this is my it’s too late and we havent’ had dinner yet face

This one’s for me.  And I am so proud.

First Lace Shawl, originally uploaded by kaphine.

Can’t wait to show off my latest knitting project. It’s all pinned out and done!!!! More pics on both Ravelry and Flickr.

1973 pattern.  Knitting completed 2006.  Assembly completed today.

I’ve added a new blog to my links: Leethal’s Do Stuff.  I’m thinking of knitting up her Vortex hat, just released as a Knitty winter surprise pattern.  I started clicking links from that pattern, and discovered she’s got lots of cool ideas going on.  I’m deeply contemplating Scoodlet.  That and she’s in my home town.  So, I’ve added her to my links, and thought I’d tell y’all.

Oh, and if you haven’t checked out the Family Trunk Project yet, DO.  Emily’s designs just keep getting better.  I’m fairly certain there’s an Ethel in my future (although that patern hasn’t yet been released).  Go over to her blog and see her modeling the prototype, it’s sooooooo beautiful.  I wonder if it would be OK in cotton.  I might have to do some swatching.  I have this lovely Yarnia blend that would be an interesting color for Ethel, if it holds shape well enough.

So, in summary, I’m obsessed with knitting right now.  I’ve been working hard on my sweater, and am about 70% there.  I’ve set it aside today for a few little instant gratification projects, but will be back at it soon.

When Realsupergirl and I bought our home, a key selling feature was the deeded parking space.  After years of parking on the street just outside Harvard Square, having a spot all our own (and a condo management company to shovel the snow out of it) was a beautiful thing.

As you can imagine, when you buy a home, there’s lots to do, and changing the address on the car registration so you can stand in line at City Hall to get a neighborhood parking sticker isn’t on the top of that list.  And it doesn’t have to be if your new home comes with deeded off-street parking.

So, one day, before we’ve officially moved in, I drive to the new condo to hang out for painters, floor refinishers or tub re-glazers, and my spot’s been taken.  I decide to be nice: I park on the street and leave a note on the car letting them know that we’ve just purchased the property that holds the deed to that spot, and that in the future, they’ll need to park elsewhere.  I could of had them towed, but that seemed harsh.  Unfortunately, during the course of my stay in the condo, I received a ticket for not having a neighborhood parking sticker.  So, I replace the note on the car that is STILL in my spot with one that informs them that because I didn’t have them towed, I received a parking ticket.  The cost of the parking ticket is far smaller than the cost they would have incurred if I had excercized my right to tow them, and I expect them to pay the parking ticket (which I leave with the note).  I know there’s a pretty good chance that they won’t pay my parking ticket, but I dearly want to beleive that people dont’ suck, and that they can be polite and responsible.  And, of course, they never paid the ticket.

As a result, I am thuroughly un-hesitent to tow a car parked in our spot.  Which happened today.

And it’s all because one neighbor (or their guest) had to go and ruin it for everyone.

So, I’ve been offered a new nanny job.  Interestingly, it’s with a family I interviewed with and was disappointed to have come in second.  They weren’t feelin’ the love with the nanny they hired and decided on a do-over.  So, I met with them yesterday, and they still don’t seem crazy.  The location is great.  The hours are fine.  The stated expectations seem reasonable.

However it’s a low-ball offer.  A 20% pay cut from what I was making.  Take home would be about the same as my unemployment check.  Which would leave me off WORSE financially, because while I’m unemployed, my student loan is in deferrment, and once I have a job, I will have to resume those payments.  So, I’m actually short-term better off on unemployment.  They’re also offering fewer holidays and sick days.

I emailed them this morning and indicated that they’ve got to do better than their initial offer, and now I’m waiting to see what they can do.

It always feels so gut-wrenching to not take the only offer I’ve got, not knowing what opportunities, if any, are out there.  Am I going to regret this?  Are they going to walk away?  How little can I settle for?  My eyebrows are all pinched together in the middle.