CIMG4558
Originally uploaded by doctorgirlfriend

Since it was so handy the last time: here's the Haruni I finished a few weeks ago. Super-fast pattern; I would've finished it in less than a week if I hadn't run out of yarn and put it on time out for a while before frogging back to omit a repeat of the main stitch pattern. I was originally going to overdye it, since the three little balls I had were three different colors, but it seemed to work out pretty well. The yarn is something I got in a trade, supposedly Cherry Tree Hill--I think it's 100% merino, and not superwash, two-ply, and I suspect it's handdyed (hence the color irregularities). The pattern is really written for beginners--lots of explanation (too much for me, really, since I just needed the charts). I really understand why this is such a popular pattern right now.

In recital news, I think we're going to be able to go with the last weekend in August--just waiting for confirmation. Yay! I worked on two of the trickier Wolf pieces in a lesson on Saturday, and everything appears to be in good shape. That, and I should be getting my contract for that November show in a few days. Good times!

CIMG4578
Originally uploaded by doctorgirlfriend

Just trying out the Flickr blog function... I finished the Que Sera last week sometime, and had Mark take some pictures this weekend. The pattern didn't have any shaping, so I added side panels in double moss stitch (echoing the edging). It buttons a little bit tight, but I think I can block it out more next time I wash it. (Granted, I've only been wearing it in the mornings, and in a few weeks I won't need it at all...) Overall, though, I'm quite happy, and have had lots of compliments on it.

In other news, I think I have an August recital in the works! With my regular pianist and everything! Now I just need to get that last Wolf song under my belt, and plan a duet or two, and the program will be set. I hope to confirm the date in the next few days. Of course, this makes a damn busy August and September for me (bridal shower 8/14, recital, wedding 9/18), but I'd have plenty of time in the next few months for preparations. Incidentally, I finally dragged myself over to David's Bridal to try on the bridesmaid dress...and wonder of wonders, it actually looks good on me. I only had to go up a size (predictable), and it actually fit! It's still a bit lower-cut than I'd prefer for a church wedding, but whisper I may actually wear it for the recital. Whatever I wear would have to be dry-cleaned anyway, so it won't really matter. So that was good.

Lea Michele can sing, but this woman is the QUEEN.



You're welcome.

Well, it has been a month, but a tumultuous one. Where should I even start? There was a plumbing issue, for one--as if the previous owners of our houser weren't already morons, we have now found out they fancied themselves plumbers. I'm no plumber, but I do know that water doesn't run uphill. And I knew that before water started dripping from the living room ceiling, then we spent $500 on plumbers and drywallers to fix things. Damn fancy shower--beware! Then last weekend we noticed the kitchen sink drain has a 360-degree coil in it. Amateur plumbing galore! What the hell were these people thinking? Oh, right. These are the same people that had mold in their crawlspace and didn't know about it, and had an unpermitted deck when they put their house on the market, and didn't have extensions on their drains. They weren't thinking AT ALL. We still can't use the master shower, because we have to remove more grout before we can caulk. I understand, home ownership is hard work, blah blah blah--we stained the deck this weekend, which was a lot of work (big deck), particularly because it hadn't been done before...and there it is again! How these idiots managed to get themselves fed surprises me. Anyway, grumble grumble. The worst is over, we think...

I did get good news about a role a few weeks ago. I don't have the contract yet, so I can't shout it from the rooftops, but it's Mozart in German, for a company I last sang for about three years ago. A bit of sleuthing could tell you exactly what role in what production I'm in. Especially since there is exactly one German Mozart role in my fach. ;)

Also, my brother's fiancee wants me to be a bridesmaid. And wear this. Yes, that's the David's Bridal prom site. Yes, I will look like a fool. Yes, she has met me, and knows that I am extremely curvy, but perhaps does not realize that I am going to fall out of the top of this. But how could I say no? I only have two brothers, and I was already in the other's wedding (to similar effect!)... I think I'm going to try to add illusion netting under the spaghetti straps so I can wear a regular bra. At least this one has a wrap. Maybe I can pin it on so I'm covered. As long as I don't wear the black bra. LOL She also wants me to sing--which I would gladly have done without being a bridesmaid. I was even looking forward to buying myself a nice black dress that I could use for oratorio... le sigh. So yeah, this is the LAST TIME I will be a bridesmaid.

Let me show you some knitting. The baby blanket came out really well, but it was such a bear by the end! My poor hands...


The shower is scheduled for May 22. I still want to pick up a few cute things at H&M (since one just opened here), but six weeks of hard, hard work is a fine shower gift by itself. I want to make a Baby Bobbi Bear once the baby's born.

I will leave off with a promise to write again next week (for real!), and a photo you may enjoy:


Godzilla versus Dalek?! Who would win that battle? Eh, probably the Dalek...