More storytime...

And written at a time when I am not about to keel over with exhaustion. Yay Saturdays!

In the aftermath of the crazy, I decided to let go of a major part of what was stressing me out, namely the job that was literally giving me hives. After floundering around in the unemployment pool (including working for a scam artist for a terrible week), I found a job at a costume construction shop in Manhattan, shopping for Broadway costumes. I learned a ton about fabric, being nice to doormen, the garment district, and also about not putting up with verbal abuse. (This shop was MESSED UP. The owners would routinely WAIL at the top of their lungs or scream at employees, while everyone around them would be expected to act as if nothing abnormal was happening.)

On the day that my direct supervisor decided to call me stupid to my face, I decided enough was enough. I marched down to one of the fabric shops where I had been a frequent patron with my resume, and was fortunate enough to have walked in right as they were hiring for Halloween (the busiest time in fabric-shoppingdom), so I was asked if I could come in the next Monday. I've been working there ever since (starting on the sales floor, then having them figure out that I'm bad at sales but good at talking to people, so being moved to giving tours and chatting with out of towners, and finally to my current position of being receptionist/Director of Student Activities.)

Just found out that we have to be in CA by August 20th. Dates are exciting and scary.

Today was busy...

So I didn't get to write as much as I had hoped.

This seems to be a theme.

On the bright side, my boss very generously gave me the fabric that I was about to buy for free, as a wedding gift.

The fabric is indigo-colored silk crepe de chine. This means:

1. It's an amazing color, like navy with more personality. (As my roommate Alex says, navy is for quitters, and Ben and I have adopted the family motto of "No excuses, play like a champion." Therefore I need some navy with punch, yo!)
2. It's crepe de chine, so it's got a matte-er look to it, it drapes like a chocolate fountain, and it's hand washable, which is especially great because--
3. It's silk, so it breathes and feels AMAZING. And because of the crepe de chine thing, it bypasses the ordinary problems of silk (i.e. it needs to be drycleaned most of the time or it spots.)

YAAY.

It's going to make a kick-ass dress. Now I just have to get over the sewing machine fears D:

I also got my nails done in anticipation of the wedding in 9 DAYS! I keep staring at my hands. They have never looked this grown-up before. It's honestly a little baffling. My brain feels like I'm 13, and my hands give me away as a woman in her mid-20s.

When did that happen?!!?

More of the saga of getting to where I am today tomorrow. Tonight, sleep.

Let's start at the very beginning...

I think it will be helpful to explain how I got to the need to start this blog.

Confession: I am an over-researcher, and and under-doer. I can research until the cows come home about how to do almost anything creative, whether tactile or intellectual, but freeze up when the time comes to execute the thing that I have been researching. This is an attempt to put a stop to a frankly stupid habit. If I want to be a better writer, I have to get out there and just do it!

A short synopsis of how I got to the greater NY area:

My soon-to-be husband and I met at college in Baltimore, where we were very active in our theatre department. Through one of our professors, I got an opportunity to assistant direct for him in a NYC Off-off Broadway premier. As we had very close friends in the NY/NJ area, we decided to move in with our excellent sarcastic friend from college in Jersey City.

The day after graduation, we drove up to New Jersey. (I remember looking at the Statue of Liberty and thinking "What a cute Statue of Liberty model!", forgetting that it was the real deal.)

After spending two crazy (unpaid) months working on my first professional credit, I ended up floundering about in the unemployment pool for a few weeks, generally feeling worthless without work that would be intellectually stimulating. This was not alleviated by my employment at a grocery store with an overly perky attitude. At the same time, I was slated by my non-profit theatre company to direct one of the two short plays for our premier production.

While working at the store provided me a way to make money (though not enough to pay bills), I was hit with a wave of crippling depression, only made worse by the anxiety of losing actors and wrestling with members of my own company. While I managed (by the skin of my teeth) to get through the production process, I also learned that I need to cut myself a little slack and be willing to ask for help when I need it.

I am going to continue tomorrow. With the note, please remind me that when I help, I should ask for it. Like a normal person.

So...

I stink and didn't write a proper post today.
I spent my time making an awesome dance mix for my wedding reception.
You're welcome.

First post, explaining future adventures

Getting married in 12 days to the love of my life.

In our first year of marriage, we will be moving not just from the NY metropolitan area to Long Beach, California, but also spending some months in Russia, studying theatre in St. Petersburg.

It would make sense to chronicle this journey, and so I am starting this blog.

My hope is to write a little (or a lot!) here every day, not only to record our crazy adventures, but to make myself more comfortable with writing with an audience.

Please leave comments, questions, and feedback! I want to start conversations, keep up with friends all over, and make new ones. I have been a lookie-loo in the blogosphere for far too long, and would love to connect with some of the amazing people that write here on the web every day.

Awesome Floor!

What have you done?

Edit the list, bold for stuff you've done, italics for stuff you plan to do one day, and normal for stuff you're not planning on doing.

Afghan/Blanket
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cozies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with DPNs
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/arm warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public