Friday, January 26, 2007

Because I'm Big in Japan

yep soon I'll be going to the land of Japan for my brother's second wedding. It's all a little intimidating, so much to plan and organize. I need to learn some phrases in Japanese, like "where is the nearest yarn shop?" Or, "do you carry sock yarn?"

As such I've been reading up quite a bit on the local customs and came across this, on the Gojapan.about.com website:

Packing Tip 4: Shoes

Since it's a Japanese custom to take off your shoes indoors, you might have to take off your shoes often in Japan. Bringing a pair of shoes that you can slip off and on easily might be convenient. Make sure to bring, and wear, a nice pair of socks or pantyhose to avoid any embarrassment when you take off your shoes.



I don't think a nice pair of socks will be a problem do you?

GG

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Surprise

I've got a new website. I've been working on some knit patterns of my own design. They're fun. They're simple and, they're free.

the first one has just gone up. It's a hat inspired by medieval knights. Very simple too. Just knitting and purling with a little decreasing.

Check out KnitLuck.

Friday, January 19, 2007

Stash Moment

I was looking at sock yarn on the internets and it occurred to me that perhaps I should fondle the sock yarn I already have.

Lord knows theres some lornas laces shephard sock in VERA in my to-be-knitted box.

But that would assume that I have finished the pair of socks I've been working on.

I'm going to finish a pair of socks this weekend so that I can have a new pair of socks to knit during the superbowl.

That's right. You heard me. The Superbowl.

I have been watching football. American football. It's as much a shock to me as it is to my coworkers and friends. But the Patriots are contenders and as a former New Englander I'm obligated to watch.


Ra Ra Ra
GG

Sunday, January 14, 2007

In Recovery

Must. Get. Rest.

No. More. Yarn.

I'm yarned out. I just got back from TNNA, the wholesale needlearts tradeshow, where I worked the booth for the Fabulous Yarn Company. Unlike my previous foray I spent the most of the time setting up and working the booth, which was great. However it required a lot more energy and hard work and I'm exhausted and need to recharge. But it was great to get to know my employers and coworkers better. And I got to visit some fabulous restaurants and cafes. It was a mini work break.

This was my first time to San Diego and it is a beautiful city. So well spaced out in relation to the ocean. It felt so light and airy -quite welcoming. The restaurants are just as charming.

Across from the convention center is Tin Fish, a seafood restaurant with some tasty crab cakes. The fish tacos were huge and yummy -the American version of the real thing. Usually when I order from a taqueria you get two small tacos, Tin Fish's is more likea Fish Burrito. The staff was friendly even if the atmosphere was a bit lacking. More like seafood restaurant meets airport bar, but considering it's proximity to both a ball park and a convention center it still exceeds expectations.

We stayed at the Horton Grand Hotel, an old haunted Victorian Hotel where Wyatt Earp once stayed. The accomodations were comfortable and cute. It reminded me of where Mr. G and I got married.

After setting up the show we went for dinner at the Dublin Square which is one of the best Irish Pubs outside of Ireland that I have ever been to. It was cozy having a dinner next to the fireplace on two couches and a coffee table. The music was loud enough to be recognizable and provided good conversation. I was still a little full from the seafood so I kept dinner light with a bowl of tomato basil soup and a dinner salad, which were both yummy and flavorful. Everyone shared their dinners so I also got a taste of the Guinness braised beef, which melted in my mouth with a taste of gorgonzola cheese.

mmmm. Gorgonzola.

And the fish and chips were crispy and we didn't have to ask for the malt vinegar.

The next morning the hotel clerk directed me to Cafe 222 for breakfast, which is just down the street from the Horton. The staff were super friendly, evenmoreso than at Tin Fish. They commented on my hat and scarf and even better they were quick to refill my coffee. The decor was supercute. Check out the photos

I like the lighting


check out the cups and saucers!


I ordered the Eggs Italia, very satisfying. Toasted foccacia with herbed scrambled eggs and creme fraiche and spicey home potatoes. Wish I could get that a little closer to home.


The complimented hat and scarf. Pardon the expression. It was cold.


A little more of the atmosphere.


San Diego is a rockin' place. Don't tell anyone but I like it almost as much as I like San Francisco. Maybe even more. The restaurants are remarkably more welcoming.

But I need to rest.

and maybe knit.

GG

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

More Movie Fun

A while back you may have read that I love the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth. It's a movie that I revisit once a season. Truly the best romance happens when two unlikely characters despise each other and learn to love one another. Because even if you fall in love with someone whom you admire, there is still so much that you need to reconcile; behaviors that you have to learn to accept that may be contradictory to your own. Both parties have to reevaluate their habits, customs, and expectations. This is not something that some people realize when their dating or in a relationship. The focus is finding Mr. or Mrs. Right, whoever is going to fulfill your fantasy of what a relationship should be. The truth is that no matter how much in love you are, no matter how much you admire someone, interpersonal negotiation and reevaluation is necessary for a successful relationship.

All this intellectual stuff makes for some prodigious knitting.

So imagine my joy at finding a new BBC drama: North and South the story of a family who is forced to move from their luxurious parsonage in bucolic Southern England to the harsh Northern manufacturing city of Milton. I went through the whole miniseries in one afternoon and enjoyed it as much, if not more than Pride and Prejudice.

Go on, get thee to Netflix and tell me what you think.

GG

Saturday, January 06, 2007

The New Movie Habit

Still catching up on movies.

We watched Superman Returns, which was much better than expected. Superman was always too much of a goody goody for me. If he was a dnd class he would be a paladin, no doubt and I prefer rogues and bards.

Friends With Money was excellent. I enjoyed the simple quiet of it, the portrayals of different kinds of depression. One of the best character pieces of the whole year. I really do lean towards ensemble character pieces. It's in my top ten of 2006, which I will fully flesh out by early February.

but so far my favorites are:

Friends with Money
Scoop
The Prestige

That means I have to find another 7 movies to add and most of the good ones aren't on dvd yet.

Ugg guess this means I'll have to actually go to the movie theatre. Or we'll end up with my best of '06 list in '08.

GG

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Record!

I finished the sock last night while watching a History Channel doco about Marie Antoinette.

Yay!

However I didn't get to the 3rd dvd of Lord of the Rings. Apparently I had had enough of Hobbits.

Gasp!

GG

Monday, January 01, 2007

What Are You Doing New Year's Day?

Me?

I'm watching the entire Lord of the Rings Trilogy on dvd.

Yes, I'm a geek.

But I've been knitting like a fiend. I started a sock on Christmas Day and miracle of miracles I might have it done tonight, just one week later. That's a record for me. Usually it takes me weeks plural to finish one sock.

The Record One-Week-Sock


I suppose it helps that I've had this last week off.

It's knit with Crystal Palace Panda Wool, which is a dream to work with and feels fabulous on foot. I've decided my favorite sock yarns are the ones that aren't too thin in gauge. Out of the five pairs I've knit, the two favorites are knit with the Panda Wool and Fleece Artist Merino. So if you like the gauge of the Fleece Artist, you'll like the Panda Wool. Yum!

Not one to continue being entertained by one project I had to cast on another project, this time a hat of my own design to match the fingerless gloves I made for Mr. G.

This New Year's Day beats last year's when it was 110 degrees in downtown Sydney and Mr. G and I were madly hungover, wandering the empty city looking for water (there was none to be found!) and a diversion from the heat. (however NYE last year will go down as the best so far -come on partying on the steps of the Sydney Opera House?"
Perhaps one could hypothesize that you can't have both a rocking New Year's Eve AND a great New Year's Day.

Guess we'll try to prove that 365 days from now.

GG