Interim Project

After the socks I decided I would make a couple of cute little matching cabled sweaters for a couple of babies I know. The project was off to a rocky start. I knew what pattern I wanted to make, having made it twice before, always with a great reception. I headed to Ravelry and made a search and found which magazine it had appeared in and turned to my magazines and... nothing. Granted, the magazine it appeared in was a one-off publication by Better Homes & Gardens and... oh... a decade old? But I have plenty of magazines that old and older. I searched and searched and came up empty.


So back to Ravelry I went. You know when you fall down a Ravelry rabbithole and you think it'll be so easy because you want something so specific but then it's three hours later and you've looked at hundreds of patterns and added ten to your queue and just can't stop hitting "next?" That. And then I found the perfectly lovely Timberline by Sarah Cooke and I was saved.


I went to my stash and discovered to my disbelief and chagrin... I didn't have any DK weight superwash in enough yardage or an appropriate color. Like with the missing magazine, I checked several times before finally admitting to myself that I needed to buy yarn. (I know you're totally sympathizing with me right now.) The point is, since I've yet to find a yarn store local to me, I had to order the yarn and because I had to order it I had to wait to start. Enter the humble ballband dishrag. I love making these but don't usually use them for their intended purpose since I find they're bad at lathering dish soap and are horrible at wiping up spills. So I just use them as a trivet, and like to admire the bright colors. This is the one printed in Mason Dixon Knitting which I believe is just the one from the Peaches and Cream ballband, I didn't compare to make sure.


The good news is my new yarn came! The bad news is I somehow don't have any US6 dpns??? Swear to god, if you looked up "hot mess" in a stitch dictionary you'd find a fair isle design of my face.

Go Know!

I HAVE posted this year! Well get a load of me. I've been revising my novel and getting ready to go BACK to school (again!) for an accounting certificate AND moved to a totally new area of metro Boston (with a certain someone) AND!

I finished these socks.

I do not even remember when I started these and Ravelry is no help because not only did I not enter a start date, I never even took a single progress picture. One might think I don't even knit any more.

These are Feather Lace Socks by Rosemary Falk, a free pattern! I clearly remember finding this pattern because I wanted some socks that were toe-up and lacy and look how perfectly these fill the bill.




The yarn is Schoeller+Stahl Fortissima Socka, which is discontinued. I can't fathom why, as it's a very standard, workhorse-y sock yarn that seems like it'd never go out of style. I love this shade of green, so prevalent right now in lush August. When I wear these socks in February though, I'll appreciate that promise of green to come (let's not speak of the disgusting heat though). Nothing like modeling wool socks in August.




Never mind that wound on my leg. About a year ago I bought a bicycle that I've been using as my commuter transport since I moved in June. I actually bought it for commuting, but after a few months of nearly dying every day on my way between Allston and Somerville, I threw in the towel. My new route is 95% bike path but you better believe that other 5% does not encourage complacency. Just a little mishap, and I'm used to constantly bruised legs now.

I'm feeling some invisible pressure to finish revising my novel what with a new program starting, but I do have it in my mind to make THREE baby sweaters. I owe two to babies who recently turned one, and there's another coming in October. I purposely looked for patterns using DK weight yarn to ensure speed. Can you believe I had to actually order DK weight superwash??? I checked my whole stash twice and came up empty. Ah well... never hurts to buy more yarn!

Why hello there!

I finished something!

So I have this fella and he likes riding bikes. He even got me into bike riding, something I never thought I'd be brave enough to do in the city. Now some people put their bikes up when the weather turns cold, but he rides year-round. He'd mentioned lobster-claw mittens a few times. They protect a rider's hands while still allowing easy braking and shifting.

So it was clear what I had to do. I went and bought some Lamb's Pride worsted in orange for visibility and charcoal for danger and pulled out my go-to Knitter's Handy Book of Knitting Patterns by Ann Budd and modified the mitten pattern. They were a hit!

Obviously I've made some other things in the... years... since I last posted. A cowl, mitts, socks... a novel. I finished the first draft of my first novel! It's a mess right now. I don't use outlines, I just sat and wrote and found out what happens as I went along. I'm taking a breather before diving into my first set of revisions, I have a couple of readers helping me out, and after it's done I'll call on a couple more. I'm so fortunate to know so many talented writers! 'Til next time... hopefully within this year.

Hello, hello!

Oh my god, so much has happened since my last post! Where do I even begin.... Oh, right:

I GRADUATED!

And I wasn't content with that. I also got a new job and a new apartment, both in new neighborhoods. And you know what a new apartment (with a wood floor!) means?

Say hello to my little friend.

So everything's been coming up Marlena, AND THEN!

I got my first full-length story published! This story isn't online, though you can buy a copy of the (very good) magazine here. I also had another flash piece picked up.

AND THAT DOES NOT EVEN INCLUDE THE KNITTING, PEOPLE!

So let's talk about that. I finished that baby sweater I was working on and it turned out so cute I could hardly stand it.

Pretty cute, right? Wait'll you see who gets to wear it:

Not the cutest picture of me, but I'm banking on little Mia here to steal the spotlight. To review, this is the Eyelet Baby Cardigan by Looking Glass Knits. I used Berroco Comfort fingering weight for the ease of care and because of that beautiful, perfect lilac color. I looked at other purples and kept coming back to that one. I was a little hesitant to knit with a purely synthetic yarn but let me tell you, I loved every minute of it! It's soft, springy, and holds eyelets beautifully. I would not hesitate to pick this yarn up again.

Obviously with all of the graduating and new job getting and moving etc., it was awhile until I cast on my next project. While shopping my stash, I came across some Nezinscot Farm yarn I picked up a hundred Fryeburg Fairs ago. I believe the fiber is corriedale, no idea what the colorway might have been named. This yarn was amazing to knit! So squishy! And I didn't even block my mittens when they were done because I loooooove that sheepy smell!

Oh yeah... I dyed my hair red too.

Wee Enhancement

Like the socialite who has just a bit of Restalyn in her laugh lines, or the photographer who puts a single layer of filter over a photo, I engaged in just a smidge of stash enhancement.

I learned the sad news that my replacement LYS (Windsor Button after A Good Yarn... any recs for LYSes in the Boston metro area?) is closing. When I first entered Windsor Button, I was reminded of a time capsule. There were discontinued yarns, rug hooking supplies, and Red Heart. Lots of Red Heart. But there were also gems, and a whole wall of buttons. I was reminded of Central Yarn in Portland, ME. A store I went to when it was nearby, but generally only as a last resort. When A Good Yarn closed though, I was at a loss. Enter Windsor Button. Acrylic splendor aside, the staff was wonderful, they had a student discount, and the aforementioned button wall. Plus, I fell down in there one day and left with like twenty skeins of embroidery floss to make friendship bracelets. I'm just now realizing I don't think I ever let you in on the friendship bracelet thing... forthcoming.
I bought the ArtYarns Supermerino in the lovely cloudy sky colorway and the Teal Malabrigo Silky Merino at Windsor Button. The rest I bought at WEBS. I can't resist a sunny sock yarn in the dead of winter, and I got the dull brown yarn for make some thick wool socks for myself. I had a pair from L.L. Bean years ago that I loved and wore out, and while I have lots of pairs of wool socks, I don't have any thick, wonderful, cozy socks. So. The Malabrigo is for a hat requested by a friend. This one. Work continues on the baby cardigan. Okay. Not really. SVU, thesis, and now AWP have stolen my focus. My focus is sure to return though! I want to knit everything!
PS: Are you watching Girls? Because I just started and I love it!

Littler = cuter

Isn't it a little unfair how true it is that the smaller a thing is, the cuter? Pygmy animals, cars, mini pastries.... And of course, baby clothes.

I wish everyone I knew had babies on a regular basis! The projects are quick, the results are (to borrow the title of my nephews' favorite show) too cute, and babies are amazing models. Plus, there's wiggle room when it comes to size. A baby won't be offended if you hand-craft a sweater that's a bit too big. In fact, their parents will probably welcome it!
I'm probably just a few days away from finishing this little charmer, even though the baby isn't coming until June. This, my friends, may be a first. Of course, the sweater's not done yet and my typical m.o. is to get a great head start and then fall into complacency until the last minute. (Let's not talk of my thesis right now, okay?)
I've been enjoying a bit more free time as of late. I should be reading. My current book, The End of Men is overdue from the library and I'm doing my first book club in a couple weeks! We're reading The Alchemist, which has been on my list for a long time. Speaking of books! Have you pre-ordered your copy of Fit to Flatter yet? I've had a couple of quick peeks while the book was in progress and let me tell you, you want it! Great patterns, great instruction... it's no wonder Amy's classes have been so popular; she's a great teacher.
Here's hoping I at least have the body done of this little beauty this weekend. And then to make the hard choice: which booties? I usually go with Saartje's Bootees, which are fun to make and always very well received. But I've already made them a few times, and I'd sorta like to try something new. Maybe these with the sweet lace detail to echo the sweater? Or what about these? I need to stop trawling my Rav queue for booties. I WANT TO KNIT EVERYTHING!

Dobby's Sock

Every time I picked these socks up to work on them, I'd hear the line in my head: "Master has given Dobby a sock!" I just re-watched all seven Harry Potter movies over the course of six days, and now I'm hankering to re-read the books. I'm not typically into YA (I scoffed when these books were suggested way back when the first one came out, and the next YA I read was The Hunger Games series just last year), but I just love the world created in this book. I think that's the most heart-breaking thing about reading sci-fi/fantasy novels; you can never visit the world you just inhabited within the pages. All there is for you is to read the words again and again.
Anyway. We were talking about socks, weren't we?

These are Denmark by Nancy Bush, from her book Knitting on the Road. I've made a few patterns in this book, and they are, without exception, perfectly written. The book also includes tips for toes and heels, and instructions for kitchener which, despite having been a knitter for over a decade (how'd that happen?!) I still have to look up every. single. time. I. do. it. Looking for a master knitter? I am not your girl.

I'm sorry to say I don't know what I used for yarn. There I was, at Amy's, when I bound off a project and hadn't brought anything else to work on! Defining what makes knitting friends the very best friends to have, Amy pulled some sock yarn from her stash and I found a book we had in common and I was off! I don't actually even remember when that was. Man, it's been a long time since I posted.
More babies are on the way around here so I am finally making a sweet little cardigan I've had my eye on for awhile. It's a summer baby and I really don't like knitting with cotton so I'm giving Berroco Comfort a try in the fingering weight. I'll let you know how she handles.
PS: Looking for a good book to read? Try May We Be Forgiven by A. M. Homes. I wrote a review here.

Hel-lo!

Why hello there! And how are you? Let me just move some things... there, have a seat. Time sure does fly, doesn't it? I had actually thought when I started school that I would have more time to knit, fewer distractions. Sure, right. The last couple of years have been a whirlwind. I feel like I just got started and now here I am, halfway through the first semester of my final year. It's exciting, overwhelming, scary, and just a taste of what I'm going to feel like when I turn in my thesis.
Anyway, there has been knitting! Very slow knitting. Inexcusably slow knitting. But knitting, nonetheless.

I made a blob! Isn't it pretty? Just like the autumn sky. But seriously,

I made a bag! Ever since I bought this yarn (in what feels like 1947 but was probably more like 2007) I knew I wanted to make a string bag with it. When I go food shopping, I always bring my trusty Boat and Tote, but I've been wanting to have a bag that could fold up even smaller, especially now that I pass so many farmer's markets. It'll be nice not to have to turn down a handsome squash because it won't fit in my backpack and I don't want to carry it like a baby all the way home. The yarn is Plymouth Yarn's Fantasy Naturelle in color 9415. There are approximately one million string bag patterns out there. I used this one by Erin Vaughan (also available on ravelry, bien sur).
Buoyed by this recent accomplishment, I ripped out an entire cuff of a sock I casted on for forever ago, and have settled instead on making Denmark. Here's hoping I finish them before graduation!

Hey, Guess What?!

I'm still knitting! I hold out hope that one day I will have a grown up job, read only books I want to read, and will be able to spend hours on the weekend knotting yarn into endless loops, creating things I can actually wear. It's true, I found myself the other day contemplating buying a hat. Yes, friends. It's gotten this bad.

BUT! I did finish something! It was weeks ago, in fact. And, if I a being completely honest... I made the sweater forever ago, just waiting for the right baby to be born to attach the buttons. My pre-requisites?
1. Cool parents. They had to be on board with this crazy colorway.
2. A boy. Yes, yes, it's heteronormative of me, I know. And I am suitably ashamed of myself. But with all these blues, this sweater just called out for a baby boy.
3. Parents who wouldn't feel put upon by (slightly) special washing instructions.

And the winners were Chris and Eva! They won this charming little morsel:

I've had the hardest time trying to edit the pictures I have of this wee thing to look right. It's Socks That Rock in the Marbles colorway, given to me by Amy one hundred years ago. I tried to make several things out of this yarn. I tried that feather and fan scarf using two shades of Socks That Rock that was all the rage, and Sidewinders. Both gave me tons of pooling, exactly what I was trying to avoid. But I ask you, fellow knitters, has Elizabeth Zimmermann ever led you astray?
Yes! I mean, no, no she hasn't! I mean... the answer to crazy pooling yarn is the amazingly wonderful Baby Surprise Jacket!
I've made this little jacket a couple of times, and it's now my go goto baby sweater. Fun, simple, a great use for fine, variegated yarn... what more can you ask for?! For my money, it doesn't get better than a gift of this little cardi with a pair of Saartje's Booties. Both projects are fun for knitters, yet impressive for the recipients. Win-win! Oh! And did I share with you a photo of Irie Rose enjoying her set?
So cute! Right?! I highly recommend this pattern, either individually or from the book. (And man, did I have a hard time finding that book online NOT from a huge chain. Buy from your LYS, okay?)
I'm almost done with a very exciting shopping bag! Stay tuned! Ha ha

Baaaaaabies!

Okay so first of all, whoa! Really? My last post was February 28? I know this semester was crazy, but jeez. Secondly, I finished something!

I made a Baby Surprise Jacket (my third!) for my friend Ang's new baby Irie Rose. The thing about a BSJ is that you need two skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport (in this case, colorway "Bittersweet"), and you end up with a ton leftover. What to do?

Make booties! These are Saartje's Booties (rav link), which I've also made before, but come on! Look at them! So cute.
I've been dying to use this colorway ever since the first time I saw it, but could never find a way to use it. Irie's parents though are the perfect people for this bright, cheerful hue. And I loved knitting with it!
After I finally sewed on the final button, I tried my hand at crochet and yeah... still terrible. I have a friend who crochets so I'm hoping she can help me out some. This same friend I "taught" to knit, taught in quotations because it felt more like reminding a master of something they once did. I'm sure she's going to be a good teacher. WAY better than the crappy books/online tutorials I've tried. I don't know why I just can't get the hang of crochet, but even my little braid of single crochet (?) never looks right. Sigh. A the end of the program, please let me have a completed short story collection worthy of publication and the gift of crochet. I just want a gd blanket. Is that so much to ask?!
In other bloggy news, I've started a new blog for my writing endeavors. I'm hoping it'll help me land freelancing jobs. Turns out, I really like writing columns and book reviews! Check it out here!

Well Hello There!

So first I have to share my most exciting news. I'm published! It's official! My story is in the current issue of Scissors and Spackle, right here! It's available in print also, if you're into lit mags. I naturally bought five copies.

With that out of the way, here's the most exciting news for my fellow knitters. I finished something!

I made Linda Cyr's Bear Hat for an impending baby. I used Cascade 220 and a wee bit of Debbie Bliss Rialto.




I admit I had a moment with the ears, but I trusted the pattern et voila! They came out cute as can be. This would be a super speedy project if you're not, you know, a grad student.

I have a BSJ in progress, but the baby's not due until April so I'm not stressed out about it yet. This year is baby-centric. I also have friends with babies due in June and July. I'm not complaining. Babies are so easy to knit for!

In other news, I'm preparing to go to Charleston, SC in a couple of weeks for a writer's conference. Point the first: do NOT play chicken with the airlines. I mean it. Those guys are ruthless. I played around, waiting for a better deal, and now I'm spending over $200 more than I would have a month ago. Point the second: I am so excited to see Charleston! I've never been to the south, and South Carolina seems very southern. Any suggestions of must see sights?

Oh, hey!

I don't have any knitting photos to share, but rest assured, knitting has been happening. I spent Super Bowl Sunday with Amy, knitting and learning about football. Let me just say, I am so excited for next football season! The game was thrilling, and Amy did a superb job of explaining the game and provided delicious snacks! I made some good progress on my BSJ and started on Linda Cyr's Baby Bear Hat for another wee cherub due next month. Babies everywhere this year!

In other happenings, I apparently had a photo-worthy salad (I presume I was very hungry when I decided this was photo worthy):

See, the thing is, I'm on this diet/exercise thing. I've put on a lot of weight since starting school and I'm trying to reverse it.

I also did my first GRS (Graduate Reading Series) Reading ever!



I was completely terrified! My hands shook the entire time and I was pretty sure I was going to either cry or throw up but somehow I muddled through!

I have a random street picture too:



Just a random sunset photo.

Sometimes it hits me like a thunderbolt as I walk (endlessly) through the city: I live here. This is my home. It's exciting and terrifying in equal measure.

Happy Days

I've been in a great mood since the start of the year, but I confess to feeling just a bit melancholy today. I went home this past weekend for an impromptu surprise birthday party and coming back was not easy.

The party was for my friend Courtney's fiance. We had a great time setting it up Friday and he was very surprised (partly because his birthday is actually Superbowl weekend). We spent Saturday laying around watching really bad tv, ordering Chinese takeout and talking about her impending nuptials. It's the simple visits like that which make me the most homesick.

In other news, I went to the New England Aquarium since I had a Living Social deal for it that I'd been carrying around for months. Zoos make me sad, but I love aquariums! Especially when they have beautiful jellyfish exhibits.

Sometimes You Make Your Own Sun

I love this colorway! I've been waiting for a reason to use it and finally have the perfect excuse. I mean, a color this bright is made for babies!

Funny story: Last week I met with a friend to teach her how to knit. I was working away on my BSJ, constantly referring back to the pattern and worrying I was missing something. I was confused when I first pulled out the pattern and didn't see any notes (I always mark up my patterns), and as I worried over missing something I couldn't remember having so much trouble the first two times I knit it. Then it hit me in a flash of memory, my spreadsheet! Ah, sweet spreadsheet. Ever since I remembered that, this project has been chugging along.

I've been keeping up with picture taking. This one is my favorite of the week. It was taken on Charles Street. The window is street level and looks into a kitchen. I love walking by and seeing the chefs at work, but I'm usually too shy to take a photo because they're there. On this day, I must have come in the short period between lunch and dinner because they had this beautiful display, but the kitchen was empty.

Randomosity

So this year I more or less skipped making resolutions. I know the things I need to do more and less of, and it seems like these same items make the list year after year. I'm not spending next January 1 looking at a list of all the things I'd wished I'd have done. I do love the start of a new year though. It seems like the perfect time to begin a project, so I began two.
1. I compiled all of the work I want to use in my thesis into one document and started revisions.
2. I decided to get back on the horse with photo taking. I'm not talking Project 365. I never, ever complete that project, and I've tried at least three times. It's just too much pressure. So then I remembered there are some people who do Project 52 (I could have the name wrong), where they take pictures whenever throughout the week and choose a weekly favorite. That I can handle! Here's this week's haul of favorites.

This is the result of my first visit to the MFA for drawing in the galleries. I didn't realize it would be figure drawing, not my forte obviously, but I like the drawing I did of the purse belonging to the lady who sat beside me!




I love when the squirrels get all fat and fluffy in anticipation of winter.




And for my favorite of this week:


My friend's puppy, Lambeau!

In other news (and talk about burying the lede!), I got notice the other day that one of my stories will be appearing in the February issue of scissors and spackle magazine! It's my first publication and I am over the moon excited! All in all, I am having a tremendous start to 2012!

Best. Christmas. Ever.

So, remember how I said that my brother has been wanting a sweater for years now? About four? Well, I don't think I mentioned that for every Christmas for the last four years or so, he's made a big deal about how it looks like another year's gone by with no sweater and wah, wah, wah. Cue this year. I'm in the kitchen fixing dinner and I hear him call from the living room.
"Doesn't look like any sweater boxes this year again."
"Well Brandon, I am a student you know. It's not like I can just whip up a sweater real quick."
Then my dad, who knows I made the sweater, pipes up, "Yeah Brandon, it takes a long time to make a sweater you know."
My brother, chastised, chuckles and says he's kidding.

Little twerp opened it while I wasn't looking! I didn't get a picture of him opening it (or wearing it), but he immediately checked it for tags and only after feeling satisfied that the sweater was indeed handmade, he put it on and wore it the rest of the night! Success!

Oh, I should also mention that I finished weaving in the three million ends the night before going home. In a fit of delusion, I soaked the sweater at 11pm and casually laid it out in front of the heating vent in my room. So yeah. That was me lugging a soaking wet sweater in a grocery bag through North Station. Luckily, it was dry in time for Christmas.

I've not yet casted on for my next project but I know it's going to be a Baby Surprise Jacket using a superbright Lorna's Laces yarn I've always wanted to try (Bittersweet). I have a couple of other friends having babies this year, so my goal is to knit a little something for each of them. Wish me luck!

Taking a Break...

...from compulsively hitting refresh on the page to check my grades and before diving back into Cobblestone, so tantalizingly close to complete! So I thought I'd give a quick update while I sip on my hot chocolate (with a dash of Pinnacle Whipped vodka, just a dash-- I have knitting to do).

I finally mailed out the last package and Christmas card today. Last year I carried gifts for friends on the train, but this year I decided it was worth to spring for shipping. Being a student has taught me to be a much better traveler! I used to overpack so much, but now I've got down just what I need for a weekend.

I'm going home on Friday for nine days! I'm really looking forward to spending lots of stress-free time with my family and friends, without assignments looming over my head. (Nope. Still no grades posted.)

Last Friday was my company Christmas party. We do a Yankee Swap and this year I got a travel Scrabble board! The most perfect gift for me ever, and it was the one I chose right at the start. I couldn't believe no one stole it. I'm a Scrabble fiend. Speaking of, do you play Words with Friends? If you do, look me up! sassette00 I'm always looking for new opponents.

I made these sugar cookies thinking I'd bring them to a party, but they aren't kidding when they say small batch! So instead I stuck them in my freezer and I've been munching on them all week. They are so good. I made mine with just a sprinkle of sugar, but I'm sure they'd be great with icing too.

I love walking around Boston whenever I get the chance. No matter how well I think I know a neighborhood, I always discover something new. I've walked from the North End to Back Bay via Charles Street about a million times and yet never saw the doorknob store until the other day. How could I miss something so beautiful?

What are your plans for the holidays? Any traditions you look forward to?

Come Together....

Check it out! Big Black Blob is becoming sweater-shaped!

With two weeks left to go, I am on the first round of decreases for the yoke. I was feeling a little nervous about finishing this in time, but now I feel downright confident. Much of this progress is thanks to a long afternoon I spent with Amy, knitting away. Also, one of the (myriad) benefits of having knitting friends: when I realized that I had not only forgotten stitch holders but also forgot the copy of IK with the pattern in it, Amy had those things at the ready. Whew!

The end of the semester is approaching. I have a final story due in my lit class where I have to write in the style of an author we've read this semester. In a fit of delusion, I chose Flannery O'Connor. The story's down, but I just don't love it. I'll be glad to turn it in so I can stop fiddling with it. In my workshop I have to make a chapbook using six stories from the term, with a cover, synopsis, bio and quotes about the author. Truth? I've not even started it yet. I just got book supplies today! The stories are all finished though. I just need to come up with the cover stuff. (She says, as though it'll be done in twenty minutes.)

Last week I had to turn in another project in my short-short workshop. We had to write nanofictions (stories of fewer than 100 words) and present them in an Artist's Book. An Artist's Book is a one of a kind, handmade book, though the word "book" is used loosely here. Some books do follow standard conventions of a cover with pages, but others (like mine) present the stories in a unique way. Want to see mine?




Stay tuned for a completed Cobblestone! Maybe I'll even be able to get a picture of my brother wearing it. (Don't hold your breath though.)

Well lookie here!

Big black blob has a baby!

This is sleeve number 1, completed. Sleeve number 2 is on the needles. I guess I'm about 25% of the way through with it. This semester is speeding by, which means that the due date for this sweater is right around the corner! I have only hazy memories of making Cobblestone the first time, but I seem to recall picking up some speed at the yoke, all those wonderful decreases! I have absolutely no idea what I'll cast on for after this. I have several projects jostle-ing for attention in my mental queue. I'd love a new hat, and also a thick cozy cowl. I'm seeing these giant cowls everywhere and they look so warm and comfy. One thing I'm pretty sure of is that I won't be starting any sweaters. Unless they're baby sized. When you only get maybe an hour a week to knit, sweaters are just too slow going.

In other news, fall has arrived in Boston. Finally we're seeing some color besides dead brown.



I live a couple of miles out of the city-proper, so I've been taking advantage of the mild weather and beautiful scenery and walking in instead of taking the T. I know that before I know it, it's going to be sub zero outside and I'll be longing for a nice long walk.

Also, I went home to Maine this last weekend for a friend's birthday AND to attend the first ever Comicon in Maine! There was a tournament for Mario 3, which I was excited about, but when I got there I started to chicken out. Especially when I saw that the leader had over 150,000 points! I have no idea how he did it. The idea is to score as many points as you can in five minutes. I had been practicing on my Gameboy for days and had a strategy. Finally I signed up, getting in just under the wire. I got third place!



I was kicking myself because I would have easily taken second except that I bit it with a minute left and never recovered. Totally threw me off my game. It was exciting though! I hope they do it again next year!

Now I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving. I think Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I spend most of it in the kitchen, which I like. (I actually had a nightmare the other night that I had to share the cooking of the feast with someone else. It didn't go well.) I get to see my family, eat pie, and enjoy that relaxing time you get only when everything is closed and you're forced to just stay in. I'm planning out my menu right now. Aside from the usual, I do these sesame green beans that my sister loves, roasted brussels sprouts, and rosemary carrots. What do you make besides the typical turkey, mashed, stuffing, sweets?

Hey, guess what?!

I went back to New York!

I went to my first Writer's Conference, put on by Slice Magazine. I took workshops in character development, dialogue and revision, and watched a panel on the importance of literary magazines. I had a great time! Even though I've heard again and again about all of those subjects, it's always helpful to hear about them again. See, the thing is, every time I learn about, say, character development, I'm able to relate it to a new piece I'm working on. In this case, one of the exercises we did gave me a great new opening to a story that I liked, but whose opening was lacking. My favorite part was probably the panel, because it was so nice to hear about people who had submitted their work upwards of one hundred times only to go on to have a bestseller. I just recently started submitted my work, and actually just got my first rejection from that round! (For the record: first rejection ever was from Fiction magazine about ten years ago, this latest was from The Atlantic. What can I say? I start at the top!) I don't exactly feel pressure to publish before I graduate, but it would be pretty great.



In addition to the conference, I spent time with my friend Erin who stayed with me. She's very familiar with New York, so it was great to see her favorite places. We did a lot of walking around and exploring. This trip more than ever made me want to move to the city. I can so totally see myself living there! Fingers crossed that I find an amazing publishing job right after graduation!

Work has slowed on Cobblestone. I'm almost to the arms now, but as it turns out both of my classes this semester are very challenging. My literature class has NINE books assigned, and my writing workshop requires one or two new stories every week. They're short-shorts (250-1000 words), but still! It takes time to come up with an idea, and then to see if it will work. We are given specific prompts (this week is to write a three page story that chains through four points of view), which adds to the challenge. Here's hoping I finish by Christmas!