BOO!!!!

Happy Halloween to you, all!!!!

I'm BAAAck!!

*** WARNING... extensive PHOTOS!******

Wonder where did the time go? I didn't realize that it's almost two weeks that I have not posted. I was sooo swamped at work and didn't knit much two week ago because of carpal tunnel syndrome hand. I ordered 7 different colors for the socks thru Elann. I could not help but I'm seriously addicted to sock knitting. Is there any Sockalcohlic Support Group out there?? Nah, I'm just bad-ass knitter!!!!

First, I want to thank you for all the nice compliment about my socks. I just can't stop knitting... no matter what how bad I have colds all weekend!!!!!!!

I finished one sock last weekend. Yes, I'm showing off with my foot next to my tissue box!! This sock was supposed for my DH but the wool is itchy for him to wear. Supermerino yarn would be better for him and I could not find the right color. If you know where can I find blue, black or dark grey supermerino yarn, please let me know.









Peaks "n" Valleys sock comes real slow.... it's hard for me to knit with Size 1. It's really easy pattern. I'm not giving up till I finish the pair.





Oh oh oh... I must tell you about the U2 concert. I had a GREAT time as it was my first time seeing the Rock and Roll concert. I was very surprised that there were a lot of deaf people there. We got the special seats for the sign language interpreters to interpret for the deaf people. It was very hard to see the interpreters because a lot of deaf people standing and dancing. I had to move to stairway and sat through out the concert so I can see the interpreter.

See the interpreter signing!!!!

I don't know how many people were there but they are PACKED!!! I love U2 group so much and brought the CD right away after the concert. My DH was overbroaded by ordering subwoofers through internet to install in my car and his car. I don't know if he is CRAZY or normal.

Now... here is the BEST news as I'm saving last......What are THEY? Three BOXES arrived on my doorstep yesterday!!!!! Two boxes I was expecting to get and the last box was the BEST from my Secret Pal 6!!!!!!

First white box was the kit of "Everyday Cardigan" I ordered from Canada. This project is for me and my three dear friends who will knit together in January for our annual Crazy Crowd Crafts which I will host in my house.

Peace Fleece worsted weight 2-ply yarns - Blueberry Borscht I really love the color so much!! I can't wait to knit it with my friends in January!!!!!! I decided to order more yarns to make more sweaters.

Second box was from Amazon - I ordered one book for myself and other book for my SP6 - sorry, I won't show you the picture of what I give to my SP 6 as it is supposed to be SECRET!!!!

I found several patterns that I WANT to knit.... good thing that I have plenty of sock yarns!!!! I really love Nancy Bush's books - Knitting on the Road and this book!!!

Now, the last box from my Secret Pal 6 who is from Nova Scotia! How cool is that!!!!!!?

My jaw dropped when I opened the box. A lot of stuff are there at once!!!


Here are the goodies.... Tetley Wildberry tea bags, Maple Syrup Treats and Montreal Seak marinade!!! The tea is so delicious sweet and so the candies. I love them so much. I have to try the marniade on the steak this week. So cool to have the treats come here all the way from Canada!!!
Two BEAUTIFUL 100% wool yarns from Canada!!! My Secret Pal took the time to write me a note explaining that she got the yarns from Briggs and Little Yarn Mills, the oldest mill in Canada. It was so funny that she said she found the yarns at the back of the co-op grocery store - right by the rubber boots and kerosone oil!!! The color is so perfect!! I could not keep my hands off from the yarns. I think I will make myself a nice felted hat.

Soaps!!!! I love SOAPS so much!!! Perfect timing as I'm out of homemade soap.

The best part is the Secret Pal 6 made me beautiful binder - with my name on it. She added few patterns and left me several sheet protectors for me to add more patterns there. She knows what I really need it!!!

I also got the bookplates!!! Perfect ones for me to put them on my knitting books!!! Real cute notecard of cats.

I really love them so much.....I cherish each of them so much!!! To my Secret Pal 6, I thank you sooooooo much from the bottom of my heart, You ROCK!!!!!!! You sure made my day so wonderful!!!

Fini!!

A fourth pair of sock is done last Friday!!!
I love Sock Garden yarn from KnitPicks. It made of 100% merino yarn. So soft and they fit me well.

Definitely will make more socks from Sock Garden yarns!! Hey, Mom and Kimbo, do you want me to make you the pair of socks??






My poor right hand.... real sore!!! I suspect that I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I have it for long time. It gets worse and worse lately....blame myself for being addicted to sock knitting. Using size 1 needles really bother my hand so much. Yesterday, I almost dropped my cup of coffee. I realized that I could not lift the cup! Boo hoo! I didn't knit at all day yesterday as my hand needs rest.

Guess where my DH and I go this Wednesday night????

U2 Concert!!!!! Yay!! My boss got us the tickets last summer.





I've seen this at various blog. I decided it was time to figure out what I need.

10. Susan needs to vacuum the entire rooms.
9. Susan needs a fair amount of EXERCISE!!!
8. Susan needs her home to be neat and tidy (hmmpphh!!)
7. Susan needs to leave home from work at 5 p.m.
6. Susan needs to SLOW down.
5. Susan needs to get online to chat with her parents often.
4. Susan needs to her sore hand recover fast!
3. Susan needs to go out of town often.
2. Susan needs to prioritize her life.

My personal favorite -

1. Susan needs to GET A LIFE!!!

For Jerri Lyn's sake....

I feel so blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah today!!! Sun finally came out today all day after one week of gloomy and rainy days. I'm having bad sinus headaches!! I had hard time staying awake as my eyes bother me so much from throbbing headaches! I don't understand why I get sick on beautiful days and feel better on lousy days!!!! Well, it is not true!!! Pity me!!

I was tagged by Jerri Lyn with these questions.... Yes, I know Jerri Lyn expects me to answer these questions today!! Soooooo here goes....

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:30 a.m. I had to take my car to Honda shop at 8:30 a.m.

2. Diamonds or pearls? Ohhhh...that's really tough question. I really love both !! I would say BOTH!!!!

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Batman Begins (last June in Washington State)

4. What are your favorite TV shows? Housewives Desperate

5. What did you have for breakfast? Starbuck coffee and Pumpkin Spice muffin (yummy!!)

6. What is your middle name? Pre-married life: Ann. Post-married Life: Roberts (my maiden name)

7. Favorite cuisine? Japanese, Thai and Mexican

8. What foods do you hate? Peas, peas, peas!!!

9. What is your favorite chip and dip flavor? Fresh Guacamole and Salsa with Tortilla Chips

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment?None, I don't listen to any music but hear boom boom boom

11. What kind of car do you drive? HONDA CRV

12. Favorite sandwich? Melted tuna on toasted wheat English Muffin!! (soooooo yummmmmmmmmmmy) or Roasted vegetables sandwich.

13. What characteristics do you despise? Snob, dishonesty, moody

14. Favorite Item of Clothing: short or capri pant

15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation where would you go? Paris infall , Ireland in summer and Bora Bora in winter!!!!

16. What color is your bathroom? Cream wall with sunflower decoration (remind me of Kansas where my DH grew up)

17. Favorite brand of clothing? Talbot's and Ann Taylor

18. Where would you retire to? Log cabin in the mountains

19. Favorite time of the day? Thursday...am looking forward to long weekend if I take Friday or Monday off!!

20. What was your most memorable birthday? Last summer, my DH got me beautiful diamond necklace that I never ask for anything. I was floored when I opened the gift. And the dinner at Melting Pot was sooooo much FUN!!!!

21. Where were you born? Escanaba, Michigan

22. Favorite sport to watch? Football

23. Person you expect to send it back first? Lauren from Lollyknitting

24. Who do you least expect to send this back to you? Definitely my DH

25. What fabric detergent do you use? Tide

27. Are you a morning person or a night person? Geez....hard to say!!! I like to get up early but don't like to go to bed early!!!! For weekdays, I get up at 6:30 am and go to bed by midnight. For weekends, I get up at 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and go to bed at 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. if I work on project such as knitting or sewing. Monday morning is the hardest day for me to get up!!!

28. What is your shoe size? It varies from 9 1/2 to 10, depends on type of shoe.

I'm done knitting the second sock this morning. I ordered more sock yarns from Elann last night. See, I'm ADDICTED to sock knitting!!! Will post picture of my sock soon.

Knitting Class

Today is my first day of teaching Basic Knitting class at Gallaudet University. At first, I was not sure how many people want to learn how to knit. I decided to offer free class. 9 people signed up for the class. 2 out of 9 people know how to knit but they need refreshing skills. It took me 30 minutes to teach them how to cast on the needles. I realized that it's really hard to show them how to cast on while I communicated with them through sign languages. I have to teach them individually. Poor two ladies, it took them an hour to understand how to case on the needles. Two outsiders observed my class and asked me if they can assist me with the class. Bless them!!!

After the class, the students begged me that they want me to teach one or two projects. I offered the class for 4 weeks this semester. Of course, I will get paid for the class. Hoooaaarrryyyy!!!! More money means more yarns for me!!!

One young student asked me that she would like to be my assistant. Of course, I hired her immediately. She will come and help me with the class for next four weeks. She shared with me that she grew up knitting with her mother, grandmother, aunts and cousins. I would love to see her work.

I must share with you that a young man walked by and saw us knitting. He stood and watched us for 15 minutes. He asked me if men are allowed to join the knitting class. Of course, I welcome any men in my class. He was so thrilled and asked me when my next class is. He will sign up for the class as he mentioned that he wants to prove his own mother that he could do anything independently. I thought it was cute. He wants to learn how to knit scarf. I told my hubby about him and he rolled his eyes!!! Dang, I would love seeing my hubby knitting!!

I had a great time although it was a lot of work.

Tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!! Yay... more knitting time for me!

Future project and SOCKS!!!!!

Last Sunday, Jerri Lyn and I met and went over to "WOOLWINDERS. That store is one of our favorite knitting stores.

I brought Sally Melville's newest book - The Knitting Experience Book 3: Color and Colinette Yarns book -"La Bella Vita" and two yarns for socks. The blue yarn is for my hubby's sock. He gave me the hint that he would like to have one after seeing me making four pairs for myself so far.

Be sure to check out Jerri Lyn's blog for her new project. I had so much fun shopping with her. We stopped in Mosaic Cuisine for lunch. The food was soooooooo GOOD! I had sweet potato soup and it was so delicious!! I would recommend taking my hubby there for breakfast or lunch.
I found really nice wrap caridgan pattern in Colinette Yarn book and brought the book right away. I really want to knit that wrap caridgan and found giotto yarns at Woolwinders are very pricey. I came home and checked out E-bay. I found it much cheaper and ordered the yarns right away. I'm going to wait till I get the yarns and start knitting that wrap caridgan. Jerri Lyn has exact yarns in stash and wants to join me do a knit along together. I believe she has the red ones and I'm going to have the purple ones.




I've joined Lolly's Socktoberfest 2005. I've been so obsessed knitting socks last few weeks. I intend to knit more socks this year.

Here is my current Socks-In-Progress.


I'm almost done with second sock. Four more inches to go! I just discovered that the left side of sock has more bright purple than right side!!! Oh well, not much I can do!! *sniffling* I still like the yarns very much!
I could not resist this but decide to knit another pair of sock. I brought the Lorna's Lace yarns last summer in Oregon. The pattern I'm knitting is Peak "n" Valleys from Knit Socks. I started knitting it with DPNs up to 5 rows then switched to 12" circular last night. I find it very easy to knit after memorize 2 round of lace pattern.





You quite like socks, but your not overly-obsessed
with them. You would have been a pair of
knee-length socks in any colour, and probably
stripy or something to make you that little bit
more interesting.

What type of sock are you?
brought to you by


Happy Knitting!!

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!!!!

46 years ago .... they got married on cold rainy day on October 10, 1959.

Two years later, they have two daughters (me on my mother's lap and Kim on my dad's lap)




Today, my parents are celebrating their 46th anniversary today! Aren't they beautiful people? Kim and I are so lucky to have wonderful parents.

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!!! I'm so blessed to have you. You are my role model and I hope my marriage is as strong as yours.

Today is exactly 20 years ago.....

Craig asked me out for our first date, this day exactly 20 years ago. (Can you picture me as Senior college student and he was only sophomore college student?)

It was the BEST night I ever had.

Craig asked me if he could take me out for dinner and asked me if I had ever eaten in the "Golden Arch" restuarant before. I told him that I never heard of that restuarant. He teased me a lot and I could not trust him. I decided to check with my roommate and see if she knew about that resturant. She was stunned and said Craig must be rich. That resturant has FIVE stars food. I was puzzled and wondered why he would take me there. My roommate told me to go for it and get advantage of the fancy food. I went back to see him next day and accepted his offer. On that day of the date, I was a nervous wreck and didn't know what to wear. I asked my roommate to help me pick out which clothes I should wear. My roommate was so nasty as if she hates Craig and told me that I should wear blue jean and old t-shirt. I refused to listen to her but decided to wear casual clothes as I was not sure if it was proper attire. Craig told me that he would come and pick me up at 7 p.m. I waited and waited until 7:15 p.m. I decided to peek out from the room door across to his room door. (Yes, we lived on same floor of the residence hall) I saw him running inside of his room with his old jean. My heart sunk as I was so disappointed and disgusted with him. I thought it was rude of him. I asked myself that I should take advantage of him by going to a fancy resturant. Craig sent his roommate to let me know that he was running late and promised me that he would be here in 20 minutes. I was so nervous wreck and my roommate was no help. She teased and teased me to death! Finally, the light flicked (instead of doorbell - deaf people can not hear the doorbell but can see the light flicking) I opened the door and there was him standing in front of me with the long stem of rose. I was so stunned and overwhelmed. No one ever gave me the rose before. Craig asked my roommate to take the picture of us. (that's one I'm showing you!) I thought it was odd but I decided to show my best smile with him. Before we leave the campus, Craig asked me if he could blindfold me with the scarf. I asked him why. He begged and said he wants to surprise me. I could not believe that I cooperated with him. Believe me, it was no fun for a while. He communicated with me through hand signing. It was difficult but I managed to understand him. While he drove around, I had a great sense of direction. Me and my big mouth, I told him that I knew where we were. Craig was surprised and didn't realized that I know where we were. He decided to confuse me by driving through alleys and through the mazes around the city till I was totally lost and had no ideas where we were. We stopped the place and I could feel his sweating hand. He told me to stay and wait till he opened the door. He opened the door and got me out of the car. I could smell something fried and greasy. I could not figure out what was it. Craig removed the scarf and said to me "Please cooperate and tell him the truth!" as he looked like a ghost. I looked up and it was the big yellow arch which is McDonalds!!! I laughed so hard and looked at Craig. He was not laughing and told me to look at the person behind me. I looked around and saw the man standing out of his car screaming at us. Naturally, I was confused and wondered why the man screamed at us. Craig told me that the man is undercover police and thought that Craig kidnapped me. Craig said that man followed us around the city for 10 minutes. I looked back to the man and told him that we are deaf and could not hear anything. The impatient man asked me if I'm alright. I was so tempted to scare Craig by telling the man that he tried to kidnap me. Geez, that man had the GUN ready to point at Craig. Poor Craig, he stood up quietly and shaky. I told the detective that Craig didn't hurt me at all and he wanted to surprise me by taking me to McDonald's. The detective gave Craig the lecture that it is illegal to blindfold someone in D.C. I laughed and laughed and scolded him along with the detective. Poor Craig, he thought that he ruined my night. After the detective leaves, he asked me where we could go out for dinner. I told him that we could eat McDonalds. He told me that the plan was all joke and my roommate knew about this and decided to play along with me. Oh boy, I was gullible. Craig insisted to take me to different place to eat. Now, let's talk about big revenge!!! I told him no and screamed at him that I want to see Ronald McDonald!!! Now, I had a lot of fun embrassing him all night. Craig gave up and we went inside McDonalds. I jumped up and down as I was 5 years old screaming that I want hamburger and french fries. Oh boy, it was so much fun watching his face turned beet. The people sitting there looked at me thought I was so NUTS!!! I laughed so hard all night. It was best night for me and thought that Craig would never ask me again but I was wrong. We went out a lot over next 4 years before we got married on July 1, 1989.

Craig, can we go out to eat McDonalds tonight? *blushing*

Here is the pixs as I promise.......

Non-Knitting News.... Bye-bye, Prelude 1982!!!

Craig brought used car in May 1988 in Kansas. He was so proud and brought it over to Washington, DC. He convinced me to move to DC from New York where I taught 8th graders in deaf school.

I decided to move down in DC to be near with him in August 1988. He let me driving his car for few months till I brought myself my own car.

Craig loved the car so much and took real good care of his car for years and years till.....

it became real old and rusty. Craig had hard time to let it go when he brought brand new SUV five years ago. I complained and complained that the poor ugly car parking in front of our house was really eyesore!!



Craig finally let it go last week. We decided to donate to the foster home organization. Poor him, he was so heartbroken and missed his old car. Funny, I felt so strange seeing no ugly car parked on our driveway!

Bye bye, Prelude 1982!!!!



Tomorrow, we will say "Bye bye, Accord 1985!"
Yeah, I gave away my old car tomorrow to different charity organization. I don't miss it as I love my Honda CRV so much!!! (Craig is taking pictures of my old car!!! - I guess I will post it this week!)



Now, Knitting Related News!!!!


I HEART SOCKS!!!! I'm addicted to sock knitting!!!

It took me a week to finish a pair of sock!! I really like Knit Picks - Simple Stripes. I don't know why I picked out that colors. Too loud for me but I love the design so much! I wore it last weekend and love them so much although the colors are tooooooooo loud for me! I would not wear it in public!

The stripes are almost perfect match!

















Pattern: Knitting Pure & Simple - Beginner's Lightweight Socks
Yarn: Knit Picks Simple Stripes (75% superwash wool, 25% nylon)
Color: Sweet Tarts
Needle I used: 16" circular - size 2








Now I'm knitting another sock - same design as the loud ones but smaller size. I used different yarn from Knit Picks - Sock Garden. (100% Merino Wool)

Again I want to say this again.... I really HEART socks!!!!



Tomorrow is my favorite day - check it out tomorrow for more details!!!

Okay...Again long time, no post!!!

It's not that I haven't been neglecting you. I didn't have any times reading blogs last week as I was so BUSY with evaluation meetings and ordered a lot of items for work. I'm so GLAD that all staff evaluations and fiscal year budget were OVER last Friday! I thought I would never get out of these work.

Today was my BEST day at work. I finally CLEANED and ORGANIZED my paperwork and my office look much better than last three months. I finally see the full carpet in my office. There were several boxes and papers stacked up on the floor. They are GONE!!! I have to admit that I'm organization clutter. (that's what my colleagues call me!!!)

Dang!!! I want to show you some pictures of my socks that I completed last Friday. My camera battery died on me!!! I finished knitting the felted snowman but I need to felt it first. Need to get the orange wool yarn for the nose, too. Now, I have very good reason to go to LYS this week to get the orange yarn! I promise myself not to buy any more YARNS! I have way way toooooo many yarns in my craft room!

So anyway, I'm back and much alive!!! I'm going to post some pictures tomorrow - both knitting and non-knitting pixs! And I know I have news to share with you this Wednesday! Stand by!!!