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...