Quick Netflix Update

I have completed the Netflix race. Quick conclusion: It doesn't matter where I mail it from, they all process at pretty much the same time.

More To Come.

A Chicago Post Office Test

I happen to have finished all three discs from Netflix this weekend, and I'm going to send them on a race back to Netflix through the USPS.

Disc #1
Title: Smallville Season 3, Disc #2
Zip Code Sent from: 60640
Outgoing Location: Corner mailbox at Carmen and Broadway (Aon Building)
Mailed on: Sunday night (approximately 11pm)
Netflix "arrival" confirmation email date/time: TBD
Netflix "sending a new disc" confirmation email date/time: TBD

Disc #2
Title: Smallville Season 3, Disc #3
Zip Code Sent from: 60625
Outgoing Location: either Pytel's residential mailbox via the mailman or corner mailbox at Spaulding and Lawrence. If that corner mailbox only has one pick-up per day, I will drop at the 60625 post office before 5pm.
Mailed on: Monday late afternoon
Netflix "arrival" confirmation email date/time: TBD
Netflix "sending a new disc" confirmation email date/time: TBD

Disc #3
Title: Friday Night Lights, Season 1, Disc 2
Zip Code Sent from: 60601
Outgoing Location: Eve's work office building's mailbox
Mailed on: Monday morning
Netflix "arrival" confirmation email date/time: TBD
Netflix "sending a new disc" confirmation email date/time: TBD

My Predictions:
Logic says that the discs should arrive #1, #3 then #2. Disc #1 will be on the first mailbox emptying pick-up of the day tomorrow (and is a mailbox fairly close to the actual post office), and then will be sorted and sent to the Netflix facility at 60680-4117, theoretically arriving in the first batch Monday morning. Disc #3 will be in the mail before the first mail pick-up of the day, and has less distance to travel because it will already be downtown. Disc #2 should theoretically not be logged in at Netflix until Tuesday because it won't be picked up
until later in the afternoon by the individual mail carrier or will get into a blue mailbox to be picked up in the 5pm or later pick-up.

My experience tells me that the discs will actually log in #2, #3 then #1. Disc #2, if it goes with the mail carrier, is in a more efficient post office (60625) than Disc #1 (60640) by my experience mailing discs. Also, with the mail carrier, I think that the discs are hand sorted immediately into the bin to go to Netflix, so that it gets there quicker. The morning/first run discs will be buried at Netflix receiving on account of all the end-of-weekend (exacerbated by the snowy weather) disc watching and returning, slowing down their check-in. The late afternoon disc, on the other hand, will hit Netflix in a smaller batch, theoretically helping it to be processed faster.

All of my disc mailing experience has been wholly unscientific, and this isn't much better, except that I am going to document the experience, mostly to figure out which is the best way to send back my discs, since all three options are viable in my regular routine. All discs will be packed into the mailing envelopes with the disc sleeve barcode visible in the little cut-out window in the mailing envelope, in case that helps with processing time. My queue is plenty full of available discs, so everything being returned should be able to trigger a new disc to mail immediately.

I will edit this post with updates as discs make their way through the system.

Yes, these are the sorts of things that I think about now that my job doesn't involve major problem solving. I am enjoying the break, but if anyone needs a problem solver on the side, I am clearly available.

Ten Gifts for Knitters

I am a knitter, I like knitting, I think about knitting a lot, and Clara Parkes has written up this year's list of 10 great gifts for knitters. As though I didn't put enough choices on my Christmas List already.

Oh, you know what else is super? I donated to Heifer International, and today I got address labels and holiday gift tags with livestock on them, including sheep. I was very excited, especially because my MSF/DWB ones are almost used up. I recently gave them money too, though, so I should eventually get a re-stock on their address labels.

All Done!

I took lousy pictures (that are up on flikr! if you care) of my sockapalooza 4 sock pal socks, so I'm not torturing you with any here. Instead, go on over to Lindsey's blog and check them out here.

And now, back to the baby pants that I'm test knitting.

A Wardrobe Change?

I think that it is time for a wardrobe update, and the only things that I found at Marshall's recently that I found acceptable were a pair of brown corduroy pants and a made-in-China fair isle-style cardigan sweater. What I really want to be wearing is a wintry update to my new-to-me summer style.

What do I want to find? I want to be wearing jumper-style dresses (pinafores across the pond, apparently) over long sleeve t-shirts with cardigan sweaters over top, with thick warm tights and chunky mary janes. I've got the t-shirts. And some black Keen mary janes. But the dresses? And tights? I'm at a loss. Send links! Or hand-me-down clothes would be fine too.

In knitting news, my long-past-due Sockapalooza 4 socks are complete. The box will be going out in the mail later on today (its just past midnight here, so its technically the same day). I am so glad to have this monkey off my back. Next up on the queue? Test knitting some baby pants for Shelly Kang. I should go and pack those up for the trip to MSP tomorrow. I expect to be waiting out craptastic weather for a long time at MDW late tomorrow evening, but at least I'm checked in, and seated in row 9 instead of 17, and not in a middle seat. It'll be fine. As its the last flight to MSP on NWA tomorrow, I'm pretty sure that it will go, but probably not on-time. I've got knitting and reading, so I'll be fine and dandy as long as we get there.

53 balls of wool on the bed, 53 balls of wool

Dalegarn Baby Ull 002
Originally uploaded by tdgirl

Take one down, pass it around, now give it back, its my wool on the bed!

This is all the Dale of Norway/Dalegarn Baby Ull that was hanging out in the stash cubes in the corner of my room. All of this yarn, except for the frog kit, was apparently hiding in half a cube. It was like unloading a clown car to catalog it all on the bed. No, I don't have any idea how I'm going to get it all back in.

A word problem about knitting

I may be in a funk, and generally cranky, but I've decided to knit the Sweet Baby Hat (Ravelry) for a small, related child. The question is, which size to knit that will give me the best chance of a hat that fits someone at Thanksgiving.

I have babies of cousins who are 19 months, 5 months and in utero. if my hat size choices are 6months, 1 year and 2 year, and i have no idea, nor do I particularly care about my gauge (there is hope of hitting it, so I'll be in the size ballpark), which size should I make to maximize the possibility that it will fit a small child at Thanksgiving?

I currently think that the 1 year size is where I'm going to head.

Christmas List

Edited 11-15-07 and 11-23-07

Mom has asked what I want for Christmas, so here's a link list. Yes, I know that its huge and extravagant, but it wouldn't be a surprise if gift-givers didn't have lots of choices.

I would like someone to plan and cook healthy, yummy meals for me. There is no link for that. Sorry. If I knew where to get it, I already would have taken care of it.

A new laptop battery. It would be really exciting to really be unplugged for more than 20 minutes. Also, I haven't found a pocket or purse-sized WiFi internet device that I desire, so improving the current laptop would be a better move.

Danskos? New Clarks? Good sneakers? I need some new shoes.

A seltzer water maker

Knitting Camp for 2008

Yarn School for 2008 (no info yet online... maybe I should ask for my birthday?)

Schoolhouse Press has nice things. So does Levenger.

A Craft Zine Subscription

Books to read! I am lousy at choosing, but mysteries, feminist sci-fi, regular SF/F, good adventures are all good. If its marketed as chick lit, please put it in someone else's stocking or package.

I'd like a teapot. Travel abroad has spoiled me for a tea bag hanging out in my mug.

If you wanted to get me yarn, and were somehow unable to find some clever self-striping sock yarn or something generally pleasant, smooth and made of wool, here is a specific hint: sock-weight yarn with silver in it. Any number of skeins will do, I think that it would make a heavenly Clapotis with many skeins (4), or a pair of socks, hat or small neckwarmer with one.

Etsy Shops I like:
The Interimaginational Institute
Piddleloop Sewing Team
Entrelac Stitch Markers
Shelly Kang's shop
Laurenn McCubbin


The little things, like for my stocking? Chapstick, Cadbury's Drinking Chocolate, Walker's Shortbreads, 3 Musketeers Reindeer, hand cream (I really like the little blue Nivea tins from Walgreens for a dollar)

Some wishlists:

The Loopy Ewe




Things I love, in no particular order

• cream cheese on toasted ciabatta bread
  
• TV shows streaming online
• peanut butter fudge ice cream from Archer Farms
• bank branches in the grocery store
  
• risotto (who would have ever thought I would say that?)
  
• sheepskin slippers
• pajamas
• chapstick
• Belle and Sebastian's The Life Pursuit

I still think that they are cute

I started a new, full-time job today. I am now a nanny for a pair of fraternal, boy-girl infant twins. They are cute and keep me busy and even in my first day, with both parents still around, I have learned a lot. Oh, and I didn't break the baby and plan to stick with it, so I think that the first nine hours were pretty darn successful.

A list of ten things about today:

1. Babies smell very similar to the way cheese does when you are making it.
2. Cloth diapers (with a service) are easy and nice when you have the little plastic-elastic-velcro wrappers for them. With twins the service is even less expensive than disposable. And where are you supposed to put all those used, disposable diapers?
   
3. Apparently, baby formula can be any temperature between (but excluding) so-cold-the-baby-rejects-it and hotter-than-human-body-temperature. There is no particular scientific reason for a warm bottle.
   
4. It only takes one mistake to reinforce the need to put the lid on the bottle before you shake it up.
5. You'd have to be a masochistic idiot to wake a sleeping baby.
6. The baby carrier will be saving my arms.
7. Its way too hot for October.
8. Baby bottles have come a long way in the last 15 years.
9. It's hard to wait the full five minutes to see if a soothing method will work.
10. The bird swing is magic. Its creepy how well it works, but definitely magic.

I also got into reading my newest issue of The Economist and got some knitting done on a swatch/potholder. I'll definitely be back tomorrow!

No longer lost!

The keys have been found! There is a little shelf unit by the door that holds the record bowl tray where keys go, and apparently, they escaped over the edge and onto the floor. This morning, when grabbing the keys I've been using, something else flipped over the edge, and when I pulled back the shelf to pick it up, there were my keys! (amongst a pair of shoes and a lot of dust balls) I didn't figure out what it was the actually fell, but I'll deal with that tonight. =)

I'll figure out who had the suggestion (here and/or on Ravelry) that would have led to this location, if I wasn't just generally clumsy in the morning, to arrange the yarn. Thanks for all your help!

Help Wanted - there is a prize

I have lost my keys in my apartment. They have been missing for a few days now, since Tuesday morning maybe? I am currently using the spares, and relying on my roommate to check the mail. But this is annoying. I got into my apartment, with the mail, so they are in there somewhere.

Leave me any and all suggestions in the comments. I have looked "everywhere" but obviously not, because the keys are still missing. There is a prize equal to 100g of sock yarn from my stash when I find my keys. The basis of who wins will be, the suggestion that leads to finding the keys wins. If you don't knit, or don't like sock yarn, I promise that we will work something out.

Help!

P.S. tell your friends, and feel free to suggest more than one spot.

Sheep Race!

Sheep in Spandex
Originally uploaded by jodiwilldare

Thanks to Adrian of Hello Yarn on the Ravelry Forums for leading me to this hilarious picture of newly shorn sheep. While they are really just wearing these little outfits to stay warm, I prefer to think that the MN State Fair has added a sheep running race to the Great Minnesota Get Together.

"...never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her..."

So, today I was in my LYS, sitting at the table, knitting on my sock. A woman who I've seen around there and had conversations with previously came in to buy a crochet hook. After announcing what she needs, she turns to me, and says, "Oh! I didn't know that you were pregnant. I always thought you were so young, 16 or so. But on Saturday, you were behind the counter, and you had that belly."

There was nothing that I could really say to that to express my confusion at the situation. I said to her, "its physically impossible for me to be pregnant right now."

My blank stare of confusion must have communicated something to her, because she said, "I'm socially awkward."

To which I responded, "So am I. That's why I knit socks."

I was baffled, though after she left, I did comment that apparently, its time for me to actually sign up for Weight Watchers.

Many thoughts have come to mind since this conversation.

1. How does being 16 prevent pregnancy?
2. Who says this sort of thing out of the blue?
3. Do I really look 16? I'm quite certain that I look more grown-up than 16.
4. Um, yeah, who says that sort of thing? And anyone got any tips on Weight Watchers or something else that worked for them?

and now, your PSA for the day. Think before you speak.

*Quote from Dave Barry

Need an Assistant?

Second in an occasional series

Last week, I posted about my qualifications for being a nanny. Tonight, I am writing up my qualifications to be an assistant. Administrative Assistant, Executive Assistant, Secretary, Office Clerk... I'm not sure what all the shades of distinction are there, but there are many titles for the same general job; helping someone who is more in charge get their work done, by making it your work, and not screwing it up so that their life is even more harried and difficult.

Here goes, my qualifications to be an assistant:

• I find it to be humorous that job posters feel it necessary to put "greet guests and visitors courteously" and "answer phones politely" in the job descriptions. Last time I checked, in a business/work environment, it is generally important to always be polite and courteous to whoever one encounters. Golden rule and all. I'd hate to meet the assistants who caused those descriptors to be added to the listing.
• I type well. Its a side effect of using instant messenger-type programs since I was 14 or 15. I believe that I type around 50-60 wpm, and I don't suck at 10-key data entry either, provided that I don't have to switch between a keypad and a phone frequently. Does anyone know why calculators and computer keyboards are reversed from touch-tone phones in the order of the numbers? I misdial frequently when working on a job bid because I'm switching back and forth a lot.
• I have good math skills. I haven't studied past Calc 1 in 1999, but if I can break a problem down to an algebra, geometry or trig equation, then I'm golden. Apparently, I learned something in school.
• I take good phone messages, as my parents trained me well at an early age.
• If you, the boss, would like me to, I will keep track of your calendar. I attempted to do that for a previous boss, and it turned out that he didn't keep a calendar at all, and didn't want to start. I just kept an eye on him, and he told me when I needed to remind him about things.
• I read people well. I can tell who is slimy and who is for real.
• My PDF making skills are pretty darn good for someone without any formal training. Your tear sheets will never have catalog prices going to the client.
• I am skilled with Excel and Word.
• My proofreading skills are good. You won't send out any notices about "costumer service" unless the dressers and stitchers are going to be receiving massages.
• I travel a lot, and know my way around travel arrangements. I can get you fancy digs, refundable, first-class tickets and a car service to pick you up, or I'll get the cheapest plane ticket, a bed at the Red Roof Inn and a compact rental car. Tell me what you need, and I'll find it, book it, and give you a neatly typed up list of all the details you'll need to have smooth sailing through the trip.
• I know how to use ACT! I do not do it willingly because in my experience it is cumbersome and slows down the whole computer, but I know what it does and how to get around in it.
• I am good on the phone with screening calls, and promise to actually find out what the caller wants before passing them on to you.
• I have experience with ordering food for large groups of people, having taken that on in high school during shows with matinées. You won't have to eat the same old sandwich tray everyday if you don't want to, and I'll make sure to find out (and write down for future reference!) what the clients' likes, dislikes and restrictions are.
• Having seen the wide variety of holiday gifts and cards sent out to clients and vendors, I can help you avoid the duds and get the most bang for your buck.
  

And now, of course, the down-sides of me as your assistant:

• I have successfully avoided Power Point almost entirely for a decade because I've never seen it used well except as a server of images for a theatrical production. However, its just another MS Office product, and I'm pretty sure that if you know what you want in your presentation, I can make it work and not be so boring it puts the clients to sleep.
• My experience with QuickBooks is solely in the Sign*A*Rama custom install, but I've read the manual and it sure doesn't seem like rocket science or brain surgery.
• I hate slimy sales people with a passion, but enjoy developing relationships with vendors who are genuine. Please don't make me order mini-blinds, but I'll get you a great price and service on flooring!
• If there isn't a certain amount of math and hands-on production of stuff (even well-made presentation packets work for me) I will become bored and irritable. Especially if you are working to bring about the downfall of society.
• I need to eat every 4 hours or I will edge towards a melt-down. Conveniently, I tend to come with snacks just-in-case.

This time around, the list is a bit more balanced between pros and cons, but I think that is because I have less knowledge of what assistants do, besides anticipate the boss' needs and try to work independently.

More to come in the future.

Need a Nanny?

I am looking for a job, and am coming to realize that I'm not terribly inclined to return immediately to the commercial scenery business. I would do it for some money, but I'm not begging anyone to give me a job doing what I did before. As I consider what I am qualified to do, I have decided to start writing a series of blog posts describing my qualifications for various sorts of jobs, looking for feedback, leads, and just putting it out there to remind myself that I'm not totally useless (even if I am unemployed and rapidly draining my savings).

First in an occasional series

Here are my qualifications to tend to your children on an on-going basis:

• 15 years babysitting experience (Red Cross Certified Babysitter at age 10/grade 5)
• I love babies
• I enjoy elementary age children
• I am amused by toddlers and pre-schoolers
• I understand pre-teens, even if I totally understand why we put them all in a place called middle school to wait out early puberty
• I will confidently mentor your teens through the rocky years of high school
  
• I can help with homework at any school level
• I will encourage reading and discourage television dependency
  
• I am fluent in my native language, English
• Legal to work in the United States (so you can run for political office someday!)
• Your parenting philosophies will be my parenting philosophies, and if you are new to it (first baby) and still unsure, we will work together to raise a happy, healthy, resilient child
• I am a trained Red Cross lifeguard, having completed the full training and testing twice (high school and college), so you can feel confident sending me to the pool, lake or seaside with your children
• I like animals and can deal with pets
  
• I have experience caring for children with special needs including diabetes, asthma, Down's Syndrome, mental and physical retardation, high-functioning autism, and other special situations.
• I also excel at caring for happy, well-adjusted, pleasant children!
• I understand that I am bigger and in-charge. It is unlikely that your children will wear me down to give in to their demands to eat sprinkles for dinner, color on the walls with the new crayons or let them watch cartoons when its supposed to be bedtime. In fact, none of those things have ever happened when I've been left with children in my care.
  
• I am a good driver, having had my license continuously for 9 years
• I have a valid passport and would be happy to accompany you on family vacations
  
• I can do laundry, dishes and generally keep the house tidy
• I'm not a big fan of juice for children (as it is essentially liquid sugar), but I will feed them whatever diet you would like.

As everyone has some faults, negatives or downsides, here are some qualifications to the above:

• I cannot handle more than 4 children at a time on my own. I have learned that a family with four children is my upper limit.
• I cook well enough to feed kids and myself, but am not exactly a gourmet. However, I learn quickly if mentored in this department. I'll try to fix whatever your children want to eat.
• I have very little experience driving boats.
• I suck at sports. I will try, but you've been warned.

Lacis Order anyone?

I am going to be ordering two weaving needles from Lacis in the next week or so. They have free shipping, but a flat $4.50 handling fee, which is still a fair bit of cost for two needles (even if they are 14" long).

While their website is horrid, Lacis is the source for all sorts notions, both knitting and other needlework (have you ever wanted to try bobbin lace?), and I am more than willing to handle the administrative logistics of a group order if other people want to order with me. I do ask that you be willing to split that handling fee evenly by however many people are ordering, pay me back with cash, check or balance-funded Paypal, and arrange to hand off the goodies at either a Guild meeting (Knitting or Spinning), some other mutually agreeable location, or pay the postage for me to mail you your stuff.

Leave a reply here, feel free to tell your friends. I'll be cross-posting this to a few places.

in 25 days....

It will soon be my blogoversary for this here page, back in 2004 when I was getting geared up for The Duchess of Malfi, my last school show, and making sure that I had all of the requirements figured out so that I would finish school in December with a degree. Which, thankfully (and quite possibly due to Mr. TANBI's academic wrangling) worked out ok in the end, because I have the giant C-sheet diploma, and the smaller wallet-sized version, that announces to anyone hanging out behind my bookcase (where I keep the darn thing in its big folder inside the big mailer) that I got by BFA in Drama.

So, I want to have a contest of some sort. The trouble is, should it be an entertainment industry sort of contest, a knitting sort of contest, a get-Katy-a-new-job contest? I liked doing the photo scavenger hunt from Erin's blog, but I also think it would be fun to have a contest where the winner was whoever made me laugh or just a random number generator, so I could get lots of comments.

Then, there are prizes. Not everyone (or even most folks) who have stopped by over here are knitters, so I'm not certain that yarn is a good prize. But maybe yarn for knitters and knitted potholders for non-knitters?

I know that I don't post much, but that's the beauty of the aggregator feeds, you can still leave me on the list, no muss, no fuss. So, for the first round here at the Mixer, for the first 4 days, until the counter says that it is 20 days until the blogoversary (so, midnight Saturday, in whatever time zone I decide I'm living in) I am taking suggestions for a blogoversary contest. The prizes (up to 3) will be based on discussion with the winners. Winners will be determined either by their idea being chosen (in whole or in part) or random number generator. If you get other people to stop on by with an idea and say that you sent them, you get an extra chance towards winning. Points for zaniness, unfeasible schemes, creativity and ease of administration. Also, if any suggestion has the distinct flavor of a J. Milo Train-generated idea, that person will probably win.

Thanks and take care!

Launched

I actually put stuff up in the Etsy shop tonight, and added some Etsymini code to the sidebar of this here blog. I have more record bowls to put up over the next few days, as well as a shop banner to scan, notebooks and flowers to photograph and an application to contribute to the Sampler to put in.

Go, look, heart and give me feedback!

Scalzi is hilarious, Florida is weird... more obvious statements coming up soon

When Stupid People Do Stupid Things, And Then Do Even Stupider Things (Whatever)

Go read this, laugh, shake your head and click the RSS feed button in your browser if you don't already subscribe to Whatever.