Staycation

Jimmy is working from home this week and I am on vacation from work. I recently learned this is called a staycation. Go figure!

Today we went to visit Molly at the OSU Urban Arts Space and she gave us our own personalized tour of the Global Glass exhibit. I am still totally in awe of the four knitted garments. While this isn't normally a big deal but they were knitted with yarn coated in fiberglass. Then the pieces were heated at high temperatures causing the yarn to melt away. Very very cool. The exhibit is going to be available through the beginning of October so if you are in Columbus check it out.

After the art we stopped by the main branch of the library. You know knitting has reached rock star status when you find a full display of knitting books. :-)


I started a new pair of socks this past weekend and tonight I graphed the toe closed on the first sock. I am using the Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn I received from a swap a couple years ago. The pattern is called Air Raid Socks by Emily B. Miller. Jimmy picked the pattern out for me to knit.

Wool, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, and Kings Island

It has been a fun filled packed weekend. Yesterday morning found Jimmy and I at A Wool Gathering. It was my first fiber fest and what fun it was. The animals are way cute. I wonder what Poo and Kiki would do if we were to bring home an Angora Bunny for them to play with?



Sheep.... I am glad we visited them early in the day before they had a chance to stink up the tent.



These lambs were only 5 days old. Aren't they cuties? Oh just think of all the wool....



And now for the loot. Above are four hanks bought at Midwest Fiber Co's booth.


The loot. A T-Shirt with last year's design. A tote bag with this year's design. Yarn from right to left. Midwest Fiber Co. 100% Alpaca which was hand painted in blues, green, and burnt orange. Jimmy picked these out so that I can knit a scarf for him. He has selected the Swelligant Scarf found in Son of Stitch 'n Bitch.

Next is two hanks also from Midwest in a blend of 90% Alpaca and 10% Soy Silk in a black with white fleck colorway. I picked this out and think it might be a scarf using one of Anne Hanson's patterns. Perhaps an Elm Row for me?

Above that is a 100% Merino in a Red Hot Chili Pepper colorway by Knitting Notions. Jimmy picked this out too for a hand knitted hat. I also picked up a shawl pin from her booth too.

Last but never least is the two hanks of Super Washed Merino in a hand painted Indigo colorway by The Weaver's Loft. I hope to make a sweater for me with this super soft yarn.

Saturday evening we ventured to downtown Cincinnati to check out Oktoberfest Zinzinnati. It was an OK time. To many people crammed into 5 city blocks left me feeling a little claustrophobic.

The company Jimmy works for rented out Kings Island today for the employees and their families. That is us up on the observation deck of the 1/3 replica of the Eiffel Tower.

View shot from observation deck.
And another.....

Jimmy preparing to have his brain scrambled on the scrambler.


Took a train ride around the park. They are currently building a new roller coaster that will reach 80 MPH called the Diamondback to be finished for 2009 season. There are 24/7 Web Cams recording the progress of the build.


Diamondback pieces.

Diamondback footers.

It has been an awesome weekend. The best part is coming home to kitty cats and knowing that we still have another day off on Monday. :-) Even if it is going to be filled with laundry and cleaning. OH yeah and the Bills are 3-0..... Woofrigginghooooooooooo......

Random Shots.....

This picture was taken from our room. It overlooks the strip and is hopping every minute of everyday. You can just make out the hills in the background of the pic.

This is a picture of sunrise from the room. The pictures don't give the wonderful colors of the horizon justice. Trust me it was breath taking.
This is a picture of the lobby ceiling. The glass is hand blown by Dale Chihuly http://www.chihuly.com/ There are 2,000 flowers in this display and it is the first thing you see upon entering our hotel lobby. Stunning!
For those folks in Columbus there is a Chihuly exhibit in our backyard at the Franklin Park Conservatory. Seeing the lobby I can't wait to get to the Columbus exhibit. Check it out here: http://www.chihuly.com/installations/franklin/index.html Perhaps a knitting field trip in March?

And the strip......

Hoover Dam

According to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoover_Dam there are some interesting facts about Hoover Dam:

There were 112 deaths related to the construction of the dam
There is enough concrete in the dam to pave a two-lane highway from New York to San Francisco
The table below reflects the distribution of power generated at the dam:

I was a bit surprised we had to pass through a security check point before we could drive into the dam area but I suppose we have to protect our resources. My mom lives less than a mile from a nuclear power plant and since 9/11 it is guarded 24/7 by the National Guard so I guess I shouldn't have been all that surprised.

Halfway Point

Hello from Las Vegas..... We have reached the halfway point so I thought I would give a quick update. We have been attempting to cram as many things possible into the time we have. Sunday evening we met up with Mark and had a nice dinner in one of the dozen or so restaurants in the Bellagio. Jimmy and I split a meal so there were only two meals ordered and the bill was still over $200. OUCH since the food was good but not THAT good.

The casinos are fun for about 10 minutes. I can just hear my Mommy, "we work to damn hard for our money to piss it away gambling." I guess I did learn somethings from Mom. :-)

There are many sites and sounds in Las Vegas and they are truly 24 hours a day. The city that never ever sleeps. I witnessed people at the bars at 6 AM drinking. Not sure they were left over from the night before or starting their day right?

We have a wonderful room that overlooks a lake where every 15 minutes from 8 to 12 PM there is a wonderful fountain show. Here are some pics taken from our room:


Yesterday afternoon I took a taxi ($31 dollars ride at that) to a LYS ~ Gail Knits yarn shop. There were 8 or so ladies sitting around knitting. I did purchase some bamboo yarn. I will post some details about that in Ravelry soon. I spent a couple hours chatting and knitting with them which left me missing my knitting group. So have a cup of Joe for me tonight ladies. I miss you!

Jimmy and Mark came to pick me up and we took a drive to Hoover Dam. It was cool to drive from Nevada to Arizona and back again while seeing an amazing sight. I will post some pics from the dam soon. We did have dinner at a Cheese Cake Factory and for those of you who live in Columbus you may know how long the wait is to get in at Easton. Well we were able to at 6 PMish walk in and be seated. I asked the hostess if they had just opened and she said they have been open 3 years. I was shocked. Perhaps a bit of market saturation with places to eat? You would never know it with the prices of food.

Welcome to Las Vegas Baby!!!!!!!

So last night I went into our bedroom, turned the light on and found this:


I don't think Poo wanted us to go away.....

So here is the gratuitous Welcome to Vegas pic:
There are about 170+ more pictures from our first day of the trip here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11682716@N08/sets/72157603932192623/
Check this link often for updated pics of the trip!

4 days and counting!

OMG....
That was the temperature in Las Vegas tonight when I looked online. 75 degrees!!!! Oh I can't wait. Is it possible I need to give myself a pedicure and pack sandals? Is it possible?


Imagine our surprise the other day when Jimmy discovered this scene. Kiki has been slowly coming around but this is HUGE. They are asleep in the same room but oh wait on the same bed at the same time. WOW!



I couldn't resist sharing this picture. The other day I received a couple books ordered from a book club. About 2 minutes after the books were removed Kiki discovered her new "home". Isn't she sweet?

Las Vegas Trip

Jimmy is going to Las Vegas for a work conference from 2/17 through 2/22. The conference is being held at the Bellagio hotel and casino. I was stunned when Jimmy suggested that we buy a ticket so that I could join him on the trip. Jimmy and I have never taken a get away trip. I am so excited. Last week we purchased my plane ticket. I am flying back home on the same flight as Jimmy but going out we decided to save $100 and purchased a ticket on a flight that leaves 10 minutes after his. Stay tuned for pictures when we return!