Movie Monday - 11/19/2012

It's been too long...

I haven't really had much opportunity to go movie watching in a theater, but a couple of times I did:

Ben Affleck directed and starred in Argo.  The film is based on the true story of six American diplomats who fled to the Canadian embassy in Tehran when the rest of the people in the American embassy were taken hostage by Iranian militants.  Affleck plays the CIA operative whose idea it was to rescue them by having them pose as part of a film crew that is scouting locations for an upcoming science fiction movie.  John Goodman, Alan Arkin and Brian Cranston are among the other actors in this very good, suspenseful and well acted movie.  I really liked it.

In Arbitrage, Richard Gere plays the head of a hedge-fund empire that is about to collapse.  His wife (Susan Sarandon) and daughter (Brit Marling) are oblivious, as he struggles to keep his world together.  There's intrigue, murder and suspense in this movie.  It is pretty entertaining. 

I've also watched a couple of videos:

The Romantics is a dumb movie with Katie Holmes, Josh Duhamel, Anna Paquin and others. College friends reunite for a wedding. The maid of honor still has feelings for the groom. She and the bride experience tension...just dumb.

Tiny Furniture is a quirky little film about a girl who comes back to live at home after college and a series of nonsuccesses in order to figure out what she wants to do with her life. It doesn't help that her mother is an acclaimed artist. Lena Dunham wrote, directed and starred in this movie. It was alright.

MK out.

WIP Wednesday - 11/7/2012

It's been one of those days.  I was gone all day long running errands...

I did take a picture of my three projects this morning before I walked out the door.  This post will not be wordy...I am ready to hit the hay.

I started a hat to donate for hurricane victims out of some of the yarn I won.  It is Berroco Comfort DK:



I am intending for this hat to fit a toddler.  I am not using a pattern; so, hopefully, it will turn out as well as I am envisioning it.

The August 2012 socks are barely passed half-way finished:



I like the way the November 2012 socks are looking so far, although I've only just started them:



Y'all have a good one...

MK out.

Ten on Tuesday - 11/6/2012

Carole's topic today is Ten Things on My Mind Right Now.  Here are the  thoughts jumbling around in my head:

1.  Is that the upstairs toilet running again?
2.  The kitchen cabinets need a little decrapification.
3.  I could use that yarn I won to make some hats and send them to hurricane victims.
4.  When is my next hair appointment?
5.  I should schedule pedicure appointments for this month and next and have them on the books, instead of trying to get one at the last minute when no one can fit me in their schedule.
6.  I need a massage and I have no time.
7.  What can I make for dinner tonight?
8.  Where is my phone?
9.  Thanksgiving is coming...
10.  I need to get myself together, because I need to go vote!

If you haven't already, go vote today! 

MK out.

Baby, I'm a Winner!

I've been out of town for a few days, but now I am back...

So, a few weeks ago, Berroco had a contest in its weekly newsletter, KnitBits.  They were giving away copies of one of their new books - Comfort Knitting & Crochet: Babies & Toddlers. There are many cute patterns in it.  I entered, as I do many such contests.  While I was on vacay, I found out that I had won.



So, I came back from out of town, and my house sitter informed me that a package had come for me and she knew that it was probably yarn...because apparently, I have a reputation for buying yarn on-line.

"No," I told her.  "I recently entered a contest and won a knitting book."

She watched me open the package and, much to my surprise, the book was in there, but so was yarn!



Interestingly, I was just the other day lamenting the fact that I have so much yarn, but not the right yarn for a Christmas present I am planning to make. And look what happened!  The more I thought about it though, the more I started feeling that I really need to pay it forward; so, I have a little plan in mind.  Stay tuned in the coming weeks...

Then, last night, I read a post on Facebook. Iris Schreier, founder and designer of a yarn company with really yummy yarn (Artyarns) that I like, was giving away a pattern.  It is called Sandy's Fury.  All one had to do was to add the pattern to his/her Ravelry queue on yesterday and she would then pick a winner from the group of people who did so.

This morning, I woke up and had an email waiting in my inbox informing me that I had won the pattern!  I was so excited!!!

I guess I can no longer say, "I never win anything!"

Since I've been neglectful of my blog lately, I think I will show you the two additional pairs of socks that I did finish in October instead of waiting until Friday.  First, here's Tara.  This pair of socks has been OTN since April:



I knittied them with two 2.25mm circular needles and used Lucy Neatby's Celestial Merino in Hot Pink.  I really like how they turned out after all that.

The October Socks were also completed: 



I used Wullenstudio Superwash Sock Yarn in Monster Mash and two 2.0mm circular needles.  The pattern is Autumn Harvest Toe Up Socks.  I like the yarn and I like the pattern, but I don't think it was the best yarn to use to show off the pattern.  However, they were my official Socktober/Halloween socks and they served their purpose well. 

I finished the October socks before the April socks.  The pattern suggested using Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off; so, I did, and it was my first time.  I really like it.

I like it so much, that when the Tara instructions suggested to use that bind off, I did not hesitate.

Oh yeah, remember that big test that I took a couple of weeks ago?  I passed.

I think everyone should be caught up with my doings for the last little while now.  Let me hear from you.

MK out.