My Buddy Benny

So, where were we? Knitless blogging and packing I think, right? Well, we'll start there anyway.

Knitting update? Not a lot. Strictly a little Christmas knitting that I can't show ya. Nothing too ambitious though, I assure you.

Mostly I have been working on getting things set up for our move. We have a pretty-much-empty storage space now as well as a hasn't-yet-been-used private mail box. Now I just need to get things moved to their respective receptacles. Bleah. Not fun work.

I have also been looking into what needs to be done to be able to take our cats with us to India and was thrilled that it looks like it can be done! Then yesterday as a part of that I took the cats to the vet to get all of their vaccinations up to date and to have them micro-chipped. When we arrived home the vet called me to let me know that Benny has a heart murmur (why didn't she tell me when we were there?!) At first I thought, "Oh! Poor thing!" and then as she went on and explained some of the possible causes and such it occurred to me that this might make it so that he cannot go with us. I cried. Then I felt ridiculous because I cried. Then I realized how often Benny keeps me company and I cried some more. Somehow I never realized how much I care for this silly cat. Dang, now I'm crying again.


He follows me around the house when he wants attention or just wants to know I am there. If he is out in the backyard and I call him or whistle, he comes running. When Bryan is out of town he usually knows and comes to sleep with me. He always knows when I need a little extra love and is there for me. What am I going to do if I don't have Benny? And then there is Ashley. Ashley is Benny's sister and they have always been together. If Benny can't go would it be right to take Ashley? Am I going to have to find a home for the two of them? I can't think about this right now. I will just have to take this one step at a time.

I took him back to the vet today to have some more tests done to determine the cause and severity of said heart murmur, but now I am concerned that the stress of a 20+ hour flight would not be so good for him. Benny is my buddy. I would really miss him.

In which Snid knits slick, slippery silk...

(How's that for a tongue twister?)

I know, I know- I promised you knitting and the problem is that I don't have a lot of knitting to share. The little bit of knitting I have done is Christmas related and other than that- I got nothin' for ya. No, wait- that's not quite true. Remember this? My 25 Rupee, 50 gram cone of silk from Bangalore? Well I tried it out.

I knit a sample swatch using my size 1 Addi lace circulars (actually more like 1 1/2, or 2.5 mm). It was a bit stiff when I first knit it, it obviously has some sort of sizing or something on it. It is also slick as - well I'll keep it clean and say it is slick. So slick that after I cast off the last row, pulled the yarn through the last stitch and cut it (leaving about my usual 3-4" length) it wasn't long before I noticed that this length had somehow slipped back through and was coming undone and dropping stitches! I quickly put a safety pin through what loops I could find, deciding that if it was that slick then ripping back and picking up stitches would be no fun, if not impossible. (It's a swatch not a garment!) I washed the swatch and it's drape and usability improved dramatically. I think this has potential!


Yay! I am planning on skeining and washing the rest of the yarn before I use it- I think it will be much easier to work with and hopefully won't be quite as slippery.

As for the move and all of the plans related to that. Well, things are progressing, although I am conflicted as to whether I want them to move faster or slower. We are still waiting for a lot of paperwork to be generated but the offer has been approved and accepted. Yet I am also feeling like time is marching towards our departure very quickly. My 18 yo daughter moved out last week which leaves us with two children left in the house...it is almost eerie quiet at times. We have boxes everywhere along with piles of things that I am sorting through and it doesn't feel very holiday-ish at all, at all. I did get both a storage space and a mail box this week so I am feeling like the business end of things is getting done. Now we just need to sell my car and rent out our house. sigh.

Well, I hope that all of you who celebrate Thanksgiving have a beautiful holiday. Enjoy your loved ones and don't eat too much!!!

Things I'll Miss Monday- The Food

I have been pondering a series of posts in which I show you the things I will miss once we are living in India. You see, I am not just some recent Valley transplant who came here in the midst of the dot com bloom or any other such Silicon Valley growing spurt. I have lived in the Bay Area for most of my life, since I was two and the Summer of Love was on the horizon. I remember the orchards, the greenhouses, the mobile home parks and taking the bus to the end of the line and back again on lazy Summer days- just because. So, this place is home. What will I miss?

Well, let's start with the food. ;)

Admittedly, there are few establishments that have been around since I was a kid, but there are a few, like

El Faro
No, it isn't necessarily the best Mexican food in town, though it is good. The decor leaves something to be desired- but I have fond memories of going there as a child, ordering corn tortillas with butter (fresh!) and trying to outdo my dad with eating chips and as much hot sauce as we could stand, my eyes watering as I smiled and asked for more.
Marie Callendar's
We used to go to the one on El Camino on Sunnyvale and it is still there. It was a real treat for us and I always loved the napkins that said "Apple Pie without some cheese is like a kiss without a squeeze." Still haven't tried apple pie with cheese, but mom got Thanksgiving pies there for years (we now make them ourselves and they taste much better- Mom just isn't much of a baker!)
Peninsula Creamery
This place definitely still exists and the long lines on any given weekend morning will attest to its popularity. Now, with that said it is a very different place from when I was young. This was one of our favorite hang outs when I was a young punk rocker art student in high school. We would hit all of the thrift stores in downtown Palo Alto (used to be tons!!!!), peruse the used record shops and then head to the creamery for a bite to eat. It's decor was sort of a leftover mish mash of 50's, 60's and 70's with evidence of years of greasy food on the decidedly off white walls. Our favorites? Tuna sandwiches, burgers, and the best milkshakes anywhere, made with real Peninsula Creamery ice cream (Emerald Isle, yum!) The grumpy old lady waitresses who called us all "Sweetie" were the best!
Hobee's
This is another still popular spot that has evolved into a chain, but I remember going to the first Hobee's, still there on Central Expressway and Rengstorff in Mountain View and all I can say is that they also had the best burgers and milkshakes. They were sort of the health food version of the all American burger stand and really my memory can recall none that bested them! My favorite booth to sit in had the picture of the card playing dogs hanging above it. Last time I ate there they still had the picture!


Falafel Drive-In
This is a more recent discovery for me since I have moved a little further South in the last 12 years, but it has been around forever, always has a line and is just really good, simple, and inexpensive food. Best. Falafels. Banana Shakes. etc. Yum.
La Costena
This grocery store with the burrito bar in the back is just the best, best, BEST place to get a burrito. I used to work occasionally across the street and I would walk over, buy an extra large burrito for a few dollars and it would be enough food for an entire day. Have to thank Peter Kirkeby for introducing me to this, but they are still here and still cheap!
Barefoot Coffee Roasters
No, they haven't been around forever, yet. But I couldn't let a post about local food stuff go by without giving them a mention. They are quickly becoming a South Bay mainstay- why? They are simply the best coffee house ever. I have never tasted a latte as good as theirs (and if you ever get one from Monica you will consider yourself blessed!) anywhere. I will seriously miss their coffee, both roasted to take home and their drinks, best enjoyed "for here".

Latte by Ariel

Now, before I forget- again- I wanted to let you all know that my dear husband has also started a blog. Go say "Hi!" and welcome him to the blogosphere!

Next up? Knitting and other fiber-y pursuits.

A new look for a new life

Well, I decided that I wanted to have a little brighter colors around here- hence the new look.
What do you think?

I need some brighter colors! I have been dealing with jetlag for the majority of the week (yes, we are back!) and the weather has been gray and cold and not real conducive to getting much done. But today I am finally feeling somewhat normal again. Yay! So, I should be working on packing things up and getting rid of things. I did do a little of that, but then I decided I wanted to work on my blog instead. 'Cause that really needs to get done, you know? Like, now. It is imperative! (ahem)

Well, it cheers me up a little anyway.

Tonight? Bobaknit.

Never did find any boba in Bangalore. Dang.