Knitta please....

Hey all...
I went to a knitting store that my friend Sarah works at...she organizes our stitch n' bitch meetings. There was a guy there named Franklin doing a photography project called "1000 knitters". He's photographing 1000 knitters for a book, gallery project, web log, etc... I had to sign a disclaimer, sit & knit the piece he had there, and simply chat with him for a few minutes while he took my picture....it was pretty cool. I'll let you know when I'm a star in a coffee table book!!!
I'm really itching to get back into my knitting. I just bid on some needles on Ebay, and now that I kind of know what my next 2 projects are going to be, I'm heading back to Ebay for what I hope is some discounted yarn.
For those of you who don't know this, knitting isn't really a less expensive substitute for purchasing clothes....that is unless you're one of those really crafty "diggers" who lucks upon yarn at thrift stores, estate sales, etc... Yarn ain't cheap. It's really all about the hobby and the enjoyment of it....unless of course you suck at it...then it's not so enjoyable :)
Radar went for his first nail trim in the big city. I found him this great place called the Bark Bark Club. Love it. He was stylin' walking down the city streets...he's too cool for his own good...then again, anyone who knows Radar already knows this.

Finally!!!!....a friend!!!

Well people, have no fear...I had something that actually resembled a social life tonight...finally.
There is a girl that worked at my store that I really liked. As Murphy's Law would have it, she got promoted last week to a position in our photo studio downtown...she was someone I felt like was "my people". Other than the stitch n' bitchers, I hadn't met too many of those thus far...
We met at a pub not too far from here...unfortunately it was a beating of a drive for her coming from downtown..sorry Christine!
Nothing terribly exciting to report other than the fact that I did something outside of my house that wasn't work, eating or shopping alone, and involved another human...
I can only express myself by saying...
Yipee...

Lonely...to be or not to be...that is the question

I just spent the last 24 hours in Michigan/the car for the 4th of July surrounded by about 13 other people...(12 1/2 if you consider that one of the humans was only about a week old).
As I'm sitting here at home once again, I'm pondering my big move decision. I absolutely love the city, but I'm ready to find some friends. Not that I want to force it like you did in jr. high school by bribing people or buying gifts for those who really weren't your friends, but the kind you stumble on accidentally and they become your friends for life.
I have to take into consideration that I've only been here a month. There are one or two people at work I would socialize with if they weren't so flippin' far away.
I made my bold move to go to Stitch N' Bitch twice a month which is great...but like I said, it's only twice a month....it's a start I guess.
Now I'm debating things like volunteering, church, finding another class to take, etc...I just got a flyer for a place around the corner that has yoga, tai chi, and belly dancing classes...
Mmmmmm....shaking my little jigglypouf belly around in circles...niiiiccceeee....I suppose that's one way to drop a lb. or two....

Never in Dallas...

...would I have two different neighbors dueling it out with music.

One apartment in my building has a guy who plays the banjo...quite well I might add. I've heard him a few times & occasionally he plays surf music which is why I've learned to love listening. One day a few weeks ago he was accompanied by a clarinet. There was a nice little free jamboree right here in my building.

Another apartment has a guy who signs opera. I haven't heard him much except for the past couple of days....he too is quite good.

Tonight they are both expressing themselves musically with their own personal genre....and with their windows open.

Occasionally one overshadows the other...

Needless to say, my windows are open & I'm enjoying the noise. Oh yeah, given that the last couple of days the high has been 80ish and the low about 55, I've been sleeping with my windows open and a blanket...

I love this place :)

Choo choo part two

I took the train again today. Have no fear, I won't post every time I ride...just this first week...and of course if anything interesting happens.
The walking today was MUCH better aside from the fact that I had cramps. The crazy weather was much cooler. I think the high was no more than about 72 or so. I was wearing a hoodie during my commutes to and fro.
I spent time knittng Radar's newest dog sweater while riding. He can't stand wearing them, but if he doesn't want frozen nether-regions this winter, he has no choice.
My parents are going to Michigan to see my sister on Monday. I'll be driving up there (or is it over there?) on the 4th & returning on the 5th. The Neill's don't get together all at once very often so it should be fun. If there aren't fireworks in the sky, you can just give the Neill's a few cocktails & they'll make some fireworks of their own!

Finally photos!

Here are some pics of my pad...I just got my sofa delivered today and lucky me...it was a month earlier than I expected. I never thought I would miss having a couch so much. Radar loves it too.
Oh yeah people...don't laugh at my rabbit ears... NO, I don't have cable...and after talking to a lot of artsy fartsy types like myself, I have found that I am not the only person in the free world who doesn't have cable TV!

Alex I'll take "things that should be sticky" for $1000

...things that should be sticky....
Taffy
The back of a stamp
Tape
Glue
No-Pest Strips
Gum
That stuff you use on your fingers to count lots of money when you work retail/

Things that should not be sticky...
Kristen after she arrives at work her first day taking the train.
OH MY GOSH is was so freaking humid today I couldn't believe it! This what-I-consider-even-though-I-wasn't-born-there "native Texan" was complaining about the humidity all day!
Okay, so I braved the train. What a great experience! I'm ever so urban!!!
The process as a whole was fine. I actually log about 4 miles on foot during the whole round trip process. I walk about 1/2 mile to/from my house to the station..maybe another 1/2 mile between stations downtown, and another mile to/from work and the station in Naperville. I love the walking but NOT when it feels like I'm walking through blankets. Not even nice wool blankets...the gross polyester kind that some hotels have that feel like fuzzy rubber ( you know you all know what I'm talking about )...like a Holiday Inn blanket, not a Marriott blanket.
I think I've figured out that I save approx. $2.50 a day each time I take the train. It's not a million dollars but it's saving 90 miles off of my car each time and keeping me sane. For the most part, it's amazingly relaxing.
So, I can finally chock one thing up to going my way. Thank the Lord.

riding the wave

A friend of mine had a card posted at his desk that said something like (and I know I'm going to butcher this...) "if the waves in life get too big, learn to surf". It's kind of been my mantra thus far, however recently the drowning feeling has been taking over.

I pride myself on being this kick ass girl who made this amazingly independent decision to branch out in life and take matters into her own hands. I moved across the country & left everything I knew & loved...kind of like when I ran away from home my senior year in high school and rode a Greyhound bus to Lubbock.."please ride the bus". It was a great idea but within a short time span I was back at home on Meadowview Drive.

Occasionally I have this feeling like this isn't real and I'm going to go home soon. Kind of like I'm British and I'm on holiday...but I'm not, I've moved my life and I'm here to stay.

Things at work are a lot different than where I came from. Different store, different operation, different people, different region....just plain different. I have a bit of a step childish feeling at work. Once again...it feels like I'm helping out at a store opening & I'll be going home to my store soon....very weird.

My friend Kyle moved from Dallas to Austin a few years ago & quite a few months after he moved he told us how he was really depressed for a while because he realized that he had left all of his friends and making new ones wasn't a quick process.

That's where I'm at now. I love what I've seen so far & I have a TON of stuff I want to do, but there are just some things you want to do with another human being.

Until then....Radar makes an amazing companion...now if he only drank more rum....

Finally...some movement

I rode my bike today. I've made every excuse not to exercise & today I finally made myself get off of my lazy ass & do something. It was one of the best things I've done since I arrived in this city.
I ventured out thinking I'd only be gone around 30 min. or so & I ended up riding around the city on big girls streets with real traffic for about an hour-hour & 1/2. I saw some amazing thrift & vintage mid-century modern shopping that I MUST do this weekend.
Oh yeah, I accidentally found the porn store...lucky me ;)
I followed up the bike ride with a couple of hours at the beach. Interesting thing here...you can't just run gallantly into the water and dive in. You have to stay around one of the row boats with a life guard in it. I can understand children, however it takes FOREVER for the water to even get above thigh level. It's too bad that real bodies of water like say, the pacific ocean???...don't have that kind of protection. There are a LOT of idiots in Maui who challenge the ocean & don't seem to realize that they're not going to win. I lost a couple of water battles there myself.
If I could make a friend or two I'd be good to go...I absolutely love this city so far.

Week one & counting

First week of work is OVER! I've officially accepted the commute, however I will try the Metra commuter train next week. I've worked it out with my manager that I should be able to take the train 2 days a week which will help out my mental state as well as my "pocketbook" (how vintage of me).

I will still get home at the same time but should be able to relax a little more.

I want to switch gears for a minute and mention my best friend Brian. His father Jerry passed away on Saturday, June 2nd after a battle with bladder cancer. He and his wife Nolie had been back & forth from Arlington, TX to Houston, TX undergoing treatment at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for the past several months.

I was unable to attend the memorial service in Arlington yesterday which was one of the hardest things I've ever done. Brian and I have been friends since 1983...the first week of summer band camp where Brian thought that Barbie had a really nice butt :)

I sincerely feel as though I've failed both Brian & Nolie by not being there for them during this hard time. Brian is literally like my brother and Nolie has been like a mother to me. From driving me home after a few too many beers in the middle of the night YEARS ago, to sitting at the hospital with my family when I had my ovary removed last summer. They have both always been there for me.

Jerry & Nolie were married for 47 years and I have to say, they were definitely one of the happiest couples I've ever seen together that long! They spent their last several years post-retirement travelling around the world. They had developed a great love for the cruise ship! The Love Boat if you will...

Brian was documenting Jerry's cancer battle through a wonderfully written blog. His father was an aerospace engineer which is where Brian gets his technical, obsessive side...yet his mother Nolie was an elementary school teacher for 30+ years and has a vibrant, outgoing personality which gives Brian his sense of humor.

Please take a minute or two to check out the blog at

http://www.jerryscancer.blogspot.com/

...even though you may not know Jerry, it's a really good read about a really great person.

I'm heading out for an art festival today, then having dinner with my Uncle Kurtie, Aunt Chris & cousin K.J. this evening. K.J. moved to Chicago several months ago and Kurt and Chris came to visit from Arizona.

I get to see family & people I know!!!! Yipeeeeee!!!!