- Work exploded. Adam left. Reilly left. Kaitlin left. Ann and Chris demoted themselves. We went from having a consistent 6 person floor to a 3-4 person floor at all times. This was supposedly to accommodate for the post-holidays drop-off in consumerism. Except we didn’t drop off. And we couldn’t do anything about it because the corporation is stupid, and everyone else’s business dropped off. So for two weeks we worked ourselves ragged, literally ending shifts in tears. We used to close with three people, but that dropped to two. We were leaving over 45 minutes late because customers would keep coming through the drive-thru and ordering 7 drinks at a time (note to people: DO NOT DO THIS IF YOU DO NOT WANT THE BARISTA TO ‘ACCIDENTALLY’ POUR SCALDING MILK ON YOUR REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS AS SHE GRITS HER TEETH AND SMILES AT YOU AND YOUR FAT, SCREAMING CHILDREN) for twenty minutes after we were supposed to actually close the store. Finally things dropped down, but hot damn. If there had been an option, I would have walked out and never come back. It’s still pretty bad, but …meh. Jobs suck.
- That whole mess happened over the winter break, so I hardly got a break in between terms. We also had a massive snowstorm here in the Pacific Northwest. A snowstorm that would actually have been worthy of panic in other parts of the world that actually normally get snow. We, however, do not. It was very nearly the end of the world over here. Eugene got it easy, but people in Washington are still kayaking through the streets because of the massive snow run-off. I had to walk to work because Springfield was not brilliant enough to salt the roads like at least parts of Eugene did. I couldn’t ride my bike, and Matt got into an accident two feet from the house when he tried to go to work.
- Matt and I are trying to find another apartment. There is no need to go into what a festering hellhole ours is (I know it doesn’t look bad in the pictures…it’s the neighborhood that does it. Meth, anyone? I can find you at least six dealers without having to leave my little apartment cluster). We are actually trying to find a house to rent. We were originally waiting for family housing in May when our contract runs out, but it doesn’t look like we’ll end up getting anything. And even if we do, it’s so uncertain that waiting until it’s too late could be disastrous. So we’re poking around and hoping that that perfect place rears its head soon. Anyone in the Eugene area that just happens to drop by: If you know of any nice, small house near campus or in South Eugene, please please let me know. I grew up in the Northwest section and am sick to death of this part of town. Heading South makes the city so much nicer. And I would like to not be biking 60 miles a week. I have an 8:30 class next term! No 4 mile bike rides at 7AM PLEASE!
- I am really considering taking a risky leap and heading to Denmark. Why Denmark, you ask? Well. The University of Aarhus offers a really superawesomeamazing Master’s program in Coginitive Semiotics that would make me a very happy girl. I wasn’t even interested in getting an MA until I saw this program. I also went in and spoke with the UO exchange people and there IS an exchange program to DIS in Copenhagen where I could go in fall term to take Danish and knock out my second language requirement (linguistics majors have to have double the language requirements fulfilled. Go figure. I already have my Spanish out of the way, but not sure about what to take for the second) in one term. I could also take some fun European history and poli sci classes. And I would be going there on scholarship. It would be a perfect opportunity for me to check out the country, and go visit the University at Aarhus…speak with professors and really look into the program before I plunge in. I would be leaving my husband and darling kittehs behind for ten weeks, and that would be rough…but I think it would be an incredibly good thing for me to get out and survive on my own for a bit. I’ve travelled Europe on my own before, but have never lived on my own and think it would be very enlightening for me.
- Winter Term has started! I am taking some ridiculously awesome classes, and I am really excited about everything I am learning. Such a new experience for me! Phonetics looked so daunting at first, and while I would never ever want to do anything with Phonetics/Phonology in the future, the class is fun and doesn’t look too terribly difficult. Functional/Typological Syntax is rough. I mean…look at the title. The textbook is misery in its purest form, but it’s an incredible class. It’s very innovative and is banned in many universities because it is basically a counter-revolution in the way syntax is looked at and analyzed. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to be a part of a ground-breaking movement (that actually started (partially) here at the UO! My professors are GENIUSES) in the realm of syntax. I know it sounds weird to a non-linguist, but whatever. I am also taking a Sociolinguistics class which is my area of interest. I actually read the textbook for fun the other day. It’s just interesting! On top of that, I am assisting Doris Payne in some rather bland research stuff surrounding Yagua numeratives. But it’s cool to be using my Spanish again, and to be working with a top linguist. And I’m taking a yoga class which is pushing my body to its limits, but is very rewarding. I am also biking 60 miles a week. I am afraid that my legs will fall off. Mrrp.
There’s been a lot of personal stuff going on that I feel like is somewhat important. Bear with, please! It will be followed by PICTURES OF FOs! YAY! I made a lot of things for the holidays, but just never got around to posting them because I’ve been having issues with wordpress and I am lazy. But I’ve found what I hope to be an easier way to do things, so we’ll see.
Okay. So now its time for pretty pictures, as promised. Your treat for sifting through all of the above. Will try to update more regularly so that does not happen again.
The Heather’s Heathers Hat. I made it for my friend Heather in the UK…out of Cascade 220 Heathers! Yay! She also got a matching pair of glovetens:
These glovetens were much easier to make than I thought they would be. Finishing was a bitch though. Too many ends. I got excited and put in the same mock cable pattern around the mitten tops that was in the hat. I’m really pleased with my results.
I don’t pose for photographs well, so I tend to go for the ridiculous. Hence the seal. (His name is Pittney.)
Next: Straight up Mittens.
Nothing fancy. And my arms are covered in mocha sauce from work. I swear they don’t normally look like that. It just gets dried on and I’m used to it so I forget to wash it off after I come home. Working at Starbucks is nastier than people tend to think. Anyway. These mittens were made for a Secret Santa gift. I had wanted to make her a big chunky scarf but it kept looking wrong, so I decided to just make mittens. Without a pattern. Despite the fact that I’d never made mittens before. They turned out surprisingly well.
My cousin Danielle wanted a hat for Christmas. I don’t really know her very well, and knew I wasn’t getting anything in return, and I had spent a lot of energy on other stuff, so I double stranded some Bernat Satin Sport and just knit a watch cap. Blah, but an FO nonetheless.
Most exciting:
I learned to spin! And I spun! It’s not the best, most pretty wool, but hell…it’s mine and I made it and I love it. I need to get some more roving, but that can wait awhile. I just made that little bit out of what came with the drop spindle.
In the middle of typing this, I left to watch Family Guy with Matt and finished yet another project. I have a set of fingerless gloves and a matching slouch/beret hybrid that I knit for my friend Shads’ birthday which was two days ago. I put in a cute little batman intarsia chart …but I just knit it amidst a sea of purls. It doesn’t show up great, but I didn’t expect it to. I just wanted her to know that batman was there. I’ll take pictures after I’ve weaved in the ends and blocked them properly. I had originally knit Shads a different hat, but I didn’t like it so I frogged…hence the lateness. Oh well, she won’t care. Presents are presents, no matter when they arrive!
