Answers to your biggest questions

Want to know what your iced drinks from Starbucks look like after you let them sit for a few hours? This.

Time for science kids! That top layer is water, and the bottom is something liquid that comes out of your bottom (more specifically your anus). Just kidding. But this is what those drinks look like and this isn't even a ridiculously disgusting one. If you have any syrup in it usually there are like five more layers in a brownish hue. So remember, think before you drink.

The other big news of today is that I have accomplished something incredible. Any guesses as to what I did? While you're thinking, here is a picture of how awesome I was with my Christmas knitting.

To answer that burning question on your brain, yes I did knit that all in one day. Also, yes that mug is from Starbucks. I think it's the coolest mug I own.

So now that you have thought and wondered about what I accomplished today I'm going to tell you. Aren't things better when you wait for them? Life lessons from Jen.

Today... I knit while I drove.

Fun fact: knitting while driving is clinically safer than texting while driving.

Out on the old frontier, the little doggies resisted being counted

It's WIP roundup time! I was originally going to show you all the amazing things I've knit the past couple months and haven't taken pictures off, but then I realized something very important: there is a month until Christmas. Now since we don't know each other very well, I'm going to let you in on a secret about me. Ready?

I am not one to freak out about knitting things in time for Christmas. In fact, I'm not really one to freak out about anything (and by freak out I mean stress freak out. I happy squee freak out all the time for: amazing yarn, harry potter, music, giant dogs, spinning instruments, potatoes, turkey bacon, raspberries... you get the idea).

But this year I think that might change. Because this year I have decided to knit a lot of people a lot of things. Not just my usual sock knitting palooza, but I've decided to make a shawl, a pair of stranded man socks, a pair of stranded woman socks, a pair of mittens, and something for my boyfriend. Plus I have to finish my ex-boyfriends sweater. Want to see a picture of it?

Yes I modeled it on a blender--I couldn't fit it over the back of the chair. I'm about two inches past the armpit and boy has it been slow going. Not because I don't like the pattern (simple custom top down pullover) and not because I don't enjoy eons of stockinette. More because I haven't been knitting at all the past two months. I mean sure here and there I will finish a row, but I used to be a solid two hour a day knitter. The main thing about this sweater that may make it a problem, is that I do not have enough yarn to finish it. In fact, I only have one more ball left and about 15 more inches of body and two sleeves. I bet I know what you're thinking; what sort of a knitter buys three balls of yarn for a sweater and expects it to work?!

The answer: Me. I knew it wasn't enough yarn but they didn't have more of that blue color. So I figured I would be able to buy more later. It's now later and I haven't even looked for more of this. Not that it will be hard to find; it's cascade wool. But I will not be able to find the dye-lot again. I've never done this before with a cascade project so I'm not really positive that this is an issue. Since it is Christmas (technically it's almost Thanksgiving but according to Starbucks, it's almost Christmas) I'm inclined to yuletide joy and so I'm going to say that the sweater will be epically awesome even with mis-matched dye-lots.

Speaking of Starbucks, they are forcing me to be a better person. Because I get an extra 10% off this week, I have to actually do my Christmas shopping BEFORE the last week before Christmas. Gross.

I've also become mildly addicted to Carmel Macchiato.

Also, know what you missed last weekend if you didn't go to Starbucks? Buy one get one free on all Holiday drinks. This is why you should go to Starbucks EVERYDAY UNTIL YOU DIE. Otherwise you miss deals. Just kidding, please don't support the corporate empire.

Want to know how my job search is going?! Terribly. Thanks for asking.

As we part, I'd like to leave you with a picture of the shawl that needs to be done for Christmas. I'd usually be all over knitting this right now, but I screwed up the pattern hardcore. So I have to frog all this. Sadface. So here lies the shawl I started four months ago and have to start over and complete in 31 days. Cheers!

Trained and underemployed

I've officially completed my training and now know how to make drinks with the greatest of ease. Granted I'm still terribly slow and mess things up a lot, but at least I know how to make a Carmel Macchiato.

Don't get me wrong, working at Starbucks is probably the best job I've had ever, but it's not satisfying at all. Maybe it's just me, but when I see the quantity of money we take in on a Saturday, it makes me want to punch babies. Luckily there are some babies that come to the store.

The problem I have with saying that I am underemployed is that it's a BS term. What does that even mean? That I'm not using my college degree? All a college degree means is a bunch of debt and a piece of paper; I'm not any smarter than I was before I went to college. Another bad thing about working a terrible job is that I don't have as much time to knit. This is probably the biggest tragedy of the capitalist structure.

However, I have managed to finish a project. It's the pattern Pauline and I made it out of Malabrigo. It was a super easy pattern and just what I need for winter--because I lost my favorite hat. Since I'm living in Colorado instead of Wisconsin, I luckily haven't had any reason to wear a hat yet.

That is one great thing about moving back in with my parents: heat.

I have three other things on needles and hopefully within the next week I will have finished one (mittens... drool). The other two projects are massive: a sweater for an ex-bf and a shawl that I screwed up on hardcore.

In weathergirl news, I've applied for two jobs today. The first is in West Virginia and the second is in New York. I also called the Duluth station to see if she got my application. I should know about that job by the end of the week. I should set up a counter for how many weathergirl jobs I've applied for. I think so far I'm up to 30. Guess how many I've heard back on (all rejections)? 6.

And the blog begins, with a song of rebellion

After two months of fruitless job searching and obsessive knitting, I have finally landed a job at the most coveted of corporate positions: Starbucks Barista. Sure my degree might be in Meteorology and I went to a college where students did typical things like loving the environment and wanting to live in communes, but apparently I'm not very good at being a weather girl. This means I'm living in my parents house and starting Wednesday, I get the opportunity to earn a paycheck.

For the past two weeks that I've been living in my parents house, I've been applying for everything. Target, AMC, Borders, PacSun, Forever 21, etc. etc.

So blah blah blah. I learned about veganism and how capitalism is destroying america and how the whales are dying in college. Now I am going to be making overpriced coffee drinks for suburban moms. But the coffee is fair trade? They are not Walmart?

I guess I should actually work for them before I judge them.

Here are a few things that I am excited for.
1. Being that coffee shop girl.
Maybe I can pick up a deep sensitive brooding dude. Then after I get an actual career, I can support him as he mysteriously glances at me from the couch. A dark and handsome sort of mysterious glance.
2. Money for yarn.
I can compulsively make my mooching mysterious husband socks .

Over the course of this blog, I will describe my knitting adventures, weathergirl job offers, and barista anecdotes. Most likely I will describe my romantic adventures too because I am somewhat of a girl.

So here is a toast to paying 30,000 a year for four years for the chance to work at starbucks.