Who is that cute brunette?

Why, it's me of course! Do yah like it?

"Just be cool and everything will be cool"

So I don't normally feel "chill" enough to start a blog with a quote by my brother that pretty much defines him, but today, I get it. I got back from St. Neots yesterday morning after my perfect, restful, and totally (academically) unproductive weekend. I unpacked, cleaned my room, made a quick run to Tesco, made lunch and got cracking on my Dracula paper. I nearly finished it too! I wrote over 2,000 words, which really doesn't sound like much, but you have to remember that there's a good 10 pages of reader per 2 sentences written...so writing a term paper is a very long process- for me at least. So I'm pretty darn pleased with yesterday's progress. Another 2 days of fact checking/revision/rephrasing and I should be able to turn that beast in- and get working on the other 5.

Since it's been a while since I actually posted knitting content (due to lack of mojo, which has since returned) I figured I'd catch you up with what I'm working on. "The Clash" hoodie had some issues which have since been sorted out- nothing a quick trip to the frog pond couldn't sort out. Once I finished the first arm and had a few inches of the body knitted, I tried it on again to make sure things were going well. They weren't. I had made the yoke about a stripe too long and as a result, the body and sleeves were baggy. I got angry and threw it in a corner and left it for about a week. Then after a particularly stressful day, I frogged the sleeve and ripped a stripe out of the yoke and picked up the rest of the stitches and started again. I think it's just about perfect this time. I'm just a little angry that I made a whole sleeve before I figured out it was too baggy. Anyway, it's better now and I made a bit of progress during my perfect weekend- it nearly has a body. I think I'm going to do something a little different for ribbing and a button band...instead of a 2x2 ribbing or garter stitch at the end of the sleeves and as a button band, I think I'm going to do a knitted hem. I love the way they look and I think I'll have a ton of turquoise yarn leftover- so why not? The only problem that I can forsee is that the buttons I bought aren't going to be tall enough to go through the 2 layers of knitting that will form the button band, but that can easily be fixed with new buttons, right? Nothing a trip to Franklins can't solve- or Joann Etc...depending on when I get there. I'd really like to finish before my Spring break trip...but papers come first.

I've also got a sock on the needles- some of Lucy's yarn. The pattern is called "Snicket" after the Series of Unfortunate Events, and while it's taking me absolutely forever, I quite like it. I need to hurry up and finish it so I can use the needles in the knit-along I'm about to do with Jaclyn...eventually. I didn't take it to St. Neots because one of the needles was starting to splinter and I didn't want to deal with it. Today I stole Sere's nail file and took care of the splintering, so I'll work on it tonight at the knitting group. I need a new name for these socks, the person who leaves a good "terribly British" sock name in the comments has a terribly British prize with their name on it! Get your thinking caps on! I need a new name for these!

In non-knitting news, I somehow got into the last open space on a trip to Stonehenge and Bath this Saturday...which excites me to no end. I was starting to worry that I wouldn't get to see Stonehenge- my weekends are litterally all booked until Spring Break. This also means that I don't have to devote 2 days to Bath on my trip, and can add another stop, spend another day in Stratford-upon-Avon...or...I don't know. Do something. But it frees up a day, which is great. That's about it. I'm going to go rest my eyes for a bit- something in the air has got them all itchy and dry-blegh.

What's This?

So I'm currently chillin' in St Neots with Alex and Marylyn, my parents-away-from-parents that spoil me rotten with good food and great french wine, and I've hijacked their computer for a few minutes to get a post out and respond to some reader comments (which you guys must keep coming, I adore them!) This weekend has been wonderful so far, I headed out Friday after my class and got here shortly before dinner, and for the first time all term, got a full night's sleep. Actually it was more like 2 full night's sleeps in one go, which made up for spending Thursday night in a club and not in my bed, which made my 9 am Friday class quite rough...

But by the time I got back from class on Friday, I had an e-mail from the Essex post office saying I had a large package that I needed to pick up....hmm...perhaps my Single Knitters Valentine's Dat Swap Package? Only one way to find out! So I ran back to my flat to open it...here's about how it went:

It's a truly perfect Valentine's Day gift. It's amazing how a perfect stranger could get everything so right! There were chocolates, body butter from The Body Shop, a card, little stuffed animals (one of which is holding my keys, having broken my keychain opening the door of my flat to hurry up and open this package- perfect timing, eh?) and my favourite thing ever: sock yarn. It's Lana Grossa something or other (I was about to miss the bus so I had to open it quickly, snap a few pictures and run to catch the train, so no specifics- sorry!) and the colours are perfect; I would have probably picked the exact same skien had I been given the choice! It's Valentine-y, but not nausiatingly so. I adore it. In your next swap, pray to get "Itsgoodtoknit" as your partner. She truly made my V-day.

So...today I went out and did the rounds with Marylyn, which included a quick trip to Tesco for dinner, picking up some lottery tickets (If I win 7 million pounds, I'm turning in a bank note with my name on it and calling it a term paper) and then visiting Jerry and Jeane, people I used to know when I lived in France and England when I was wayyyyy younger. I've been wanting to see them since I came to England, but I wasn't sure if they'd even remember me, and I haven't spoken to them in 10 years, so I didn't think it would happen. They have the most awesome house ever- it's 400 years old and has a most permanent resident- a nurse that died during WWI. Apprently her ghost lives upstairs and creates all sort of havoc for anyone staying in the guest room- HER room. Pretty much every woman that has stayed in that room (not knowing it's supposedly haunted) has told them about someone pushing on their stomach in the middle of the night- as if someone was trying to deliver a baby...spooky. Jeane said there was also a time where she filled a doorway with books so they couldn't get into the den....since the door opens inward, there was no way a person could have done it and then left. Since the house is so old, they can't do any modifications to it, so it's very...wonky. The floors and walls are all crooked and the ceiling is so low at points you have to duck (and I'm on 5 feet tall). It's an awesome house, and Jerry and Jeane are awesome people. Jerry had been a Major during WWII and told me all about D-Day and even cried a bit at the end. I can't imagine living through something like that, especially knowing that some of your closest friends didn't. The best part of it all? Jerry and Jeane were the first people from my past that haven't told me exactly how much I look like my mother. It was awesome. After that we headed to shop to see if the blankets Marylyn liked were still on sale...they weren't...but I found a really cute bag that was (as if I needed another one) and the most perfect summer dress....which didn't come in my size. They told me to come back March 1st -that's when they get a new shipment in. That's a good enough reason for me to come back and see Alex and Marylyn, so it looks like I'll be getting that dress after all! Besides, I'm going to a wedding this summer- I totally need something to wear to it! Well I guess that's about it. Enjoy the rest of your Valentine's Day- I'm going to go have a romantic snuggle up with a hoodie that I had to partially frog and am just now getting around to working on it again. Bye!

Going into my cave (slide)

If you've been reading this blog for more than one academic term, then you'll know a couple of things.

1. I start writing essays early (like a month early) so I don't get to the point where I'm pulling 3 all-nighters in a row to get them done.
2. This never works. I sit at the computer and stare at it for an hour, check my email. Stare at my paper, check Ravelry, stare at my paper, write down 2 sentences, delete one of them, blog about it. Rinse and repeat.
3. My knitting mojo dissapears, arguably when I need it most. This becomes apparent after casting on no less than 6 socks and frogging them all after the first lace repeat.
4. I stop sleeping. I replace time spent sleeping with time spent eating, thus gaining an average of 7 pounds per term.
5. I cry for no reason. And very frequently. This is made considerably worse by my approaching arch nemesis, Valentine's Day.
6. My room becomes very clean (I don't know how it happens, it just does)
7. I promise myself rewards for after my essays are finished. So far I've got (a) the fourth and final book in the Twilight series (b) my dead writer's trip to Bath and Stratford-upon-Avon (c) going home and then to Florida for a week- including a trip to Disneyworld (d) consultation for my nose job and finally (e) peace of mind that comes from having all these papers done. (That being said, the term papers are still written the night before they are due)

That would normally be enough to motivate even a slug to write term papers (okay, if you replace things like "trip to Disney" with "piece of lettuce" and "Twilight book" with "big dark rock to hide under") but it just isn't working for me. I'm leaving on Friday after my last class to go to St Neots to visit Alex and Marylyn, and I wanted to have AT LEAST 2 papers done so I could enjoy the break, but it's just not happening.

What do you do when you just don't care about something, but need to do it anyway?

***(Very British Blog Prize for the first person to leave the movie I referenced (and what reference I made) in the comments. If you know me at all, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about)***

Happy Friday!

So I'm feeling a little under the weather today (apparently so is the actual weather- it's dreadful here) but there are so many reasons to be happy, I don't care.

1. My prof said he liked my vampires paper. Score 1 for Paige.

2. Had lunch with Lucy, Nadia, and Caroline.

3. Knitted with Lucy, Nadia, and Caroline.

4. Bought yarn for swap (and a little for myself) off Lucy. Her colourways are amazing. There was a blue and yellow that was awesome. If it wasn't Michigan colours, I'd have it. No wolverines here!

5. My swap package is ready! Just needs shipped out. I went a wee bit over budget, but it was worth it.

6. It's Friday. You can't beat that.

So here are a few pictures to leave you with:

My new yarns from Lucy. The purple and white one is going to my Valentine's Day Single Swap partner. I really hope she likes it, it's beautiful. Since Lucy (http://thebeariumnecessities.blogspot.com/ ) went through the trouble of bringing her big basket of hand-dyed yarns, I picked out a couple for myself. What? I'm helping out the economy! I went for my usual colours: green, purple, and a really cool redish/orange.

My swap package, going out tomorrow. I know I said I wouldn't share pics, but I couldn't help myself. I got my Valentine a pashmina in her favourite colors, Lucy's yarn in a DK weight and an awesome shade of purple, and chocolate. It's just not Valentine's Day without a little chocolate...

My latest knitted addition to the "Pash Stash" (my pashmina collection, don't judge. They're pretty. And were only a pound each!) It's a simple fan and feather lace pattern in Southwest Trading Company's beautiful Bamboo yarn. It took just over 1 skien. It's known on Ravelry as "Penny Lane."

Have an awesome weekend. I'm going to go finish that paper so I can write 5 more, and then get back to Twilight. I miss Edward already.

To Whom it may concern:

I will soon be returning to regularly scheduled knitblogging. I read the first three Twilight books in 4 days, which is insanity. I don't recommend it. I'm holding off on the last one (the wedding! yay!) until I finish my term papers.

Of course now that Edward and Bella are on the line, this may mean record-time term papers. I'd really like Edward and Bella (mostly just Edward, you sexy beast) to hold off until I get on the plane to come home for Spring Break.

Updated travel schedule (and travel-blog schedule, of course)

March 6-9: Edinburgh, Scotland
March 21-2: Bath, England (it's a Jane Austen thing)
March 23: Stratford-upon-Avon (Shakespeare)
March 24: London, mostly yarn shopping and Harrods
March 25: Indianapolis to sleep this term off.

I'll probably take a trip out to St. Neots to visit my mom-away-from-mom, Marylyn if I can get these papers looking halfway decent over the next week.

That's about it. I'm meeting Nadia and Lucy for lunch tomorrow for Lucy's b-day/yarn exchange. Should be a good time. At least I get to get off campus for a little while!

My poor negelected Clash sweater is calling. I'll post if I ever make progress on it. Toodles!

Hey Paige! Your dork is showing!

For the people who haven't known me that long: I study English literature- that's kind of why I'm in England at the moment. I am taking a course called "English Novels and Their Settings" and we read a novel a week for it. Then we turn in a 25-page paper before we can go home for Spring Break (and yes, I'm going to come home for Sping Break...I'll get to that later) and I chose to do my paper on the first book we read this term, which happened to be one of my all-time favourites, Bram Stoker's "Dracula". This isn't my first run-in with gothic themed entertainment featuring the dark creatures, I was completely in love with Angel from Buffy all through high school, and was thrilled when he got his own spin off. Consequently, I was crushed when they both ended (but I still really like David Boreanez as the guy in Bones. He's such a DILF). I thought the vampire obsession was over with until my dad, of all people, told me to watch HBO's new show, True Blood, based on Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire mystery series. I was honestly a little reluctant to watch it, but I figured...why not? I was hooked. And then Twilight hit the theaters.

I told myself, no way in hell am I going to see Twilight. It's way too teeny-bopper for me (not that I can really speak, I've only been removed from my teenage years for all of 8 months). I resisted. The books got rave reviews and sold out. There were Twilight-themed parties. I was apparently the only one NOT into Twilight. Even my flatmate, Rosie, who I love dearly told me (in secret- she didn't want to other flatmates to know she reads Twilight. I think I'm safe posting it on a knitting blog though, this is the last place my flatmates are going to look) that she loves them and that I should give them a try. Psht. Whatever. Who needs Twilight when you've got Sookie? Right?

And then I ran out of Sookie books. The next one won't be published until May. Crap. It's okay, I told myself. I've got TONS of great books I can read, since I buy literature like I buy sock yarn and lipstick (bought some lipstick today too). But then it occured to me, I'm writing a 25 page paper on vampires. More specifically, I'm writing a 25 page paper on how vampires (starting with Dracula, going up to today's vamps including Quintin Tarintino's Dusk 'till Dawn vamps, Underworld/Van Helsing vamps/True Blood vamps/and now Twilight vamps) are a physical manifestation of repressed sexual desire including but not limited to sado-masochistic thoughts and tendencies and that I needed to go see it in the name of research. You have to be living under a rock to not know about Twilight, so I figured I'd have better luck using that in my paper than an ex-Confederate soldier vamp in Louisiana.

So I looked up the movie times. Today was the last day that it is playing in Colchester- it was a sign. It played at noon, which meant I needed to be up at 10 to get ready and get the bus to town to see it in time. And then there's always time for a little shopping afterwards, right? Besides, I need a damn good reason to get out of bed in the mornings, I've made the shift from "not a morning person" to "nocturnal" and I really need to break that habit and see the sun for once. So I went to bed at 5 (we generally play something along the lines of card games or Hackey Sack until then on a Saturday so the party people can sober up before they go to bed) and went to sleep just as the sun was rising, so maybe 7:30? And woke up at 10. It wasn't fun, but dammit, I was going to see Twilight. By myself. Chances are I'd be back before the rest of the flat was even getting up.

Saw Twilight. Liked most of it. Especially liked that the heroine was a very pale vegetarian. Really liked that the cute vamp that we're all supposed to love played Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter (told you my dork was showing) and that his vamp-mom was that girl who played Ava in Gray's Anatomy- you know, the one who lost her memory and fell madly in love with Alex? I liked the story, but I think I would have liked it better if I had gotten into Twilight before I got into Southern Vampire. After reading the grown-up stories, it's so backwards to jump into the teen angsty-love story. That being said, I have a bone to pick with you, Stephanie Meyer.

I know that you wrote Twilight and all, so you can take a few liberties with your vampires, but you went a little nuts in a creature that is generally decided upon already.

1. Vampires are creatures of the NIGHT, not the overcast Washington day.

2. When vampires are exposed to sunlight, no matter how indirect, they generally burn or turn to ash. THEY DON'T SPARKLE LIKE DIAMONDS. WTF?

3. They sleep all day. I don't care if it's in a coffin or a bed with black satin sheets, they sleep during the day. Your vampires don't sleep at all. That bothers me, but not as much as the next point.

4. Where the hell are the fangs? Your vampires are practically gumming people to death. That's just not very vampy. Some vamps have fangs that are fully extended at all times (Dracula) and most have retractable fangs that pop out when they're about to feed or about to...get nekked. (Premature Fangulation?) Yours don't have fangs AT ALL. Fix it so people will take your vampires seriously.

5. I also have issues with the "venom" you claim is released during biting, which causes the change into vamp-ness. It's generally agreed upon that an EXHANGE of blood between sire/human is required. You make it sound like a radioactive spiderbite. Is she going to start sucking blood or start shooting webs out of her wrists?

6. Telepathic vampire loves Bella because he can't read her thoughts? Puh-lease. That's True Blood backwards.

7. Edward is hot. Good choice on casting. The were-wolf is pretty hot too. And I haven't even read the books- but that cute Indian guy has were-wolf written all over him. Too bad I'm not 17. And ridiculously famous enough to have a shot with either of them.

Okay, now that that's off my chest, here's a little knitting content. I finished the Noro striped socks, which I have named "The Tube" socks on Ravelry after the London Underground (aka The Tube- I thought it was clever.) I have tons of yarn leftover. I highly doubt that it's enough for another pair of socks, but it's certainly enough for a third sock so that I can rotate them and not wear through them so quickly. Here they are seen posing with my new purse and my Lizard Ridge blanket, also made of Noro Kureyon- just not the sock weight. I also finished a fan and feather scarf that I started the day before I returned to England to keep me busy on the plane. When you knit something for 11 hours straight, you generally lose interest. I left it sitting in a bag until the other day and then cracked it out again and finished it. My camera died before I got a chance to take a picture of it, but I'll recharge and remedy that. I hate having blank spaces on my Ravelry notebook. I'll also add a picture of my top-down raglan (called The Clash, you'll see why eventually) to ravelry. It's nothing blog-worthy though. Yet.

So that's about it. Back to my vampires. I really need a good grade on this paper.