Facial Fungus

When did grunge make it’s comeback? In the TV workplace, specifically. On half of the shows I watch, all of these professionals look like they’ve just rolled out of bed- and not in a sexy way. It’s more like an “I wonder what they look like clean-shaven” kind of way. (I suppose this is part of why I’m a Wilson gal, versus a House gal. For the record, I thought Hugh Laurie was positively adorable in Stuart Little.)

It’s one thing if they’re in the process of growing facial hair. I’ll allow scruffiness for the purpose of future well-groomed-beardedness. But otherwise? Just lazy looking. (I’m talking about you, Grey’s Anatomy.) And the moral equivalent of Facial Fungus.

Even in space [BSG], the guys manage to be clean shaven. The human race is moving towards extinction, and they can take a few minutes for morning ablutions.

I can only think of one actor who pulls off scruffiness. But he lives in the woods and fights The Man. You can’t expect someone who lives in the woods to keep clean-shaven. Be real.

Bzzz!

Saturday, Tika and I went to Color: A Fiber Festival on Saturday. The drive up to Cal was pleasant, with some discussion of musical theater, our mutual love of Little Shop of Horrors, and how Christian Bale and the whole "Santa Fe" scene from Newsies never should have happened.

When we arrived, we were pleasantly surprised to find that there was actual, free parking on the Berkeley campus within shouting distance of Color. First, we hit Pidgeonroof Studios, and bought roving. Then we hit Tactile / A Verb for Keeping Warm and bought roving. Then we hit Girl on the Rocks. And bought roving. Noticing a theme?

In keeping with Jasmin 2008, I only bought the stuff that I absolutely loved. Once the Roving Tornado had subsided, we sat down, set up our wheels, and enjoyed the day. Well, Tika set up her wheel immediately. I looked at my Victoria bag and saw this:

Nature. On my spinning wheel bag. Here is the picture to scale:

Given the niceness of the day and the weather I figured I would just relax and chat until The Bee went off on it's merry way.

I thought The Bee had gone on it's merry way (it was no longer on the handle). Without looking, I reached down to the zipper and -

MASSIVE, STINGING PAIN!!!

Ow. The Bee stung me. Stupid nature.

I washed my hands, took an allergy pill, and the day was not ruined. We spun there until early afternoon, and then drove to my favorite taco place ever.

It's a taco truck in Oakland, and for $1.25 one can purchase a taste of heaven. (FYI, it's at the intersection of International and the 880 ramp to Alameda.) Tika and I wolfed down three heavenly tacos each, and two sodas. All for less than $10.

The day was going super-well, so I suggested a trip to the Great Bear in Los Gatos for Chocolate Coffee Creams. Tika had never experienced the CCC before- and it was a great way to end that part of my day.

I've started spinning some of my purchases- which I'll post as I finish stuff.

(PS, if Krista tells you we bought everything, I deny it all. LIES!)

Lessons

Things I have learned:

There is no way to deny that a curly, hot pink hair in someone else's knitting isn't yours.

Where I'll be today:

Color: A Fiber Festival

You know how to find me.

The pink pro-cess

It leaves to say that getting my hair as hot pink as it is has been a process.

Step 1: Highlights.

My hairdresser (the amazing Suzi) expertly does the highlights white-blond. (I couldn't tell her that it was going to be pink when all was said and done.)

Step 2: Pink.

If you want the same color, the dye is Manic Panic, and the color is "Hot, Hot Pink". Kaye did my "pinking", and I used two containers on my hair.

Step 3: Maintenence.

I'm washing my hair (with shampoo) every other day to prevent quick fading. When I do my daily shower, I'm using just conditioner on the alternate days, to keep it clean and curly. I finish with the Aveda "Curl Enhancer" goop.

If you have naturally light hair, you can skip Step 1. Suzi may have kittens when she sees the pink- but hey, she'll get used to it.

A little color around these parts!

I'd like to present you to my new hair:

Blondes don’t have the most fun. Pinks do!

I’m going to say it. I am in love with my new hair. In lurve, even.

List-y, list-y!

You know how I love the lists. This week, I have had the opportunity to make lists. Many lists. Lists of lists, even.

Such is the joy of travel. So, for your reading pleasure, I give you…

Jasmin’s Tips for Travel Planning

Make a timeline. It should look like this:

1 Month out -> Check flights. Check luggage. If luggage won’t work, order new luggage.

3 weeks out -> Check flights again. Post a countdown timer on your blog. Brag about it. Dust off existing luggage.

2 weeks out-> Buy all of the things that you need for your trip. If it is a “trip specific” thing, put it directly into your suitcase. This would include travel-sized toiletries, travel pillows, etc.

Do laundry. Lots and lots of laundry. While doing the laundry, pull clothing intended for the trip. Fold it, put it aside. I’m putting mine directly in the suitcase, but not in the “for reals” packing way.

1 week out -> Check flights. Arrange rides to the airport. Call in favors for this, if necessary. “For reals” pack the suitcases with everything needed EXCEPT for the daily use stuff.

Start eating everything that will expire in the fridge. If necessary, eat out the last day or two.

Call the credit card company and let them know that you will be traveling.

Check any meds- make sure you have enough for the trip and the week you get home.

The night before -> Check your flights. Go over your lists. Make sure you packed underpants. Check your carry-on for stuff that will get you a cavity check. If you must knit on the plane, bring a self-addressed, postage paid envelope for that project.

Charge your iPod, make sure you have your headphones. Also, pack a book. Just in case. Put your passport/ID and flight confirmation in the bag you’re taking.

Sometimes, a little OCD can be helpful, right?

Pink-ed!

I have been seeing the same hairdresser since I was six years old. Suzi is incredibly good, and she knows how to cut and style curly hair for the wash-and-wear crowd. (Ahem, moi.)

Last year, I asked her to bleach my hair and dye it blue. She was convinced that I would be fired from my job if I had blue hair.

"How about blonde?" She suggested.
"How about blue?" I replied.

I appreciate that she cares about keeping me employed- but in Silicon Valley, funky hair is totally ok. Really, really. I tried to assure her that it's practically *required* that one has funky hair.

Nope, she won't do it. I think she's worried about Hair Remorse. Hair Remorse is like buyer's remorse- but worse. Because it's stuck to your head. With color changes, unless your hair melts, you can over-dye. With a misguided cut, you have two choices: wait it out or wear a hat.

So I figured out a system. Have Suzi make me a blonde, and have Kaye make me Pink.

I can't wait.

Ah-CHOO!

Welcome to allergy season!

I may have mentioned before that our house has a garden that is not to be believed. Not only does it boast a dozen different fruit trees/bushes, we have a number of other pretty flowers- and a Japanese elm.

You can probably tell by my description (“pretty flowers”) that I am not responsible for the beauty that is my yard. My contribution to the yard beauty is that I scoop the dog poop. Andrew does the mowing, pruning, and manly stuff. He also set the timer for the watering system. What a guy!

I have a brown thumb. Maybe even a black thumb of DOOOOOOOM!

I accidentally maimed the cactus that Julie gave me last year. Mom called Cactus Protective Services and had it removed from my house. I don’t know if she managed to revive it. I suppose its best not to ask at this juncture.

Anyway.

The botanical genius who was the previous owner of our house planted all sorts of interesting things that burst into bloom all year. For someone like me, I need to wait for everything to blossom to determine which are weeds and which are flowers. (I am clearly NOT a botanical genius.)

This is the first spring that we are spending in this house, and we all are … enjoying the bloom. And by “enjoying” I mean, sneezing our heads off.

Even the dogs are suffering from allergies. Have you ever tried to give a dog eye drops? It’s an experience. One of the many experiences that I never dreamed I would have as a Dog Mom. (The vet gave me the option of eye drops or eye ointment. Really. I thought the eye drops would be easier.)

It took me a while to realize that I am allergic to my own yard. Really.

On Monday I noticed how beautifully our rosebushes were blooming. (I also noticed that they were planted so that as you go down the row, the colors go from a bright yellow through a dark red. I told you he was a botanical genius!) I noticed that my sinuses were aching, and put it together:

I have allergies.

It’s really a surprise that MENSA hasn’t come knocking at my door.

Two down, one to go!

So, my reason for wanting to finish the three sweaters is three-fold. One: Having three sweaters to wear on the cruise. Two: To free up the ten million needles that are being held up on these sweaters. Three: So I can say I finished three sweaters in a month.

I know it’s cheating (sort of), but isn’t this exactly the sort of situation where having ten thousand UFOs is a good thing? I mean, how else would people knit three sweaters in a month?

As of yesterday, the Gold Bullion sweater is done:

And so is the Ribbi Cardi:

You can’t tell in the picture, since I hadn’t knit the collar yet, but I also fixed the sleeve issue.

I took a piece of waste yarn and threaded it through the troubled area, undid the mattress stitch down to the bottom of the formerly troubled area, and re-seamed it using the waste yarn as a guideline. The whole process took about an hour.

So now, the Ribby only has good seams, and a collar that needs some steaming. It will RESPECT MAH AUTHORITAH!

The sweater that I am currently finishing is the Pinup Girl Rugby Sweater:

Cute, huh?

The Knitmore Girls begin!

It seems a couple of my readers have discovered the next step in my Jasmin 2008 plan. Mom and I have started a Podcast, and I’ve set up the show notes blog over at The Knitmore Girls.

We've submitted the Podcast to iTunes- so hopefully you'll see us there soon.

Enjoy!