Cthulu Hat

Hat base:

Cast on 100 sts on dpns. K1 P1 for one inch. K all for 4 more inches.

Crown decrease:

Round 1 and all odd rounds: knit all

Round 2: *k8, k2tog,* repeat around

Round 4: *k7, k2tog,* repeat around

Round 6: *k6, k2tog,* repeat around

Round 8: *k5, k2tog,* repeat around

Round 10: *k4, k2tog,* repeat around

Round 12: *k3, k2tog,* repeat around

Round 14: *k2, k2tog,* repeat around

Round 16: *k1, k2tog,* repeat around

Round 18: *k2tog* repeat around

Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitches. Weave in ends.

Tentacles:

Pick up 2 stitches on front of hat with dpn. Knit 2, then slide the stitches to the other end of the needle. K2, slide to other end of needle. Repeat until desired length, cut yarn and pull through remaining stitches. Weave in ends.

Wings:

Pick up 10 stitches vertically on the back of the hat.

Row 1: k2 p2 k2 p2 k2

Row 2: p2 k2 p2 k2 p2

Row 3: k2 p2 yo k2 yo p2 k2

Row 4: p2 k3 p2 k3 p2

Row 5: k2 p3 yo k2 yo p3 k2

Row 6: p2 k4 p2 k4 p2

Row 7: k2 p4 yo k2 yo p4 k2

Row 8: p2 k5 p2 k5 p2

Row 9: cast off 2, p4, k2, p4, cast off 2

Row 10: cast off 2, k2, p2, k2, cast off 2

Row 11: cast off 2, k2, cast off 2

Row 12: cast off all

Weave in ends.

Checkouts: A lesson in leniency

I admit it, I am a doormat. I am way too nice and I let my residents get away with waaaaaaaaay too much. However, after re-cleaning almost every room on my floor after hall closing, I know that next year, I need to check all the drawers, make sure carpets are actually vacuumed, and enforce the cleaning of microwaves.

I have a handful of days off before I start my summer job, which is not much different than my rest of the year job. I'm working for University Housing as a Conference Assistant, and I honestly don't know what they'll have me do.

A Little Help From My Friends

On duty last night, sound asleep in my bed, and I get a call from the security assistant, who turns out to be my friend Mike. "Hey, sorry to tell you but there's vomit to be cleaned up on 2nd floor." So I go get the puke sucker and take it up to second floor, but when I get there I remember that I tend to gag when I see/smell vomit. I called another RA down from the 4th floor cause I knew he could handle poop, so why not puke? I am extremely grateful that he cleaned up the vomit for me and was very nice about the whole thing.
The Moral: Friends who clean up puke are real friends indeed.

Stevie the Pointer

Attended the RA conference at UW-Stevens Point this weekend. I've been to Stevens Point a lot through DI and visiting my sister, so it was really cool to see the renovated UC. It kind of looked like an airport.

Although the conference was less spirited and fun than WURHA, the programs I went to were a lot more useful and interesting. I'll outline a couple of my favorites:

Build Your Billboard - We made 'billboards' for ourselves with markers, stickers, and magazines. Then we looked at everyone's billboards and said what we thought they meant. The point of the program was that we may come off differently than we intend to, so we should watch what we say/do/show to portray ourselves accurately.

More Than Just A Pretty Face - We talked about body image for a bit, then we wrote a list of things we didn't like about ourselves on a notecard. Then, we ripped up the notecard. We got mirrors and we went around the room looking at other people and writing something good looking about them on their mirror. It was a great program because everyone felt good about themselves after, and if I have enough funds to get mirrors for my floor, I fully intend to put this program on.

Back To Kindergarten - Intended as a stress-reliever program, we watched cartoons while eating fruitsnacks, fingerpainting, and playing with Play-Doh. I think that this program would also go over very well with my floor of art students, especially during midterms.

I also enjoyed 'A Complaint Free World', which can be found at acomplaintfreeworld.org

It is time for class, so my tea and crackers and I are signing out. Peace!

Ode to Desk

I really adore working the front desk in my hall. If I could be an RA and a desk worker at the same time, I would be over the moon. It's great because it's the only job I've had that allows me to sit at work, and I get to use my computer, listen to music, do homework etc. instead of standing around waiting for the next customer. I also really enjoy seeing people walk through the lobby and saying hello to them.

I don't think people realize the vast resources we have at the desk. Not only do we have movies and cooking equipment, but we have board games and tools and oh so many wonderful things to check out.

I would really like to see better vacuums, though. Our vacuums (James Dean, Audrey Hepburn, Hugh Hefner, Elvis Presley, and Marilyn Monroe) break down frequently, and even when they are working they don't always do the best job. I guess that's why we have multicolored carpet, though.

February is crazy!

I am still exhausted from WURHA this weekend. A thousand kudos to the D-Ship and the conference staff for the outstanding job they all did. I had been very frustrated getting ready for the conference because of the time consumption factor, but it was totally worth it. It was also really great to see first-time delegates experience it and fall in love with conferences.

This weekend I'm headed to the RA conference in Stevens Point, about which I currently know nothing. Tomorrow is the informational meeting and I'm pretty pumped to find out how it's going to go down.

I'm currently waiting for my belated January program to get approved. Since the primaries are tomorrow, I'm encouraging my floor to vote by giving them some resources on the candidates and offering cookies to anyone who shows me their "I Voted" sticker. This will be the first voting experience for the majority of my residents, so I really hope they take the opportunity to get involved in the democratic process.
I am also supposed to be involved in a team program this month, but I'm not sure what the plan is for that just yet.

Gee, I wish I remembered what free time felt like...