Well, that was unpleasant

[omorka]

As those who made it to Bagels are already aware, I was down for the count yesterday. Temp of 99.5° F (which is seriously elevated, for me - my "normal" temperature is between 98.2 and 98.4, depending on where I am in my cycle), very sore throat, swollen and tender lymph nodes, and general muscle aching. I was bad enough off that I didn't trust myself to make hot tea. Fortunately, bibulb successfully brought me chicken tacos and Gatorade, so between the soup from Saturday and that I was reasonably well cared for.

My lymph nodes are still swollen and there's rather a lot of phlegm sticking around, but I can now swallow without wincing and my temperature has returned to (my) normal. So I've recovered enough that I'm going to plan on going to the meeting tomorrow, even though I still don't really know where/when it is; I'm going to the school to pick up my keys first, and hopefully get a chance to find the old e-mail on my computer. While I'm there, assuming that I don't discover that I'm way late for the meeting (I think we weren't scheduled until after lunch), I'll shake down the counselors for the AP scores.

I've finished the hat; once I'm more presentable, I'll try and get a shot of me wearing it off the digital camera. I have 6-8 pattern reps (24-32 rows) left on the shawl, not counting two rows of crocheted edging; hopefully I'll manage to finish it today or tomorrow on the bus home. Is there an actual yarn store in Houston anywhere? It's a large enough city, there's got to be at least one; the yarn selections at Mickey's, Avocation Atrium, and the chain fabric stores are all embarrassingly small. Of course, with my luck, it's in Clear Lake or someplace equally difficult to get to.

UPS's tracking system claims I should be getting the box of beads today, so there's another project to work on. In addition, I also need to finish writing Saturday's ritual (and e-mail copies to my other reader/s), pick up my share of the items for the ritual, get a little further in writing plot for the GURPS game (which meets this Wednesday), and figure out when the heck I'm going to manage to do this week's grocery shopping.

Maybe I should just go take a warm bath instead . . .

Comments

[theoldone.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry I missed Bagels yesterday. It's gonna be difficult for GEP and I to make it at the new location, but we'll try.
The economic situation that has prevailed for the last 3.5 years has been hard on many of the craft stores. I'm not sure who is still around.

[omorka.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping the place they tried out yesterday isn't going to automatically become the new location without us trying at least a couple of other places. As bassfingers said, it would be nice if we had Bagels at a place that actually serves, y'know, bagels. Not that I have any inherent objection to breakfast tacos, but there are historical factors to consider here . . .

[theoldone.livejournal.com]

Well, GEP and I have been doing breakfast occasionally at La Madelaine. I like it, but it's a bit pricy for some, and not as "slide tables together" friendly as some places. Good places for "breakfast" on Sunday are a bit scarce.

Bagels, bagels everywhere . . .

[krystiegoddess.livejournal.com]

Chachos has its advantages - and its disadvantages . . .

The food's good, the food's reasonably priced, there's an outside area that'll be ok for the kids to run amok in when it isn't so miserably hot.

There are, however, not free refills on soft drinks . . . and there's no changing tables in the bathroom.

They are open 'till all hours . . . and have a different clientele than Schlotzky's did . . . but yeah - we certainly need to try some other places. Maybe make it a floating event - 1st Sunday here, 2nd sunday there, etc. (wow, that could confuse some folks!) :)

Re: Bagels, bagels everywhere . . .

[omorka.livejournal.com]

"No free refills" is almost a deal-breaker for me right there.

Let me see if I can dig up any bagely/sandwichy places that we might have overlooked . . . there's gotta be at least one left that we haven't closed out, darn it!

Re: Bagels, bagels everywhere . . .

[krystiegoddess.livejournal.com]

I agree on the no free refills. They have free tea refills . . . but that just doesn't quite cut it - one of the big prereq's was the free soft drinks -

Chachos is great for the occasional . . . but prolly not regularly.

I hope there's something!

Re: Bagels, bagels everywhere . . .

[moongoddess73.livejournal.com]

Anyone ever go to Buffalo Grille? They have awesome breakfast food and free refills, I think...

I'm just not sure how late they are open on Sundays.

But I'm not too sure I want them to go out of business though... :)

Re: Bagels, bagels everywhere . . .

[theoldone.livejournal.com]

Did anyone notice that Schlotzsky's had filed for Chapter 11 today?
It is gonna be tough to find a place that:
- Has breakfasts on Sunday
- Will let us move tables together
- Has free refills
- Has room on Sundays
- Doesn't charge $15+ per head
- Has parking
- Is kid friendly

Re: Bagels, bagels everywhere . . .

[krystiegoddess.livejournal.com]

Wow - ch. 11 - that's interesting.

Given that Chachos' refills are dealt with now, it isn't a horrid idea . . . but I do (kinda) understand you outside-the-loop-phobes. :)

Re: Bagels, bagels everywhere . . .

[krystiegoddess.livejournal.com]

It seems that we've (not bagels, but other folks) tried Buffalo Grille on weekends & had a bitch of a time getting in . . . they're pretty busy . . .

Re: Bagels, bagels everywhere . . .

[krystiegoddess.livejournal.com]

Any joy finding other options?

Re: Bagels, bagels everywhere . . .

[omorka.livejournal.com]

Well, there's a list of bagel places in Houston here (http://www.b4-u-eat.com/houston/restaurants/cuisine/bagels.asp). Unfortunately, it appears to be not at all current (it still lists City Bagels), but perhaps some of the other places on the list deserve a shot (I'm curious about the Richmond location of Hot Bagels, if it's still around - my issue with them was the space much more than the food).

Some of these are rather far out, which would make them more accessible to some and less accessible to others . . .

Re: Bagels, bagels everywhere . . .

[krystiegoddess.livejournal.com]

Some of the probs with Hot Bagels was that it closed at 2:00 and had no refillable beverages. Don't know if that would be a similar issue at the Richmond location . . .

Re: Bagels, bagels everywhere . . .

[bibulb.livejournal.com]

(WHOA. LJ just changed their "make a comment" code. Freaky weird.)

Actually, I discovered that there is a loophole - large fountain beverage refills are free. (This includes both the HUGE gargantugulp steins that PB and his siggo had, as well as the to-go containers.) So that's not as much of an issue now.

I'd like to find a stable place eventually, but I certainly would not mind floating to check some places out first.

[pinesandmaples]

ooh! shawl!!

what shawl are you making? charlotte's web (that's not the lily chin design)?

[omorka.livejournal.com]

Nah - this one is a really simple design. It's basically the same as this one (http://www.thesmartyarns.com/patterns/dec02/homespunshawl.html), except instead of doing a proper feather-and-fan, I'm doing a M1 (make one) every time they call for a YO. It's a lot less lacy; it's almost a straight ripple pattern. And I'm using Sandstone instead of Deco.

Once I'm done with this one and clear another couple of things out of my queue, I'm going to do it again with a lighter color and doing a proper feather-and-fan. I made the change because I thought the lace would be too breezy, but the more solid fabric is actually too heavy for a Houston fall - I won't be able to wear it until January unless I've nothing on underneath!

I haven't been tempted to try any of the patterns going around under the name "Charlotte's Web" (which one are you thinking of?), but I have the pattern for Emma Crew's "Cobweb" and I'm thinking of doing that when I have time to learn how to do an i-cord (in my copious spare time, of course . . .).

[pinesandmaples]

this charlotte's web...the pattern is from koigu. the people who are actually the best at picking colors (since it takes 5 to 6 skeins of different colors of koigu) are rob and matt at threadbear.

don't let the icord hold you up...emma also tossed in this tidbit (for people like you who crochet): Alternatively, a row of single crochet could be worked along the straight edge of the shawl instead of the applied i-cord edging.

i learned to make an icord here basically, you only cast-on/leave a few stitches (ideally 3). knit those three. slide them to the other end of your dpns or circular needle (or transfer them to your other straight needle, but that gets really old). pull the yarn tight behind the stitches and knit them again. basically, you knit every row...but you knit the same side so you get something that *looks* like stockinette with out the purling part.

(after typing that, i get the feeling you know how to make an icord, but the applied icord idea is what isn't jiving...but eh.)

talking to me about knitting is dangerous!! i tend to get people much more involved and into things...hehe...but if you ever need an online resource, i probably have it. i'll be glad to hook you up.

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

Yarns 2 Ewe, 603 W. 19th in the Heights (near Penzey's Spices, but on the other side of the street). Phone 713-880-5648.

[omorka.livejournal.com]

Rawk! Do you happen to know whether they have weekend hours?

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure they do, but I suggest calling them to find out precisely what those hours are.

There's also Three Stitches, but that's out in Spring and probably a bit further than you want to drive when Yarns 2 Ewe is so much closer. Three Stitches has more of a selection of embroidery floss, but I think Yarns 2 Ewe is better on actual yarn.

[pinesandmaples]

Turrentine's Needle Craft
5266 Beechnut
Houston, TX 77096
713-661-9411

10a-5p (monday thru saturday)
10a-8p (wednesday)

Merribee Needlearts & Crafts 1960
12862 Shiloh Church Road
Houston, TX 77066
(281) 440-6980
http://www.merribee.com

[omorka.livejournal.com]

The second one is way the heck out. The first one I might be able to get to by bus from the school at some point (it'd be rather out of the way to drive) . . .

Where'd you come up with these? Is there a "yarn stores for knitters" web page out there somewhere?

smartass reply first

[pinesandmaples]

Where'd you come up with these? Is there a "yarn stores for knitters" web page out there somewhere?

yes

no, really, there are a few good resources. when someone on knitting asks, we usually point them to google using the terms "yarn store [fill in town name here]". then we recommend (in no real order) the yarn store reviews on knitting.about and knitter's review forums and superpages.com" with the terms "yarn" or "yarn store" or "knitting".

google, of course, is the favorite.

(i feel like there is one more place, with good yarn store reviews and postings on it that i'm forgetting. gnar.)

[greeneyedpagan.livejournal.com]

Merribee's is out here by me, but I don't like it much.
Not a very good selection of "regular" yarn, but lots of $30 for 50 grams sort of stuff.
And the woman is, um, well, a little on the snooty side.

I have heard good things about Yarns 2 Ewe, though I haven't made it there yet.

If you go, let me know what you think!
(and my sweater is coming along very nicely. Can't wait to show you!)