07/25/2006
The last bit...
Being back at work is completely cutting into my blogging, emailing, and comment leaving time. There is other stuff going on as well, but I will get to that in a moment. The last of the pictures from Thailand. Dad is asking for more pictures, so here they are. Actually I didn't take as many as I should have. Shame on me.
These are pictures of the beach at the hotel we stayed at on Koh Samui. 
And here is a picture of the dog that belonged to the owner of Pizza Hat (that is the real name) a pizza/Italian restaurant we feel in love with on the island. 
And here is picture of the poor airline employee at the airport in Bangkok trying to keep all the Taiwanese people from rushing to the plane ahead of boarding time. There was the noise of the intercom coming on and a large crowd of people thought that meant it was time to board the plane. So Taiwanese.
So, some exciting news. I am moving to a new apartment on August 5th. I am moving closer to work. Meaning instead of spending at least 1 hours traveling each way, it will only take me 30 to 45 mins each way. The rent is cheaper and there aren't any boxes or anything for me to trip on when trying to get in the front door. And most importantly, no fighting roommates. I can't wait!!! So I have to sort and pack and arrange to move over the next week and a half. So if I am MIA, there is a reason.
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07/21/2006
Ang Thong National Marine Park
While on Koh Samui, my sister and I lead a pretty relaxed life. The one thing we did do was going to Ang Thong National Marine Park. We went with a tour group and got to go snorkeling as part of the package. I can't believe that my sister went snorkeling, but she loved it. I had fun too and got a little sunburned. But that is all part of vacation. 
While on the boat, I was able to get some pictures of the different islands in the national park. This particular national park consists of over 40 islands. It was really cool to see them all. Ignore the other tourists in the pictures. 
As part of the tour, we got to do a mini hike )about 500m) on one of the islands. Part of the hike takes you up to a lagoon called Emerald lake. Really beautiful and the pictures of the fish are for my sister. The last picture is of a sea cucumber or sea slug that we saw when we were snorkeling and then at the lagoon. 
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07/19/2006
Cooking School
Here are a few pictures of cooking school. I really do need to remember to take more pictures when I am out and about. Vacation would constitute one of those times. In the first picture, my sister Joanna is making curry paste in a granite mortar. The second picture is of me and two of the teachers from cooking class. We, well at least I did, had a lot of fun in cooking class. And as soon as my sister was over the jet lag, she kicked my butt. 
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07/06/2006
My poor stomach
Cooking school has been good. I have learned how to make curry, several different types, along with salads, desserts, and all kinds of other good stuff. My stomach had been full for four days now. As much as I like Thai food and spicy food, my stomach does not. Tomorrow is suppose to be our last day of cooking school, but my sister and I aren't going. Instead we are going to take a spa day. As soon as we are done with internet and checking emails, we are going to make our reservations for the spa. I can't wait. My back is hurting some too, but that is because I was sleeping for two days after getting here. Tonight sis and I are going to the night market for sure. We had wanted to go last night, but it took over an hour to wash a single load of laundry. We didn't finish until 9pm and we both needed to get some sleep. But we got out of cooking class early, are going to get back massages and then head off to the night market for shopping!!! Yeah!!! Ok, time to get off here. Must make appointment for spa day tomorrow. And then Saturday, it is off to the beach for a week.
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07/01/2006
Finally here
Just a quick post to say that I made it to Chiang Mai and the whole flying thing was very uneventful. The best way to fly in my opinion. There was a mix up with my sister's flight. So instead of being here tomorrow morning, she will be here on Tuesday. So I am stuck here by myself, which isn't a bad thing really. It gives me a chance to explore the area before she gets here. Time to eat. Going to find some fruit to munch on and hopefully counter act all the airline food I have consumed today.
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05/07/2006
All's well that ends well
Actually there hasn't been a lot of knitting going on here. At least it doesn't feel like it. This weekend was pretty slow for knitting, but there was some yarn shopping. 
The DK weight is so I can make a Mr. Dangly for myself. It is all part of the evil monkey thing I have going on right now. Speaking of evil monkeys, I have some I am willing to sell, CHEAP. Cute and all that too. No, no takers. Thought I would at least ask. And the other is for a gift for Brandon Scott. This weekend the only knitting that has taken place is the beginning of my Jaywalker socks. When I started them I wasn't sure of the color. They reminded me of when Willy Wonka (the movie with Gene Wilder) is talking about rainbow gum giving a person the ability to spit in 7 colors. I am hoping these socks don't look like someone spit in colors on my leg. But now that I have knitted more than two rows on them, the colors are looking a little more patterned and less spit-ess. 
I finished the scarf for my co-teacher. I didn't book mark the page where I got the pattern, only printed the pattern out. I am so lazy some days. But here is what it looks like. 
Still have to weave the ends in though. Still working on the hat pattern, found one I like but have to re-work the numbers because the yarn I have is a different gauge. Will do that tomorrow night while watching CSI. And I finished my panta (the pattern I used is on page 4) with some of the yarn from Jan. It is so cool the way the stripes came out so even. I couldn't have done it better if I had planned it. Check it out, sorry for the bathroom pictures. 
And I think I have finally decided on a pattern to use with the silk yarn Jan sent me, I think. I am thinking of making the Trellis Scarf from the Spring 06 Interweave Knits. Scroll down and you can see a picture of it. I am thinking of doubling the width so I have more of a stole. Right now it is still just an idea that I am working on. Right now, most of my knitting is sitting and waiting for me to work out some math on it. Really should get on that, tomorrow, while watching CSI. I got all my work done this weekend, so tomorrow evening is all mine!!!! YEAH!!!!
This weekend I didn't make it to the play that the Pimp and others from work were putting on. Really, I shouldn't wait until 3 days before to try and get a ticket at a sold out show. Duh, one would think I should have more common sense than that. (Blame the 20 evil monkeys for sucking out the last thread of sanity and reason that the custom agents didn't take) There are rumors of a third show though and I will definitely get a ticket then. 
Speaking of the Pimp, I wasn't the only person he didn't call back last weekend. He didn't call is Mother or Auntie either. So I don't feel quite so bad.
And look what my bestest, best friend forever and ever and ever amen sent me? If you remember, I bought a pair in London 15 months ago. Being the total shoe whore I am, I ended up with a pair that was too small for my monster feet. I sent that pair to a loving home in September and they are being enjoyed and cared for. I ordered a pair from the only company that ships to Taiwan. On backorder for months, people, months!!! Finally, I canceled that order and ordered from another company that ships to the U.S. and my bestest best best friend ever, sent them to me. I is so cited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! May in Taiwan is too warm for boots, but I am keeping for fingers crossed for a freakishly cool day so I can wear them to work.
And to top off this lack of posting for the past week, I bought a new cell phone yesterday. It is a cheap one, no camera or MP3 player or anything like that. The guy keep trying to sell me a phone that I didn't want. First it was a camera phone to which I replied that I have a digital camera. Then it was the MP3 player, I have an iPod for that. There was the PDA, I have an old fashioned paper planner/calendar that works just fine for me (and doesn't need batteries). The only difference between my old phone and new phone, besides the brand is that my new one has a color screen and a better signal. What can I say. Now it is time to actually get some knitting done.
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08/02/2005
My Sissy Loves Me!!!! :) :) :) (and yarn porn)
My birthday was in May. I am closer to 30 now than to 25, but that is not the topic of this post. Today I received my birthday from my sissy Elizabeth who is in New York and who has just started her own blog. But pictures of everything I got in this super cool box she sent me. I am sorry for the crappy pictures. Between my excitment and the cat's excitment of new "toys" it was hard to get good pic
tures. The first picture is of me in my new travelling pants and my evil monkey shirt. Since I have started teaching, I have developed a respect, love, and almost obsession for evil monkeys. And there is a close up of the evil monkey shirt. Thinking that maybe the evil monkey shirt needs some wa
ist shaping. Next in the box was another shirt. Since I was taking pictures in the mirror, the black shirt says "I'm strange, maybe even crazy, but never a dull moment." 
Don't believe me, just ask my students. They will completely agree, with the shirt. Then came out a bunch of cool goodies and books. She sent me the Loop-d-loop book of knitting patterns. The patterns are not standard fare of hourglass or raglan sweaters that I have so far. I really like the designs though some of them show more skin that I like to show. And she sent me the 3rd book of the Travelling Pants. 
I know they are classified as young adult, but I still like them. I got the Rob Thomas CD, which I like, thank you very much. There were Bertie Botts Every Flavor Bean and a glow stick. There are a lot of gross flavors in the beans and I can use them when students are naughty. Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha!!!!!!! All of this stuff was included in a new bag that I going to use for work. 
And I also got the Boye Needlemaster Interchangable kit. I am really excited about this. No more going to the Japanese import store and trying to guess what size needle I am actually buying. 
And finally some yarn porn. I know they look like the same color, but they are for different projects. 
The small skien is to finish my go-anywhere, go with anything cardigan from the Stitch-N-Bitch book. The three pound skien are to make Mariah by Jodi Green and published in Knitty.com. And I am going to start as soon as I am finished with Bad Penny.
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07/26/2005
Wilde Theatre Company presents Neil Simon's The Odd Couple, directed by Barbara Coughlan
Several people from work are putting on a play. They are preforming Neil Simon's The Odd Couple in a few weeks. I am doing sewing for the set. I get paid nothing for work or advertising. But in Taipei it is always important to support English productions as they are few and far between. So if you live in Taipei, or plan on visiting, check it out. Performances are August 5,6,7,12, 13, and 14th. The venue is at Chocolate & Love, 148 XinYi Road, Sec 4. Near the Da-an MRT stop. Or you can take the XinYi bus line. For directions call (02) 2702-4371. Tickets are on sale now and going fast. For reservations or more information about tickets call Barbara Coughlan at 0916-442-532. You should go, really, you'll laugh, you'll cry, good fun all around.
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