travel – Page 2 – mimimustknit

November 30, 2014November 30, 2014

Shakespeare was a smart dude!

I know that sounds pretty funny but, seriously. I heard one of his quotes today: “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves.” If you think about that for a second or two, it’s his pretty way of saying that we all hold the key to our respective destinies. Kind of huge right? It blows my mind a little bit. What does that mean exactly?

The last year and a bit, for me, my destiny has been to travel. I’ve been to so many places: Chicago, California, NYC, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Jordan, PEI, and lastly, Peru. Some big trips and some small trips. Loved every one of them for their own special reasons.

BUT, I also got lost somewhere. The reasons for this is not important. What is important is that I see it and know I need to do something about it.

I realized that I now need to learn to stand still. It came to me when the thought of not having plans to travel for the week I have off in the beginning of December terrified me. A whole week off, wasted. Can you imagine? I couldn’t. Until someone pointed out that my fear was not rational – a little nudge towards a wake-up call. So, here goes: a week off with no plans to travel. What to do instead?

I started knitting again in a big way when the Christmas orders started coming in. And at some point, I fell in love with my creativity again. There’s something exciting about thinking of something in your head and being able to make it happen with your hands and some yarn. It makes me feel like a genius! Being creative makes my heart smile.

This headband is a modification of a pictures someone sent me. And probably a future pattern. — This headband is a modification of a picture someone sent me. And probably a future published pattern of mine.

Baby gift made with my handspun. — Baby gift made with my scrumptious hand spun.

An idea in my head that I made into a cup cosy.

Yoga. I need to get back to yoga. I feel more connected to my body and my soul when I keep up a regular practice. I rolled out my mat this morning for the first time in months. Boy am I tight all over!! Amazing how little time it takes to undo how far I had come and how strong and supple my body had become. This morning, I felt like a brittle, and tight old lady. Hahahah. It’s a start though.

I’m also thinking of giving knitting lessons or workshops in the new year. I’ve never really taught before and I fear I will lack patience. When something is so natural to me, I find it difficult to comprehend that it is not easy for everyone. I don’t want to scare people away from knitting or crochet because I suck at teaching it.

I also want to start publishing more patterns (see above). I’m always making things without patterns but very rarely write anything down. I’m going to start. A few extra $ will help me when I start traveling again.

Tomorrow is December. That means Christmas is coming. I’ve hated Christmas since I started having to share my son for the holidays (1999). It’s just not the same when you can’t wake up with your child on Christmas morning. In 2011, a friend of mine gave me a beautiful (and hilarious) memory for Christmas. This year, I really want to make it feel like Christmas again. I put up a tree for the first time in eight years. I also plan to put thoughtful gifts for the people I love under that tree. I’m very excited. I am also scared it won’t be what it am hoping it will be.

Shakespeare had another really good one: “Expectation is the root of all heartache.” I will try to remember this as I navigate the holidays.

In case I don’t write again until the new year (which is very likely if I’m being realistic), Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone.

November 3, 2013

Alone in the Big Apple

Being in New York City alone is an altogether different experience than being here with someone else. In a way, it’s great because I get to do what I want when I want. For example: I read blogs and drank coffee for a good two hours yesterday morning before getting my butt up and out the door. I walked as little or as much as I wanted. I went to see Carrie alone. I had never been to the movies by myself. It was fun/interesting.

Eating alone in a super-crowded restaurant however was not so fun. But I had to have The Velvety Cream of Tomato Soup at Sarabeth’s. I gave my name and waited 25 minutes for them to call my name. That’s how busy they were at 2:00 pm yesterday.

Getting lost alone also wasn’t that much fun. My sense of direction has always been pretty crappy. Thank goodness for Starbucks and free WiFi. And I only had one chai latté all day. If they were cheaper, I would drink more.

The best part of yesterday was FINALLY seeing the leaves in Central Park.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been here but in all the times I’ve come, I have NEVER seen the leaves in the fall. So BEAUTIFUL! I got caught in the rain (big fat rain), had wet, dirty and slippery toes in my flip-flops but I still couldn’t stop smiling.

I came. I saw. Now I’m happy. 😉

I also hit up Purl Soho yesterday to get Lucie some yarn. It was packed in there. Come to think of it, every time I go there, it’s packed. They’re probably the most famous of yarn shops in the Big City. I just don’t know how people leave there with bags full of yarn because it’s quite costly.

Today is the NYC marathon. It’s probably best to stay away from the Park.

I was a bit POed yesterday. I went to Radio Shack and bought a point-and-shoot camera. My phone doesn’t take great pictures and I wanted some decent quality shots of Central Park. So I spent just over $200 on a camera (that has WiFi), a memory card and a case. The battery comes charged. But they don’t tell you it’s only charged long enough to take about a dozen pictures. I think I got some ok ones with my phone but I’m definitely going back in the next couple of days (after the billion people here for the marathon are gone) in the hopes of getting better photos. If the weather’s good, maybe I’ll spend a whole day in the Park.

I’m going to go get ready, hit up this little diner I read about and then head to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim.

October 4, 2013October 4, 2013

37 Year Old Self

I’m up this early on my Friday off because (crazy me) was out of bed at 5:15 this morning to hit the gym for 6:00. (I need time for coffee before I do anything.) When I pulled into the parking lot at 5:54 am, I started thinking that it wouldn’t be so bad if this morning’s FitCamp was cancelled. But it wasn’t. So there I was, still yawning and picking the crud out of my eyes, getting ready to sweat my little arse off. I love it! It’s a new thing I’m trying – FitCamp. It’s total craziness but it’s a challenge (big-time) for me and I almost always (almost) feel like a million bucks when I’m done. Thank you Tina for asking me to go with you all those weeks ago. Now I’m hooked. There are worse things to be addicted to right? (Do I have too many addictions now?)

This week has been a great week – a week of reflection. (Insert eye-roll here!) Seriously though, I’ve been feeling very grateful. If I thought really hard, I bet I could come up with a few hundred things I love about being me – including, but not limited to, the people that surround me.

I’m a strong believer in we all choose to be who we are. Yes, the ground work is laid when we’re young by our parents. And most of our parents do a good job. (Mine did. Love you guys.) But you hit a certain age when you’re just old enough, smart enough, aware enough, independent enough, etc to just decide who you are and/or who you want to be. Then you work towards that. I’ve come across people who mostly sit around and feel sorry for themselves because they’ve been challenged in their life or it hasn’t been a perfectly smooth road. So what! Bumps build character if you’re smart enough to use those bumps as lessons and grow. Forgive me if I don’t feel sorry for them or have patience for them. Maybe that makes me blunt, or cold, or a bitch, or something but… seriously. Life’s too short. How much time do you want to waste on the Poor Me train.

I decided a long time ago who I wanted to be. I think that we have a pretty good idea of who we want to be when we’re in our late teens. Maybe some of us don’t consciously know it but it’s there. It probably took me 15 years before I had a clear picture and another five to become that person. But I can honestly say that I’ve arrived. It’s freaking awesome! It’s been a tough ride but it’s been so worth it to be able to sit here and say that I love my life.

I was driving up to Ottawa on Monday night after the super-foods workshop (which was awesome by the way) wondering what I thought my life would look like at 37 when I was 17. Isn’t that a funny thought? I think I probably thought I would be married, have a couple of kids, have a cute house, work in an office – something generic like that. Back then, 37 was so old. Did I think I would be old by 37? Cause I sure as hell don’t feel old. My body aches from my workouts but that’s a good kind of ache. I never thought I would only have one child, not be married and perfectly happy about that, be tattooed (awesome), love my job, doing yoga, travelling as much as I can, still making new friends and still learning. I could go on. It’s sort of a strange and funny thing to have been thinking about. It put a smile on my face.

So, here are a few pics from my week.

The workshop at Renew by Heather Hughes.

I hit Chapters (for a Starbucks Chai) and found this book which is now on my reading list.

Did some shopping for our Cali trip. Not sure why everything is black and grey. Definitely not a reflection of how I feel. Just the colours (or non-colors) that I appear to be attracted to these days. Hmmmm. I did purchase some dark teal yarn to make a big chunky knit cowl. Does that count? (I know I wasn’t supposed to buy more wool but I’m weak).

Did some shopping with France. Almost bought these shoes. So deliciously vintage.

France took me to Fratelli’s for my birthday dinner. I really love spending time with my sister.

Steve got me a new external drive for my Mac for my birthday. I crocheted a cozy for it. THAT’S how geeky I am.

Now I’m going to go wash the salty sweat off my body, put some big-girl clothes on and hit the road to visit Michelle this weekend! So excited. I think she has a lot of crafty things planned for us to do.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

10 more sleeps to Cali!!!!

August 18, 2013August 18, 2013

A Week of Goodbyes and the Start of Something New.

The last week of July into August was quite a week! I’m honestly glad it’s over.

On the Sunday, I moved all my things into storage. On the Monday, Steve moved. I worked nights Monday and Tuesday. On the Wednesday, I cleaned the house for the tenants. On the Thursday, I left my house for the last time. On the Friday, I gave the keys to the couple renting my house AND gave the keys to my car to it’s new owner. I then was sans car for the weekend but it worked out because I was living in town and was able to get rides to-from work for the weekend.

It all happened so fast and I was so tired that I’m wondering if it ever really had time to sink in. I miss my house. Everyday. I actually had to swing by the other day to get my copy of Interweave Knits. I didn’t drive up to the house. I couldn’t do it. It made me a bit sad to be there.

So, on a less depressing note, I got to spend 5 splendid days in Chicago last week at my friend Susie’s. When I got back, everyone asked about what kind of shinanigans went on while I was there. Truth is, I slept a lot and just took it easy. Susie is a great cook so my uniform pants were a bit snug when I returned to work. We did a lot of chatting, eating, walking, lounging and just taking relaxing. She did, however, take me to the local yarn shop, I’d Rather be Knitting. She also took me to get my new INK!!! Hahahhaha. Liberty Tattoo in Antioch, IL. Awesome shop. The artist – Eric Lynn – was a super-cool guy. I’d see him again. Plus, he gave me this beautiful tattoo!

August the 9th was someone’s big birthday – Steve – (30th – shhhh). Got together with some of his family and friends in Cambridge for the occasion.

I picked up my new car. I love it! I went from an automatic gas VW Golf to a standard diesel VW Jetta. This thing is LOADED! It is the bestest new-old car on the planet.

I also got to visit Michelle and the family in Waterloo. I always love seeing them. Michelle taught me how to do a proper yoga headstand. I was thrilled! I still can’t do it withouth using a wall – need to work on my core strength – but at least I can do one.

Now I’m back to my new reality (for a little while – hihihi). It’s sort of hard to get used to not going home. And, I can’t find ANYTHING. It’s super-frustrating. It’s getting better though. Fewf.

It’s been less than a week since I got back from Trip #1. I will settle in eventually. It’s been strange (in a good way) living with my mom and her husband. My biggest thing is whether I should eat this or that in case someone had plans for it. I love that there’s lots of space in the basement to do my yoga. 🙂 I feel badly that my stuff is all over their house. It will take a little adjusting for everyone I suppose. Oh, and it only takes me a minute and a half to get to work now! I’m just wondering how I still manage to be later than I would like though. :/

So… I’m already planning my next trip – CALIFORNIA in October for two weeks. Nancy and I are working nights together this weekend. There’s a lot of chatting going on. It’s awesome to already be looking forward to the next trip. I hope this whole year (and maybe longer) is this much fun. It’s worth being sad about the house.

Jacob starts school soon. He’s so funny! He sends me random texts and e-mails to tell me things like “I got a locker at school and put a lock on it and everything”. It’s adorable. I’m so happy that he’s this excited about going to school. I really want to make sure that this experience is awesome for him. Even though we don’t live together anymore, we still see each other at least once a week and chat via text every day just to check in. This week we went kayaking on the Rideau Canal. I so love spending time with him.

I haven’t had much time to knit or spin with everything that’s been going on. I finished Jenna’s baby sweater and I started a Lace Ribbon Scarf – that’s the first of the stash- busting projects.

Instead of going through all the fun stuff I’ve been doing, I’ll just attach a bunch of pics!

The note my step-dad left on my lunchbox one morning.

Waiting at the airport. I love the airport.

The tunnel at the Detroit airport. Beautiful.

Susie’s cheesecake. Yummy even with no crust or filling.

Front doors of Liberty Tattoo in Antioch, IL.

Souvenire yarn I got in Buffalo Grove – like I needed it.

Rhubarb from the garden dipped on raw sugar.

Me after a 12-hour night shift and my sister before driving an hour and a half to work.

After our kayak adventure on the Rideau – waiting for Jacob’s Beavertail.