how ya going?

greetings from sunny Sydney! I'm writing this from the hotel on the second stop of our tour. we've already been to Brisbane, where we saw a great Andy Warhol exhibit, took a river tour which culminated in cuddling koalas (which are not bears, by the way, and stink something awful!), and managed to both get really sunburned. I know, go figure.



Now we're in Sydney, and it is Spanky's birthday. We spent the day at the beaches, and tomorrow we're going to the aquarium. Sydney is really cool. So far, we like it better, but really, Brisbane was pretty great too.





Today, I also got to go to Tapestry Craft, the yarn store that David Reidy is always talking about on his podcast. I also got to meet "Kris", who says she's been interviewed a couple of times for the show. She was very helpful, and helped me pick out some pretty authentic Australian souvenier yarn. It's actually New Zealand yarn, but whatever. Apparently a lot of Australian yarn gets processed elsewhere and sent back, so...



I don't know if this makes a whole lot of sense, as I'm trying to write quickly, since the internet is exhorbitant at this freaking hotel, and I don't want to spend too much time online. Next, we're going to Ulhuru, so I don't think we'll have internet again until Melbourne.

Anyway, lots more pics on flickr, if you click through any of these. I miss everyone at home! So much to tell you all...
xoxo

Stella says vote, y'all!

thoughts on dressing up

Here at the ole workstead, we have one subscription to The Chronicle of Higher Education to be shared amongst our department. The issues inevitably end up coming to you after their most current date, and if truth be told, this is often my fault, as I'm the one who orders the subscription, and thus receives the weekly package, which then sits on the stack on my radiator until I have time to read it. That often doesn't happen for weeks at a time. I've just finished the Jan 25th ed, and there is a really great article in the Careers section by "Thomas H. Benton" (they're usually pseudonyms) about dressing up for teaching his courses, now that he's turning 40.

While I'm not with Mr. Benton about turning over my Converse, at 35, I'm starting to have a lot of those feelings too. I do need to start dressing more formally, and less like the assistant I once was, even if that wardrobe is infinitely more comfortable.

Anyway, that led me to ponder the role of knitwear in my quest for a grown-up wardrobe. I have never been a fan of the big, bulky sweater, and only own three, and out of those three, only one is oversized. I think I need to keep this in mind when selecting sweater patterns to knit. Especially if I intend to wear my creations to work, which is where I spend most of my time anyway. Luckily, the two sweaters I want to work on for the first bit of Project Spectrum fall into the wearable to work category, as long as I can manage to make them look well-done, rather than sloppy and homemade. One is a little cardigan, and one is a lace-weight pullover (you'll see later this weekend...).

I think a full wardrobe makeover is due. Mr. Benton listed a bunch of great books on men's fashion (both for history and guidance). The only women's book that I've found at all helpful is the Lucky Shopping Manual, although a lot of that stuff is still out of my price range. At least the advice is sound, and not really based on trends so much as wardrobe staples. Now if only I didn't have to carry so much crap around with me or walk ten blocks to the office...

If anyone knows of any other good style guides for professional women, please do let me know.

stop taking things for granted, motherf*cker!

(overheard on the street from my window, but good advice, none-the-less)

So I'm watching the L word from the beginning. Since I live without the convenience of cable, I lost track after season 2. Anyway, without that horrible Betty song, the show is so much better. Im at the point though where Alice meets the lesbian-identified-man, so it's starting to get really cheesy. But oh my god, Alice is wearing a tshirt that she cut the neck and sleeves off as a VEST over a button-down blouse, and now i must try that. It looks fabulous. I love her. She and Dana are my favorites, and I don't want to hear about what happens to Dana later. She's at her best right now: goofy, cute, hot, in the closet...sort of.



In other news, thanks to my good friend Sue from my knitting group, I'm determined to finish this turtleneck shrug before my trip. Sue's convinced me that it will be great arm/neck coverage for the plane when I go on my trip (vroom!) So that means neverending ribbing. But at least it won't take up much room in the luggage when I get to Australia. I have one side finished up to the shoulder, and am ALMOST up to the elbow on the other. Can I finish it before Feb 1? WE'LL SEE.

ETA: OMG! Feb 1 is basically right now! My watch is turning over the date as I type this. Damn. Well, the end of the week (meaning the weekEND) will be enough time to start Project Spectrum red/pink/orange knitting. And maybe, just maybe, I'll have the actual second sleeve done.