Thanks!

I really wanted to thank all of you who responded to my last post. Sorry it took me so long to get back. I've been a little slow lately and so I've had to take to writing a To Do list in order to get things.

I think I may have come off as arrogant, which was not my intention. I think every now and then something emotional triggers you to look at your current situation and wonder if you are doing all that you should be. Could be. Have you forgotten your dreams and become complacent? Are you redeeming the time or just wasting the talents you been blessed with? Have you lost sight of the mission and so haven't learned enough? And lastly, have you learned all you were supposed to, in this season in this place, and therefore have completed the mission and over stayed your welcome which is why others are working your nerves?

A couple of you hit the nail on the head. Finish the lesson. I did ask My Beloved to work out some ugly things in my character. He in His soveriegnty took care of all the details, including the time, place, and people. I'm not ready to go yet, I still have a few more sections in this chapter to learn. Thanks for the prayers!

Moving on. One of The Motel guests passed last week. I have to pay my last respects tomorrow. I'm really missing her but I believe that the day of one's death is better than the day of their birth (Ecc. 7:1). I'm sure she and God are having a good time catching up in Heaven. bet they're goody shopping. With all the mansions in Heaven, I'm sure they have yard sales.

I made some jewelry and worked on my knitting. More upbeat posts to come.

Kamika Contemplative

Getting Restless

I'm getting restless again. It's a mode I get into every couple of years when I feel I need to make a change on the 9-5 front. I'm bored as the dickens and have been having a hard time finding the burst of energy to swing by the Man's house each day. I do get there every morning, although my attitude has been less than stellar. When I get to this point it's usually a quick spiral down into pure judgemental anger against those I work with ending in an all out stalemate.

I hate that about myself. I need to take work and my work environment less seriously but I've always had an issue with being non-productive and having non-productive people around me. I figure since you spend 1/3 or more of your daily life there you need to love it or at least like it. I feel that when I get there I should have things to do that don't drop my IQ 25 points each day. I'm not one of those who likes to come to work and sit around. If you are willing to pay me to do nothing or to surf the Internet, then pay me to stay home. None of this was in the job description.

I don't need to control situations anymore, I've learned that God takes care just fine without my input and usually to my advantage. What I do need is for people to work smart with me and delegate those things which are not their forte before they become chaos. I do not like the voice of our department being the one person who is making the most mistakes and causing delays.

I'm trying to be 100% and not 75% grateful. I need to take this as an opportunity to nip murmuring in the bud and to love people regardless of their shortcomings like others do me. I'm going to working on that today. I'm off as we've had a death in the family and I need to help take care of some business. I'll keep you all posted later.

Question: How do you deal with working in a not-so-ideal work environment? This can include SAHMs as well.


Kamika checking her attitude at the door

Upgrade Me!

Had an eventful last couple of days. This week was my department's "Team Building Week". Something much needed since in our large department is made up of about 5 or 6 smaller departments that look each other in the face each day but have little to say to one another. The ladies who organized it did a very good job of drawing the silly and friendly competition out of us all. I really commend them for their hard work, not only because I myself had goo gobs of fun participating but I know it's really hard getting a whole bunch of pretentious and insanely political folks to work together.

Each day our groups, chosen at the onset by kiddie puzzle pieces, worked together to solve Olympic-like games such as cake decorating and poster drawing. The week culminated in an picnic outing to a very large park and a tour of our lovely city all on board a classic British double-decker bus piloted by two guys in kilts. Seeing as I don't drink, I wasn't too surprised at how wild we got without liquor. I think some of them were cause they were telling all their business the minute someone looked their way. It was all good though. I didn't take pics.

I don't know if Ihad to but I did go out and buy a new computer yesterday. The other night while watching The Boondocks my trusty old computer tried to give up the ghost. It froze on me and said I had a registry error. I resuscitated it but after restarging it made me reenter the Microsoft key and told me it had to restore itself. I knew then that the time had come for me to put my beloved baby to sleep. I had put it off as long as I could. No sense in prolonging the life support.

It didn't help that folks were laughing behind its back every time I talked about it. I began to dread the question, "what are you running?", for fear that I would look out of touch. I would always give my pat answer: "Windows 98, but it's super fast and clean. I've never had a virus, run all the programs I need, and am only looking to upgrade because Microsoft stopped providing support for it nearly a year ago." They would look at me like I was crazy and bust out laughing. Saying mess like, "You don't even have XP?" and "Windows 98?" and "How much memory you got on that thang?" To which I would always want to respond with something smart like, "Does Windows 98 sound like XP?" and "I see you on the memory tip. I'se only got about 11 gigs." The last part alone would make them fall out on the floor again but this time holding the fetal position until they realized how tall and imposing I looked from their position on the floor.

So yesterday I pushed up my scheduled purchasing by about a month and sashayed into Circuit City to look at their units. It would be a unit until I bought it, then it would become my family. I figured now would be the perfect time to buy one because back to school is just around the corner and I should be able to get a good deal. I figured I would hit CC and then swing over to Best Buy to see what they had. I didn't get past my first stop.

After looking at all the "out of box" units (former display units), I settled on 5 that were under $500 dollars. When the manager came over to help me I told him my dilemma. He laughed his sinister laugh. Ha Ha Ha! Then told me that he had to go tell his other manager what I was running, cause that would give him a good laugh and lift his spirits. I didn't know there was a ministry in computer buying. The evidence of God is everywhere. After his bellyrub he told me he felt sorry for me (in much nicer terms) and that he had to bring me up to at least Vista, especially since Microsoft just stop supporting XP about 3 weeks ago. I decided to play the damsel in distress role and appeal to his ego with my Win98 handicap and my obviously somewhat well read knowledge of computers. I was off and running. No batting my eyelashes needed. It was refreshing to him. Silly rabbit!

In the end I won! I left with a computer that was outside of my original 5 choices. The computer I got was $120 higher than the highest I was looking at. He gave me a discount. He offered $100 off so I asked for $120 he agreed. I tried to test my luck at $140 but by that time, he had caught up.

My new fam is a lean mean, computing machine. I now have 720 gigs and can watch high def TV on my computer without squinting. I refuse to pay for cable when the cost of watching TV through your computer is free through your ISP. That's one less bill I have to worry about.

My favorite TV watching spot.

Kamika Upgraded

You've Got Questions, Well I've Got Answers

Question of the Week #8
What is your favorite supper for a hot summer evening?

My Paster cooks the best BBQ Chicken Drumettes and warm potato salad. The meat is so tender it falls off the bone. She told me the recipe once, but she said it so fast I knew she didn't want me to remember it. No need to. It gives me a reason to call her and beg.

Question of the Week #7
What is(are) your favorite place(s) to knit? and
What supplies (besides yarn & needles) make the setting perfect for knitting?

In the corner of my sectional couch. I'ts nice and cozy there. I must have my tape measure, crochet hooks, and scissors close by as well as something cool (preferably water) to drink.

Question of the Week #6
What is your favorite type of project to take along on holiday/vacation?
If you’d like to share a story…Tell us about a time that you packed too much knitting or were stranded without knitting.

I like to pack whatever I'm currently working on. I really like to finish projects. I don't recall ever packing too much knitting although I sure do hate sitting through those boring work meetings without my knitting.

Question of the Week #5
1) Where is your favorite place to go for vacation/holiday?
2) Where is one place you’d like to go?

I just like getting on planes and landing in a different spot. A plane could take me 10 miles and I would probably pack for a week and be extra excited. With that said, I love New York.

I would really like to go to Turks & Caicos or tour Africa or Europe for a month.

There you have it! Current again.

Kamika Divulged

It Just Don't Make No Sense

It takes a whole lot of energy to over manage a project. I'm serious! Ridiculous amounts of energy! I have seen some people micro-manage. Seen them mis-manage. Hell, I know we've all had our fair share of total lack of management. At work. But damn! I never thought anyone could over manage a project. I mean over manage to the point of confusing themselves in the process of trying to remember how to explain to others the who, what, when, where, and why of a project that they only briefly looked at for less than 5 minutes while blindfolded, hanging upside down, with their right thumb in their mouth, and their left hand tied tightly behind their back with dental floss. One sock on and a Birkenstock or is that a Jimmy Choo? Over manage to the point that a simple mail merge becomes all out guerilla warfare dividing the north from the south, of a single department of 4 people (mind you!), Noriega style. The project is still seven months past due and we still didn't get it done today. It's a mail merge!!

Nope! I aint' ever seen it. I hope I never see it again. I betcha I betta not! Thank God, I'm not a betting woman. As my Daddy would say, "If betting was my ho card, I would have put my nightgown on!" I sit here fully dressed in the clothing of the day...

They angered me so today that I had to go out to my car and pray that God forgive me for my pride and my desire for a pistol. Chocolate pistol that is. Milk chocolate. I try not to be violent. I TRY! Lauryn said, "It could all be so simple, but you'd rather make it hard." Alas, workplace theatre. Public Access TV of course...

Well since I'm venting. I ordered these really great cookies from this spot. I think I placed the order on Wednesday. Why the folks just now getting around to mailing my stuff today? Must be that HAT time. Hawaiian Aloha Time cousin to Colored People's Time. Why did they call me on today and tell me they were missing a digit in my zipcode. Naw! Computer's can't be scarce in Hawaii. How else did they get my order? Mapquest anybody? Google maybe? HmmH?

So as not to drag you all down any further. I have been making great progress on the knitting front. I'm half way done with the back of my Ribbed Top by Vladimir Teriokhin from Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2008. I'm knitting it up in Malabrigo Silky Merino. Take a look.

I also got some really great Louet Kidlin for Stardust by Tourit Wilroy from Knitty Winter 2007 (?). I was at one of my favorite LYS, The Knitter's Studio, for their summer sale and couldn't stop admiring Litle Owl's sample they had displayed. It was in this great hue of green. She has an excellent post on collar alterations for it if you decide to do this project. The Kidlin is an excellent yarn choice for this project as it is very soft, silky, and as a mohair blended with linen it doesn't have as much loft as a pure mohair would which makes it less fuzzy. Plus the light really catches this yarn at every angle making it more dimensional.

I'm now off to pack up my SP12 gifts. I may post pics here as I seem to always get the partner that is not loquacious, or did I mean non-responsive, or distracted, or forgets to post pics of their swag on their blog. The luck of the draw I guess.

I know the title of this post is a double negative. It must be all that The Boondocks I've been watching. I got to take LB to a pool party tomorrow. I hope she has a ball and falls asleep on the way home. Now she's loquacious.

Kamika The War Torn

Playing Catch Up

I haven't been a really good Secret Pal Twelver. I haven't posted any of the weekly questions. I would blame it on my move but that would only be partially true. I just haven't been very responsive. So here's the catch up:

Question #1: What is your favorite summertime drink??

A: Water

Question #2: As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer
vacation/break/holiday?

A: Not having to get up at the crack of dawn.

Question #3: What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?

A: This is rather arbitrary because I'm so averse to a stach. But no more than enough yarn to finish 3 projects at a time.

Question #4: 1) What yarn (that you don’t have/haven’t used) would make your stash “complete”? 2) What yarn do you never want to be without?

A: 1) Bamboo or cashmere. Any Malabrigo or Blue Skys Alpaca in worsted weights.


Kamika I now be caught upper (not to Heaven yet but that's coming)

Verizon's Got It Out For Me!

Hi All! I've been away due to my move and the fact that I still don't have Internet service at my new place yet. Damn! Damn! Damn!Verizon!! I'm going stir crazy. Because of the filters at work I can't blog there either. Be of good cheer though. I have been lurking on Ravelry and viewing blogs via caching on Google. Caching is an option on Google where you can see a sort of screen print of a site without all the pictures and hyperlinks. Unfortunately I can't comment. I'm posting tonight via DM's computer. It's so lacking in functionality.

I plan to be back in the swing of things by the middle of this week. I can't wait to be back in the land of the living (well I'm always living but you know). I am enjoying the peace, quiet, and solitude though. I feel all rested and stuff...

Miss you much,

Kamika the emancipated & proclaimated

A FO, A Bed, & Some Hope

In Reverse order.

The Hope:

I'm counting down! Five more days until I'm emancipated from my life of serfdom at The Motel. I can't wait! I've been itching to buy all kinds of stuff to get ready for this move. I've already scheduled a day off, ordered the utilities, and assembled the move crew. I even bought a brand new high tech shower head. DM is a little surly about it but she'll get over it. LB and ST have moved back in as well as The Guest, Jeeves, and The Nut so she'll have plenty of company.

The Bed:

Yesterday I went out and bought a brand new bed! It's so FIYAH. I got it from Z Gallerie le outlet instead of the retail store and I'm so happy I did. I got it for 70% off and it's still in their current catalogue. Can you believe it?

This is my bed, called the Leslie Bed in Chocolate Passion Micro-Suede. The entire bed cost me $325 with tax. On the website it's going for $1,083 with tax and NOT including the shipping of $135. In total I saved a whopping $893. I just can't help but to pat myself on the back.

and lastly...

The FO: Reverse Halter

Forgive the "Front" pic. I have a serious issue with letting my niece's cleavage and belly be exposed and she didn't have time to put on a tank top before work. I believe in modesty, plus my niece didn't wear the collar up. Better pictures to come. Since this is a gift for my cousin Stacey, I'll try to catch her wearing it.

Time: June 2008, About a 2 weeks due to figuring out mods

Yarn: Vanna's Choice Worsted Weight Yarn, 4 balls in rust

Needles/Hook: J

Modifications: Instead of using Paton's Pooch as pattern calls for I used small wooden rings (about 72) from the jewelry making section of Michael's. Knitaholictoo suggested wooden beads. Thanks for the inspiration girl!

Kamika on the move

Tagged Again!

I was tagged by the lovely Shanta at Life As I know. Stop by and check her out.

Now here I go...

"The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themself. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 0r 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves a comment letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you've posted your answer."Sounds easy enough. Enjoy the trip...

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
I can hardly remember. So much was going on then. I had just been laid off for the second time in about 2 years but this time it wasn't as easy. I was worried about my income and having a place to live. I was starting my Graphics business and trying to be young, fabulous, and rich. I was hoping I would never have to go back to work for someone else ever again.

2. What are five things on my to do list for today?
a. Go and fill eyeglass prescription
b. Take shoes to the shop for repair
c. Get toes done.
d. Buy yarn at Compatto
e. Finish watching Heroes on Hulu.com

3. Snacks I enjoy...
Sugar! Just pure dee sugar.

4.Things I would do if I were a billionaire...
*Bring God 10% for tithes and a minimum of another 10% for offering.

*Pay off my Parent's bills.

*Pay off my Pastor's bills.

...oh yeah and my bills too!

*Setup a foundation for the homeless

*Setup an arts endowment for inner city kids. We need art back in the schools

*Open a yarn store.

*Travel

*Stop working and finish my degree

5. Places I have lived...
*Only in Southern Cali

6. What jobs have I had...
*Receptionist for WIC office

*Order Taker for Pizza Hut

*Telemarketer

*Site Director for non-profit

*Membership Director for non-profit

*Office Mgr for a health plan

*Training Coordinator for health plan

*Claims auditor for health plan

*Sr. Specialist for a health plan

*Consultant

*Entrepreneur

*Sr. Admin for large bank

*Admin for real estate firm

*Asst. Mgr for real estate firm

*Manager for real estate firm

*Temp

*Contract Negotiator for health plan.

7. Peeps I want to know more about...
If you're reading this, consider yourself tagged.

Kamika the it

Ah Hah! Say No To Head Buzz

Just recently I did a quick review of Miss Jessie's Baby Buttercream after shouting, "Wait a Minute Mr. Postman!" In that post I praised the results I got from the product and how much I liked it. At the end I did mention one Caveat - I kept feeling slightly light-headed.

Light-headed. Let's explore this sensation for a moment. Walk with me...

Light-headness - a common and often unpleasant sensation of dizziness and/or feeling that one may be about to faint...feeling as though his or her head is weightless. Wikipedia.

After applying the Baby Buttercreme this is how I felt but without the fainting spell. I constantly felt like I was withdrawing from caffeine. You know, that slightly buzzy feeling? Not a tingle ladies. A warm but bearable buzz. But that's just the tip of it. The skin on my forehead started to become inflamed. I also started noticing breakage and more shedding just from touching my locks. A small patch of my hair in the nape area is missing. Yep, just vanished! I know the trees were there because I have pictures and because there is STUBBLE!!! Stubble can only mean breakage. Breakage in an area that I touch a lot (at times I have recurring Hand-In-Fro disease. It's terminal). I haven't had breakage like this since I gave up the relaxer 3 years ago. Now mind you, my hair looked fabulous but at what cost? I had to research this. I also immediately stopped using the product.

The beginnings of my natural hair journey didn't start with the easing in of transitioning. No, I wanted the full trial by fire experience that only comes with the BC. Considering this, I had no problems chucking a product that kept my hair glossy and made my hair appear more acceptable to the masses. NO! But I digress.

After careful research I believe I found the problem. Acetylated Lanolin! Damn Damn Damn! WOOL!!! I'm allergic to pure wool!! **This is going to be a little exhaustive.**

Acetylated Lanolin, also called Sheep/Wool Alcohol or even Wool Oil, is a thick waxy sebum(oil) secreted by sheep to give there coats a glossy sheen and keep the skin underneath soft and supple. When the sheep are shorn the Lanolin is extracted from their coats, cleaned, and processed for use in all kinds of products. Like most other oils commonly used on hair, when applied after moisture, Lanolin will lock the moisture in making your hair feel softer and more moisturized. It's non-drying and the animal variety can be pretty anti-allergenic. You can find it in lotions, lipsticks, lip balms, shampoos and conditioners, and hair products et al.

So you say, "What gives? Lanolin is found in at least 1/3 of the beauty products out there." True, but it's usually found in smaller quantities closer to the end of the ingredients list and only used as filler or an emollient. Acetylated Lanolin is the second ingredient in this product which means there is a high concentration of it. Behind water it's mostly wool oil.

As stated earlier, Lanolin softens, soothes, and nourishes skin but coats and potentially suffocates hair because of it's thickness and binding properties. (The picture to the left is lanolin on a pole) It becomes wax and we all know what happens to wax after it has cooled. It becomes hard and non-porous which means no water escapes it but none gets in as well. Regular use of Lanolin rich products will ultimately cause build-up resulting in hair that drys in on itself because no moisture can enter in to replenish it. The wax attracts dirt and dust to each strand further clogging the hair follicles. Dryness, dirt, and dust are a proven recipe for tangling and hair breakage.


Another major problem. Acetylated Lanolin is slightly different than natural Lanolin in that to be acetylated certain natural molecular properties of the Lanolin are exchanged with Acetic Acid and LYE. Acetic Acid is a mild acid that is corrosive and prone to causing skin burns, eye damage, skin irritation, etc. It descales like Lime A-Way. Naturally found in vinegar it causes the pungent smell and sour taste we are all familiar with. In and of itself Acetic Acid is not really harmful when used in small doses but overtime regular use of it on your hair can be harmful. We all know what LYE is and what harm it can do.


Thirdly, Acetylated Lanolin is highly comedogenic. Meaning it clogs pores and has a tendency to produce or aggravate acne. When using products that contain this ingredient you must be careful to not allow the hair to hang in your face. Nuff said!


So I found my devil in the details. Wool in the form of Acetylated Lanolin. I can't wear pure wool without rashing so obviously the use of it in my hair is no different. My research explained the buzzing sensation and the hair loss I've been experiencing. Since I stopped using it 4 days ago the sensations have left. The remainder of the jar will be put in the "outbox" to be given away to those who are not allergic or trashed.

Baby Buttercream and it's sister Curly Buttercream are useful products, but I don't believe they are for me. I strongly suggest to anyone who may have wool sensitivities or allergies, avoid this product and any product for that matter that has Lanolin in it. If you are prone to acne or facial irritation, avoid using this near your face or placing your hands in your face after touching your hair. If you have found this to be one of your Holy Grail products, I highly recommend incorporating a regular clarifying treatment into your weekly hair regimen followed by a deep moisturizing treatment before reapplying this product. Oddly enough when I started using the product I was cowashing every day to every other day. Cowashing is not recommended with this product. You will only further add to the build-up on your tresses. You need to shampoo.


So there it is. Another Miss Jessie's product bites the dust for me. I'm truly not out to get them, I promise. I've just found that there product line doesn't work for me. I hope this review will be found helpful especially to the product junkies that are fiending to buy these cremes. I will try to find a comparable replacement and if I do I'll post it here. Currently I've gone back to using my Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Repair Creme. It has "Lanolin" in it but it's #14 on a list of about 22 ingredients. As soon as I'm done with this I think I may not purchase it again. Even though I like it a lot, there has got to be something out there that doesn't have Lanolin and a whole bunch of chemicals in it.



Kamika Inspector #32