tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39967096549041701102024-02-18T18:33:54.771-08:00Message In A BottleUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger321125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-91324947442409279462010-07-31T21:56:00.000-07:002010-07-31T23:12:54.955-07:00A year, maybe twoThat's what I said. And then I threw another ten on top of that. It's been twelve years and today I am leaving. Living here has forever changed me. The people I've met, the places I've been, the things I have done - it's been an adventure. Truly, I've had the most amazing life.But I'm not done yet. There's so much more out there in the world.Goodbye Avalon, I wish you well.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-68031702145320425432010-06-03T21:19:00.000-07:002010-06-03T21:54:47.804-07:00Two years agoI talked about the television show that was filming on Catalina Island and my experiences working as an extra on the production. It was fun, easy, and damn good money. I'd totally do something like that again, and considering my plans to move over to the big city and need for income, probably will!Anyway, they filmed the first six episodes, wrapped up, said farewell, and went off to shop it Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-32468646672840704752010-05-30T23:28:00.000-07:002010-05-30T23:34:53.957-07:00Moving...forwardWow, will you look at that? Two whole months just zoomed by and not a blog post in sight. And while I could make case that I've been busy, it's nothing compared to how busy I'll be soon.I am proceeding forward with plans to move to the mainland this summer. I think what many people don't realize is that moving on and off an island presents certain "challenges". You know, usually you either have Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-70089033931921555932010-03-23T22:10:00.000-07:002010-03-23T23:12:31.861-07:00Sad socks in the springDo you remember these?I made them almost 2 years ago, using Duet Sock Yarn from A Swell Yarn Shop, and the Waffle Rib pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks. I loved them madly and the pattern was a great match for the yarn. I may knit that pattern again but I will never, NEVER, use that yarn again.The idea behind Duet yarn is great - a skein of variegated sock yarn sold with a contrasting Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-60973472575070352222010-03-15T21:17:00.000-07:002010-03-15T22:35:16.113-07:00But does it support the conclusion?I'm working on a major overhaul of my resume and in pursuit of that goal I just finished reading one of several books I borrowed from the local library on resume writing. Without even trying I found two typos in the book - and it's put it out by a well-known, reputable publisher. So I'm wondering, should I send them my corrections and a copy of my resume?I see this sign every time I go to the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-83770484039238996902010-03-08T17:33:00.000-08:002010-03-08T22:25:49.615-08:00Actual Knitting ContentThere's a reason this isn't a knit blog ya know? I'd describe it more as the life blog of a knitter. Because no matter how turbulent my life may be - there is always knitting. And indeed there has been knitting, I think quite a bit has piled up during my extended blog hiatus. So let's see if I can get it all caught up to date. First I think we'll step back to:Holiday KnittingThis is Kirsten Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-38286940420350271642010-03-02T14:36:00.000-08:002010-03-02T19:07:18.471-08:00Thought I knew my mindLike the back of my hand. Really I did.Six months ago I was strategizing how to stitch together a reasonable income from a variety of sources that would allow me to continue to living on this island. Because that was most important thing - finding a way to stay.And now? I'm ready to leave.Not physically, mind you! After ten years in the same apartment, plus a few more in the same town, I've Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-5451631902312148262010-01-18T23:27:00.000-08:002010-03-02T14:36:48.568-08:00Spinning platesThat's what my friend's sister used to describe a point of time in her life and it's an accurate description of where I'm at now.I certainly never intended to ignore the blog for a whole month. My holidays were fine. Although I had to work on both Christmas and New Year's, I managed to get a nice day with my family, was included in someone else's family dinner, and spent time with a visiting Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-57759987046826055682009-12-18T10:06:00.000-08:002009-12-18T11:04:53.544-08:00DoneCompleted. Finished. Concluded. Finis. Call it a day. End of the road. Curtains. Stick a fork in me.Yesterday I took (and of course passed) my last exam for my degree. Yes, I said MY LAST EXAM. Which means I am now, for all practical intents and purposes, done. All that's left now is to wait for those last few credits to be added to my transcript, file my graduation intent form, the school does aUnknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-67656784692850505342009-12-08T22:53:00.000-08:002009-12-09T08:57:05.131-08:00iShiverSomehow, last week it was autumn and we were breaking out the knitted scarves, airing out the sweaters that were in storage, and generally enjoying a little extra coolness in the air. And now this week it's HELLO I AM WINTER AND I WILL FREEZE YOU SOLID!Of course I defy winter's efforts to solidify me into a human-shaped icicle because I am in constant motion. I shiver. Non-stop. All day. PossiblyUnknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-36123875465460684972009-11-26T11:31:00.000-08:002009-11-26T11:58:13.492-08:00GratefulWhen I read back through some of my recent blog posts I realize how negative some of them sound. (Debbie Downer reporting for duty!) I'm in an odd place in my life right now, close to completion with one phase and struggling to map out the next one. And so much of that is NOT making the blog, and that's hard too, but I'm working on a solution.However, I am very aware of how blessed I am. I talk Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-87396512649781374782009-11-20T21:41:00.000-08:002009-11-20T22:23:04.470-08:00Every 16 minutesSomeone in the U.S. dies by suicide. Every 17 minutes someone else is left to make sense of it. This Saturday is the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention's 11th Annual National Survivors of Suicide Day. I talked about it last year, and you can learn more about the event on the AFSP site. I can't change the past. But maybe someday I can help change the future. I think I'd like that.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-80645341623320775892009-11-18T09:18:00.000-08:002009-11-18T21:54:35.899-08:00One part of the elephantThere's a story about blind men and an elephant. There are many different versions out there but the gist of it is this:A group of blind men touch an elephant to learn what is it like.The first man touches the leg and says an elephant is like a pillar. The second man touches the tail and says an elephant is like a rope. The third man touches the trunk and says an elephant is like a branch of Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-44994989543945281942009-11-11T10:33:00.000-08:002009-11-12T14:41:04.551-08:00Mystery YarnThe other day I was approached by a local acquaintance I'll call "P". Although she herself can knit, P is very enamored of my knitting and frequently introduces me to others as the "world's greatest knitter!" which is very embarrassing. Because of course - I'm not. I'm just one of the few sock knitters she's every met and within in her limited circle probably one of the most proficient. But weUnknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-46571108808731345432009-11-08T20:48:00.000-08:002009-11-08T21:50:17.901-08:00Figuring Out FacebookAll right, so I've got a handle on the whole twitter thing. Clearly it'd be a whole lot more fun if I was tweeting throughout the day instead of just at random moments when I happen to be home and online. I see how some folks use it for promotion, some for communication, and others (such as moi) just for venting random off-the-cuff thoughts. And in my case it is probably better that I can't Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-29527067021405511072009-10-25T22:26:00.000-07:002009-10-25T22:38:22.977-07:00The Paw of DoomWhich signals the break of dawn (also known as my alarm clock!!!) looks like this:I knew I couldn't be the only one. And clearly, this guy understands:Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-38035096127182229972009-10-22T20:09:00.000-07:002009-10-22T21:50:49.202-07:00Life swallowed me upAnd I don't know if it's going to spit me back out until some time in December.You may remember that my plan for this fall/winter was to knock out my last four classes, essentially the equivalent of being a full-time student for one last semester and be done before Christmas. Not just so I can actually enjoy the holiday season, but more importantly to get my last credits in before my annual Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-84952269730461881292009-09-26T21:30:00.000-07:002009-09-26T22:32:03.103-07:00My brain locked upAnd all that came out was...WHUT?It was this:After the system specification is complete but before the design is coded in the actual programming language, portions of the system may be coded in what is called pseudocode, a design technique that lays out the processing in a simple but standardized language so that the logic can be examined before it is translated into the more complex programming Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-21252415480427063282009-09-24T15:12:00.000-07:002009-09-24T16:10:37.720-07:00Festival of Art '09I got so caught up in other things I forgot to mention something...Last weekend was the Catalina Festival of Art! Between work, school, and various other unpleasant time sucks I didn't really get to enjoy it as much as I have in past years. I did notice that instead of the pegboard & post contraptions usually set up with tables for the booth space, this year each booth was supplied with a Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-73656671174432937852009-09-21T18:16:00.000-07:002009-09-21T18:44:26.860-07:00PSA: Awesome Yarn AlertWhile, like many people these days, I am financially challenged and therefore on a yarn diet, I feel it is my solemn duty to bring to your attention, gentle readers, any extraordinary opportunities to GET SOME REALLY AWESOME NEW YARN!See this:Purple pink girly deliciousness = Violet Femme!And my personal fave:I love it for the color alone - but don't you need a Penny For Your Thoughts?These and Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-23069240945721597282009-09-20T20:32:00.000-07:002009-09-20T22:26:10.892-07:00The steepness of the curveLate last week I went overtown to take a Dantes exam for Introduction to Law Enforcement. My trip over in the morning was perfect:Water like glass - I couldn't ask for a smoother ride.And on the way home we had just passed the Queen Mary:When something interesting came into view: Those are three different emergency vessels, lights flashing. Followed by this:There wasn't a fire or anything else Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-88473070176118568392009-09-16T19:18:00.000-07:002009-09-16T20:00:07.144-07:00It's awfully crowded in thereI sat down this evening with the intention of writing some sort of post to explain what I've been up to lately, and what I'm planning to do in the future. But my head is entirely too full of information that I will be needing in the VERY near future, as in tomorrow morning at 11:00am.Here's a few snippets:excluding this weekpoison Lumber treemap of the entire countryPreston's car Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-66081428617406085952009-08-27T20:34:00.000-07:002009-08-27T21:25:21.629-07:00This little piggy went to marketOne lesson I've learned is to take better care of myself. I've spent way too much time sacrificing my own health in favor of a demanding job or some other stressful situation, ignoring my own needs and paying the price for it later. To that end, I am trying to sleep more, drink a lot of water or juice, and eat better.Over the past few months I've watched and been somewhat inspired by someone Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-37203297240269010622009-08-23T22:17:00.000-07:002009-08-24T19:41:05.449-07:00Miaow Miaow does not approveLiving in a tourist destination does mean frequent interaction with a broad spectrum of the island's seasonal visitors, not just during the work day, but sometimes at home too. The house next door to mine on one side is owned by a very large family. During the fall and winter it sits vacant for months on end, and all is peaceful and quiet. But starting in the late spring and throughout the summerUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996709654904170110.post-31981517505370007402009-08-20T20:31:00.000-07:002009-08-21T10:13:30.803-07:00You could get whiplash...trying to keep up with my mood swings.Seriously, one day I am just fine and dandy - logging in hours behind the cash register at the bookstore, reading chapters in textbooks or study guides and taking notes, tackling home repair projects, sending out application letters and resumes, and brainstorming ideas and making plans for the future - getting things done. Then the next day I am curled up in Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7