Slave to my sun sign

Don't you love when you're horoscope actually corresponds to the day you've been having? Here is my horoscope for today--Sagittarius, in case you've forgotten or just didn't know.

Sunday, Jun 29th, 2008 -- Your inspiration today may come from the simple fact that you are running out of time and if you don't act soon, you'll lose your chance. The pressure to start something now can motivate you to act with great intensity, whether or not you will be able to sustain your current passion. But it really doesn't matter what you do or how long you continue it. What's most important is that you undertake something -- anything -- as soon as possible.

Today is Criss Chase's birthday--you know, the future recipient of the currently-stalled awesome project. I need something to give to her tomorrow when I see her and while she's been a peach with the whole "you don't have to give me anything" business, I would feel bad showing up empty handed. My bank account is depleted so I can't get cake fixings (oh, the cake will be made but maybe Wednesday) and I just cannot afford to buy anything as a gift. What to do??

"WRISTBANDS!!!! Oh hells yeah," that's what my Crazy said. My Crazy has obviously been talking to Carla's Crazy because next thing I knew I was tearing around my apartment trying to find THAT yarn, the one I knew I had and knew would be perfect for the retro wristbands I wanted to make for Criss, which truth be told is just more of the Rowan Cashsoft I used for the baby cardigan. I found the yarn and jumped right in. In little over an hour, I had one done--duplicate stitched and all, my friends. It says "Great job," which is not me bragging but rather a catchphrase from one of her favorite shows*. I tried it on and it's just a tad tight. Plus, the seaming is just a hair off. "I know," said Crazy, "knit them in the round and intarsia the wording!"

I've begun another and so far so good, but I had to stop for a nap and food. I'm sure I'll finish tonight...maybe just barely. Who needs sleep anyway?


*Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job!

Friday Rambling

I've been busy, busy, busy this week and I feel like I haven't blogged in a long time. But, no, it's only been since Tuesday. Let's see, what's going on in the land of Laurie Ann?

Well, today is my mom's birthday. She's xx years old today--I'm too lazy to do the math. I didn't get a chance to call her because I felt like I was being monitored by some people in the office who recently got a bug up their collective asses about what I do all day. Since today's tasks largely involved Internet research, the casual observer would probably think I was goofing off. I was also an emailing fool and checked my phone often because one of the folks I was dealing with was texting me. Some people should mind their collective business and not worry about what I do all day. It's not as if I'm overpaid or anything.

I fell off the no-sugar wagon with a thud. I ate all that lovely fruit by Wednesday and I was stressed--and the boss has a big dish of Jelly Belly beans on her desk. I'm not beating myself up, though. I'll just start all over again and take it day by day.

Frau sighting!! I got home yesterday to find Frau on my front porch. She watched me park, saw me get out of the car, heard me say "Hi Frau (not really, I used her name)" and yet, she stood there knocking on my door and looking annoyed that I wasn't answering. When I finally walked up the steps she said, "oh, I thought you were home." My rent is going up. She seemed very pleased with herself that she was only raising it 3%. She seemed to want me to thank her profusely. "Thank you, Frau. Thank you so much for not raising my rent the whole 5%. You're the best."

And just because I can feel your eyes glazing over and hear the stifled yawns, here are some visual aids for you. Do you see that gross stain on the head rest? How dirty is that person's hair? If you're using enough hair product to crust up your head rest, put a cover over it. I don't speak or read Spanish (see the Rodeo Grill incident) so I'm not sure what this says, but I'm thinking they either sell tamales or the fixings for tamales, as this is some kind of grocery store (corner of Vermont and James Wood). However, the picture? Doesn't look like any tamale I've ever eaten. It looks like Mr. Hanky, the Christmas Poo. I laugh every morning.
Jamie should totally have this paint job to distinguish her from the plethora of Jettas on the road. It reminded me of a car Billy Logue, a former co-worker, used to drive that was painted like a bomber plane. Oh, and there was a car in my neighborhood when I first moved to LA that was covered in fur. Tami and I were in awe because that would never fly back in Pennsyltucky.

Stalled

My awesome project is on hold due to my sudden lack of enthusiasm. For one thing, it's going to take forever, which is okay because I already warned Criss it would most likely not be done for her birthday. For another, I think it's too wide and too thick for LA. What to do? I'm sending this out for those of you who have seen the project and know what it's all about. If I switch from in the round, should I go with ribbing or seed stitch. If I do that, it will change the pattern. How can I do it without making the back side look backwards? Any suggestions?

Naturally sweet, just like me

Yesterday while consuming a pint of Ben & Jerry's Peach Cobbler ice cream, I told my friend Criss "I'm never going to be able to cut sugar from my diet if I keep going out and buying more." She gave me the proper admonition ("Stop It! Stop It! Stop It!) and I decided that the best way to avoid the processed sugar trap is to have a better alternative.
With this in mind, I bounded out of bed this morning with renewed motivation and headed over to the Hollywood Farmers' Market at Ivar and Selma. I loaded up on fruit-- Strawberries, blueberries, peaches, cantaloupe, and tomatoes--then came home and immediately washed and cut all my fruits into portions that I can take to work all week. Unfortunately, with so much deliciousness, I may have eaten a whole lot of my week's supply today. Doesn't this look irresistible?
And these? I just can't wait to slice them and eat them. I should probably make a salsa too, but that would require onions and stuff which I didn't buy because it was too hot to mill about. I bought bread, too, from the tattooed guys from Rancho Cucamonga because it's too good to pass up--sourdough and cranberry walnut. mmmm

Next week, if it's not too damn hot, I'll actually take my time and see what kind of veggies I can stock up on. Veggies take shopping skills, you know, and possibly a meal plan, because the impulse buy of "Hey I haven't had brussels sprouts in years" will just lead to brussels sprouts rotting in my fridge. Then again, I saw beans and I can eat them raw as snacks.

Introducing...

Hello. My name is Indigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to---Hey! Look! A turtle!You know, 'cause fish have short attention spans. Anyway, the fish is now Indigo and the turtle is Fezzik, of course. I shall have to knit some accoutrement for Fezzik as has been suggested. I'd knit them for Indigo, but well, he's a fish.

Ladies Room of Salvation

Co-worker Leslie was washing her hands alongside a woman from one of the other offices when the other woman said, "Lord Jesus, have mercy on my soul," out loud and continued to wash her hands.


What on earth had she done in that last stall that required such a declaration?

Good excuses for taking the day off

Pain: My arms and shoulders are killing me after carrying a half dozen lawn chairs to the meeting yesterday. And lest you think me a total wuss, I'm not talking about this kind with the aluminum frame:I'm talking about this kind with a heavy metal frame: Criss carried the other six. I was also carrying my purse, my briefcase, a bag of deflated beach balls, and 15 42-page packets for the meeting. My arms really hurt.

Unfinished Projects: I have 10 days to finish the awesome project I started last week and it is just far too hot to knit. Guess what just became a Christmas present? Now I'm stuck for a birthday gift but I have some ideas for store bought items. I don't want to do store bought, but it looks like I shall.

Police activity right outside your door: I walked outside to check my brake fluid, a deciding factor on whether to take the car or the bus today, and found two police cars, lights flashing, in front of my house, one in front of my car. I almost ran back upstairs to hide until I saw my neighbor's male friend (I don't know if he's her boyfriend) in cuffs at the bottom of her stairs. She was on the porch talking to an officer who was telling her, "you did the right thing." I'm so curious. [brake fluid was fine...took the car]

Cramps: 'nuff said.

Heat: My GOD! If it weren't so freakin' hot inside my apartment I might have been tempted to call in sick. As it is, it's cooler outside than in.

I did go to work only to have a couple of geniuses decide it was a good idea to drill next to an outlet because it's not as if there are ELECTRICAL WIRES behind an outlet or anything. They killed the power to the HR office, the CEO's office, and my office. You never realize how dependent on computers we have become until you can't check your outlook calendar or your contacts or the database. Yowza! And it's not going to be fixed until maybe tomorrow provided they find the super secret breaker panel that connects to those three offices and only those three. Woo Hoo!