No More Flashing.

I haven't been posting much because it's getting to be that time of the school year again--finals. They officially start this week, but the prep work can be just as bad, especially in art school.

I had my first gallery show last Wednesday, but I've been sick and felt like I'd been hit by a bus, so I didn't stay long or take any pictures. In fact, my camera will not be coming home with me. It started doing this thing where as soon as I put in a new set of batteries and try to turn it on, it kills them. It literally sucks all of the energy out of a pair of AA Energizers, and refuses to turn on (I tried putting them in something else afterwards to check this. They don't work). So I'm tossing the camera and just taking the memory card home.

The camera won't be the only thing not making it home. I'm going to have to leave a couple of books, and I'm only bringing home a few pairs of socks (most of them have holes in them, anyway, thanks to my art history class and all the walking we do). I'm going to be leaving a few of my craft supplies too--some fabric, and a little bit of yarn and other odds and ends. And that blanket I made. I really want to take it back, but it'll be too heavy. Alice and I are planning on picking up another suitcase (you can find them for 20 euro at various street vendors around the train station) and we're going to stick the extra stuff in there.

On the other end of the spectrum, I bought the last of my souveneirs and gifts today. Including a pair of royal blue silk ballet slippers for 25 euro (that's about $40 for those of you paying attention to the exchange rate). I love them, but I need it to stop raining before I can wear them. I spotted them at 100 yards and made a beeline for them. I knew I had to have them. I almost bought them in red. They're shiny and pretty and my mom is going to kill me when (if) she finds out how much they were (we're a Walmart family). Anyway, they are perfect and so me I couldn't say no.

Alice and I will probably be recording a farewell Italy podcast sometime within the next week. If it isn't up in seven days, then it will probably be uploaded while we spend twelve hours in Heathrow and have nothing else to do but buy an overpriced internet pass.

Pardon me while I flash you.

After buying new batteries, I managed to get the camera to turn on and take photos. The problem is that my display is broken, so I can't control things like zoom, flash, or the timer. So rather than the really good photos I promised, you just get photos.

I'm not even going to try to find someone who can fix it. It was a $100 Walmart camera, and it would probably cost at least that much to repair. Maybe I'll invest in something with more megapixels. Four seemed like plenty when I bought it, but lately it just hasn't been enough. Of course, my poor photography skills don't help, but I can't do anything about the grainy quality of my pictures.

Anyway. The knitting.






I'm really sorry about how dark some of these are. I took a ton of pictures, but I couldn't tell what any of them looked like until I hooked the camera up to my computer.

And I'm sorry about the flash, too. Our apartment is so dark it's not even funny. I swear it's like living in a cave sometimes.

I'm so glad that the blanket is done. I hate that yarn, and I'm so happy to be through with it. It served it's purpose, however, which was simply to keep me busy.

My sock mojo ran out. I haven't been so thrilled with my blueberry socks lately. You can see my minimal progress on the second one. I'm going to try to finish it before we leave though, that way I won't be worried about breaking my needles on the plane. I don't think I'll ever get used to knitting with those toothpicks.

No, the stripes on the First Ever Socks were not intentional.

And while it was great for learning, I do not recommend acrylic yarn for hand knit socks. Particularly once it warms up, like it has here.

The Medusa shawl could use some blocking, but I don't have a place to do it here, so I'm just going to say it's done anyway and take care of that bit once I go home and can take over the bed in the guest room.

Turkish rib has an awful photo. Maybe I can tinker with it in photoshop. I'll try, anyway.

So. I'm in the market for a new camera. Any suggestions? I'm looking for something between 5-6 mp, and less than $150. I'd like something small, and the easier it is to use, the better. I'm very fond of Fuji, but I didn't care so much for my cheap camera--the quality really didn't hold up to what I'd experience with my dad's $500 Fuji (I wonder why?).