Stuff

So, I haven't much I feel like saying tonight, I'd rather be knitting the Baby Kimono.  Especially since I'm really nervous about finishing before I run out of yarn.  It's a race.  One I'd better win, I'll tell ya.

What is with synchronized diving?

New York was fun.  I took three pictures all weekend.  I'm less pissed that I didn't take photos than I am that I lugged the flipping camera around.  New York also was a pain in the neck.  I have to remember that a weekend in August is NOT the time to visit the city.  I felt like Sybil.  "The people!  The people!"  We left midtown early on Saturday just because it was totally nuts, you could barely move on the sidewalks.  Luckily, my highlights are usually the garment/fashion district (I only hit one shop, but left with fabric that I LOVE!) and anywhere outside midtown.  We had lunch in Soho (yes, two skeins of Koigu) and the girls shopped while Pete and I walked and had lattes.  I got a run in Saturday morning and saw the waterfalls in the evening.  By about nine o'clock I was so finished with people that even sitting in a hotel room watching the Olympics and petting my Koigu was better than just about anything else.

Sunday started out warm and sunny and we did a lot of walking around before we met Vicki and Cara and daughters for lunch.  If I thought Saturday was bad with the people, try getting around during the Dominican festival.  Streets were closed for a parade, you could only cross on certain blocks, and after lunch it started to rain.  We attempted to cross on a block near our hotel, 51st I think, no luck.  We go to 52nd and the cop tells us we have to go to either 51st or 47th or something, and I'm all like, "Nuh-Uh, we just tried to cross at 51st and the cop there said 52nd!"  Oh, and it is important to know that we aren't allowed to walk ON the street we were trying to cross (6th Ave, by the way), oh no.  We had to walk back up to 5th (also closed for street vendors) and walk the block, down the street, then back to 6th only to find out we still could not cross.  Every policeman asked told a different story.  "We were told that crossing would happen on *insert random avenue here* and *insert random avenue here."  Meanwhile, we are getting wetter and wetter and just a little crankier. 

Lunch was fun and Cara's Meli is the happiest baby.  Well, unless Vicki or I try to hold her and then she doesn't even have a warm up to a melt-down, it is immediate complaining by shrieking.  She is adorable though.  And it was just so great to see friends. 

It was also fun to see Gillian in her new life.  We saw her cubicle office and met a few co-workers and she hung out with us all weekend.  She knows how to get around the city and seems right at home there.  On Sunday we saw the apartment she is moving into next week, her permanent home in Union City, NJ.  What they get for about five hundred square feet!  It is cute and clean and her commute is about ten minutes, she is a happy girl at that one.

Are you still reading?  I have a question about the Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman.  I'd love to make one, but I want it to fit a one year old.  I've seen them made in baby wool, fingering yarns, dk weights up to worsteds, but I've never actually seen one on a human child, so I don't have any idea how they fit.  Have you made one?  What do you think?  If is isn't going to work out, is there a good little sweater you've made for a toddler boy?  I'm tired of looking.

I think the sychronized diving must be divers that were good divers, but not so good that they would be able to compete on their own, so they decide to make a team.  And I think that Men's Beach Volleyball is way more exciting than the women's.  It would be better if they were bare chested, but you know, the demographic for sports' viewing is not me, apparently.  Probably because I hardly ever look up from my knitting, especially not during the advertisements.

One hundred forty-three to go.  Do I get a medal? 

Comments

[Karen]

A good toddler boy sweater: The Wonderful Wallaby. The knitting is quicker than what you'd think for a hooded sweater. It is perfect for fall, assuming you want it for then. I've made a few sizes and have been happy with every one.

[Marcia]

EZ says that if you make the BSJ in worsted weight, it should fit a toddler. I did the Tomten jacket for one of the grandkids and that was a fun knit. I know what you mean about the City...I'll wait till the tourists are gone and the kids are back in school before I venture back down!

[Laurie]

Yeah, not my demographic either. Except for the boy swimmers, maybe.

[magene]

I made the BSJ in a light worsted and it looked small enough for a one year old and it was cute. You can ask Cara to try it on Meli and see how it looks. How wonderful to see you all together!! I'm a little envious, but it's so nice to see your faces. If you make it all the way through the year and blog every day. I'll give you a metal! And what IS with the synchronized diving?

[Kris]

I was wondering that about the men's beach volleyball myself - why are the women practically naked, and the guys have required jerseys that get wet from rain and cause faults at the net? Have they not seen Top Gun?

I think at least the American men's synchro team competes individually (against each other), not sure about the women. Maybe execution is sacrificed a little to match the pair's movements? I'm a wee bit confused myself - I much prefer the individual.

[Luci]

I made the Baby Surprise Sweater" just for fun. i.e., to fit no particular child using Berroco alpaca and a size 7 needle. I enjoyed making it, the yarn feels wonderful, and with my size knitting, I expect it would fit maybe a two year old. My gauge was not tight at all, so you might go to a size 6 needle and fit a one year old. It is not a long knit, anyway, nice, fairly quick project. Good luck.

[Kim]

I have never been to NYC and hearing about "the people"...I may just be ok with that..

I LOVE the picture of you with Cara, Meli and Vicki~

[CyndiG]

I think some of the synchro divers were actually gold medal winners in individual diving. Perhaps they changed because they were getting "old" ... ? I dunno.

[Cara]

SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU!

Sorry about my kid. She's just very attached to her mama. :-)

[PICAdrienne]

Two other sweater options are the baby Albert (child version of the Einstein jacket) and Daisy, which is on Knitty.

I agree men's beach volleyball should be shirtless, but I think the competitors have to have a number on a 'jersey'. As for the synchro diving, I think the required synchronization adds a level of complexity, so they down the level of complexity of the dives. I also think some of the sports that may be going away (softball and baseball?) are more sporting than synchronized diving. But, I may not be the target demographic either.

[Alison]

I think the synchronized diving is amazing! Sure, the dives aren't as complicated, but man, how do they stay synchronized like that??? I mean, it's not like they can see each other while they're doing it. I think it's magical.

[Vicki]

Catching my breath!! (Who was the idiot who booked a LATE flight on Tuesday and didn't take an EXTRA day before heading back to work???)

It was so great to see you, and to meet your whole entire family!!

I have no idea what the city is "supposed" to be like on any given day -- maybe it's best that way. We had fun.

I'm late, but... If you're not sure about the BSJ (it's all about determining the gauge), I would second the motion for the Wonderful Wallaby or the Baby A. I've made all three and they're all TERRIFIC. I keep meaning to make another Baby A.