Obligatory monthly post

Well, I have no pics for you this month. I am still working on Honey's sock cuffs. I did detour for a day and begin working on an A-line swing coat, but I'm not happy with it thus far, so I need to rip it. But, I did use my Harmony needles on it, and I must say that I LOVE them!

What else? I'm going to start a basic ribbed cap with a pony-tail hole. It's ridiculous that I haven't finished a cap for myself. I've already been snowboarding twice, and had to stoop to borrowing a cap from my Honey, since my store-bought hat has disappeared. But, come on, seriously, it takes like no yarn and very little time to knit a cap!

But, I find myself spending a ridiculous number hours agonizing over the color (pink? white? black? brown? a combo?), the design (cabled? What cables? Fair Isle? What design?), the construction (ribbed completely? ribbed on the bottom & stockinette for the rest?). Then I search for patterns, surfing the web, flipping through magazines, and checking my books. At that point, it's pretty much paralysis through analysis and I give up on the whole idea.

Then, I look in stores like Hollinger where SIMPLE 2x2 rib hats are $25, and my resolve is renewed. $25 for ACRYLIC?!?! And they're always too big for my freaky-small 19" head. And there's no ponytail hole!

So, today, I am casting on 84 sts of some basic Black stash wool yarn and doing 2x2 rib until it's time to insert a largish one-row buttonhole a'la EZ for my ponytail, and I resolve to have it done by Wednesday, which is my next snowboarding trip. I'll let you know how it comes out.

P.S. - Honey's daughter has let the scarf die on her needles, as she had gotten stuck and I wasn't around to help. I'm not pushing the issue, but I'm planning on knitting around her and making really cool hats in the hopes that she'll become inspired once more. We knitters are so devious! :-)

Propagating

So, I must let you all know that I have been busy hooking a poor, unsuspecting 10-year-old girl into our fibery fun. I taught my boyfriend's daughter how to knit last weekend.

I tried showing her the continental method, which I favor, but she ended up latching on to the English method, which I showed her when she was having issues with the other. She picked it up so quickly and loved it so much ("This is fun!"), that I had to strike while the iron was hot and I promptly took her to the craft store where I bought her a beginner book and the called-for yarn and needles for a garter-stitch scarf. The colors she picked are great, we modified the amount of c/o stitches (see? already letting her know that patterns are merely guides), and away she went. I haven't spoken to her since the weekend, and her dad keeps forgetting to ask her how she's doing with it, but I'm hoping her knitting is continuing apace, and that soon she'll be ready to learn purl. If not, well, at least she tried it.

Speaking of her dad, here is how his socks are coming along:

Yeah, I'm pretty burned out on them, but I'm soooo close to a pair of socks.

But I unearthed some socks in progress I had apparently started in May 2006. And, since these were for ME and were close to being done, I took a break from Matt's socks and actually finished something:



I LOVE my socks! They're comfy and fit me perfectly. Of course, I didn't write down how many stitches these were, but I think it was 56. They're Regia Stretch, and I am exceedingly happy with the yarn, and I'm on a FO high.

I'm feeling so good, I've been tempted by the beauteous Autumn Rose fitted Fair Isle 3/4 sleeve sweater designed by Eunny Jang. I would like it to have full sleeves, and I'm seeing that the best deal I can get would bring the price tag of the yarn & book for this pattern to about $96.00. So, I'm passing (for now), and am entertaining ideas of starting the "U-Neck Sweater" I was eyeballing at the end of last year. At least I already have the pattern and yarn for it.

Or, I could start an A-line swing coat in chunky wool which would go pretty quickly. Or, I could do the Aran Coat ala Meg Swansen from "Knitting Around", as I have the yarn, the book, and the video for it.

Or maybe I should force myself to plug along on my poor Honey's socks and let him know the joy that is perfectly-fitting, hand-made, love-induced knitted socks.

Ummmmm..

Okay, okay. Yes, I realize that it's been now four months since my last (lame) post. However, I do have knitting to show you:



Um, now I must explain myself. This is a pair of socks in progress, at the point where the heel has just been completed and I am now sailing up the cuff in 2x2 rib. They seem quite long, do they not? That's because they are for a size 13 foot.

Now, I realize that in my last post, I was thanking my lucky stars that I was not planning on knitting for a size 13 foot. Well, let's just say that now I AM thanking my lucky stars that I am knitting for a size 13 foot. Irony is great.

So, these socks have been my WIP for the past 2 months. I hope to have them done soon. I then plan on making a hat for myself which has a hole in the top for a pony tail for when I go snowboarding. I have issues with goggle placement.

And, this is the only knitting-related purchase I've made in many, many months:



Yes, I succumbed to the new Knit Picks Harmony needle set. I haven't yet knit with them (I'll use 'em on my hat), but they feel very slick and warm and they are just beautiful! I'm so happy with them, even though they only go down to size 4.

OK, so I won't make any promises so that your expectations will remain low, and therefore the chance of disappointment is lessened when I don't post for another few months. But, hopefully, I'll keep my act together, and you'll see a pair of finished socks soon...

Over 6 months have passed...

Hi there!

My goodness, where has the time gone? I'm so sorry to have been gone for so long, but, you know.

So, hey, since last we spoke, I've completed the dragon scarf, the Fiesta Shawl is in the exact same state it was when you last saw it, and I believe I've only finished knitting a baby hat. So, you see, it was a blessing for you that I did not post to this blog. Otherwise, all you would have heard about was my failed attempt at completing an online MBA course, my crazy-busy job, and my Online Dating escapades.

Alright, in other knitting news, I'm almost done w/the Rick Rack bag I'm making for my friend Deanna. She had seen mine, and was so taken with it, she requested one for herself. So, because I love her, I cast on...even had the colors she wanted in the stash! I've only got the handles left to do, so I'll be sure to do the whole "before" and "after" felting pics.

So, besides the 2 afore-mentioned on-going projects, I'm agitating to make hand-knit fishnet stockings. I've got 2 patterns, and 1 on the way, so once I get a pattern I really like, I'm casting on, baby. I'm going to order that new Knit Picks yarn Risata in Black. Won't that be soooo awesome?! I can't wait!

Alright, so I guess I'm back, baby! Let the knitting begin in earnest!

Online Dating

There will be no pictures in this post, so if you're looking for eye candy and/or inspiration, you would do well to move along at this point. If you're interested in pathetic tales of single-dom, please stay tuned.

First, I did get a chance to spin, and it was wonderful. I felt so guilty for neglecting my lovely Symphony for so long...I had actually forgotten I had bought a Woollee Winder for it. How lame is that? But it was, pardon the cliche, just like riding a bike, and I fell right into making my springy Blackbird yarn for my Rogue cardigan. I think I made about 90 yards, and am almost done with another bobbin of singles, so hopefully I'll have 2 finished skeins to show you next time. Then I have to prepare some more fiber. I'm this close to just using pre-made yarn for this project.

But I have started and made some progress on the Tie-Front Cardigan from the Vogue Holiday 06 issue. I'm making it in black Gloss from KnitPicks. It's a nice silk-merino blend, and I think this coat will be absolutely fantastic once I finish it. I'll show that to you in my next post as well.

But anyway, I recently subscribed to match.com, and let me tell you, it's an interesting world out there. I haven't dated at all anyway (I met my soon-to-be-ex when I was 18, and he was my first boyfriend), so it's all new to me. It's actually very overwhelming. I'm not putting too much hope into it, but it's kind of making me feel better because it's something I can actually "do" to help alleviate my feelings of being such a man-less loser. I might un-subscribe, but I'll be going out with a friend of mine tomorrow who has been on match.com for quite some time, so I'm going to pick her brain on how to navigate this stuff. Perhaps she'll renew my enthusiasm.

I'll keep you all posted....

Here there be dragons

Well, an eye-less dragon, but a dragon none-the-less...


I really enjoyed this pattern, and it was pretty quick to make. As I had mentioned in a previous post, the yarn from Morehouse Merino is absoulutely sinfully soft, and was nice to knit up.

I just need to block this bad boy, sew on the eyes, and tassel in the puffs of smoke in its nostrils. Because I'm sketchy on finishing, I probably won't actually have this done for a while, but I'm excited about it, so here it is.

In non-fibery news, I'm now 2-weeks post-op. The nurse has told me that I'm healing up very well, and a lot of my friends are surprised that I already came back to work this week, so I guess I'm doing well. I attended hula class last night, but only sat and did the hand movements half-heartedly. But even that little bit of activity left me sore, so I'm really impatient with this whole recovery process. My tummy is also still a little swollen, and the swelling gets worse as the day wears on, so that's really ticking me off, too. I just need to be patient, but that's never been one of my strong suits.

Anyway, this will be my child-less weekend, and I'm planning on doing some spinning. It's been so long, I hope I remember how to do it :-)

Post-Op

Well, I did the deed. The surgery went very well (i.e. I survived) and recovery continues apace.

My new rack is the perfect size...just a bit larger than they've been with my push-up padded bras, so there isn't a very obvious difference. Of course there is to me. The bummer is that for the next 3 weeks I've got to wear a tight strap across my chest which squeezes them together and pushes them down to help them drop into place. This means I'll have projectile boobies and no pretty bras till that's done. I have a feeling I might cheat and go strap-less a bit. I did some preliminary measurements, and it looks like I'm a 32 C. Woohoo!

The tummy tuck is another matter altogether. I look like Frankenstein down there, and the belly button is decidedly unsavory. But the tummy is AMAZING! I have a killer waist and I'm as flat as a board! 26 inches, baby! Of course, my scar is absolutely crazy-looking, but I'm applying some expensive scar cream in the hopes that it will eventually become less horrifying. For those of you who aren't squeamish, click here to see it 4 days post-op.

Anyway, I'm a lot more ambulatory, but I did get some knitting time in.

Here's that Fiesta Shawl I've been wanting to make for 6 years....Well, Blogger is up to its usual tricks, and it won't let me post pics. So, let's try this:


Alright, here she is. Isn't she lovely? This is the first time I've knit with rayon ribbon and mohair, and they are both tricky in their own little ways. Suffice it to say that winding ribbon is not my idea of a fun time. Right now, the thing causing me concern is the fact that I've already run out of 1 skein of Gelato. It seems that the shawl isn't even half done, and I still have fringe to do. Of course, the shawl is getting smaller, but I'm not sure it's getting smaller fast enough. Well, time will tell. Till then, I need to sew the beginning of the next ball to the end of this ball, but I've been too lazy to get out my needle & thread.

So, instead, I started this...

Look, I'm knitting a dragon tail! This is the Dragon Scarf Kit from Morehouse Merino. It was outrageously expensive for a scarf kit, I thought, but I LOVE dragons, and wouldn't this just be the coolest thing to wear while snowboarding?! But the yarn is fantastically soft and lofty and it'll be such a treat to have this soft dragon snuggling warmly against my neck. The pattern is fun and it really does look like a dragon, no? You gotta love knitting!

This is fun...

Yes, I do have a new project on the needles, and it involved cable-casting on 423 stitches! Talk about new and exciting ways to torture yourself! But the yarn is gorgeous, and I'll post a pic as soon as I make a significant amount of progress.

Until then, my time is being consumed by my anticipation for my surgeries next Friday. I'm excited, and apprehensive at the same time and I'm really NOT looking forward to the recovery period. Well, I'm trying to get as much advice as I can, but I know that my experience will all depend on me and my own reaction to the procedures. I'm just one of those people who has to do a bunch of research and get as much info as I can in order to feel somewhat at ease, even though it's mostly pointless. Of course, the most important part of my recovery perid will be the knitting projects I'll be working on...that is IF I'm able. I certainly hope so, and am planning accordingly.

Anyway, here's something fun to do...I think it was pretty accurate for me, because believe me, I've been low lately, and I REALLY need some attention and some outside affirmation from others. And I absolutely adore blue :-)

Your Power Color Is Indigo

At Your Highest: You are on a fast track to success - and others believe in you. At Your Lowest: You require a lot of attention and praise. In Love: You see people as how you want them to be, not as how they are. How You're Attractive: You're dramatic flair makes others see you as mysterious and romantic. Your Eternal Question: "Does This Work Into My Future Plans?"

What's Your Power Color?

Knitting on Google

Hey, if you get the chance today, go to Google.com. They've got 2 knitting kangaroos as part of their logo today! Very cute!!

Get your FO here!

Ladies & Gents, with absolutely no ado, here is my most recent Finished Object:


Yeah, I know the one pic is crooked, but I never said I was a wiz with the camera. But I'm really happy with the sweater, and it'll be even better once I break down and block it. Here are the specs for those of you who are interested in such things:
Pattern: "Woman's Cardigan" (such a catchy name), the cover sweater on the Fall 2006 "Knit Simple". Smallest size.
Modications: I shortened the body by 3" and lengthened the sleeves by 3". I also mirrored the cable twists on the fronts and the back, and made the center back cable a horseshoe-like cable which I also used down the sleeves.
Yarn: KnitPicks "Sierra" in the color "Tide". I really like this yarn as it is soft and thick and shows the stitches very well. However, there were an average of 2 knots in most of the skeins, and I was too lazy to deal with them correctly...you know, cut out the knot and splice the yarn ends. So, we'll see how that decision pans out for me. Oh, here's how much I had left...


This was such a quick knit that I really didn't have time to get tired of it. So, I've already wound the skeins for my next projects. Yes, I'm going to start two: One for mindless knitting, and the other for when I have time to concentrate. I figure I'm going to have some awesome knitting time on my hands while recovering from my surgery in less than 2 weeks. Also, I may be flying out to Hawaii at the end of this week for my grandfather's funeral, so that will also need a project. I'll let you know once things are "for sure".

Another year

Well, I survived my birthday on the 5th, and I made it through yet another year! I never in a million years thought I would be where I am at this point in my life, but it's all good.

Alas, this is yet another post scarce on the fibery stuff. My poor Cardigan remains sleeveless, although I have sewed one sleeve seam together. So close, and yet so far. I'll work on it later after I finish off these:

My mom has the kids tonight, since she'll watch them tomorrow, and I'm relaxing w/my faves...Hornsby's Hard Apple Cider & a Godiva Macadamia Nut truffle. MMMMMM, talk about heaven! I had stayed up till midnight last night working on a report for my stress-inducing job, and I am so going to bed early tonight. I'll just stay up long enough to watch "The New Adventures of Old Christine", and them I'm out. Maybe I'll work on my cardigan while I zone out. Then I'll actually have something related to wool to show you.

Hmm, speaking of showing you something, looky what I did this weekend to commemmorate my birthday:

This is on my lower back, and is my second tattoo. It still stings. It's actually based on a sketch I drew up, and it didn't turn out like I had expected, but it's growing on me, and I'm starting to really like it. Either that, or I'm mind-screwing myself into liking it because IT'S FREAKING PERMANENT! But, it's really not that bad, right? For those of you who can't really tell, it's supposed to be the Harley Davidson shield with plumerias around it. At least the colors are pretty.

So, anyway, you've suffered through this post, and I feel that I must mention something related to knitting. After all, this is supposed to be about the Tales of a Spinning Knitter, not a man-less, depressed, stressed out freak. So, here goes: I'm debating on what my next project should be...

These are both from the Holiday 2006 issue of Vogue Knitting. I'm LOVING the pretty Frost Flowers ruffley cardigan, but I think the cute cabled, bell-sleeved jacket would be perfect for work. I have the yarn for the jacket, but I've already decided on KnitPicks Gloss in black for the Frost Flowers...I just have to break down and order it. Wouldn't black silk & merino be just lovely?

So, you'll see soon enough what I decide. If you'd like to vote, I'd be more than happy to take your opinions in consideration. :-)

Hope springs eternal

Advisory: Before you read on, I just want to warn you that there is no fibery content in this post, nor are there pictures. But it's short.

Wow, I'm just a posting machine lately, huh? Y'all sick of me yet? I'll bet you wish I would go back on another depression-inspiried hiatus. Well, I do still cry a little every once in a while when I hear certain feelings expressed in songs or even some sappy TV commericals, but that's all you're getting from me. I'm tired of feeling unhappy. If you have Evanescence's new album "The Open Door" (and if you don't yet, what the hell are you waiting for?), the last song "Good Enough" is one of those songs. I LOVE LOVE LOVE me some Evanescence!!

But, you'll be happy to know I'm feeling much better. I went out with my aunts & cousins last night & I saw the cutest guy (light eyes, dark hair, late 30's/early 40's, wasn't drinking nor smoking, and wasn't acting like a horny-assed jerk) at the Boiler Room in Redlands! We made eye contact & smiled a couple of times and my aunts said he was checking me out when I wasn't looking, but I was having a tough time getting up the nerve to say anything to him. He was with 3 other guys, and just when I was going to say hi (he was standing really close to me), some FREAKY dude came right between us and started talking to me. Then the guy & his buddys left while I was stuck w/long-haired weirdo! I figure that if it's meant to be, the fates will bring ol' blue-eyes and me together once more (although I'm sure fate would have had an easier time if I had given him my number)...and by then I should have nicer boobs, a flat tummy, and a finalized divorce :-) He was really cute though, and he's inspired me to believe that there are, indeed, other fish in the sea. Of course, he could have been a total jerk, and it could have been the best move in history for me not to talk to him, but this is my fantasy, and I'll assume he was a prince if I want to!

Yes, dear ones, hope springs eternal. It's a character flaw of mine I'm trying to work on ;-)

Halloween in December

Hey, better late than never. Besides, if I didn't keep my promises to you, kind gentle reader, what kind of person would I be?

As promised over a month ago, here I am as Satan's Bride (as if I even have a chance in hell - pun intended - of being anyone's bride - HAHAHA!):

Please don't mind my sister-in-law's butt in the background. And, yes, that is my very own felted bag being used as a "trick or treat" receptacle (I was collecting candy for my littlest guy. Really!). Who said knitting isn't useful?

Oh, and one more of me & my bros:

Good times!

Therapy in its various forms

Well, I survived the week at work as a lone HRO in a department which requires 2 HRO's to stay on top of things. My partner in crime has been out because she was in a car accident over the weekend, but she's scheduled to come back next Monday. Believe me, I have been freaking and tweaking these past few days, and was soooo ready for the weekend.

So here's what I did to unwind...


That's right, baby, I hit the slopes at Mountain High for some serious snowboarding therapy. It was absolutely SPECTACULAR!! The snow was perfect and the weather was 55 degrees, so I was riding in my tanktop & hoodie. There weren't too many people and the lift ticket was discounted because it's still early in the season. And I rode better than I ever have; the wind rushed past my ears, I rode up the sides of hills, and I carved the hell out of that mountain. I rode until my calves started aching...

And that was my signal to chill out because my friends had planned on taking me to an Indian casino for some pre-birthday clubbing action, and I didn't want to wear myself out too much. So I only spent 4 hours on the mountain, but it was soooo worth it!

Anyway, long story short on the pre-birthday trip...this was the first time in like over TEN (10!) years that I've been to a nice club; soon-to-be-ex didn't like clubs. This was also the first time in like 5 years I got to go out with these friends; soon-to-be-ex didn't like me going out with friends. So, there was a nice big group of us, we got a little jiggy with it and got our groove on on the dance floor, and went back to the room at a respectable 1:30 am. I didn't get (too) drunk, danced with some decidedly unsavory guys, and just had an outstanding time. I've known most of these girls for like 6 years, so we always get crazy and have a blast together. It was nice to get out with people who care so much about me.

What's funny is that, although I loved the company of my friends, going into the type of situation where it's basically a meatmarket is very unnerving to me. I feel like I'm constantly being judged against the other girls (very young, cute girls, mind you), and am being found lacking. I draw this conclusion based on the fact that no normal-looking guys approached me. Although, at one point I did have an opportunity to approach a really cute normal-looking guy, but I chickened out because I just couldn't survive rejection. I found out later that it was his birthday too, so that could have so been my ice-breaker, us having close birthdays, but it was too late to try it out. Oh well...

Anyway, I find that I feel really down about myself in that type of atmosphere. And, even if I was to meet someone there, I'm not sure he'd be the type I'd want to hook up with. I don't know, it's hard to explain. I guess I just wanted to say that I expected that going clubbing would make me feel better about myself, but it just kind of amplifies my aloneness and my total lack of hope that a single, good-looking, successful guy will ever be attracted to me, a 32-year-old, soon-to-be-divorced mother of a 1 & 3 year old.

And, yes, I know it's too early to be thinking of getting back into a relationship, and yes, I know that I need to enjoy being alone and use this opportunity to get to know and like myself for myself, but I have security & self-esteem issues. I'm still at a point where I would like to feel like someone cares about me and my day-to-day life. You know, just to know that there's at least one person, besides me, out there in the whole world who really cares about what's going on in my life just because of the simple fact that he cares about me.

Hmmmm, now that I'm reading that, I think that's part of what my idea of love is at its core...an unselfish caring that prompts self-sacrifice to ensure the happiness of the other without expectation of external reward; the reward is the happiness he/she creates in the other person. That would be magic, wouldn't it? It's a freaking pipedream for me at this point.

Moving on (much like I should be doing), I've got some knitting to show you.

I am currently working on the collar. I don't want to sound too confident for fear of angering the knitting gods, but I'm pretty optimistic that I may be able to finish this without running out of yarn. I've already seamed the shoulders, so once the collar is done, I'll just sew the sides, sleeves and then set the sleeves in and I'll be in FO Heaven.

I've already got my eye on another project, but more on that later....

Living on the edge

I'm knitting like I'm possessed. I've neglected housework, work that I've brought home to work on, and perhaps I've put the Cars video on a few too many times than what's good for my kids, but I can't help myself.

Behold, the home stretch...


I have the top portion of the fronts to knit. Well, that's not very exciting, you say? Well, what if I told you that the ball of yarn in the upper-left part of the pic is my VERY LAST BALL OF YARN! That's right, just 110 yards left. I have to finish the fronts and then a collar. Can I make it? Do I have enough? The suspense...she is killing me!

Just for prospective, each front took 1 whole ball of yarn to get to the arm-hole shaping. I think I just might eeek by, but there's still a chance I could get burned here. It was the extra length I added to the sleeves that did me in. But then again, I had also shortened the body by 3 inches, so that should have counter-acted the sleeves, right?. Right? Why oh why didn't I buy an extra ball? Why, I ask you! Everyone says to buy an extra ball! EVERYONE! I think that's one of the first things EZ tells you to do. Well, don't mind me, I'm just the freak with the sweater missing a collar lapel...

So, I must now go knit. Y'all will be the first to know how it goes.

Finally, some knitting!

Well, I must say, that EZ sure knew what she was talking about when she said something along the lines of, and I'm taking liberties with this here: knitting soothes the troubled soul...and it's not too bad for the untroubled soul either. Truer words have not been uttered about our beloved craft. I have re-discovered happy knitting (i.e. not knitting to a deadline nor knitting for someone who does not deserve it) and I cannot stop!

I've made mad progress on that sweater. See? Here's the back...

And this is one of the sleeves, (I've actually finished BOTH, but since they look exactly the same...you know) and the beginnings of the fronts. Yes, my lords and ladies, I am knitting BOTH fronts AT THE SAME TIME! This is the first time I'm attempting this, and I don't know why I've waited this long to do this. In fact, I'm thinking I should have done it with the sleeves. I'm guessing that the exhilaration of my recent feat of finishing 2 socks at the same time has inspired me.

Regardless of why I'm doing it, I gotta tell ya that this 2 at a time thing is really great. Now, I admit, it took me quite a bit of pre-planning before I felt comfortable enough to jump on in, but now I'm motoring right along, secure in the knowledge that my fronts will have shaping at the same places, will be the exact same length, and, this is the most important, they will be DONE!! I will not have to knit yet another front after completing a front. And, as an added bonus, I'll be done with my entire sweater upon completion of these fronts. Life is indeed good when knit happens.

The downside to this knitting therapy is that, although I've had a nice long 4-day weekend, I've accomplished very little in the way of housework. I actually bought all kinds of organizing gadgets and shelving in anticipation of having a productive weekend, but they are still sitting in my room unopened and unassembled. Maybe tomorrow. After my fronts are done...

Nothing to see here...

Hi all. Well, I had an interesting time at the CalPELRA conference. In case you're all just dying with curiosity, CalPELRA is the California Public Employers Labor Relations Association. It was quite an experience. They had fantastic give-aways (as well they should, considering it was like $600/person for the conference fee) and an abundance of interesting lecture sessions. I would love to go into more detail about the non-conference hours, but I've been cautioned that "what happens at CalPELRA stays at CalPELRA". Therefore, in the interest of keeping my new job, I'll just assume that posting CalPELRA happenings on my blog would be violating this directive, and will have to leave you all in suspense (I'm sure it's killing you). Suffice it to say, after everything that happened, I'm very grateful I still have said new job.

Anyway, I did give the socks to the intended recipient. Unfortunately, I was unable to give them face to face, but I did receive 2 nice "thank you" texts. We're in a strange place, and I'm not sure what to think about our friendship, but I'm not going to worry about it. However, I can guarantee that there will be no more knitted gifts.

Well, I'm currently working on that cabled sweater from Knit Simple my friend Nola and I are supposed to be doing a knit-along with. I've finished the back and am closing in on a sleeve cap. I must say, it's very nice to work with nice, thick, chunky yarn after working with those teeny needles and thin sock yarn. Noticeable progress is good.

You know, I don't think I've posted a pic of my progress on this sweater at all. I'll rectify that in my next post. Promise.

Oh, and I've scheduled my elective surgery for Friday, December 29. Dr. says recovery time is about 1 week, with most patients being up and about after only 3 days! I was comfortable with him, he actually owns the surgery facility so can schedule surgeries whenever he wants, he's really close to my work (good for appointments), and he gave me a hell of a deal. How could I refuse? Now I just have to get through the waiting. Well, I've got my b-day and Christmas next month to keep me occupied, so I'm sure I'll muddle through somehow. But, the great thing is that I'll only have to take 3 days off work to get me 10 recovery days. How's that for a spectacular way to ring in the new year?

I just can't catch a break...

Alright, that's quite a bit melodramatic, and if you never come back to read my blog after reading that title, I won't blame you a bit. I'm really thinking of changing it, but it just about sums up my week. I'm having a rough life right now.

Work has been outrageously busy. I mean, this is my second week working in my new position, and I am completely overwhelmed. It's not the actual work, per se, but it's the volume that's killing me. It just never stops! I swear, I've spent a grand total of 5 hours actually in my office in the last week. My life consists of endless back-to-back meetings which result in ever more work. And, of course, when certain high-ranking very important people request something, you had best be dropping everything else, or you can kiss your sweet ass goodbye. I can honestly say that I've NEVER missed a deadline at work, but I'm VERY worried that something is going to slip through the cracks, and I'll be having to do some major 'splaining. So, I do a lot of working at home. People freak out when they receive emails from me time-stamped 11:30 p.m. But it's keeping my mind off other things which, right now, is a very good thing.

So, my mother has told me that she doesn't want to fight anymore. That's fine. I'm playing along because 1) it's very hard for me to hold a grudge. It's probably why I stayed w/hubby so long. I'm always willing to forget & forgive. Although, I don't think my mom's & my relationship will ever be the same; 2) she sometimes offers to watch the kids. If you are the mother of 2 children under the age of 4, you will understand how much this means to me; 3) I don't like to "keep the party going". If someone's willing to bury the hatchet, I'm not going to be the one to reject it in favor of more drama. No thanks.

And, I have a knitted-gift question for you. You know those socks you've been forced to look at the past couple of months? The ones for which I put aside all of my other projects (sweaters) which would have been done by now, just in time for the cool fall weather. The ones I've been working on during every spare moment of my life, falling asleep while knitting because I can only work on them after the kids have gone to bed and I'm not working at home. Well, these socks are a very personal expression of caring for the recipient. I'm sure you all know about the thoughts that go into every stitch of a project you're knitting for someone. A knitted gift is truly a labor of love.



It should be no surprise to you, considering how the fates have been punishing me lately, that the intended recipient of these socks has decided that, at this point in life, there is too much going on to be able to commit to maintaining steady communication with me. Communication consists mostly of text-messaging. So, this so-called-friend has basically told me that life has priorities, and I'm so low on that list that I don't even warrant 1 minute of the day for a freakin' text.

So, the dillema: Do I go ahead and give the socks anyway? The color, the inscription, the size were all chosen specifically with this person in mind. Every time I look at them, I think of the recepient. I can't give them to anyone else.

Oh, more non-knitting news: I went for a consultation for a boob job & tummy tuck. Good news is that, saggy as I am, I don't need a lift. Bad news is that, for the whole shootin' match, I need to come up with $10 grand. But it'll be so worth it, and I can hardly wait. As background, I nursed 2 children 8 months each. I started out a nice B, and am now a flat, saggy, deflated A-. Horrible. And my tummy resembles an overflated balloon which has now been deflated. I started at 108 lbs, gained 45 lbs with each kid, and am now back to 105 lbs (thanks to that cool "stress-caused-by-the-big-D" diet). Not a pretty sight. I've tentatively scheduled surgery for Dec 27th, but I'll be having a consult w/another surgeon on Nov 21, who's been recommended by 2 of my friends. So, things may change, but it will happen.

Well, I did have a bit of knitting luck...perhaps the fates didn't want to drive me ALL the way to suicide. I was dragging the kids all over town today looking for a piece of luggage to use for my 3-day conference in Monterey next week (yeah, I'm super-busy and I'll be gone from work from Tuesday afternoon through Friday night!). In the 5th store of the day, a Big Lots, I found this:



This is a super-bulky weight chenille I scored for $1 a skein. I got all they had of this color, which is 14 skeins. Of course, I do not NEED this yarn, and in fact, have no room for it. But I'm addicted, and I can't help myself. And doesn't chenille worm? I'm an idiot.

So, what do I do with the socks?

I love socks

I'm feeling pretty sorry for myself right around now. My mother is so hurtful, that I actually don't ever want to see her again. And I'm not being dramatic. Just very deeply hurtful stuff about not being proud of my success at work & school and that she can't support my decision to get a divorce because she doesn't want my family broken up, even though she, herself, is DIVORCED!! Did I mention that one of the things I cannot abide is a hypocrite? Just absolutely irrepairable damage to what little relationship we had.

Anyway, enough of that. Look, I've made some progress:

I've got 1 week and 1 day till these bad boys are due, and I think I just may make it. Knock on wood.

So, now that I'm so close to the end of these, of course my thoughts are already on my next pair of socks. I'm liking these as prospects:

This is, obviously, Fleece Artist Merino Socks. Absolutely beautiful. This is "Russet" and "Hercules". How could you not want Hercules? I think he may be next on the needles.

I'll let you know if I make the deadline. Here's hoping...

Almost Too Lazy for Pictures

I'm so horrible, and I think I'm breaking all kinds of ultimatums from my webrings with my failure to post regularly (aka more than once a freaking month), but considering my life's tatterted state, I'm hoping that you, Gentle Reader, and the kind fiber artists will take pity upon me and show mercy.

Well, the divorce continues apace. I've prepared the next wave of papers, and now have the firm understanding that I was out of my ever-loving mind to even entertain the idea that I could afford to keep this house with my single income. So, now, moving is imminent. Problem is that I HATE moving. And I REALLY don't want to have to pack up my stash. After all, I took up my spinning obsession after I moved into this house, and I'm not looking forward to moving that stash in addition to my knitting one, which has magically gotten larger since I moved in here.

Speaking of income, I have recently received a nice promotion at work. I'm very excited, but also now VERY busy. Like taking-work-home busy, because everything is so new that routine paperwork is time-consuming because of all the questions I have to ask and research I have to do. Also, I will be moving from my beloved HR office to an office in my assigned department, so I'm not really digging that part. I'll miss all the friends I've made these past 4 years. They promise not to forget me, but it's pretty much "out of sight, out of mind" with those guys. I can only hope...

Ah, yes, you came here for knitting and/or spinning stuff. Well, I aim to please (a fatal relationship flaw, but I digress...)

The observant among you will note immediately that these are NOT the socks pictured in the previous post. I frogged those bad boys, bought some black Opal to use for the toes & heels, and learned how to do the 2 socks on 2 circs deal. I also ditched the Fair Isle fiasco and have cultivated a nice acquaintance with duplicate stitching. I did try to buy another skein of Moody Blues during the same trip I acquired the Opal, but the skein I had left behind at Close Knit was gone when I went back. You snooze, you lose. But I did get some nice Trekking to help with the pain.

Anyway, I must say that I'm madly in love w/this 2S2C technique. The socks are moving right along, and I'm tickled with the idea that once I'm done, I'm DONE! We'll see what I think once I get to the heel, which is just about one inch away. I'm sooo guessing at the foot size on this. Oh well, I'll just do the best I can. Did I mention I now have less than 2 & 1/2 weeks left to work on these? Just sayin'...

Oh, I feel I must also confess to getting 2 skeins of Fleece Artist in Hercules & Mahogany, both absolutely gorgeous. I pet them both throughout the day. Also, I may have also gotten 2 skeins of Lorna's Laces in "Pioneer". It seems I've got quite a bit of yarn to try out that 2S2C method. :-)

I've always loved Halloween, and soon-to-be ex didn't much care for it, so in the past years, I haven't participated to the full extent I would have liked. Baby, let me tell you, I've spent a small fortune on my costume, which I will be wearing to work, and it is AWESOME! I'm even going through the trouble of making some of it, and using latex for some realistic horns in my head. BTW, I'm going to be Satan's bride. I love the gothic, gory, scary characters...that's what Halloween's all about. But anyway, I'm planning on taking the kiddos w/my sister-in-law to do some major trick-or-treating that night. I'm really looking forward to it. I'll try to get some pics and post 'em for you. It's the least I can do after making you suffer through all this drama...