just maryse

Happy Halloween!!!!

First Storm of the Season

today's sky is gray.  it's been raining all day, perfect for watching tv and knitting.

i taught my first crochet class today.  by myself.  i think it went well. 

A Bear in Sheep's Clothing

so of course there was shopping.  i bet you i'm the only girl to come home from rhinebeck with one of these..

grrrrr.  now that's a bandsaw.

   

but that's not all i came home with.

my first purchase, a little sheepy ornament ...

from carolina homespun i picked up one of these tubes of fiber

and 4 oz of multicolor merino in Baltic (and some additional denise cords and needle points)

from cloverleaf farms i picked up 9.5 oz of blue faced leicester

(the colors are off here, i mucked around with the light balance and still couldn't get the colors right)

from "i don't know where" i got a big ball of "i don't know what" -- i think it's merino.  i was taken with the color.

and from two places that i also don't remember, i got this lovely ashford niddy noddy (thanks laurie for advice on what to look for) and two skeins of trekking sock yarn.

mmm watermelony...

on sunday morning, i finally made it to The Fold where things were pretty picked over (i too saw the line on saturday, and said "fuck it") but there was still this poor little lonely skein of STR left... poor little guy. 

i mean, think about it.  people stood in line for hours to get a hold of this stuff, and yet this little guy in olivite was left.  i couldn't just let that be!  i had to give him love.  it was a matter of his little sock yarn self-esteem!  so although he didn't come in a color i would normally choose, i took him home anyway.   you could tell he was happy to be loved. 

look how happy he looks with the skein of blue moon worsted wear in "flourite" that i also picked up!  it warms my heart.  me and madonna, we're really two peas in a pod.

hmmm.  that's about it, this time around.  oh and of course, the very awesome bandsaw.  i'm just dying to try that bad boy out. 

 

And Its "Fleas" Were White As Snow

so i went.  it was my first time to Rhinebeck.  3 days later, i'm still recuperating. 

by now, you know about the crowds.  and the bloggers.  it was wonderful seeing everyone i already adore and meeting new folks that i've corresponded with over the past couple of years, but i felt there wasn't enough time.  not enough time to properly shop and see everything.  not enough time to hang with my boston girls.  (except for stitchy who is quite the task master and diva.  just sayin')  not enough time to sleep or eat properly (although i did).   not enough time to just sit and chat.  not enough time to take pictures of everyone .  and then there were several awkward moments that reminded me of freshman year sorority rush when i would feel in my heart that i just wasn't going to make the cut.

wearing "the scarf" turned out to be a good idea.  it helped identify me as a square.  i also had a lot of people, non-bloggers mostly, stop me asking if it was "the scarf from scarf style."  i'm not sure i convinced anyone to actually make one of their own -- probably not -- but it was the first time most had seen it "in the wild."  two ladies remarked that they had made one, but if that was the case, WHERE THE HELL WAS IT!!!

the weather was incredible.  on saturday the sun was shining and the air was crisp and clean.  on sunday, the skies were grayer and mistier but no less beautiful.

and then there was the shopping.  everything from dresses with sheep.

yarn and fiber, of course.

brooms just in time for halloween.

and bathroom sinks.

there were animals (finally an alpaca -- or is that a llama -- not showing me his ass)

and an organ grinder with his monkey.   

i also saw paulina porizkova -- did anyone else see her?  i saw her twice, so i'm pretty sure it was her.  she's still as beautiful as ever.  who knew she was a fiberholic like the rest of us mere mortals.  unfortunately i didn't take a picture.  i didn't want her to think she was being stalked by papparazzi or anything like that.

all in all, my first rhinebeck was a lot of fun.  but physically and emotionally exhausting.  i'll probably be back next year -- better prepared.

Happy Anniversary to Us

it's been three years.

thank you for choosing me

I Don't Like Mondays

this morning, i was on this train, in the second car. 

i was one of the many lucky ones.  my knee's a bit sore, from when i hit the seat in front of me when we stopped short, but i'm not complaining.  it could have been so much worse.

the local police and fire departments were on the ball, as were the train crew.  people that normally don't make eye contact with you, were helpful and concerned.  and everyone remained unbelieveably calm.  there were a few grumbles, but i think we all felt a little bit lucky that for the majority of us, the worse would be that we'd get to work a little late. 

It's Too Dark To Take Pictures

so i'm doing a meme ...

48 Things You Could Care Less About (ok before i go on, shouldn't this be "48 things you couldn't care less about?"  because if what i'm supposed to be doing is listing things that one might not care about at all, then it's wrong.  if there are things out there that i could possibly care less about, then i can live with that)

1. FIRST NAME?
    Maryse

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
     Kind of, indirectly.  My mother told me that i was named after Maryse Bastie.  I think she just liked the name.

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY?
     When my parents were visiting.  i'm not a cryer so when i do get weepy, i hide it, and if i don't, it's pretty serious.

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
    Usually, but only when i'm paying attention to write nicely and i've got the right paper, and pen, etc.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT?
     You know, i don't really have a favorite.  I rarely eat lunchmeat.  But if i had to pick one, i'd say turkey.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?

    Sure would.  I'm a loyal, caring friend.  Oh and I can keep a secret.  I'm a vault.  I'm easygoing and compassionately honest (so i won't tell you that the pants make you look fat, but i might suggest another outfit.)

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL?
    Right now, it's just this blog. 

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
    Nope.  I had them removed when I was 4.  And yes, i got to eat a lot of ice cream.  I remember my dad going to Howard Johnson's to pick up Chocolate for me (they used to sell ice cream by the half gallon). 

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
    Nope.  Sounds like one of the dumbest things ever.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
    Quaker Oats Squares. 

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
        Not usually.  I just slip them off. 

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?

    Compared to who?  I'm certain strong-willed.  And I probably could crush a man with my thighs (or at least I once could have.)

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR?
    Cookies N Cream

14. SHOE SIZE?

    11.  I kid you not. 

15. RED OR PINK?
    Red.  I've tried pink, but i'm just not a pink girl.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
       Slot, gluttony, envy, anger ....

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
      Friends with whom I've lost touch.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
      No, just let leave me a comment.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?

    Gray paint splattered sweat pants, my black "poop*" shirt, and black socks. 

*protest outrageous oil profits

20. LAST THING YOU ATE?
   Chicken and mushrooms with pasta.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
    The TV

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
      hmmmm.  neon carrot or turquoise.

23. FAVORITE SMELL?

    Crackling fire.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
    A project manager from one of my sites who is a big pain in my ass.

25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO?

    Their hands.

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from?
       I think so, although we've never met.  but maybe we will at rhinebeck.

27. FAVORITE DRINK?
    Coffee, black no sugar.  Dunkin Donuts Tropicana Coolatta.  Diet Pepsi.  Harpoon IPA Beer. 

28. FAVORITE SPORT?
    Spectator -- soccer or any of a variety of Olympic sports from the ridiculous to the sublime.

    Particpant -- when i'm not such a lazy shit, cycling. 

29. EYE COLOR?
    Blue/green/gray -- depends on the light

30. HAT SIZE?
    Huge.  I have a massive cranium.   Good thing considering the size of my feet.  At least my extremities are proportional.

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?

    Yes, sometimes. 

32. FAVORITE FOOD?

    Chinese

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
    I like movies that make me think about the characters after the last scene.  But if i had to choose, I prefer scary.

35. SUMMER OR WINTER?
    I prefer the fall, but if i had to choose, Winter.  Summer is the season i dislike the most.

36. HUGS OR KISSES?

    From the general populace i prefer hugs.  From my J, both. 

37. FAVORITE DESSERT?
    Pie

38&39 deleted because they were stupid and irrelevant.

40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING?

Color: A Natural History of the Palette and Spin to Knit

41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE Pad?

    I don't have one at home. At work, I have a pad with this very vibrant graphic design on it, with squares and circles in tons of colors.

42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV?
    Friday Night Lights.  I'm intrigued by the premise because it's so totally foreign to me.  I mean, highschool football, who gives a shit.  right?  (I taped gilmore and veronica mars)

43. FAVORITE SOUNDS?
    Rolling surf.  J's laugh.  Purring cats. 

44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES?

    Beatles

45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME?
    Tehran, Iran although at the time it was my home, so scratch that.  Lagos, Nigeria then. I was in college in PA and visiting my family for christmas.

46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT?
    Hmmm special.  I have a few.  I can bend my left pinky finger down to my palm without my ring finger wanting to follow along.  I can stand with the backs of my heels touching and my toes turned out to the sides.  When I lay on my back, the outer edge of my feet lie flat against the bed.  It used to freak a roommate out because under the covers it looks like i have no feet. Oh, i can type and talk at the same time about something totally different.  And my favorite talent is making people laugh.  I love when I make someone laugh.

47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
New York, NY

48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
I borrowed it from carolyn

I'm A Square

ok, so i'm going to rhinebeck.  but i'm not really ready.  well i am, but when i read about all of the preparations that i haven't thought about, i think "what the fuck!? am i supposed to plan for that?"  vendors?  what vendors?  list of vendors?  should i plan?  make a spreadsheet? commit the fairground map to memory? sign-up for shit? meet-ups?  what? there's a meet-up?  i'll just follow kellee.

then there's the blogger bingo.  i'm a square.  on saturday.  thank christ i'm not playing because of course i would lose because i wouldn't have prepared ahead of time.  see, this rhinebeck thing has kind of caught me off guard.  i was sure i had at least 2 more weeks. 

since i'm a square, i'll follow julia's lead and give you a couple of clues.  first a recent picture.

ok.  yeah. that's not me.  that's sophie marceau.  hey, i know people named sophie.  and well i have a french name.  so it's almost like i could be her.  and my hair is similar.  kind of.

well go here, and here, and here.  my hair's longer these days, with bangs.  and i'm rather robust (that's being kind), around 5 foot 7. and i'll be wearing this.  and you might see J with me.  maybe.  if he doesn't drive down to Grizzly Tools for the day.  it's only a 3.5 hour drive from rhinebeck, he says.  freak.

ok. that's it for now.  i have to pack. what do i bring? are people bringing wheels? do i bring my wheel? what should i bring to knit? i have to ball yarn before i can pack! what clothes do i pack? do we bring the mini or the truck? will it rain? will it be cold? can i fit in an eyebrow wax? i need a manicure ....

is it any wonder that i'm not excited yet?

Inspiration

S is for

Sunflowers

one of my favorite flowers.

they're the radio city music hall rockettes of the flower world, the syncronized swimmers of nature, following the sun as it cruises from east to west across the sky.

i love their big giant heads and the fact that they can grow to be taller than i am.

hearty and easy to grow, they provide beauty and nourishment. 

and they make me smile.