Fiberworks Ramblings

what a ship does to you

highflyinsm — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:52:11 +0000

So what is about being on a ship that makes me forgoet all about this blog and the outside world? If I don’t post it on facebook, somehow when I am out here I forget to update the rest of you in my life. I am sorry, but part of it is expensive internet, or internet that is hard to find in port. Part of it has been the sheer hell of this 6 month contract, yup no fun. I’ve had 3 new male singers, 2 new female singers, 1 new male singer dancer, and 1 new male dancer to put in. Yup life is fun! *rolls eyes*

Still I have those days where I wonder why I am doing this, and then I go on an excursion in Tunsia, and realize that I am in Africa. Or I go out at 1am in Barcelona and enjoy the local night life. Today for example I am sitting in a cafe in Santorini Greece with a kitten next to me trying to play with my skirt (and eat my laptop) while I wait for skype. So life is pretty good over all.

I have hardly done any knitting. I’d like to say it’s because I am so busy enjoying Europe, or blame it on work. But really one word is responsible for the lack of knitting – Kindle. I can’t stop reading books! Which is good, but I am addicted and I wander around with my head in the book! Well so to speak anyway. I am almost done with 2 pairs of socks, so all I need to do is make myself finish them!

So I go home in 3 weeks. I am looking forward to sleeping a nice bed, enjoying time with friends and family. Also looking forward to seeing my 2 cats. Really just looking forward to day off after 6 months of working non stop!

I hope everyone who still reads this is doing well, and I look forward to seeing many of you in the next few months.

It’s 2011, I am on Vacation, and I promise to do better

highflyinsm — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 06:08:59 +0000

Hello readers if there are any of you left. I mean I’ve been gone a VERY long time and been neglecting my blog, so I will be surprised if any one is left reading. Honestly Bueler, Bueler….?

So I have lots of things I’ve been meaning to post about. And I started feeling so behind and that I could never catch up and so I just kind of gave up. Also I allways felt I should give you pictures, and that’s not possible on slow ship internet. But I am back and going to be much better about blogging coming up. I plan to get one up at least one time a week. Now they may not all have pictures, they may not all be long, and they will probably be random! But I will endeavor to do better to keep you updated on my life, my travels, and my knitting!

1 post I have been planning to up, but feel I do need pictures for are the wonderful Meta Mittens by my friend Beth designed and I did as a knit along with my group back in IL. Look forward to a post with pictures coming soon!!

I will also be doing a post with pictures about all the wonderful jewlery my mom is know making and selling in her Etsy store. She is talented and I love it, so look forward to that coming as well!

In the meantime here is what I have been up to for the last several months. I am still working on my cruise ships, and still loving the job most of the time. I just finished up 9 months with a 2 week break in the middle, which left me very tired. My ship was broken when I got there, and my department is less than great shape. But I got it all working again, which was happy! It also warranted a change in my job title, and a nice raise with the new year!

So why do I do all this? So I can travel of course! I spent a month in Europe at the beginning of my last contract, and saw Greece, Turkey, Spain, Tunisia, Italy, Croatia, all over the med. And then in the winter when there are blizzards hitting Chicago I get to lie on the beach in the sun in the Caribbean drinking fruity umbrella drinks! So yes I work hard, but the perks are soo worth it! And also I get a nice cabin, with porthole, overlooking the ocean that I can make home. Which is why I am going back to the same ship. I have made it homey, and I love the people I work with. I know the beast I am getting into bed with so to speak, and I know how to make things happen. So it is worth it.

However sometimes in all this traveling I forget about the beauty that is right here in my own country! I went to Yosemite for the first time and was AMAZED by the beauty that surrounded me! It was a little cold, but the 4 of us hiked back to the lower falls and around the park just amazed at the beauty around us. Then at the end of the day we went back to the cabin we stayed in where there was no phone or internet or TV and sat by the wood stove drinking wine, knitted (well just me) and eating. It was wonderful!

In a few days I will go back to IL to pick up my cats, spend a few more days with mom and then head back out to the ship. By then I will be ready for 6 months more of work, split between the Caribbean and Europe.

I will leave with some pictures, because I feel this post needs one (and I have some!)

The fun, sun, and work

highflyinsm — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 20:33:58 +0000

Well I am back in the warm sun of the Caribbean after a month in Europe. Ok so I have been back for about a month, but internet has been crap and I haven’t been able to get online. But I am having the time of my life still, even if I am very tired.

We are in cast changeover this week, and I am beyond tired. 6 hours of rest in 36 hours is NOT enough, and there was no way I was getting up for cabin inspection today!

I am definitely at the point where I am not giving a dam anymore, and I just want to go on vacation! I am looking forward to time home and mom’s home cooking, and of course sleeping for a week!

Anyway I have some fun pictures from Europe to share!

Genuine Fake

highflyinsm — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 22:49:57 +0000

Genuine Fake:

All over Italy you can buy things that are “Genuine Fake”. Genuine face watches, hand bags, designer shoes, the works. And people do, they buy up all these “genuine fake” items, buy them in droves. They are content with the façade, that they look rich or fashionable. Sure the inside is cheap, sure it will apart in a few months, but they will look good for awhile before it does. And no one else has to know, it will be there little secret. Why? What is the point, is fashion or status really that important? What happened to quality?
People are the same way. The world is full of “genuine fake” people. People who put on the façade, the act, the person they want you to see. They pretend to be concerned, friendly, a quality person you can rely on. Inside they are no different the a fake Fendi. They have no Quality, no redeeming feature to them. They do not care, they are only hoping to fool you long enough to acquire what they want. Well they make look good on the outside for a few weeks or months, but eventually it will fall apart and the truth will be revealed. Isn’t better to be a genuine true person from the start?

I have no use for “genuine fake”, not purses and not people. I do not have time to engage in that kind malarkey. I want a purse that I know will send the test of time. I will pay more money to get something made of good quality, that looks good on the outside and I do not have to hide the inside. Something that will last the test of time for years, I pay for quality it is worth it. When it comes to people I expect the same. I do not have time or patience for people who project one image, and then turn into someone else after a short time. Life is to short for me to surround myself with that kind of negative energy. If you can’t show me who you really are from the start, and trust me to gauge you as a person based on who you are, then don’t waste my time. And certainly don’t waste yours. With me what you see is what you get. I am me, and sometimes I am your biggest ally and truest friend loyal to a fault, and sometime I am the biggest bitch and slaver driver you will come across. I try to surround myself with these same kind of people, and do those closes to me (you know who you are) I am loyal to the end, and anyone who crosses you crosses me. But to those who are “genuine fake” beware, I will not be around long after your true self comes out. And if I am for work reasons, I will not trust you.

However those of you that I know read this blog are the genuine real deal, true friends, and if you ever need you just have to hollar.

To Rome Alone

highflyinsm — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 11:21:59 +0000

I just spent a wonderful 2 days tooling all around Rome by myself. It was heaven to do what I wanted, go where I wanted, and find all kinds of amazing things. My first day there I went to the colosseum, circus maximus, and the roman forum. Then I took a tour at night all round the city and saw everything lit up. The next day I got up early, headed over to the Vatican and so beautiful artwork by Michelangelo, Bonelli, and many others. I walked all the way from the Vatican to the Spanish Steps (acress Rome) and passed Castle San Angelo, the Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and a few other churches. I only got lost one time but managed to find a really cool church with the chapel to Mary Magdeline in it when I did, so it was a good adventure! I was tired and exhaused, but ended by day with local home made pasta, bruschetta, and local Italian wine. I made friends with the waiter, who brought me free champagne with my bill, such a nice guy. The next die I got up and went to work where my boy and ship was waiting for me refreshed and excited after 2 days in Rome bumming around.

The best part of traveling all by yourself is being able to do what ever the hell you want. You can push through a crowd and quickly glance at something or you can stand staring a t Michelangelo’s Moses for half an hour and no one else cares. It was wonderful, though it kinda sucks to have no one to talk to about all you have seen at the end of the day.

so for those of you out there living vicariously through me I present pictures!

Am I really here, yes this really the Colosseum I am touching

Michaelangelos Moses

Trevi Fountain at night

Panheon, where I had coffee!

Vacation in Northern CA

highflyinsm — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 04:31:40 +0000

Just thought I would quickly post about the N. California Vacation/meeting the family.

So I met the boy’s mom and part of the family. I was so nervous, haven’t had to meet a mom in a looooooong time!! She was really nice and we got a long really well, so that is good. I suspect she was nervous too as I am the first girl to be brought home in a loooooooong time!

After that we took a lovely ride down the coast, stayed at a romantic hotel, and enjoyed our few days together before work interfered again!

Also I have been knitting, a lot, but have taken no pictures as I have been obsessed with travel pictures lately. Sides how many sock pictures do you really need?

CA Pictures

Stop along the drive down the coast

Our really cool room Rock Bottom ALL ROCK

THERE WAS A WATERFALL IN OUR SHOWER, HOW COOL IS THAT!

if the ship goes down, my raft will have warm feet!!

highflyinsm — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:50:21 +0000

So I went into yarn store last week with a friend to pick out some yarn for her fingerless gloves I making her. She picked out some beautiful blue yarn and as we were walking to check out we passed the Noro sock yarn, which is buy one get one free. Well I couldn’t resist that!! Especially with it being the silk garden to boot!! So of course I bought some, and then opened my stash drawer on board to put yarn away, and of course fondle the other yarn that’s sitting in there. I have, get this enough to make 7 yes 7 pairs of socks!! and that’s all from this summer!! That’s not counting the 7oz of spinning fiber, skein of lace weight and all the new zealand yarn Justin brought me. All I can think is it’s a good thing yarn doesn’t weight much! But if the ship goes down I am grabbing the stash and my life raft will have warm feet in Alaska!

My cruise is winding down, and after almost 5 months with no day off I am ready for a little break. I’ve had some fun, made some amazing friends, seen some amazing sights, and frozen my butt off while doing it! I’m sorry, I may be a midwest girl but I HATE THE COLD. Alaska is cold and rainy, not my idea of a good time.

Last week I went sea kayaking at the bast of the Mendenhall glacier. It was GORGEOUS, cold and rainy but so fun. We saw countless bald eagles, including to immature ones that don’t have the white heads yet. I saw a harbor seal about 20 feet from our Kayak!! It poked it’s head out of the water and investigated us, so cute!! Then it caught a big salmon and proceeded to have lunch. It was kinda gross to watch the seal eat a live raw salmon, but also cool because it was untouched nature just being nature. One of those lifetime experiences, and I didn’t have my camera with me!

This has been an experience of a contract, and if I never come back to Alaska again I am a-ok with that!

Can’t wait to get home and see everyone I love and miss so much! The hard part of being out here is being so far away from friends and family. I miss the big events, like Weddings (sorry Megan and Paul!) and the little events like finished sweaters! hehe

Twilight and Socks

highflyinsm — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 23:22:07 +0000

So I realize I haven’t updated in FOREVER. But I have been in 7 day charter cruise HELL for the last month, and am now getting caught up with life. Nothing new has really happened, we go to the same 3 small towns in Alaska, I am bored. They server the same food, I am bored. I did go Kayaking yesterday, and saw a seal up close with a fish in it’s mouth. That was fun. But it was cold, and raining, and I am ready to go back to sun!

But last week we had a Twilight group on. Now most of you know that I HATE these books and movies. The character of Bella is a horrible example for young women!! But I am not above taking my picture with them, especially when it involves making one hold a sock!!!

The girl holding the sock plays a vampire named “bree” and looks very confused!

I mean REALLY

highflyinsm — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:13:14 +0000

I have found the problem with a 7 day cruise based out of your corporate home city. It’s called CHARTER HELL. This week we have a full charter on board, which means much less work for me which normally I am a fan of. However this week my cast shows have been replaced by Michael W. Smith. Yup, Christian recording artist extraordinaire! I have to say I have never seen 1800 LESS Christian people in my life! They are rude, they are mean, the talk down to the crew, they cut their touring crews pay in HALF for the cruise. They have accused our saxophone player of being Muslim and Buddhist because he has a shaved head a goatee. I mean REALLY!! The artists themselves are quite nice people, as is there crew, but the passengers that followed them are RUDE RUDE RUDE!!

Of course last week we had the people who talked channeled energy beings, talked in the third person, and believed in the power of positive thinking. If they had been that rude then their vortex would have been a rude reality to live in. And if they thought we were rude they just had to pull us into there vortex and then we would be in the reality they want and nice. So they were ALWAYS nice and I just got spoiled. Also they tipped well which always endears me to a group.

Did I mention my non-knitting friends get’s the sea-socks cruise this week??

I need a bear, my yarn, and some stich n’ bitch time STAT!! Ladies who wants to come on a cruise!!

doesn’t everyone?

highflyinsm — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 23:50:05 +0000

doesn’t everyone bring their crafts to a long boring day at work? Apparently not and me with my drop spindle and needles is weird!

Well OK not so much the knitting needles, everyone has gotten accustomed to me making socks backstage, it’s what I do! sure when I put them on to see how far I have to go (the true way to measure a sock!) and show everyone around me I get some strange looks but overall they are used to my yarn nerdiness. They apparently didn’t realize how deep that went….

This week we have a cast changeover happening, which means long days sitting in the theater occasionally hitting play or running a scene in real time, long hours but lots of good knitting time. However we have also gotten on a right wing christian charter that is in the lounge when ever we aren’t rehearsing, and my event manager is back to his old “make it work” form. It was about 2 days before I was contemplating how much damage my size 1 DPN sock needles could do to a person. So for the safety of everyone I switched to spinning so as not to kill people.

Apparently wandering around a dark theater with a swath of fiber over you shoulder and a spindle spinning in front of you making yarn is weird, even in theater. who woulda thought.