orienteering
August 22, 2011
let’s get cracking.
1. i made a knitter. my student on saturday was amazing, a natural, a joy to teach. she will very soon spread her knitter wings and take off. i shall always remember alejandra, the scrub nurse from colombia and my first real knitting student. (actually, i’ll probably forget which is why i’m writing it down here).
2. today was my first day of t.a. orientation. for some bizarre reason i was really nervous about it and only slept for about three hours last night. but of course when i got there, it felt totally natural and, even though i feel really nervous about teaching, i am clearly more competent/less nervous than a lot of people in that room today. and a lot prettier which is of course a bigger comfort.
3. i saw a girl i went to highschool with at t.a. orientation. she either didn’t recognize me, or purposely ignored me. i’m not sure which is worse.
4. perhaps even more random, i saw the guy i bought my new craigslist couch from. he too either ignored or didn’t recognize me. either way, freaky right?
5. i was the only person in the big lecture hall knitting. this didn’t surprise me, but i was a little disappointed.
6. this week, i have been eating, on average, a half an onion and a clove of garlic per day. i am single, and mo doesn’t seem to mind so i’m going with it.
7. i’m getting really close to getting my wheel. i’m waiting on an email about it.
8. speaking of emails, i sent a bunch out to the knitters of the world, but only one responded. i fear that this is because i am a knitting nobody and do not merit a response. worse still, they could absolutely know who i am and have decided not to respond. it couldn’t possibly that they’re just busy people like me and have yet to respond. never. clearly, they either don’t know, or hate me.
9. i have an insane amount of laundry to do. rather than haul my ass to the laundromat, i just keep opening new suitcases to find clean clothes. or else i “sniff test” clothes i’ve already worn, and wear them again. (more evidence of my transition to manhood) this plan has worked for me for three weeks, but i see the end is near. today i had to go commando to my orientation. i made to sure to wear a belt, but kept obsessively checking my fly after the sexual harassment segment of the day.
11. since this is technically a knitting blog, i better show you a picture of some knitting
i have embraced the fact that i am a shawl knitter. if other people can be sock knitters, i can be a shawl knitter. give me a triangle and i’m happy. of course, i’m using smaller yarn and needles meaning i’m going to have to do some maths to make the lace section work, but i’m sure that won’t pose any problems at all later on.
12. my rereading of the yarnharlot’s blog continues to be an inspiration. i’m pretty sure that’s why i’m doing a list post right now.
13. i recieved the awesomest of text messages today from a dear friend of mine:
“i’m knitting! also, loved the ‘sleep with as many people as possible’ note.”
what can i say, i’m part knitter, part scholar, part slut apparently (sorry mom). miss you jenny!
14. i thought rhinebeck was out of reach this year, but i may just have found a way to get there. this of course means i must find a pattern i like, and knit a new rhinebeck sweater.
15. fuck.
16. i’m toying with the idea of getting my knitting mastery. is this a stupid idea? has anyone done it? help a boy out.
17. now that mo and i are reunited, my mother wants to alpacanap steven jr. i think this is some kind of manifestation of her desire for a grandchild. watch out sally.
18. extra large eggs are stupid.
19. mo has let me know in his not so subtle way it is time to be let out or else i’ll have a date later with the paper towel. later, bitches.
Bitches Get Stitches 
August 22, 2011 at 5:29 pm
Hurray! Glad that TA orientation went well! Being crazy nervous (including not a lot of sleep) and then it actually going fine is an apt description of 90% of my grad school experiences.
And, as I’m sure you know, not seeing other knitters doesn’t mean there weren’t any. I routinely chicken out about KIP but wish I hadn’t when I see another knitter and wish I could silently high five.
August 22, 2011 at 5:39 pm
I adore you and love your list…congratulations on your orienteering! I don’t think anyone from high school would recognize me nor I them…
xoxo happy monday
August 22, 2011 at 7:00 pm
I just wanted to leave you a note letting you know how much you crack me up. I enjoy your blog a lot and just wanted you to know that. Also, have you ever thought that at the same time that you were writing your blog about the people who did not recognize you, they were probably writing a blog about the guy that acted like he did not know who they were! 🙂
August 22, 2011 at 7:08 pm
Love the list. All of it. I’ve become mostly a shawl and sock knitter. Does that make me a shock knitter?
Tell your mom she has an open invitation to visit Steven jr anytime, but there will be no alpacanapping. We have a Ruby and are still looking for a replacement for sweet Otis, but 125 pound Ruby Begonia is on the job. (Of course, he does get cuter every freakin’ day, if I do say so myself.) You may want to send me a picture of your mom so I can show Ruby who to look out for. She already knows “suits are bad” after a couple of guys from a religion-not-to-be-named came up the drive and were determined to convert me.
Can’t wait to see a pic of this year’s Rhinebeck as it develops.
August 22, 2011 at 7:33 pm
Sometimes not being recognized is a good thing, I say “shoot for the moon “go get that Knitting Mastery, it will be a good and useful accomplishment , ( can you add initials after your name? )
After I taught my first class of adults it was a blast, except for grading homework and tests, part of Nursing school ,we had to teach each other, something we knew well.
I know how your Mom feels , I have 3 children , 2 in their 30″s , I am still waiting for Grandkids, I have 2 grandkitties, I can cuddle them just fine.
In Knit”n Style, Jack Lewis has a column ,”Knitting Time” has gone for his Mastery, wrote about , close to a year or more ago.Maybe you could contact him, just a thought. Ducking on out. Kris
August 22, 2011 at 8:47 pm
hmm, #8, I’m a knitter of the world and didn’t get my email answer from your email answer, trying not to feel overlooked, know you were too busy emailing others
#16 I just read about that mastery thing in Knitopedia and thought the same thing, hmm
liked the list and the pic–dogs look so much better in the knitting
don’t know about the sniffing laundry thing with all that onions and garlic, doesn’t that fuck with the ability to make a proper assessment
gotta go and retrieve new yarn from the cat who thinks it’s kittens
August 22, 2011 at 9:36 pm
I for one, would totally respond if you sent me an email. if they did not respond to your email… their loss. Kick ass with the teaching.. you will do great. as for those who may have seen you but not said anything – nerves…. they were freaking out….
August 22, 2011 at 10:30 pm
Steven, I remember you from N.S. In Pittsburgh. I cried when I read your goodbye to the city. I feel the same and have since moved to Florida. Miss the city and the yarn shops. Your blog always makes me smile. Good luck I think your going to be great
August 22, 2011 at 10:51 pm
Congrats on both #1 and 2.
#6 — for breakfast?!?
#9 — perhaps #3 and 4 noticed you went commando and weren’t interested. Maybe they were both jealous. Or maybe they smelled #6.
You skipped #10.
#11 — that color looks so good on Mo that he needs a sweater in it. After all, it gets cold in Michiganderland and Mo is one stylin’ little guy.
Re: #15 — Now that you’ve done that, your mother wants to know when she can plan the wedding.
#17 — In lieu of a wedding and homemade grandbabies, maybe you should surprise mom by taking her to the animal shelter and letting her fall in love with some adorable l’il one. Sneak some catnip and dog treats into her pockets to help assure she does.
August 23, 2011 at 12:49 am
no, no , no! no more pets for me. @ least not until some of the many current ones vacate. And I know that old trick of going to shelter just to “see” the animals. That’s how we got the 1/2 rottweiler, 1/2 lab Casey. That puppy became the biggest lap dog we ever had. Almost as big as the alpaca. Still miss her 😦 And Sally, Steven forgot to tell you, I have had many pets “follow me home.” Bet Steven Jr. might just do that…If I brought along a trailer, feed, a harness….. Oh and I don’t do pictures so Ruby will never know I am there. Oh wait! I am in MI, you are in Colorado. Guess I’ll just have to be satisfied with pictures.
August 23, 2011 at 8:48 am
Steven’s mom — Sally is from Michigan. Her dad and step mom still live there. Just sayin’.
August 23, 2011 at 8:11 am
Love that picture of Mo! He clearly appreciates handknits.
August 23, 2011 at 8:29 am
Congratulations on making a knitter. I have made a few, but only one who really stuck with it. It’s almost as awesome as getting someone into reading. You just know you’ve solved their boredom problems for life. And their spare money problems.
I love Mo. How was he named?
I think if you are a shawl knitter you should let your triangular freak flag fly. Personally, I am split between shawls (crescents usually, because triangles feel like an arrow to my butt) and baby blankets. Why then, do I so hate the cast off?
I think you should go for it on the master knitting. And blog the shit out of that.
Extra large eggs are not stupid if you like a 1 egg, 1 white scramble. Other than that, yes. Stupid.
August 23, 2011 at 8:31 am
Anonymous Mama, judging from your message, I have a few alpacas that are such lovebugs they would likely follow you home, even without the trailer and feed bribe. (If we’re only taking one or two at a time they jump into the back of my Jeep.) Lucky for me you’re in Michigan. I’m originally from there, so Steven Jr now has Michigan roots on both sides. 🙂
August 23, 2011 at 9:51 am
I just had to say that photo of Mo is so delightful. 🙂
August 23, 2011 at 10:11 am
I’m having a shawl phase, myself, although it’s a crochet shawl phase. I’m a newbie knitter and haven’t progressed past square and flat yet. Also- I hope you make it to Rhinebeck! I’d love to see the hot pants in person 🙂
August 24, 2011 at 11:30 am
A half and onion and a clove of garlic a day and people seeming to not recognise you. Just saying… 🙂
August 24, 2011 at 9:15 pm
I too love knitting shawls! I have been thinking something was “wrong” with me cause I don’t like to knit socks…WRONG!