Success!
Despite an extreme lack of sleep due to an attack of the allergies two nights ago, I stayed up late last night knitting like there was no tomorrow. I only had four stitch sets left to do, but since I'm still really slow with needles, it took over an hour to do. But finally, it's done! No pictures yet, as I still have to put some fringe on the scarf, but I really like how it turned out and am pretty proud of myself. I can't wait to wear it tomorrow.
The weather report for New York is looking pretty dismal right now, but I'm still keeping my fingers crossed. For once, I'm hoping that the weatherman is wrong. Although it's good that the temperature is supposed to be warmer, somehow walking in snow is more desirable to me than walking in the rain. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
6 Days To Go
I have this picture as my wallpaper at work, and I have just been unable to concentrate. It's the holidays, and finally I'm going to be able to go to this much-built-up city, and find out for myself what the hype is about. I suppose I sound like such an unsophisticated tourist right now, but I don't care. The time is finally almost here.
Hectic Holiday Schedule
Since I'm stubborn and don't want to give up my regular activities, I've pretty much packed my schedule until I get back from New York. I've spoken to friends who want to catch up, but there just isn't time and I've had to put them off until after I get back. I have a ton of gifts sitting in the kitchen that I need to wrap - not mine to give, but Tito Gary's, whose gifts I always wrap for him. There's a full day of catching up with Angela on Saturday, a wedding on Sunday, and maybe a short climbing trip to Malibu with Bas, who is leaving for England on the 23rd.
And since I'm so close to finishing the scarf, I've made it my goal to have it ready for New York.
It's a relief that traffic isn't so bad anymore, since a lot of people have gone elsewhere for the holidays. Makes it easier to get around to do some last minute shopping for gifts that I need to buy. I really wish I had more time though.
Weekend Recap - Knitting, Malibu and Meeting New People
First of all, I think I had my first knitting "injury" this weekend. I knitted almost the whole night on Friday and when I woke up on Saturday morning, I decided to do a couple more sets. As soon as I started stitching, my right hand started becoming numb and I had to shake it out several times before I could finish my two sets. I didn't think it was at all possible, but my hand couldn't take all the knitting I had been doing. I had to stop and leave my work until that night. But it's coming along really well, and I'm very excited. At the rate I'm going, I think I may be able to wear this scarf when I go to New York. And when I get back, I can get started on my next project - possibly a hat, and then a really complicated scarf pattern that Angela will be helping me with.
I haven't posted pictures in awhile, and that's to come. I still have the pictures we took at Echo Cliffs sitting in Marc's computer. But I've actually stopped being so obsessive about taking pictures when we're climbing because, well, we go to the same places anyway (we went to Malibu this weekend). Now when I actually get better at climbing and we take trips to new places, then I can be obsessive again.
Marc introduced me to his English friend Bas (whose last name is Pot, which I found funny, especially when told the story of him flying from Amsterdam to Australia, which is supposedly one of the stricter countries in terms of drug trafficking). This guy is a walking adventure novel. Since he works for The Amazing Race, he's been everywhere and has had so many unique experiences, it's hard to keep track of all his stories.
Bas has invited us to go on a yearly climbing trip that next year will involve climbing 23 pitches in a span of ten days, and I'm really excited about that. Of course if it's anywhere outside the US, I won't be able to go just yet, but the thought is still intriguing, and I can't wait. 23 pitches! It's like dying and going to heaven. I have to keep practicing crack climbing now, and I've actually started doing short laps on the cracks at the gym.
Marc and I watched a little bit of
Shall We Dance? last night, and picked out the dance that we're going to learn on Saturday, during the lesson that Angela has booked for us. We've picked the easiest, slowest ballroom dance, so hopefully it will go well. We did a little bit of practice after the movie, but as expected, we both need a lot of coaching. Haha!
Some Variety Please
For the past 4 weeks or so, I have been sitting beside a guy who seems to have set his radio on repeat mode. Every single day, every week, I hear the same songs over and over again. Man, does this guy love emo, and I'm getting sick of it. Right now, an anguished voice is wailing, "I can't do this, I can't do this," and I just want to run over, switch it off and say, "She's saying she can't do it, let's not force her."
I can't wait until I finally move into my permanent cubicle near my teammates. I don't know if I can take another month of this, I might just kill myself. Like the girl so emotionally sings, "I can't do this," I can't do it either. Shut up.
The Bong
Well, hello world! I'm greeting you this Monday morning as someone who has been officially initiated into the world of trad leading. Woohoo! Never mind that out of the more than six pieces that I put in, only two were really good, and never mind that I freaked out during the last scramble at the top, and never mind that I forgot to twist the anchor runners around before clipping in. I did a trad lead! That's all that counts.
I knew Marc was a little hesitant because he thinks that I should follow a whole lot more before leading, but I think I kept mentioning it enough that he finally let me do it just to shut me up. ;) I was actually about to concede defeat on yet another hopeful visit to Joshua Tree (maybe, just
maybe, he'll finally let me do it), but as we were driving to another climb, we came across this rock with 5.4 route called
The Bong.
So I made it to the top. Survived. Marc followed and survived with me belaying him. Then it was time to head down.
What a bitch that was! That had to be the worst walkoff I've ever done in my life. I couldn't help freaking out on our way down, so much so that finally Marc put me on a rope and lowered me down before he climbed down himself. EG$^%*#@$@$%#&^#$@!!!!
Ooh. How cool is that? I can actually bitch about a walkoff from a trad lead route. Yay!
