Finished Project (knitting), and First Day of Classes

[apple_pathways]

Here's the finished bonnet I made for my friend's baby:



I think I'm still going to block it to smooth out that back seam.

For highlights of my first day back in classes after two years or so, follow

So first of all, my first day was fine; I was fussing about nothing, as per usual.

I was, however, 25 FUCKING MINUTES LATE for my first class because the parking situation on campus is horrendous! It's always been bad (so I've heard; this is my first year commuting), but now with all the new construction, it's even worse.

Fortunately, the instructor was not mad, and she totally understood. I didn't really miss anything, which is what always annoys me about the first day of class: the instructor spends 10-15 minutes blathering on about themselves and why the class is going to be oh-so-much-fun (or is oh-so-very-important), and then they spend the rest of the time going over the syllabus, which I can read myself, thank you very much!

That first class ended a little before noon, and then I had FIVE HOURS to kill on campus before my next class. Fortunately, I was able to get a computer in the library lab and spent a good portion of the time trolling LJ and slate.com, and getting a start on my online courses.

Here's a prime example of how LiveJournal (and fandom) has warped my mind: I was walking through campus, and this guy walking near me pulled out his phone and started having a conversation with a friend. He was very obnoxious, in that frat boy "Dude, bro, AWESOME!" kinda way. The conversation went like this:

DUDE: "Oh man, dude, how rowdy did we get last night? My left arm is all fucking sore!"
ME: (snickering) Why does my mind immediately leap to implications of gay sex? I have been ruined by slashy porn!
DUDE: "Oh my God, you were like WHALING ON ME!"
ME: !!!
DUDE: "How the hell did my pant leg get slit all the way up to the ASS?!"
ME: OMG, the FANGIRLS WERE RIGHT! There ISN'T any such thing as platonic male friendship! THEY ARE ALL GAY!
DUDE: "I don't know, but you were biting the shit out of me..."
ME: *brain implodes*

My hand to GOD, that is how it went!

Then I went to my Complex Organizations lecture, and it's worse than I feared: the lecturer is NOT supremely dry and boring, but tries to make the subject "interesting" by dumbing everything down x10, telling a shitload of boring anecdotes, and saying, "Right, guys?" every 5 minutes like an insecure junior high girl.

Also, the people in that lecture are stupid. As I've already been told by a friend who called right after I got out of that class, I am being a little judgmental, but seriously: you DO NOT raise your hand to tell your pointless anecdote about "OMG, that quote by Max Weber totes reminds me of when I used to work at The GAP!" right after the lecturer announces that he is on his last point and is going to let everyone go home!

It's my own damn fault for flunking out of the "smart" university.

(Note: I do say that (mostly) ironically; there are lots of smart people at my university. It's just none of them seem to be in this lecture.)

Lecturer: Has anyone heard of the Protestant work ethic?
*blank stares* *sound of crickets chirping*

Comments

[sabriel75.livejournal.com]

Uhm... well then... since no one appears to have heard of the Protestant work ethic in his class, he can now dumb down the lecture even more. Yikes!

I do like GAP clothing though. And as soon as I can I shall play both your musical memes (figuratively speaking). :D

Bonnet is lovely and slashy conversation hilarious.

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

I have no issue with The GAP; the girl didn't even say where she worked, I just filled in The GAP because I am old(ish) and uncool and couldn't think of a more hip, more relevant store to substitute instead. No, I like The GAP.

*sings* Music memes, Music memes! (It is ridiculous how much fun I am having with these!)

I need to go back to that lecture in a less-cranky mindset. It didn't help that the girl in front of me was surfing Facebook the whole time, and a guy across the aisle was wearing a cologne SO VILE I was asphyxiating during the lecture.

[vivitchi.livejournal.com]

Uwaaah, you and superfluous_emi are so awesome at knitting! :D So jealous!

OMG ROFL AT OVERHEARING FRAT BOI GAY IT UP ON THE PHONE WITH MY MATE! *falls on floor*

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

Seriously, Slashy Frat Boy made my NIGHT!

(And thank you)

[housemaid79.livejournal.com]

Love the bonnet!

Now, on to slashy-frat-boy...that has to be one of the funniest phone conversations I've ever psuedo-overheard. I mean, now I can't help but wonder what he was actually talking about, and if he had any clue what it sounded like he was talking about. I swear, porny-fanfic has ruined me for life.

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what he was actually talking about! I don't know if he knew what it sounded like, but he was conducting this conversation at about 500 decibels, so he must have been quite proud of its content!

And yes, my brain is irrevocably warped by fanfic. I'm kinda OK with it though...makes irritating frat boys SO much more interesting!

[ladylovelace.livejournal.com]

I feel your pain, with stupid people in lectures. I am certain that there are intelligent people attending universities, they just never seem to be in my classes.

And it's true. Men cannot just be friends. ::wise nod::

That bonnet is very cute and the construction has given me an Idea.

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

That bonnet is very cute and the construction has given me an Idea.

Ooh, do share! Are you a knitter?

[ladylovelace.livejournal.com]

I am a knitter indeed. And I cannot knit on four needles, so hats are usually beyond me, but the way you have the back sewed on separately makes me think that a pill-box hat could be knitted in two pieces - one long and one square, and sewed together to form an actual hat without having to stuff around with the extra needles.

Everyone else in the universe has probably already figured this out.

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

Have you ever tried knitting in the round on circular needles? They're easier to get used to than double points, and they're great for hats.

It took me quite a while to get used to double-pointed needles, but it was worth the practice, and it really opens up the projects you can complete! (Like socks! If I ever get around to actually making two of them...)

The back of this hat was knit back and forth on straight needles, then you pick up stitches along one side, knit the open stitches across the top, and pick up stitches on the other side. I found out, halfway through, this is IMPOSSIBLE to do on straight needles, so I had to switch to double points.

But knitting two rectangles and then seaming them together should work a treat! Let me know if you try it out.