I just realized that I haven't updated since the beginning of September and since I'm waiting for my DVR to stop recording two shows at once, I'll write a little something right now.

I started working at Prime Time at the the beginning of September. It's going really well. For those who don't know, I am the tumbling coach for Prime Time All Stars Cheerleading. I love it. The girls are so much fun to work with; it doesn't even feel like a job. Sometimes I feel like a babysitter during the Minis' class (they're ages three to seven), but for the most part they're all good kids. I love being back in the cheerleading world; I had missed it so much. Now I can't wait for competitions to start! It is making me want to tumble again, though. I think after next week when I have Tuesday evenings free again I'll start going back to Atlantic to work on my own skills. We don't have much equipment at Prime Time. Our TumblTrak is an inflatable one, which I am definitely not comfortable doing more than a standing back tuck or a standing backhandspring on. Atlantic has a regular one, which is the kind I learned on and love tumbling on. They also have a nice big regular trampoline, a foam pit, and a resi-pit. I'm going to have to get my butt back to the gym for some cardio, though, so I don't bulk up again from just tumbling.

The store is officially closing next Wednesday, the 19th. I'm sort of screwed. I haven't heard anything from Wentworth-Douglass about the position I interviewed for two weeks ago. I have called and left voicemails and no one seems to want to call me back. Is that how it works? When someone decides not to hire you, they don't think they need to call and let you know that they've decided "to go in another direction" or whatever? That's bullshit. I really need an effing job. I need benefits. I need to be making more than nine damn dollars an hour so I can actually be saving some money and not just spending almost everything I make on bills.  Not to mention the fact that I need to start paying back my student loans next month. If the reason they're not going to hire is the fact that I don't have any experience, then why the eff did they even bother asking me to come in for an interview? I'm almost positive it says on my application how much experience I have. That's the thing that really pisses me off.

Ok, sidenote. People are fucking assholes. I just turned on the news and they're showing surveillance footage at Faneuil Hall from this past July 4 of people walking past the body of a man who had been killed in broad daylight. Not one person stopped to see if he was ok or even alive. NO ONE. What the fuck!? How do you walk past an unmoving, lifeless body lying in the middle of the sidewalk? How do you not feel like maybe you should help the guy? The police still have no idea who the murderer is. Another example - some number of months ago, I was reading an article in the newspaper about a Greyhound-type bus travelling through Canada, on which one passenger attacked and beheaded another passenger. BEHEADED. It was not a fast process, I'm sure. Not a single person on the entire bus did anything to step in and help the 22 year old victim. NOT ONE. There is audio of people standing outside the bus talking about what the bad guy was doing. Fucking get in there! Don't just let an innocent person die! I hope everyone involved feels like a complete scumbag for not stepping in. That guy's life could have easily been saved. There's a pretty good chance that someone in the back of the bus could have jumped the bad guy from behind and tackled him to the ground. The dude had a knife, that's it. Probably not a very big one. The fall to the ground probably would have knocked it out of his hand. Then all they had to do was keep him pinned to the floor of the bus til the cops got there. Seriously, all of humankind needs to fucking grow a pair and stand up for each other when someone is in danger of getting hurt or killed. I'd like to think that if I had been in a similar situation I would have stepped in. I know that I'd want someone to step in and help me out if some asshole is trying to rape or kidknap or hurt me in any way. Wouldn't you?

Ok, rant over.

So Christmas is coming. Again. Ugh. Totally not my favorite time of year, but I'm going to try to be a bit more joyous about it this year. Being single for a third Christmas/New Year's in a row isn't really going to make me feel any better, but I'm going to try to be happy about the season anyway. I'm knitting a lot more gifts than I did last year. I've actually got a few done already. Here's a list, because I LOVE making lists. Is that a Virgo thing?

Dad - Jaques Cousteau hat. DONE
Dubes - "Fuck You" pirate mittens. DONE
Mom - Fetching. DONE
Jaime - something good. Not mentioning it here just in case she reads this, but I don't think she does. DONE.
I do want to make her something else though since she basically knows what I've already made. I think I'll make something, one of which I have myself, but have never made before. Does that sound confusing?
Grams - Luna Moth Shawl. Probably about one-third done. Using handspun-dyed wool I bought at the New York Sheep and Wool Festival. Goal - be done by Dec 1.
Renie - Voyager Lace Shawl. Bought yarn from Knit Picks online today. Color = creme brulee. Its neutral, a pretty creamy color.
Jewelie - Haven't started yet, but I know exactly what I'm going to do and it isn't going to take more than a couple days. I also have something small to go with, as well.

Barry and Gramps - my grandfathers. Not sure if they would get any use out of anything that I could make. I don't think I've ever seen them wear a knit hat/scarf/mittens. That doesn't necessarily mean they wouldn't, but I'm not sure that they would.

Connie - I have just decided that I want to make something for her. I have given her a simple garter stitch fluffy scarf, but I'd like to give her something with a bit more style/flare/intricacy to it. She's has been so awsome in all the years that I have known her. I'll think of something good. Ravelry, here I come!

I would love to make something for everyone else (Matt/hat to match scarf, Al/Lost scarf, Jesse/transformers something, Jesse/?, Steve/hat to match scarf, Shawn/?, Arthur/?, Will/?...), I just don't think there is going to be time. Although, if I end up still jobless after the store clean-out, I may have time. That would kind of suck though.

Ron (Val's husband/Prime Time) asks for a pair of knit undies everytime I knit between classes. I'm tempted to do it, as a joke. His birthday is this coming weekend, though, which is way too soon. I'll have to do it after the new year as a random gift. I know he'll love it.

This turned into a much longer post than originally planned. I'm going to watch tonight's Fringe and then get to bed.

Late.

I thought I would share some of my recent FO's.

First off, the Dirty Word Mittens. Half of me regrets even making them. My brother is so inconsiderate and never appreciative of anything anyone does for him. But, I always give him a Christmas present and this one wasn't too taxing or time consuming. I just hope they fit his hands.






I also finished knitting a second Two Tone Shrug from Fitted Knits. Again, its just one color. I figure it will match more this way.




I made a cute hat as well, but for some reason Xanga doesn't want to upload it. It's lime green and has cables to match my Fetching fingerless mitts. Next up is a lime green cabled scarf to match the hat and gloves. So far I've started it three times and I still can't quite decide how I want it to look. Fourth time's a charm?

I've also decided to knit a full sized sweater or cardigan, most likely from the same book as the shrug. I was going to buy myself a new camera for my birthday, but buying myself nice yarn will be a lot cheaper.

bon soir, mes amis.