More fun with Google search terms this morning. On google.ca, betseeee knits is the first site you get if you search on "cool knits." That was kind of...well - cool! And when I wanted to see more about someone finding me through searching for "rent cabbing boat nj" I discovered this weird Austin Powers-ization of my blog page! I investigated further and found that if you go to The Goldolizer you can do this to any page. Very silly. Got me wondering about who actually thought to enter my little blog in there.

Someone here at work just told me about the NYC Rejection Line - 212.479.7990. It is so worth the call, even if you're calling long distance. You can get the text online, but hearing it in person is way funnier.

It's been a nice morning so far. I am back to working on the Melon boatneck, and am a few inches into the armholes now. I was working on it on the bus this morning when the lady sitting next to me told me I was a good knitter. She was from Sweden and has done lots of knitting in her time, so it was a fun little chat until I had to get off the bus.

Then I saw a sight that really made me wish I had my camera on me. A trash can filled with bunches of yarrow flowers. There were a few coffee cups and ice cream wrappers amidst the flowers, which led to comment that it was the oddest floral arrangement I'd seen yet. Unfortunately the only person to hear me was some little snotty twenty-ish girl who looked at me like I was a nut.

Had a nice message from my boss this morning, thanking me for working on so many different projects, and assuring me that my contributions were not going unnoticed. That was so in character for him, yet so pleasantly surprising to hear on a Friday morning, especially when he is not even in the office today. Here I have been feeling like kind of a loser at work because I am sort of pitching in here and there and not "owning" anything. I guess it's good because I've gotten to work with a lot of different people within the agency, and apparently they all think I do good work. Definitely a plus.

So happy it's Friday. And a quiet one, to boot. Vanessa and I may be able to get out of here at 4, she says. Vanessa's slightly senior to me in our group, so if she says let's go, we can go. She's also extremely cool and fun.

Managed to book an appointment with the photographer we're most interested in, Joel Greenberg. His work looks really interesting from the website - a nice mix of portraits, photojournalism and artistic work. A friend here at work, Kate, recommended him because her friend was working with him and was very pleased. He is available on the big day, so we're very pleased. Apparently they also have an early booking incentive, which includes engagement photos and web hosting for free. Neato! I never thought about an engagement photo, but if they shoot it for free, why not, right?

The weekend is shaping up nicely. I'm taking the first half of tomorrow to clean the apartment, etc. And then we're going out to LI to see Peter, Paul and Mary at the Westbury Music Fair with my parents. I think they may be the one musical group that we all like. It turns out that Ryan's parents listened to them a lot when he was little, and so did mine, so we all have a special feeling about the music. It's especially nice to see them at the Music Fair. It's close to home for all of them, and there's a really special tradition where all the little kids in the audience bring flowers up on stage when they sing "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" It's very sweet to see people who've grown up on the music bring their little ones, too. Maybe someday...

So, Rowan has their new fall book on their website now. I didn't want to spoil the fun of receiving it in the mail, but a quick glance showed some nice patterns, and a few possibilities even for the bridesmaid tanks. Joy and Nightfall both fit the bill and are made with Lurex Shimmer, which is a really pretty yarn, and would make a nice dressy look. Of course it also has a gauge of 7.25 stitches per inch, which makes me wonder if I will want to shoot myself halfway through this undertaking. There's also a question of color and whether there's one that fits the bill. Hard to tell from the site, especially with the sparkly stuff. Maybe I'll brave the heat and humidity and wander over to Yarn Connection at lunchtime.

Rowan also has their free pattern of the month up for August. Unfortunately, it's another friggin blanket. I think it was a blanket two months ago, and last month it was a crocheted jacket. Very pretty, but crochet is not my forte. Frustrating - I haven't found a single one of those that I want to make since I joined in June. Maybe September will be better.

I'm also looking for a nice cardigan to make for Diana (maid of honor) for her birthday September 16th. Preferably something that's not going to take too much time - probably chunky or bulky weight. This cardigan from Rebecca might fit the bill. I'm also open to suggestions! I should probably start this one in the next few weeks, which will mean taking a break from the Moo blanket. Then again, the chance of actually seeing Diana on her birthday is slim. Hmm, actually it appears to be a Monday and since she's working in the city these days, I guess it's not so out of the question. We'll see.

Sent off my contract and large deposit check with the boy to send certified mail to the Palm House. Yay! I spoke to a second person there yesterday with a few questions, and she gave me some recommendations for florists, bands and a photographer that they like. We weren't all that impressed with the photographer - nice work, but not terribly interesting. So, we're investigating on our own, with a few recommendations from other people. We both like the work we've seen here, particularly Joel and Terise. One of the florists is located right around the corner from Ryan's place, so I think we'll visit them sometime soon. And I will check out the bands she mentioned, but also want to talk to the band that played my cousin Jill's wedding several years back. I remember them being fantastic.

We've also got to find someone to do that little thing called the ceremony. This should be fun. We want to have a "modern Jewish, easy on the God" ceremony. My mother really wants a chuppah and a rabbi, and I sort of do, too, even though none of us is particularly religious. Of course, Ryan is not Jewish and not religious at all, but he says he is OK with that as long as it doesn't get heavily religious. I agree. My friend Wendy had a Jewish-Indian wedding a year and a half ago, and I remember that being fairly mellow, so I ought to check with her about her rabbi. Or maybe we won't go with a rabbi at all, and instead have a cantor. They are allowed to do wedding ceremonies and tend to be more flexible, from what I have read.

Oh, and good news - my boss, true to his kind self, told me he is going to try and let me make up my missed Summer Friday on August 16th. Of course if we are swamped, it won't happen, but it will probably be OK. That would give me every Friday (except tomorrow) off for the month of August. Yay!

Just gave myself several minutes' worth of entertainment reading these hilarious comments by Zagat reviewers.

Feeling pretty good about myself today, because I had a good time at Stitch-n-Bitch, got another inch or so done on the Moo blanket, and I left at 9 as planned so I could go to the supermarket and get home at a decent hour. That's easier now that Stitch-n-Bitch is about a 7-minute walk from my apartment. Well, until I move to Brooklyn sometime in the next few months.

For some reason I was even motivated enough to clean my bathroom last night at 10:45. It had been really bugging me, but I have hardly been home to do it, and when I have, it's been so unbearably hot in there because the air conditioning doesn't quite make it all the way there. Last night wasn't so bad somehow, so I took the 15 minutes it needed and it looks ever so much better.

Still wishing for that elusive day off. It's highly unlikely to happen this week, so I told Ryan I just need the day to myself on Saturday to finish off my cleaning, laundry, etc. I hate to "waste" a weekend day like that, particularly in the summer, but I think I will go nuts if I don't. If I start early and finish early, I can finish up that silly boatneck and cross one more thing off my list.

10 a.m. meeting to run to now. Have a great day!

Just checked UPS.com, and my Vogue Knitting book is listed as "out for delivery" today! I can't wait to see my friendly UPS driver, John, at my doorstep this evening. He sometimes shows up as late as 7:30, so I may be slightly late for the Stitch-n-Bitch. Have no fear, ladies, I will be there!

I'm definitely in a bit of a knitting rut. I haven't managed to finish anything in ages. Somehow my boatneck is just sitting there, finished up to the armholes on the second side, and I haven't touched it in over a week. I have been working on the Moo blanket here and there, but it's such a big project that I really ought to have something else to finish so I will feel better about things. I'm going to Stitch-n-Bitch tonight, so I guess I could work on the boatneck. I think I've decided that even though the yarn is beautiful, it's not that pleasant to work with. Also, since I'm feeling like the neck is going to be too high and uncomfortable, I've sort of gotten grumpy with the whole thing. Bad bad bad.

Last night I thought I was going to knit but I ended up on the phone most of the night. It was fun to talk to my old roommate, Heather, and tell her my good news (we don't talk that often so there was lots of catching up to do). Then Mom and I made plans to go dress shopping the weekend of August 10th. All of my bridesmaids (except future sister-in-law Kristy, since she is in California and moving to Hawaii any minute now) have told me they want to come shopping for my gown. But the idea of doing that with such an entourage is a nightmare, so I am going on the first scouting mission with just Mom, then will invite the others to join me another time, after I have narrowed it down. I think that just makes sense, and I think that's what the two of them who are married did.

Ryan and I talked last night about photographers and what we're looking for. I think he's going to do the research on this one, since he is an artist and has a great eye. I am good at distinguishing crappy photography from good photography, but the middle ground is vast and I think he's perfectly suited for it. Not to mention that I'm happy to have him do some of the work! I think he will also be instrumental in finding a band. OK, that pun was honestly and truly unintentional, and I am not changing it because it amuses me that I wrote it!

My goodness, I just made it all the way around the Knitblogs ring for the first time in ages. Could I be a little more jealous of Darilyn, who has the good fortune to be living and knitting in Maui?

It's hot as hell here and I am so happy to have gotten home at a reasonable hour and not have to go anywhere tonight. I think I'll celebrate by knitting and reading wedding porn!

Blogger is getting more and more irritating, with the 503 publish error and other assorted glitches. Argh. But I feel too lazy to change, so I guess I will just suck it up and deal for a while.

Email this morning from Amazon tells me they have shipped my Vogue Knitting book! The very odd thing is that the UPS tracking says billing information was received on July 27th, which makes sense, and that the package shipped on August 4th. Now, tell me if I am wrong, but I think the fact that today is July 28th means that August 4th hasn't actually happened yet, no? So, how in the world could they have shipped it then? Does it mean they are holding the package until August 4th? It all makes no sense. I will check it again later and see if it still says the same thing.

Other than that, it's a dull Monday. I had a fun weekend but am still so tired, and I wish I could just take a day off and do nothing. Tempted to call in sick, but I am covering for Bill, who is on vacation, and it probably wouldn't be a good idea. Of course, the pile of laundry at home isn't a good idea either. I have to be at Bliss tonight at 6pm, but it's not for anything so blissful, and by the time I get home everyone in the building will likely be doing their laundry. Vanessa's suggestion is to just this once send my laundry out. Twenty bucks and no hassle. It's awfully tempting, but I've never done it. We shall see.

Started the morning off right, with the great news that they rescued all nine of those miners in Pennsylvania. It was really a great feeling to turn on the TV and find good news for a change.

After breakfast we headed off to Long Island for a BBQ at Leanne and Glen's. Lots of old friends from high school who I only see a couple of times a year, and lots of new kids. It is so weird when your friend's kids are older than you were when you met your friend! It was nice to see everyone, though Ryan and I were fairly low-energy, and spent a good chunk of time comatose in the hammock. I so want a hammock when we buy a house! Here's Leanne and I smiling for the camera.



And before I go, congrats go to Judy, for surviving the Blogathon! I didn't get a chance to read any of her posts live, but I will probably get to them all tomorrow sometime. And I promise I will send my pledge to RAINN ASAP! Wow, I don't know if I could manage the 24-hours of posting. I think I might run out of things to say. OK, anyone who knows me is laughing now.