorrow and a second interview scheduled for Monday. I have been offered some fee for service at the Red Cross, which I can start in the next couple of weeks, one my backround check comes back.
So what else I have I been doing? I play maid and taxi to the kids and that is getting old fast.

I'm free

Yes, I have been freed from my job in hell. I had a meeting with HR on Thursday, March 20 and all my work was done so I was free to go. What a relief, but it really hasn't sunk in because I have been so busy. My first full day off was Good Friday which was a busy day getting ready for the holiday weekend. The kids and I spent Easter at my brothers with his wife and youngest son. We all had a good time catching up on this and that.
I have vowed that I will not waste this time off. I am looking but I am also finding time for myself. The LYS, The Sheep Shack, had a 20% off sale last week and I treated myself to some bamboo yarn for socks and a Clapotis. I will take pictures of my fo for my notebook in ravelry and for my blog. I will walk the dog for at least 1 mile per day and I will do yoga 3 times a week. I also promised myself that I will find a job that suits me, not just one to pay the bills. I would love to wait until the fall to look for work so that I can enjoy some time with the kids but I don't think that it is the best thing to do. So I am off to send out some resumes.

A new chapter

I met with HR on Friday and she gave me the news, some good and some bad - I will be off the books on April 3, but I will have health insurance through May 31. I do feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, I slept much better on Friday night. I need to work this week, this should be interesting. No manager in my department has made eye contact with me since Tuesday, so the next week should be interesting. Time to step up the job search.

It's coming to head

Well all of my issues at work are coming to a head. My supervisor and department manager met with HR yesterday. So after their closed door meeting I chatted with the HR rep and yes my boss brought up termination - namely mine. I would rather leave on my terms not theirs. I have been diligently sending out resumes for anything and everything. But I have to admit that this is taking a toll on my psyche. I did not sleep but for 2 or 3 hours last night.
I had supervison this morning and we met like everything was perfect. Oh the anxiety of it all.

In horor of the Irish

You're 60% Irish

You're very Irish, and most likely from Ireland. (And if you're not, you should be!)

How Irish Are You?

Pretty odd considering my maiden name is Fitzgerald.

March: The ugliest month of the year

There is something about March that I just hate. It is not really winter, but it is not really spring either. My yard has ugly piles of sand filled snow and they lawn that is more mud than lawn. The good thing about March this year is that they clocks and being moved forward on Sunday. The mornings will be dark for a couple of weeks but it will be bright at the end of the day.
So to cheer myself up I have been knitting Jaywalkers in this bright Noro sock yarn colorway, #92 They do look pretty.

I am also working on a very simple silk lace scarf for a mom who is running my son's destination imagination team.
On the work front things are pretty much the same. We had a training on communication last week - waste of time. The HR rep was out on vacation, so no internal job prospects identified. I have been sending my resume out for anything and everything. I had applied for a job at my old agency in the WORST program in the agency and they politely declined to interview me. I am sure that it is for the best, that program is plagued with problems. I did go to the EAP for a session. The counselor was nice, but she didn't tell me anything I did not already know. "Get more sleep. Try to make appointments to get out of the office. Be careful you don't get depressed." I am so glad that I did not have to pay for that advice.

The status quo

Things have not changed much at work. SOS. I did meet for an hour with HR on Tuesday. The HR rep is going to float my resume in front of some managers, so I am hoping that there is light at the end of the tunnel soon.
I do have a finished object - cable rib socks from Favorite Socks. These were the sock that just wouldn't go away. Usually I can do a pair a month, with other side projects thrown in, but not this pair. I do like them and they fit well. I am getting the bug to knit a Clapotis. I looked at completed projects on Ravelry to see what yarn would be nice, then I went to the WEBS website. I found some Southwest Trading Company silk blend really cheap - the whole project for under $30.

Not so helpful HR staff and men

I feel like Debbie Downer with my saga of the job from hell, but here is the latest update. The boss asked if I was "happy" yesterday. He had mentioned that the 2 women managers in the department said that I did not look happy. Well why didn't they ask? Since he asked the question I of course felt compelled to thank him for asking and answer it for him. Why yes, I am not happy, I don't sleep at night and I cry on a regular basis. Let's talk about how much I lothe coming to work. I did not say it in those exact words, but I did explain that the lack of meaningful work is not satisfying, they staff are cold at best and if I had to do it over again I would have stayed at my old job. His response was "you are over-qualified and it is only work" Only work! where I spend 8 long painful hours doing meaningless tasks and saying little if nothing to co-workers. Men, enough said! But I do have to make the best of it, short of winning the current lottery pot of $270 million I need to work. So I need to make this work until something else comes along. That was the solution from the meeting. I feel like Tim on Project Runway...Make it work! But now the monkey is off my back and everyone knows how I feel, but is that the best thing for your boss to know that you are unhappy?
So today I have noticed that the female managers are being way too friendly. In a forced kind of way, not in a genuine way. Why weren't they friendly when I started 7 1/2 weeks ago? It makes me feel uncomfortable. Like I am being watched.
So now back to the less than helpful HR folks. I called the helpful HR rep on my way home yesterday to let her know what had transpired and asked her to email me to arrange a time to talk. I sent her a kind email this morning...can we talk? Nothing.
I did bear my soul to my old boss via email. I felt like a kid who ran away from home and was begging her parents for forgiveness. I admitted that I screwed up and never should have left all for money.
So I am actively looking for work both in and out of my current hell. I come to work, try to look busy and knit my never ending cable rib socks at lunch. I need to say a pray to St. Anthony, the patron saint of hopeless cases, to win the lottery on Friday or at least have a job come my way.
I am so trying not to be Debbie Downer. Everyday for the past 6 weeks I remind myself how lucky I am that my family is healthy, we have a place to live and food in the fridge. I would do just about anything to get rid of this black karma cloud that hangs over my 2008.
So I am off to look busy...

Helpful HR staff

When you mention HR staff in a general conversation most people moan and groan and say that they are useless. I want to express my love of the HR department. As you all know I have been struggling at work around my new job. HR checked in with me last week and I explained politely that I was less than challenged. So she suggested that I speak confidentially with someone above her. I pled my case on Friday told HR consultant how unhappy and unsatisfied I am. She kindly suggested that she would waive the 12 month waiting period for a transfer and that I should start looking internally for a position ASAP.
I will keep you all posted.

Adult conversation

I took a giant step forward last night and attended my first "meeting" of the Worcester Stitch and Bitch group. It was so nice to sit and chat with adults. As you know my new co-workers are not the warmest or fuzziest group or they just choose not to make water-cooler conversation, so it was nice to get out and just chat. It was also very nice to sit with women who appreciate good yarn and coffee. I will definately be back.

Sounds like me

Pushing that boulder

I am officially on week 6 of the new job. Things are still very slow. The highlight of my week is a telephone conference tomorrow and a deposition (not work related, but it is a day out of the office) - isn't that sad. Everyone I have talked to says hang in there, but it hasn't been easy. I now live in Dilbertville, a.k.a. cubeland, my co-workers are not going out of their way to be friendly and my boss well that is an other story for an other day. If I could shut my office door (which I don't have) to knit or have a private conversation life would be so much better.
Not to continue to be Debbie Downer on this Monday but can we talk about the Patriots? Have they taken lessons from the Red Sox on how to break your heart? We will lead you on through the entire season and then they will fall apart in the last game of the season. You had to see it coming with the games in December and January the scores got closer and closer.
Now to end on a positive note to keep life in perspective. I did see my old friend Mary today who was rather impressed with my completed cable rib sock, which made me feel better. I got out of the office and walked for 20 minutes or so today. I have decent yar to knit with through March - always a good thing. And if all else fails, I am grateful for the fact that I have a job, my family is healthy and there is food in the fridge. What more can I ask for on a gray Monday?

Here I am almost 4 weeks into the new year and resolutions fell flat. In fact they never even took flight, not one. I would really like a do over for this year. Let me tell you why - I started a new job on 12/31 and it has not worked out as I would have liked. It is a new position and if I had known that I would have steered clear of it especially since I was in consideration for an other position. I have never had any luck with those "new position" jobs, they never have any structure and I like some structure. But it was the lure of a lot more money and better benefits. So now I constantly hear this nagging voice in the back of my head saying "You should have waited it out for the other job!" I can transfer out after 12 months, so now I am stuck here for 48 more weeks less 4 weeks vacation, 3 personal days and 11 more holidays, but who is counting.
On the knitting scene, I recently finished a really cute charcoal gray hat, a bit too small for me or either one of the girls, so it is off to be donated to a local charity. I have been working on these cable rib socks from Favorite Socks and they are taking me forever! Usually a pair of socks takes me less than a month, this one sock is taking me a month alone. I may just put it away once the first one is done and work on something else. I did make a quick felted bag. I love the yarn and the way it felted.
One more resolution - I will try to post pics of FO.

Happy New Year

I started a new job yesterday, so I am planning that 2008 will be a much better year than last. So as I start the new year I will try my best to do the following:
Post at least weekly
Exercise 3x per week
Put myself first for a change
Keep the house picked up
Branch out on my knitting