It has been one month since we left UAE, since we left our home. I find it a little odd that I keep referring to UAE as "home" especially because I never stopped referring to the US as "home" but here I am telling my husband that I miss the red orange juice from home, or that's not how they do it back home, or back home the guy would just come to your house and fix that for 100 AED.
Instead of converting Dirhams to Dollars to find out the "real" price of something like I did when I moved to UAE now I'm converting Dollars to Dirhams. Is $2 for a Coke a good deal? I dunno. But do I know 7 AED isn't!
For the most part our transition has been very smooth (except for the excessive travel) and we really haven't faced too many problems. We're now in Portland where it looks like we'll be based for a while. We have enjoyed spending time with family and the rain (MIXED WITH SNOW!!! Seriously!) We have also managed to get a bunch of the chores done like bank things, visits to the DMV and other oh so exciting stuff that I wouldn't bore you to tears with.
It's great being back in Portland but it's also weird not knowing it as well as I use too - I know how to get to little shop that sells my favorite sandwich but I can't remember the back way I use to take when the traffic was bad. I know there's a Subway around here somewhere I just can't remember exactly where. And even more weird is that everyone expects me to remember things - you don't know how to get there? well you went there 4 years ago!
But over all we're having a blast and enjoying our time together. I'm not sure that it has sunk in that we have no return ticket yet as it still feels like a long vacation. But I'm really missing my friends and (I never thought I would say this but) I really miss the sun. I miss the malls too... in all their excessiveness.
So here's to one month! I know that we will get back in the groove with time and soon home will be a distant memory - but my friends never will be! Miss you guys!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
FO: Pink Hat
A few days before the ravelympics started I cast on for this hat that I have had my eye on for a while. Ever since I saw the Side slip cloche hat I knew I had to make it for my self!
And I had just enough Rose Quartz Twisted left over from my FLS to make it. Or so I hoped. After I knit the band around the base, then picked up the stitches around the edge and did the increase row I started to worry that I wasn't going to make it.
The little ball of yarn I had was getting smaller and smaller.... and while I was fairly sure I had enough I just wasn't POSITIVE because I really had no idea how much yarn I had left. So I increased the needle size from the suggested size US 5 up to a US 7 and got back to work. Of course I ended up with loads of yarn left over! (Now I'm trying to figure out what to do with a baseball size ball of yarn)
So here are the specs:
Pattern: Side slip cloche by Laura Irwin
Yarn: Twisted from BMFA in Rose Quartz
Needles: Size US 5, 7
Mods: I used size 7 needles after I picked up the stitches around the boarder and did the first row of increases. This was to stretch the yarn as far as it would go!
And I had just enough Rose Quartz Twisted left over from my FLS to make it. Or so I hoped. After I knit the band around the base, then picked up the stitches around the edge and did the increase row I started to worry that I wasn't going to make it.
The little ball of yarn I had was getting smaller and smaller.... and while I was fairly sure I had enough I just wasn't POSITIVE because I really had no idea how much yarn I had left. So I increased the needle size from the suggested size US 5 up to a US 7 and got back to work. Of course I ended up with loads of yarn left over! (Now I'm trying to figure out what to do with a baseball size ball of yarn)
This is the first hat I have ever had that wasn't fitted at the top but is instead a little loose. I really like it! It's also the first time I knit a hat by knitting the band around the base then picking up the stitches along the edge and knitting the rest. I like this technique and it isn't nearly as hard as I always feared. I'm just not a big fan of picking up stitches but I'm realizing that it isn't nearly as hard as I always tell my self it is.... and it's totally worth it.
It came out perfectly and really I can't even tell that I upped the needle size by two! Of course I just love the ruffles on the side (I just might be on a ruffle kick here) and I love the softness of this pink.
So here are the specs:
Pattern: Side slip cloche by Laura Irwin
Yarn: Twisted from BMFA in Rose Quartz
Needles: Size US 5, 7
Mods: I used size 7 needles after I picked up the stitches around the boarder and did the first row of increases. This was to stretch the yarn as far as it would go!
At the airport….
…. Again.
This seems to be a running theme in our lives right now. I calculated and I think we have each flown over 15,000 miles (for a combined total of 30,000) in a month’s time. We are seriously tired of flying. Especially because we have to lug around all of our luggage with us as well. But that is the beauty of moving… remind me why I thought that was such a good idea?
The good part is we’re going home (well my home at least) and I am so looking forward to being in Portland again. Even if it will be for a short period of time before we board another flight on to a new adventure (more later – gotta save something to write about for another day).
The other upside is that we are getting way better at this flying stuff. We’re organized and prepared. Ready for whatever the airline can throw at us. Want more money for extra baggage? You got it. Where’s our ID’s? Right here buddy. Extra security check? Bring it on! We know who is in charge of what bags. The best restaurants in the airport and that we habitually plan for three hours in the airport even though it has never taken us more than a half hour to get from the curb to the gate. We are SET. Unless it snows can’t cope with the snow. NO MORE SNOW!
Another fun thing about the airport is the people watching. I tell you it’s about as entertaining as the Thursday Night Line Up back when Friends and Will & Grace were still on. People are so interesting! I saw one lady wearing all pink and with a pink suitcase and I thought to my self “Wow coordinating for the flight. Ummm ok?” But then I saw her in the rest room and she was re-packing her bag and I tell you EVERYTHING in her bag was pink too!!!!! Her husband was even wearing a pink shirt! Their whole lives are coordinated!
Another girl was walking around in her tank top with her scarf on even though it is FREEZING out side. Have I mentioned the snow?
Oh and we even saw a guy from Heat (the movie) I don’t know which one to be honest cause it was my husband that made the ID. But still!
I keep hoping to see a fellow knitter working on her ravelympic project waiting for a flight but I seem to be the only one. Sigh. It’s ok though I am not shy about KIP (kitting in public) or PDK (Public displays of knitting) as I prefer.
Yup. That’s a new secret project. Tell you about it when it’s done.
This seems to be a running theme in our lives right now. I calculated and I think we have each flown over 15,000 miles (for a combined total of 30,000) in a month’s time. We are seriously tired of flying. Especially because we have to lug around all of our luggage with us as well. But that is the beauty of moving… remind me why I thought that was such a good idea?
The good part is we’re going home (well my home at least) and I am so looking forward to being in Portland again. Even if it will be for a short period of time before we board another flight on to a new adventure (more later – gotta save something to write about for another day).
The other upside is that we are getting way better at this flying stuff. We’re organized and prepared. Ready for whatever the airline can throw at us. Want more money for extra baggage? You got it. Where’s our ID’s? Right here buddy. Extra security check? Bring it on! We know who is in charge of what bags. The best restaurants in the airport and that we habitually plan for three hours in the airport even though it has never taken us more than a half hour to get from the curb to the gate. We are SET. Unless it snows can’t cope with the snow. NO MORE SNOW!
Another fun thing about the airport is the people watching. I tell you it’s about as entertaining as the Thursday Night Line Up back when Friends and Will & Grace were still on. People are so interesting! I saw one lady wearing all pink and with a pink suitcase and I thought to my self “Wow coordinating for the flight. Ummm ok?” But then I saw her in the rest room and she was re-packing her bag and I tell you EVERYTHING in her bag was pink too!!!!! Her husband was even wearing a pink shirt! Their whole lives are coordinated!
Another girl was walking around in her tank top with her scarf on even though it is FREEZING out side. Have I mentioned the snow?
Oh and we even saw a guy from Heat (the movie) I don’t know which one to be honest cause it was my husband that made the ID. But still!
I keep hoping to see a fellow knitter working on her ravelympic project waiting for a flight but I seem to be the only one. Sigh. It’s ok though I am not shy about KIP (kitting in public) or PDK (Public displays of knitting) as I prefer.
Yup. That’s a new secret project. Tell you about it when it’s done.
Friday, February 26, 2010
FO: Ruffly Ravelympic Gloves!
As I mentioned in my previous post I have been working on a project for the Ravolymipics. The Ravelympics is where you start a knitting challenge on the first day of the olympic and try to cast off by the last.
I was worried a few times that I wouldn't make it. I mean moving across the world, traveling across the country and living out of a suit case just make it more difficult to get my knitting done. But as my husband likes to remind me when something gets in my head well then I just have to get it done! and get it done I did!
I love the way they came out and have worn them already!
Then when I got home and finished up my knitting I realized that my darning needles were nowhere in sight. Who knew what box or suit case I packed them in as I was rushing to get everything together in the days before we left Abu Dhabi. So I found a closer knitting shop (hey it's snowing I'm not about to go across town for needles!) and got the much needed needles to sew on the buttons. Let's not mention that I found my other needles the next morning. Nope don't need to go there.
Anyhow here are the specs:
Pattern: Plain Talk Ruffled Mittens by Laura Irwin
Yarn: Fleece Artist Woolie Silk 3 ply in a wine and carmel color - Love love love this color! I don't know if I have ever loved a yarn's coloring as much as I love this one.
Needles: US 4, 5, 6
Project Mods: None needed. Works perfectly just the way it is. Although I did knit these in Magic Loop instead of on DPNs
Did I mention the ruffles on the gloves go great with my Silky Ruffly Scarf!
I was worried a few times that I wouldn't make it. I mean moving across the world, traveling across the country and living out of a suit case just make it more difficult to get my knitting done. But as my husband likes to remind me when something gets in my head well then I just have to get it done! and get it done I did!
I love the way they came out and have worn them already!
But this project was not with out its challenges. First I realized that I had packed all of my buttons away in the knitting box to be shipped and as you'll notice these gloves call for an exceptional number of buttons. Buttons I didn't have. Fortunately I knew of the perfect little shop,
Purl SoHo, that could help me out. 
Then when I got home and finished up my knitting I realized that my darning needles were nowhere in sight. Who knew what box or suit case I packed them in as I was rushing to get everything together in the days before we left Abu Dhabi. So I found a closer knitting shop (hey it's snowing I'm not about to go across town for needles!) and got the much needed needles to sew on the buttons. Let's not mention that I found my other needles the next morning. Nope don't need to go there.
Anyhow here are the specs:
Pattern: Plain Talk Ruffled Mittens by Laura Irwin
Yarn: Fleece Artist Woolie Silk 3 ply in a wine and carmel color - Love love love this color! I don't know if I have ever loved a yarn's coloring as much as I love this one.
Needles: US 4, 5, 6
Project Mods: None needed. Works perfectly just the way it is. Although I did knit these in Magic Loop instead of on DPNs
Did I mention the ruffles on the gloves go great with my Silky Ruffly Scarf!
Monday, February 22, 2010
WIP Update
As most knitters know the Ravelympics are in full swing. This time around I decided to join in the fun and see if I could meet my Ravelumpic goals!
What was my goal you ask? Well it was to knit the Plain Talk Ruffled Mittens by Laura Irwin
I'm almost done with one and making good progress on the second and am confident that I'll finish the knitting portion of the project on time. The part I'm worried about the most is the buttons... where am I going to get buttons by Sunday?
Before the Ravelympics began I started knitting this hat as well
It's the Side Slip Cloche also by Laura Irwin (I love her stuff!) I am really loving the way it's coming out but I'm a little worried that I'll run out of yarn before I reach the top!
Ok ok enough chatting I have a knitting deadline to meet!
What was my goal you ask? Well it was to knit the Plain Talk Ruffled Mittens by Laura Irwin
I thought they would look super cute with the Just Enough Ruffles Scarf I knit
I'm almost done with one and making good progress on the second and am confident that I'll finish the knitting portion of the project on time. The part I'm worried about the most is the buttons... where am I going to get buttons by Sunday?
Before the Ravelympics began I started knitting this hat as well
It's the Side Slip Cloche also by Laura Irwin (I love her stuff!) I am really loving the way it's coming out but I'm a little worried that I'll run out of yarn before I reach the top!
Ok ok enough chatting I have a knitting deadline to meet!
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