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You are here: Home / All blog posts / T minus 18 months
Previous post: Finished the book proposal!
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August 14, 2014 by Tien Chiu 7 Comments

T minus 18 months

The last work week has been super stressful, as Google job offers were scheduled to go out on Tuesday. Some of us would be offered full-time positions, some would be given a few months to find another job. Some of us would receive retention bonuses; most would not. I swear time on Tuesday afternoon passed like half-frozen molasses.

But we did finally get our offers, and fortunately mine was all good news. I immediately sat down and did the only important calculation, and it appears that I am now T minus eighteen months to a jacquard loom. Viva Google!

Ice sculpture at the Google-Skybox acquisition celebration
Ice sculpture at the Google-Skybox acquisition celebration

Now, of course, we have the challenge of where to put the loom. This is no small matter, considering that we live in an 1100 square foot house and already have a massive 40-shaft loom occupying most of the garage. Bay Area construction costs are so high, and building permits so convoluted, that building an addition to the house is simply not an option. Nor can we expand the garage. So we are thinking of building a ten-foot by twelve-foot shed in the back yard, moving the items that are stored in the garage to the shed, and housing both looms in the garage.

Of course, that means building a large shed. We don’t want a cheap prefab shed – B. is thinking of putting his woodworking shop in the shed as well, which means comfort is important. So B. is thinking of ways to build passive heating and cooling systems into the shed. We may well build most (or all) of it ourselves. That will take a significant amount of time, so I’m planning to start the design process now. The first step is seeing whether both looms will actually fit inside the garage, so I’ll be taking measurements this weekend.

Meanwhile, I have set up the loom for threading and started in on the (very long) task of threading. There are 2800 ends in this warp, and I have threaded 56 of them. That means I am exactly 2% done. I’ve been humming a weaver’s variant of the summer camp perennial, “Ninety-Nine Bottles of Beer on the Wall” as I go:

2800 ends of warp to thread, 2800 threads to go,
Pick up two, pull them through,
2798 ends of warp to go.”

Over time I’m sure that will drive me crazy, but as I’m still making up verses, it’s keeping me entertained right now.

first 56 threads threaded!
first 56 threads threaded!

I have also been working on my book proposal. I got feedback from my editor and a few other people, and have been busily incorporating it. I still need to revise the query letter and re-shoot the photos in the Creative Cycle chapter, and then send it for copy editing. After that it will be done, polished, and ready to send out to agents and publishers. I’m very pleased with it; it’s a strong proposal, much stronger than the previous rendition.

And what of the cats? They have been sadly absent the last few posts, as I’ve been preoccupied with other things and forgot (gasp! how could I?) to fill you in on their adventures. So I will try to play catch-up:

First, our beautiful Tigress is up to her usual mischievous tricks. I came home for lunch one day, and saw these ominous tracks on the kitchen counter:

Tigress tracks
Tigress tracks!

Apparently someone has now learned there are paper towels on the kitchen counter. If it happens again, we may be reduced to hiding the paper towels as well as the toilet paper. Tigress scores again!

On the other hand, the humans may have some hope. Here is Tigress trying (and failing) to get into the cabinet where the cat treats are stored:

Tigress trying to get into cabinet
Tigress trying to get into cabinet

Alas, as you can see, she is just a little too short. Drat those dastardly (and tall!) humans!

Of course, if we actually open the cabinet, she comes running down the hall and takes a flying leap into the cabinet, scattering everything in it into a giant mess. But she’s so adorable while she’s doing it that it’s hard to get mad at her. She is an extraordinarily clever and exuberant kitty, admirable in so many ways.

And Fritz? He has grown into a giant kitty, over eleven pounds and quite tall. He has also been studying diligently at cat school. Here he is, demonstrating the quintessential kitty skill of Taking Up The Entire Bed:

Fritz doing his best to occupy the entire bed
Fritz doing his best to occupy the entire bed

B. is actually in the photo, but has been shoved over from his usual sleeping-space to my side of the bed. Bravo Fritz! You are learning to assert yourself while sleeping and push your humans out of your rightful space. (Which is, of course, the entire bed – he is a cat, after all.)

And that’s it for today! Tomorrow is (very minor) arm surgery, so I may be quiet for a few days.

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Filed Under: All blog posts, textiles, weaving Tagged With: jacquard loom

Previous post: Finished the book proposal!
Next post: Studio floor plans

Comments

  1. terri says

    August 14, 2014 at 3:47 pm

    Sending good thoughts your way for a quick recovery!

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  2. Arleen wetmore says

    August 14, 2014 at 5:31 pm

    Congratulations on being hired by Google! Great company!

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  3. marion says

    August 14, 2014 at 7:30 pm

    congratulations Tien, very good news to know you are now securely employed and enjoy each day

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  4. Helen Hart says

    August 14, 2014 at 8:11 pm

    Congratulations on your job.

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  5. Cindi says

    August 14, 2014 at 8:41 pm

    Great news on the job! Once upon a time we had a neighbor who was a gorges Irish setter. The dog biscuit were in a bottom cabinet that was a lazy susan. The door was attached, so you pushed and around it went. We were outside working in the yard and out came the dog with the box stuck on his head. I don’t remember how many if any biscuit were left.

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  6. Ruth says

    August 15, 2014 at 6:17 am

    I’m so pleased for you that Google had the good sense to offer you a job! Eighteen months should be about right for getting the shed/woodwork shop built.

    2800 ends… I have 508 ends of 8/2 unmerc ctn to thread for 15 yds of hand/dish towels @ 24 epi. And I’m grumbling about it and procrastinating getting it done.

    508 ends to thread
    508 ends
    thread four thru
    and then you’ve got
    504 ends to thread

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  7. Tien Chiu says

    August 17, 2014 at 7:00 am

    Thanks everyone! I’m super happy about my Google offer and am excited to be planning for a jacquard loom!

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