stariel

Tonight I went to Trident - a bookstore-slash-cafe on Newbury St. - to knit with caflygrl and orionnebula. I believe that I actually met them at Trident - and I know I met grateblue2 there. The three of us met because of a knitting group that used to meet at Trident (and then a few other places) and "the yarners" as they're affectionately known have made up a good part of my social life, both knitting and non, for a few years now.



They also have killer breakfast burritos. :)

Last night after work I headed out to Salem to meet bryghtrose for dinner and knitting group. We went back to her place and watched some Law & Order and did some more knitting before bed.

Then today we headed out to explore Salem a bit and visit the Peabody Essex Museum for the exhibit on Tā moko - the traditional facial tattoos of the Māori in New Zealand. It was really a very interesting group of photos and stories. I was especially interested when I noticed and then read about the prevalence of the spiral shape - I like spirals too!

We looked around at another temporary exhibit about weddings which showcased quite a few very interesting dresses and showed traditional garments and items from weddings in other cultures as well. Some of the most impressive were a huge wedding "cake" made entirely of frosting, a beautiful quilt made from pieces of wedding dresses, and the Korean wooden wedding duck.

We also saw assorted glass, maritime stuff, teapots, and the most gorgeous Japanese moon bed which I wanted for my very own. Combine that with hanging out in downtown Salem a bit and you have a very successful Saturday. :)

Tonight I went to Eric's surprise birthday party and had an extremely enjoyable time. I was reminded (again) how much I like meeting new people. Talks of France, music, snails, Denny's, Tool, and all kinds of randomness.

I came home and looked up The Price by Neil Gaiman and read it right away. I also listened to Sorrow by Flyleaf, which was hopelessly stuck in my head all night and causing fits of headbanging (lyrics below).

And I have confirmed, once again, how I really do not need to drink since I am perfectly happy to do things like jump up and down in public just because Love Like Winter came on and steal candles off a birthday cake because they have the letter A and are blue.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sometimes life seems to quiet into paralyzing silence
Like the moonless dark, meant to make me strong.
Familiar breath of my old lies
Changed the color in my eyes
Soon he will perforate the fabric of the peaceful by and by

Sorrow lasts through this night
I'll take this piece of you, and hold for all eternity
For just one second I felt whole... as you flew right through me.

Left alone with only reflections of the memory
To face the ugly girl that's smothering me.
Sitting closer than my pain...
He knew each tear before it came,
And soon he will perforate the fabric of the peaceful by and by

We kiss each other one more time
And sing this lie that's half way mine
The sword is slicing through the questions so I won't be fooled
By his angel light..

Sorrow lasts through this night
I'll take this piece of you and for all eternity
For just one second I felt whole as you flew right though me
and up into the stars
Joy will come ">Sometimes life seems to quiet into paralyzing silence
Like the moonless dark, meant to make me strong.
Familiar breath of my old lies
Changed the color in my eyes
Soon he will perferate the fabric of the peaceful by and by

Sorrow lasts through this night
I'll take this piece of you, and hold for all eternity
For just one second I felt whole... as you flew right through me.

Left alone with only reflections of the memory
To face the ugly girl that's smothering me.
Sitting closer than my pain...
He knew each tear before it came,
And soon he will perforate the fabric of the peaceful by and by

We kiss each other one more time
And sing this lie that's half way mine
The sword is slicing through the questions so I won't be fooled
By his angel light..

Sorrow lasts through this night
I'll take this piece of you and hold for all eternity
For just one second I felt whole as you flew right though me
and up into the stars
Joy will come

Thursday night I joined caflygrl and orionnebula and a few others to go see A Midsummer Night's Dream on the common. It was very good, although the interpretive dance of the fairies frightened me a bit. It is a section that is a good spot for creative interpretation in the play, and their interpretation was certainly creative! The fairies were wearing bright fluffy pants and capes in neon colors and dancing rather erratically.

Friday after work I met up with Andreas and grateblue2 to go to The Garment District to pick up clothes for the '80s party we're attending tonight. I decided to go '80s punk instead of just general '80s so I picked up an old faded band T-shirt and cut off the sleeves and neckline, a pair of black jeans which I cut some artful "rips" in before I threw it in the wash today to make them fray, and pretty plastic earrings and a matching bracelet, and some hot pink fishnet gloves. I also bought some black lace up shoes that remind me of ballet flats. Sadly I had forgotten that I already bought black and white striped sneakers with charms on them on Thursday, and I think those are the ones that will make it to the party. I'm also throwing on one of the lovely skull wristers that grateblue2 knit for me and my normal wallet chain, and my spiked collar if I can find it. I wish I still had my dog chain with the padlock, but oh well...

Today I did laundry in between spurts of *very* heavy rain - it's been thunderstorming all day with intermittent flash floods. Soon I can leave to go to grateblue2's and get ready for the party. :)

Since I moved to Boston I've moved 3 times, and now I'll be making it four. Not counting the move from Seattle to Boston, that is.

My landlord is a psycho so I'm moving out, and in with a friend in a small but cute apartment in the North End - where all the cool Italian food is.

This weekend a new buddy helped me move my fish tanks, which was amazing. It's a good friend that helps you cart live rock around. ;) Tonight a few friends came over to help me pack and made short work of my back closet, the DVDs/videos/CDs, and most of my books.

And I've been working a lot, but on Saturday I did get to hang out with Brit and eat some Thai food and see Children of Men. It was good. I was hoping it would have more about why everyone is infertile. (In case you don't know, the premise of the movie is that suddenly in 2009 (or maybe 2008) everyone is infertile.) So the movie takes place about 18 years later when there are no children.

It's an interesting concept for sure. And I wanted to see it when I heard about it because I'm a sciency kind of person. However, the movie is not at all about *why* people are suddenly infertile, but about how the world is falling apart because of it. Still a very good movie.

orionnebula and I saw the early fireworks show down at the Common. Then we headed back to her place to have dinner and watch Thank You for Smoking, watch the ball drop, and toast the new year with sparkling cider.

I got the keys to my new place today, and the reality is hitting that I'm actually moving! polarg88 was over yesterday and helped me with some packing (thanks again!)

I don't have too much packing left to do. I'll probably work on it quite a bit tomorrow night unless something fun comes up, and more on Saturday. Other than that nothing exciting is going on, which is why I haven't been writing much lately.

Tonight I went to a Pac-10 group (really just a bunch of USC people). caflygrl's roommate goes all the time, but today I went with caflygrl and her boyfriend. It was pretty fun, and Microsoft was having some sort of concert with Trains in Fenway park for a convention. We could see the video screen and hear the concert.

"I was waiting for a cross-town train in the London underground when it struck me
That I've been waiting since birth to find a love that would look and sound like a movie

...

I want so badly to believe that there is truth, that love is real
And I want life in every word to the extent that it's absurd"

I went out with a bunch of knitters today. There was fun and craziness, and quite a few pictures!

Last night I planned to go home and get some cleaning done... Maybe a little spinning, and some knitting and Netflix-watching.

Well, somewhere between leaving the lab and arriving home, I got an email from Brit inviting me to come out to Salem for dinner. I took him up on that offer and T-ed and Commuter Rail-ed my way out to Salem, MA. Which I must say I have still not really seen, being that I have only driven through it in a flash both times I've been there.

We went to nearby Beverly and had sushi at a Japanese place (and sat on cushions on the floor and had to take off our shoes!). I had Kappa Maki and an avocado roll - yummy! Afterwards we went to an (Italian?) place for yummy dessert. We went back to his place to wait for the last train and I saw a little of A Few Good Men, which I now must Netflix.

So I got home pretty late, and got up fairly early this morning and was picked up - along with my spinning wheel - by Jacob (Jessica's boy). We headed over to their house where I met Amanda and Nicole and we all proceeded to spin and knit. And because Jacob is so nice, he even offered to stain and finish my spinning wheel for me, so I left it over there. And Jessica made sweet potato pie, which was really yummy.

The only not-so-good part was that I had a fight with their cat, Lenin (who is quite evil) and he scratched my face. I think I won though, he went and hid for a couple of hours.

By special request:



I made a hat for the lovely hibrian, and there it is. He approves of CTHGSY too.

(If you're interested in seeing Life with CTHGSY: Chapter Two, it's here)