I'm moving!

L is hopefully going to work some RSS feed magic soon so (if you wish) you won't have to resubscribe. In the meantime, head over to:

Knits with Benefits!

(He made the logo- isn't it awesome?!)

Spinning

A picture of the second bobbin I have spun on my wheel:



(The first bobbin was not so photogenic. ahem.)

My lovely fiancee is actually building me a new website, so I've been reluctant to blog here as I know my shiny new blog is coming soon. But I did want to share this bit of spinning. It's pretty, and it makes me happy. But, keep your eyes peeled one of these days for a link to my very own website. (Since I'm not an actual paying client, my site keeps getting bumped to the bottom of the priority list- go figure)

I also love that when I spun this little half bobbin, I was taking a break from reading about knowledge transfer in high medieval Damascus by spinning and watching Al Jazeera, and after the break was done I was reading about race relations in Cuba and Memory in Chile. Seriously- what's not to love about this life?!

Best Day of My Life.

Today:

My paper (that I've spent the last three years of my life working on) was nominated for best paper at the first academic conference I've ever attended.

I bought myself a spinning wheel.

And... (drumroll, please)

I got engaged.

Today was the best day ever. So happy and content.

Well, hello there.

I'm writing to you tonight from the big city, where I've been the past couple days- attending my first regional history conference.

I trimmed my 90 page thesis into 12 pages, and then cut it down to 10 to make it into a 20 minute presentation, which I presented today. It was totally awesome.

Tomorrow, after the conference... I am going to look at spinning wheels. On a scale from one to amazing, my life pretty much rocks right now. Except... that I can't bring Webster to the hotel for the conference. I miss that cat!

Also, I've been doing tons of knitting lately!



Baby surprise jackets are amazing! My honey's brother is expecting a baby, or rather- his wife is expecting a baby, so I made them a BSJ. so cool! It's missing seams and buttons yet, but the knitting is done!

This quarter is going to be especially crazy at school, but it's so much fun, and I love it. I'm finally doing history that I want to do rather than history that is available to study, and it is so much more enjoyable!

Happy Spring everyone!

Happy V-Day!

From Louie the Lovebot, made especially for my Robot Lover. Our big plans? Ordering a pizza and hopefully me being able to take some time off from crazy reading schedules.

Happy February, everyone!

Merry Christmas

(or, if you're like me... Happy Birthday!)




As I was cleaning this week, my suitcase was out in the middle of the living room floor- Webster fell in and had a great time playing inside the suitcase. The next few days are going to be busy! Meeting my dad/Grandma/Brother for birthday lunch then heading an hour south to have Christmas with L's family- then back up here to have Christmas with my family at my house on Saturday.

I knitted every single Christmas gift that I'm giving this year, so I'm really excited to cast on something for myself today. I'm thinking a Pogona- my bosses at the yarn shop actually gave me some yarn for my birthday/Christmas- so I may use the skein of Casacade Heritage they gave me and then I can wear something new to work. I sense a mass cast on coming on!

I know that this might be a bit dodgy or cliche- but, if you're reading this, I want to say thank you. The last few years haven't been the easiest for me and blogging, and the bloggish friends that I've made have helped me so much. Thanks everyone for being so wonderful, and have a great Weekend no matter what you might or might not be celebrating this weekend!

Suck it.

I know I promised good news yesterday, so I'm a day late. But it's still good news.

Remember, back when I was on The Island, how Dr. H spent quite a while telling me what a horrible writer I was and how I was never going to finish the program and how I turned in the worst thesis proposal he'd ever written (I'd link to it, but I'm not sure I want to sift through that much anguish).

Well, Dr. H. You Can Suck It. You heard from my advisors this week, telling you that I did indeed finish my thesis. And then, Dr. H, you yourself had to go to the registrar and perform the grade change to make it official. On Wednesday I got the email and talked to someone in the degree conferral office- I am officially a Master now. I did finish.

Also. I had a meeting with one of the professors I TA for now (in the midst of MA number 2)- and we ended up talking about my research. In the completely unrelated hour-long lunch I got more positive and constructive feedback on my research than I had in two years of fighting with people on the Island. Dr. L from here thinks I have a great topic that is likely to garner funding for further research. Suck it, Island- I have triumphed over you for once and for all.

So, basically, my good news is that in the same week I got my first quarter grades from my first quarter of MA #2, and did not fail- and MA #2 was finally conferred. So awesome (and I'm feeling sweetly vindicated, can you tell?)

Knitting pictures soon, maybe?

Robot Santa!

The boyfriend, and I have been preparing for our first Christmas together.

Well, we have since last Friday when I was officially done writing, reading and grading.

We got a little Christmas tree (it's staying at my house since that's where we'll be for Christmas), and have pledged only to have handmade ornaments. The best part is the tree-topper we made together:

It's ROBOT SANTA! (and yes, I knit his hat).

I have more good news for tomorrow. Now, it's time for bed.

Crunch Time

Paper #1 (Discussing the evolution of Marx's concept of alienation) due tomorrow at noon. First set of finals and final batch of regular grading due for students at noon (so my grading work will begin).
Paper #2 (Discussing Pakistan for my US Environmental History Class) due Tuesday at noon.
Final set of finals for grading will be done around 11 on Friday, grades due from profs on Sunday.
Dance performance on Saturday.

Here's what happens when there's a reading frenzy at my house:

Webster gets highlighted. (can you see the green on his wee kitty cheek?)




Oye. Back to writing.

Snow Turkeys!

Happy Thanksgiving!



It's been snowing here, so my family holiday has been postponed until Sunday. Webster and I are trying to stay warm and knitting and writing.

P.S. if you know my real name, you might be able to find it in that book up there... : ) One of the reasons I couldn't blog for a while- it was so hard to keep the secret!!!

My favorite part of the day:

Watching the sunrise over the water.





Also, (obviously for those of you who aren't reading this in a reader), I've changed my design, and I am so happy about it.

I love the rain. One of the best things about being home is the rain. I know that there was rain on the Island and in Georgia, but it's not the same kind of rain- and there is something amazing about a blustery fall day.

It's apparently the end of the quarter, because I've cast on about four new projects since Thursday. And I have ideas for several more. Evidently I knit when I'm stressed. There are a few hats in the works that I will hopefully be able to share soon.

Happy daylight savings time, everyone!!

Still Alive.

Although barely, it seems sometimes... It's funny easy it is to forget how hard grad school it.

It's also funny how much of a difference a really great support system makes- which is one of the reasons I haven't needed to blog so much lately, between being so close to my family and the Boyfriend- I've just been too happy and contented to feel the need to blog!



Webster got into a fight with a pomegranate seed the other night, and it looked like he was all bloody for days afterwards. It was hilarious.

Another reason for my contentedness: The view from my new apartment.



Ah, beautiful sunsets over the water.

Also, I've been knitting, although not nearly as much as usual.

Pineapple Upside Down Hat (test-knit):



Papers are going to be due soon- blogging may be part of my strategy to write more. We'll see. I hope everyone is having an amazing fall- I know I am!

My life, coming true.

This has been the best week ever. I'm exhausted and stressed, but it's all good stress and it's all awesome things.

This is what happens when your dreams start to come true!

First of all - my little man is doing well. In fact, here he is enjoying a pile of yarn in my house!



The boyfriend is also amazing, although he is younger-cousin sitting this week, so I haven't seen to much of him.

On to the good news:

I'd been wanting to move to the South side of my town- it's where I grew up, it's where the yarn shop is that I work at, it's where my new school is, it's where the Boyfriend lives and works... you get the idea. When I moved back home, I moved to the North end of town because it was cheaper and I needed a place fast.

Last week I realized that, with school starting in the fall, it didn't make much sense at all for me to continue my full-time position with the construction company in the next county over. Too much time commuting, too many work hours and too much stress. Plus, the shop owners were willing to give me a raise, increase my hours (from 5 per week- not difficult!), and contribute to a health insurance program. Sweet deal, right? So I started looking for a new apartment and began to dread telling my current bosses that I was leaving.

So I started combing Craigslist, and on Monday I went to look at The.Perfect.Apartment. Its on the south end of town, right across the street from one of my favorite parks. It's got a view of the ocean, a cute walkway and it's an adorably charming old building with tilty floors. It's perfect.
I get the keys tomorrow.

Also on monday, one of my favorite authors (academically) was in town giving a book talk. And I heard from one of my old students from Georgia- which nearly made me cry.

So- this all happened on Monday, and that would have been plenty of wonderful things for one week. I was getting so excited about moving, preparing to start school again and beginning a new stage in my life.

Then, I got an email from my school. They're offering me a full graduate assistantship.

What does that mean? It means that they're going to pay all but 10% of my tuition. It means that they're going to give me a stipend. It means that I will have health care... all in exchange for teaching, grading and/or researching. Completely amazing. This is what I want- I want to work in higher ed, I want to teach... this is step number one. My life- the things that I want for my life- are all coming true.

I'm still kind of in shock. It's completely unexpected as a first year student at this school- which is like all schools experiencing severe budget cuts. Now- I get to go to school, get paid for it, and play with yarn for fun... My life is about to be completely awesome.

Amazing.

I have the most amazing boyfriend ever.

My birthday isn't until December- but he's already got my present picked out...

You see, every year in this neck of the woods there's this knitting conference. My very Norwegian self has really wanted to go, but due to funding restrictions I wasn't able to. I mentioned the event about a week ago in passing- and yesterday he hands me the registration sheet and tells me to pick my class...

Who should I pick? Nancy Bush and Estonian Lace? Evelyn Clark and Shetland Lace? What's a lucky girl to do?

The best part isn't even the fact that I get to take an amazing class from an amazing knitter. The best part is how absolutely excited he was that he was able to do something for me to make me happy. He's not trying to buy me (like others that we've seen...), he's legitimately trying to make me happy. And I think that is pretty darn awesome.

In other news- am I the only one that seems to be stocking up for the winter, stash-wise? My stash seems to be growing at a pretty alarming rate. I keep telling myself that it's all for Christmas presents, but I am beginning to realize that I am going to start getting creative with yarn storage options...

I'm still open to blog nickname suggestions for this amazing boy. I got nothing, and I refuse to call him "the civilian." Anyone?

Eek! I'm going to be in the same place at the same time as Nancy Bush and Evelyn Clark! So excited!!

Why do I bother?

I think there is some sort of cosmic force that attracts Webster to my knitting. Especially when its blocking. I'm really glad that I didn't spend an hour trying to pick all the cat hair out of my Brandywine before I blocked it:



Because he moved in as soon as I was done with the pins.



What a goof. Yes, I let him stay on the shawl- he looked so comfy!

Aww...

I can sum up the past month or so with one picture...



A heart cupcake- cupcake made by yours truly and frosting heart added by my favorite civilian just for me.

I've been gone because...

My first dance performance is today. I've been furiously practicing, sewing and knitting (yes, knitting!) my costumes- and hanging out with a certain Civilian who is pretty awesome.

I am totally nervous about the performance today- but in an excited, good way (I think).

I need to do some hair and makeup- and snuggle with a kitty before I leave. I hope everyone has an awesome weekend!

Ask and I shall receive...

Two awesome dates with a civilian.

That is all.

I'm editing this because that is not all- I want to talk about this one.

For our first date, he suggested that we go to my favorite restaurant (a small, local place with a great view and awesome fondue). We sat and talked for a while- about all kinds of things. Then, one of his bosses walked in- so I met his boss on our very first date.

Today, he emails me and says that since his boss met me the other night, the boss extended an invitation for me to a company dinner event thing that was going on tonight. So- tonight we had our second date and I met his entire company and their families. Non-traditional, yes. Trial by fire, right?

I actually spent the evening discussing my thesis and history and actual real things. His other boss (the one I hadn't yet met), grilled me throughout dinner about history and my choice to become a historian and to study modern historical conflict- and I held my own in the conversation.

Towards the end of the night, there was some discussion (not with me) that involved the pulling out of the iPhones to check some facts- at which point I leaned over to my date (who apparently seriously needs a good nickname) and mentioned that I knit my iPhone a sweater. He not only wanted to see my iPhone sweater, but then asked if he could show it to his boss. Turns out, the boss that I met originally is actually a knitter himself.

Walking me to my door, my un-nicknamed date tells me that, while this certainly wasn't a test of any sort (we joked about it on the way there)- that I performed well and held my own in some tough conversations.

Yay.

for good measure, here's the little man after my shower last night:

Am I completely insane?

It's late, and I should be in bed... but here are some things that have been on my mind lately. I don't think any of them are about knitting- so if you're not in this for the personal reflections, I would stop reading now.

1. What on earth is wrong with me that I'm only attracted to men in the military? I've gone out with several really nice, engaging and sweet civilians... with zippo chemistry. I'm talking about guys from several different industries, some of which can keep up with me in conversation and so far all of which put up with the knitting (huh. I did manage to talk about knittting). But I feel NO attraction to any of them. In fact, the idea of having to kiss them (again, in a couple cases) makes me feel like I want to vomit. Am I a military junkie? Worse... am I a townie?

2. I've been in a weird malaise state lately. Not sad or depressed, but just kind of aimless. I have aims that I know I should have- but haven't been able to be motivated to do anything... and then it hit me today- While I have personal things that are going on (work, thesis), I dont have any crazy deployment cycle to work around. Deployments have always been my time of get things done and self improvement and take care of myself... and now that Ranger Man is no longer deployed and we're no longer together, I can't even pretend that this is just like a deployment (ugh, writing this is making me tear up). Seriously, is there something wrong with me?

3. Yeah, the Naval Aviation Officer is great and I really like him, but I'm just not sure that he really likes me... and he's off on another TDY next week, so who knows what's happening with him.

4. It has to be possible to transition in to a civilian life, right? But what if I don't want to?

Or... is it that I'm just scared of something and won't let myself transition into civilian life? I know what it's like to go through constant TDY and deployments- I don't know what it's like to not have any of those. I don't know what it's like to not worry all the time, I don't know what it's like not to have the constant roller coaster of emotions. Gosh- it wasn't fun when I did it, why am I clinging to it? It's as though I can't feel anything unless there's a sense of urgency- somehow things are less real out here in the real world. As though, even though it was hard- it was real, and I knew how to do it. I don't know how to do anything with the criminal defense attorney, or the Software Sales Guy, or the executive recruiter, or the finance guy. Sidenote- I thought for sure the attorney would work. He spends his time in jail, that's got to be good for something, right? nope. nothing.

Also- at what point does it turn into me leading these other guys on? I go out with them, I enjoy talking to them but feel no spark... how many dates is acceptable to try to manufacture sparkage? I feel that when they kiss me and I want to vomit, that's a good sign that it's never going to happen- but what if they don't? Software guy is very entertaining and I very much like hanging out with him- our next date will be #3... will he try to lock lips then? can I stall him longer to try to want to kiss him?

Oh, and Webster seems to have flip-flopped on the boy issue and now seems to like them all. He's no help at all.

And it's not like this is something I'm obsessing over. I'm living my life, I'm doing my own thing- but gosh, some days (i.e. today), I just feel like I'm banging my head against a wall. Most of the time I go to work, go to dance, knit, sew, cuddle with my one true love (the one with lots of fur) and don't worry about it. Most of the time I know that I am awesome and that everything will work out. Unfortunately, this is not one of those days.

On the bright side, I made a sweater for my phone. Once I can figure out how to photograph this (how do I take a picture of my phone when my phone is what I'm using to take pictures?), pictures will be posted. Having a sweater-clad iPhone makes me insanely happy.

I'll try to post something happier and more upbeat tomorrow. For now, I needed to get this off my chest...

Best. Day. Ever.

Yesterday was quite possibly the best day ever.

It started out with a HARD two hour workshop with (literally) a belly dance superstar. You can check her out on Youtube here- she's phenomenal. It was basically two hours of drills, and I'm going to be feeling it for a few days. Right afterwards I went to the grocery store and was holding my abs the whole time, halfway afraid that they were just going to fall off my body.

I went home and took a little nap, then spent the rest of the afternoon baking brownies, before heading back into town to watch a performance by the aforementioned amazing dancer and some other local dancers. It was an evening of awesome dancing and hanging out with my dance friends.

Then, after all of *that* was done, I spent the rest of the evening with a certain Naval Aviation Officer...

Dance, Brownies, More Dance (I knitted a bit before the performance, and I wore Tuscany to the show, so there was totally knitting involved), and then a cute boy. Best. Day. Ever.

Oh yes, there was some of this too...



Snuggle time! He looks like he was about halfway through a bath in this picture- scraggly cat!