Fraggle Stick Car: April 2005

: Name: FranklinMinty; Location: San Francisco, CA

I'm an English expat constantly struggling to be understood in a different country. I work in the cut throat world trying to bring "YARRR" and "Ne'er-Do-Well" into regular conversation My swear word of choice is Stink Nugget. I'm a yarn snob.

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Thursday, April 28, 2005

Lost in translation

I had a serious Ramen craving last weekend, so S and I decided to hit up our favorite ramen joint in the Kinokunya Mall on Sunday for lunch.

It was a fine plan, quickly foiled when we were stuck in traffic for a while... We realized we had hit Japantown about 1 hour before the annual Cherry Blossom Grand Parade was due to start.

Dashed were the plans of leisurely browsing through the books and magazines, with some slurping of noodles afterwards - but we had a great time nonetheless, picking up little nibbles from a huge variety of different food stalls.

Here's some shots of the day...

Saturday, April 23, 2005

Do I jump to Spirit?

So, I've been wondering if Blogger is really for me and I've been checking out blog spirit as well.

After fooling around with it for a bit - which do you think is best?

Here is the proto FranklinMinty Spirit page...

Finished projects

I've finally got around to posting some pictures of finished projects!

Apologies in advance for the crap photos... blame my old camera that refused to actually focus.

This is the hat I knitted my sister SIM!

My own "pattern" but it she has dreads, so it has 2 holes for pocking dreads out like pigtails. I also made matching "Hurry Up Spring" armwarmers from S n B Nation or whatever it is called. All made with Lamb's Pride Bulky (85% wool, 15% mohair)

This is my papa's hat.

Losely based on another pattern from S n B Nation - Basic Cable. I made it from the softest of soft Plymouth Yarn , Baby Alpaca Grande - 100% Baby Alpaca. This started my obsession with Alpaca yarn, those Southern American critters sure have soft bellies.

Next up, the scarf brigade! I decided that my Aged GP's needed some help with the cold English winters, so I set to task making scarves.

First up, GPa - Here's a detail and full thing

The pattern is from S n B Nation (can you see the theme here?) and is the Mom's Sophistcated Scarf, using Karabella's Aurora 8 (100% Extrafine Merino Wool)

Secondly, is GMa - Here's a detail and full thing

The pattern Warm Fuzzies from S n B Nation, using some more of that yummy Baby Alpaca, this time Misti Alpaca, Chunky (again 100% baby alpaca)

Last scarf, for mama...

this one took a while, and is Midwest Moonlight from scarfSTYLE. The bulk of the scarf is using GGH Soft Kid (70% Super Kid Mohair, 25% Polyamid, 5% wool) and the contrast Beige - as there MUST BE BEIGE on something mama wears, is using Habu yarn - of course, I've lost the skein label - but its really nice Japanese stuff - I'm pretty sure its a silk / mohair blend though.

On to the latest... Dr L's gauntlets

I now have quite a few "orders" in for these fellas. They are based on the Picot Edge Gauntlets pattern in the premier issues of knit.1 magazine, and made in Classic Elite Yarns, Miracle (50% Alpaca, 50% Tencel). Its the same yarn (but different colo(u)r as the never ending rib cardie I'm making for myself.)

That's all for now folks

Minty the knitter done for now....

Happy birthdays!

Happy birthday Granma, and belated happy birthday to dear mama!

Hope the parcel arrived safely, I haven't heard yet...

And, btw... Happy Saint George's Day (not that anyone over on the left coast knows anything about that)

Things are distinctly "ok" here, its been a rough week at work but I don't want to start bitching about that. PlanetCheaters downstairs is being particularly annoying recently.

I'm feeling distinctly lacking in the craftsy front lately - I need something to take me off the daily grind. So I was thinking of tarting up the room. I found this cool site that sells wall decals, which I think might also work for making the girls bathroom at work, ummm, more girlie (and therefore less likely to be peed upon by invading boys).

I've just had a well overdue chop to the locks, and treated myself to some new summery tops as a bit of retail therapy to get over a pretty bad Friday.

E3 is coming up, and I'm thinking of trying to escape back to motherland for a break afterwards.

blah blah blah... back to more awful Saturday night TV as I'm too lazy to go out.

Sunday, April 17, 2005

Here are some shots from Jessica's birthday party last night

In honor of...

Cake and smiles

J and M

All smiles

Where's the tongues?

T is stylin

Group action shot

S gets serious

Notice the fine "get as much air as possible" technique...

The power of the arm warmer

So here are the pics from poker night at work

Here's the big winner of the night

...and his sea of chips

My new toy arrived!

So - here are some test shots with my nice new camera

My 1st shot with new camera in China Town

Some random arty shot of the sidewalk

love that long exposure!

Saturday, April 16, 2005

Its getting a little scary now!

Ok, Luck # 4 just happened.

Work had a poker tournament - starting with 24 players, with the top 3 winning some gift certificates. Now, I really don't know how to play Hold Em too well (beyond the basic idea of what to do when, and what beats what) and there were a fair few seasoned players there. There was also an optional side bet for $20, and the highest 3 cash players in the game could get some cold hard cash.

So... I went in, and came 3rd, much to people's surprise (and mine) - and I was #2 in the cash pot as well... So I have enough to get a copy of Lumines if I ever find it

I was so happy to place 3rd, and I feel good that the person that shoved me out of the tournie was S - he even went on to win the thing.

The luck hasn't ended yet!

Minty out

Saturday, April 09, 2005

YUCK

I finally did my taxes.

I hate doing them, and I owed a fair chunk this year. Booo

Sunday, April 03, 2005

more stuff

Dr L's gauntlets seem to be a hit, to the extent that S wants some too and we picked out some "not scratchy and decidedly manly" yarn today after seeing Sin City (highly recommended if you have any taste).

If I could ever find my little cable that hooks my camera to my pc - I would upload some photos of them, along with the perma project cardie that I've been making myself since last year. I found this great pattern on White Lies Designs that I've been ribbing my way through using some pale cream colo(u)red Classic Elite Yarns Miracle - which is really nice and soft - 50% alpaca 50% wood (tencel) but unfortunately sheds like a mofo... not a cheap mistake, but bearable.

In other random news update... J of J n J fame sent through this today. Reminded me of an old game I was working on before it got canned!

I did go to the red party, along with the usual posse. Way better, but not such elaborate costumes.

It is better to be born lucky than rich...

It has been a lucky year so far. I'm not talking about big work stress times, I'm talking about winning shit.

My Granma Granma always tells me it is better to be born lucky than rich, and she's right, of course. S and I have had a fairly productive year as far as winning things are concerned.

I guess it all started at Christmas time, when I was unable to return to the bosom of my family at holiday time due to tiresome INS regulations. So, denied as I was from celebrating English stylee, I spent a brief week in Florida with S and his gracious folks - who were willing to spend their time with me in tow. On one of the days, we went to the newly opened Hard Rock Casino to gamble our little hearts away.

I've never been one for those kind of odds, but I was more than willing to be cheerleader for the boys as they boldly entered the Hold Em tournaments. A few hours later, and S (a novice at this kind of thing) walks proudly away from the table with a fistful of bills, and newly found confidence and satisfaction at beating the pros.

So that started it all.

Fast forward a few months to mid March - picture the scene, the last 3 months of my life had been spent at work, and I was enjoying some "time off" by cramming in as many "would be boring to many people" tutorials at a recent trade conference. People laughed as I told them I was going to sit and listen to J Allard spout his latest marketing key words. They were later choking when I told them I'd walked away with one of these suckers. Aparently that shiny piece of gadgetery is not for the slim of wallet. Score 2

The tales of good luck continue... Last week, I dragged S along to a corporate party type affair, that I really had no business attending, but there was the promise of a few free cocktails, some yummy nibbles and raising hell at a posh new SF hotel. A couple of hours later, S had walked out with flights and a weekend in a swanky hotel for 2 in Seattle. Neither of us have ever been, but he's already planning which candles to light outside of Kurt's house, and I'm thinking of coffee... or something.

That's all so far, but the year is still young. I'm hoping my next bout with luck will be finding out a time when I can see my folks. I miss them :( It's my mama's birthday rapidly approaching, followed hot on its tail by Granma Granma's day too. *sigh*

As my dear friend C would say

Bisous
Franklin

Fraggle Stick Car

SP7 Questionairre

On the twigs...

Done!... (warning - some pics suck ASS)

UFO - on hold...

In the queue...

Knitting pretty...

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