08.25.06
Posted in Photos, Travel at 2:22 pm by delipics
Some how all of this –
– plus shoes and toiletries and travel books and other paraphanelia that I will probably find to be unnecessary and I will be annoyed with myself for lugging it across the globe — all went into one suitcase!
This is the magic that made it all happen –
Last night I started filling-up these space bags. I wouldn’t say the final result was as dramatic as the photos show, but they certainly help. Maybe I could squeeze the bags flatter but I was also nervous I might pop the darn things.
This morning I ran to Macy’s for last minute shopping, and I was on the hunt for Bonine, which has a less drowsy effect than Dramamine. Two drugstores and one health food store later, I finally found it at Rite-Aid.
This afternoon I finished organizing the piles and packed them all in but I did not zip the suitcase shut. I was afraid it wasn’t going to close. My solution - take a nap and deal with it later. I woke up and convinced myself I did not need to pack a seersucker suit, no matter how cute it looks, and the white sweater. Taking those items out did make a difference but now I want to throw in one more pair of shoes. Mmmm, I don’t know if I can squeeze them in. My solution - walk away from it and write my blog post.
I haven’t made a big trip like this in a couple of years. I forgot how much organization went into it. I just checked my airline’s website for any latest travel news. My paperwork is organized. The sock yarn is in the backpack. I think I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. See you in two weeks - aloha!
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08.20.06
Posted in Cleo, Photos, Spinning, Yarn at 3:00 pm by delipics
I finished spinning half of my Kool-Aid dyed, merino / tencel fiber. This finished skein was carded on a drum carder; the remaining batch of fiber I will handcard then spin. I did this to see if there will be a difference in the finished yarns. I will let you know what I find.
I also went to The Yarn Tree for their 20% off sale. I bought Koigu in a tropical ocean blue colorway. This is my take-along-on-vacation project. I will have a lot of time flying out to Hawaii and thus the perfect excuse to buy yarn for a new project. (Cleo decided to join this photo shoot on her own. I did not have the heart to shoo her away. She had just sniffed the yarn thoroughly and happened to look up at the same time I pressed the shutter.)
And I bought spinning swag. A handy-dandy resource book, a new spindle from Kundert Spindles, and I splurged on the fiber - four ounces of cashmere / tussah silk - oooheeeh baby!! Soft does not adequately describe the feeling of this fiber. It is just gorgeous. I probably won’t get my hands on this stuff until after my trip - something to look forward to.
While I was in Williamsburg, I popped into a boutique and am now lusting after a black lace & cream colored skirt and top. All of a sudden I want to buy this to wear to the wedding instead of my other dresses. Why do I do this to myself? I must stay in control. I did get out my suitcase and I am starting to make piles of things - toiletries, travel books & paperwork, clothing, and pairs of shoes lined up next to it. Multiple dresses are hanging on the closet door hook. I keep thinking of one more thng to add to my list of things to pack. I did one load of laundy today, and I am waiting till Friday to do one last-minute load of laundry. I have a new haircut. What else needs to be done? After all this running around / preparation / packing, it will be a relief to get on the plane.
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08.17.06
Posted in Knitting, Photos, Travel, fashion at 5:58 pm by delipics
Has anyone read the knitting mysteries?
To pass the time before I met friends for dinner last night, I went to the local B&N to check out the new fall knitting magazines. While browsing, I spied a book cover with the word yarn on it and a cover picture of yarn and knitting needles. Talk about niche marketing . . . should I buy it to read on the plane?
Where is this plane going? What is this “W” event? It’s my brother’s wedding and it is taking place in glorious, beautiful, tropical Hawaii!
I’ve got my 50 spf sunscreen, a new bikini, and a wardrobe of clothes to haul cross-country. For my running around and exploring days, I bought a new pair of Keen shoes to take me from the ocean to the trail path, and I am going to bum around in casual pants and work-out tops. I like how the atheltic tops wick away the sweat and they are comfortable. Then I have my resort-look. I decided to make my life easy and pack mostly white - with one or two black items for evening.
What will you wear to the ball Cinderella? That is the eternal question.
Exhibit One: Silk dress with beading (Loehmann’s - a girl’s best friend)
Exhibit Two: Linen dress with tropical flower embroidery (from Pema, favorite boutique in Williamsburg, Brooklyn).
I know - it’s apples and oranges. I’ve been told to dress island elegant, for the men, jacket, no tie suggested. The nuptial event starts around 6 p.m. Suggestions? Guaranteed, I will be deciding that afternoon. Men are lucky - Darren is going to wear a gray suit and he doesn’t have to worry about anything else. For women, once you have the dress, then there’s the bag to select, the shoes, the jewelry, make-up . . . yada yada yada! Trying to think big picture here - it is about the celebration with family and friends. I am going to stick a flower in my hair and dance, dance, dance!
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Posted in Art, Brooklyn at 8:54 am by delipics
I just learned from an artist friend about a call for artwork for an upcoming show at the Coney Island Msueum. See below for the specs. There is a form that needs to be filled out but when I went to the website, I could not locate it. If you are interested, e-mail me and I will forward the form.
CONEY ISLAND DIVAS
The Coney Island Museum Café Gallery will present an exhibition of women artists living and working in the old Coney Island District from Oct. 21, 2006 to March 2007. Looking for Divas, artists working in any media from traditional oil to found object sculpture.
Guest Curator: Ms Meridith McNeal, Artist and Director of Education at Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation.
If you live or work from Nortons Point (Seagate) to Gerritesen Beach, Nostrand Ave to Bath Beach to Newkirk Ave you invited to submit up to three (3) images for consideration.
Digital submissions are preferred; email to coneyislanddivas@gmail.com
You may send slides or photographs through the mail to:
Coney Island Divas
Coney Island Museum, 1208 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224
Deadline for submission of images: September 15th, 2006
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08.14.06
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:17 pm by delipics
Blogging may be a bit sparse here until mid September. I have a major family event I need to get ready for (hint: starts with a “W”) in the next two weeks. I have a To Do list, and it is actually getting smaller. Two very important things to get done - laundry and a haircut!
In preparation, I have to start packing the week before I go anywhere; if I don’t, I will forget something. I do make an attempt to pack light, but for this type of an occassion, I’m bringing it all!
Hmm, I can blog about getting ready . . . hmm, I may have to pose a fashion question later this week.
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08.11.06
Posted in Travel at 5:45 pm by delipics
My sister asked, “So how did it go?”
As recommended by the TSA, I planned to get to the airport three hours before take-off. I sure am glad I booked an afternoon flight instead of a morning one. I got there without a hitch and all seemed quiet outside of the terminal. No line of cars with people furiously unloading, no milling crowds, just a couple of guys smoking. I go through the sliding glass doors and immediately encounter - THE LINE.
THE LINE is snaking all the way from the check-in counter to about 18 feet from the entrance. Not a good sign. I picked the day when some type of huge student trip is flying back to Tokyo . Even though I had been watching the news and hearing the reports of delays, my brain froze and I thought, “This can’t be right.” I am hoping there is another line, and I just have to figure out where that is. I walk back and forth — maybe I can still do the easy check- in? I’m looking at the signs, I’m looking for a helpful airline employee - nothing. I ask this young women at a nearby frequent flier booth if I can just do easy check-in, and she takes the time to get off her cell phone to answer my question. (I will not rant here about people on the cell phone who work customer service jobs - how about the chick at the grocery check-out who was delaying the customer line so she could text-message?!!!) She says, “Oh yeah, sure, no problem!” and she’s back on her phone.
I am sceptical but I go to the easy check-in computer and start the process. Usually, the computer asks if one has any baggage to check-in but this time it did not. I decide this cannot be good. I get my boarding pass and look around again expectantly, as if someone will magically appear and tell me what to do. I resign myself to getting on THE LINE, especially before it gets any longer. Who am I to think I can triumph over THE LINE? Accept your fate and join THE LINE.
About five minutes pass, I am relativey comfortable, eating my blueberry muffin that I bought earlier, and my luck changes. An employee comes over to the end of THE LINE and asks if anyone has e-tickets. I do, I do! I follow her, I am first in line. Yeah! I get my baggage checked- in without a hitch. Yeah! I head for the security section and there is NO line. Yeah! I zip though it and head for the gate. Yeah!
And now I have three hours to keep myself occupied. *Sigh* Accept your fate and sit in THE CHAIR. Have sympathy for your other traveller who are going through the same situation, especially those families with young children who are running back and forth. THE CHAIR is my friend for the next three hours. I am one with THE CHAIR.
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08.10.06
Posted in Brooklyn, Knitting, Photos, Spinning, Travel at 4:49 pm by delipics
Last night, at my new favorite place, Maria, Elizabeth and I met up to KIP and SIP. This was my first time to SIP and if one is going to do it, it’s always nice to have a glass of chardonnay and the Union Hall flatbread as an accompaniment. Maria is starting toe-up socks and Elizabeth is knitting Icarus. You can see on the edge of the table is my spindle of Kool-Aid dyed merino/tencel.
Union Hall is a huge place. You’ve got to understand, most NYC and Brooklyn restaurants/bars can be limited in space. (Residents of the Big Apple are geniuses when it comes to making the most of their spaces, be it an apartment or business.) This place has space for a comfy sitting area, the bar, and bocce ball in the back. I didn’t go into the basement, but it has a stage for music. I want to go back and check out the music performances.
I needed this meet-up to push me back into the groove. I have not done anything for, maybe, two weeks. First there was the heat wave that decimated any urge to touch yarn, then Darren and I were busy with his music, and then for this weekend I’ll be with the fam celebrating Dad’s 70th Birthday (Yeah, Dad!). I need to toss in some yarn and sticks into my luggage, even if I’m just playing and not making anything, or maybe my spindle and fiber.
Speaking of travel - with this morning’s news from London about the apprehended terrorists, it should be very interesting getting on a plane. I usually don’t check in my luggage for this short jaunt, but obviously I will this time. I have de-cluttered my bag and removed even my lip gloss. My airline’s website recommends showing up three hours before take-off - ouch.
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