Happy Birthday Celtic Queen!

Here's the birthday girl herself! She said the Clan Celtic got her the special edition Star Wars DVD set for her birthday. I'm just bummed they didn't give it to her before I went over to babysit the Celtings last night. I've got to get on the stick and call Bethel Bakery to see if I can get a cake for her birthday tomorrow. As a special birthday tribute I thought I'd list a couple of things I really like about her.

I like her curly red hair (even though I've always teased her about it.)

I like that she laughs as my jokes (it makes me feel witty).

I like the way she's worked hard to get where she is in the world.

I like that she knits (I taught her how!)

I like her taste in books and movies (very close to mine! I may have had an undue amount of influence on her in her formative years.)

Anyways, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CQ!
And I will go so far as to say that she's older than she was, but still not as old as me!

Cast Off and Adrift

I've finished my socks (well, practically, I just have to graft the toe). And I'm in that place I hate so much, without a current commuter project. I'm a bit tired of socks. Hmmm. I could re-knit a Flashy Glove. (I lost one last winter, this way I would have a pair again.) Hmmm. I think that's it. I'll have to search for the yarn, of course.


Well, now that I have that decided, I feel much better. And look what turned up today (YS was using it as a flat surface for writing homework on. I properly castigated him.) Oh, how I loved this book! I remember I especially wanted to make this sweater:
I'm not really sure why. I also remember I was so poor at the time that even buying the absolute cheapest of cheap-o acrylic was too much money for me to spend on it. So I never made it. But I have sympathy for people who can only afford to buy yarn at Wal-Mart (but I didn't even have that option) or Michael's. And I worked at a yarn shop where I could get yarn at cost! And I still couldn't afford it! (Dave and I were both working 2 or 3 jobs apiece at the time to make ends meet. Don't try to tell me you can get by on minimum wage! But I digress.) Ah, just look at that 80's hair! Takes me back to the days when I was really cute! Ta, ta, I'm off peruse and relive my youth....

More Socks

While I'm waiting for my Sock Wars socks (from either my victim or assassin) to appear in my mail box I've been knitting -- What else?
More socks. These are for Younger Son. I love how they match my sock bag. Serendipity, gotta love it!

I was at my torture session tonight -- the Sadist is back from vacation and full of ginger! Another tortuous session. I'm wondering how much longer this will go on, though. He managed to get my arm all the way over my head tonight. I still can't manage it, but I suppose it's only a matter of time.

And finally, knitting night! I'm such a bad blogger. Zeeppo came to our knitting group on Friday! Along with lots of other knitters, we had to get more chairs! (Well, a chair). We're taking over the world! I believe a fun time was had by all. But I have no pictures to prove it, because I forgot my camera. (See? Bad Blogger!) It seems like every time I forget my camera, we get inundated with knitters. And when I have it, it's me, CQ and Heather. Now, they're both exceptionally good looking (we all are) but how many pictures can I take of them?

Sock Wars

Well. This couldn't have worked out more poorly if we tried. I still haven't received my 'dossier' with information about my intended victim, and the organizer has gone awol. To top it off, I'm starting to get spam that I believe is from spambots harvesting my email addy off the blog where it was posted so my assassin could find me and I could find my victim. Lovely, eh?

All that said, things have worked out for the most part, I mailed my package to my victim today. I've emailed my assassin so she knows where to find me, now I'm just sitting back waiting for my socks. Really the only snag (other than the spambots getting my addy -- I'll be deleting junk emails for months now) is that I delayed asking for my victim's address so I couldn't go and mail yesterday afternoon and had to wait for today. She sent it quickly once I asked, though. I delayed because I just kept hoping I would get my dossier in my email. At this point I don't think I'm ever going to get it.

Pictured is the beginning of my second sock. As I said, they're gone now. Hope mine are nice. I'm pretty happy, I got at least one kill, that was all I was hoping for.

Don't Tell Me

This week (particularly yesterday) has been a week of having to sit and listen to what I don't want to hear.

"I'm sorry, you missed your appointment."

"What's really wrong here [with your son] is a lack of any kind of work ethic."

"We need this information immediately."

"[Your son] needs to fit in more, then there won't be these problems with the other children."

"This isn't correct. You need to redo this."

"[Your son] just has to learn to take it and get along, that's the way life is."

"Please come down to my office."

"This is going to really hurt."

"No, I didn't do anything for dinner."

So I've been juggling eggs and I seem to have dropped them all....Anyone for an omelet?

Sock Wars tomorrow!!

Sock It To Me

I finished a sock today. This pair is for Younger Son. Very nice, I like the yarn (same yarn as the last pair for Older Son, just a different colorway.) It fits me, so if he doesn't like it, or grows out of it, it's mine! I didn't mention yesterday, I was on the bus and some guy sits down next to me smelling of beer and holding his Hooters carry out bag and strikes up a conversation about my sock. It was kinda weird. Was he really interested in my sock? I'm notoriously slow on the uptake so I'm not sure. I did mention my husband, and that didn't seem to put him off one way or the other. So it's still a mystery to me. In other news, I missed my Physical Therapy appointment, which was yesterday (I'm clueless!). But I did manage to verify that I have another one for Thursday, and two next week (Tuesday and Wednesday! Wonder if I'll be able to remember that!)

Think good thoughts for me tomorrow. It's back to school night, which means sign-ups for Parent/Teacher conferences, and I also have a meeting with YS's teachers to discuss his issues in the morning. Oh, and did I mention the CEO is waiting for a report from me? Yeah, he's gonna have to wait while I deal with my kid issues. No, no, I'm not stressed at all!! I just feel like I'm being torn apart, but I'm sure I'll get over that!

Laurie's Adventures in Wally World

Saturday morning I was running the gamut of morning chores (tried to make it to soccer, but there were no more parking spaces). My dad needed batteries, shampoo, and a bath mat, and I needed batteries and a shower curtain. Normally I would have gone to Target, but I was tired, and Wally World is right there next to the grocery store so I took the path of least resistance and wandered in. I got the batteries, bath mat, shampoo, and shower curtain. I also got three and a half outfits for me and all of this:

(There's actually more, I couldn't fit it all in one shot.) Apparently Wal-Mart is discontinuing Bernat's Galaxy yarn. Well, I like Galaxy (see the stickers? They were $1 a skein.) I don't know if they lost as much on the yarn as they made on me with the other purchases. (I did buy two skeins of the new Lion Wool to use with some eyelash ($1 a skein!) to make more Fuzzy Mittens at full price.) What is it? Do they pipe something into the ventilation there or what? You just kinda go into a buying frenzy. And, I also got one of these: It's a storage container made with cedar! Perfect for the stash. I'm putting my MDS&W purchases which have been cluttering up the downstairs hallway in it. Go buy one from Rubbermaid!

I normally try to avoid Wally World (they really do some bad things economically) and I don't really know what came over me. I was weak. I feel so cheap and tawdry now....

Mixed Bag

I decided not to return the yarn. Seriously. Did you really think I would?? I have just enough left to make another pair of mittens. So I could return the three unused skeins and be left with two barely used skeins for the stash, or I could use almost all the yarn up and make another pair of mittens for gifting to someone else. That's my rationalization. Please don't disillusion me. Practical thoughts like who I would gift identical fuzzy mittens to are completely out of the question. Maybe I can sell a pair. I could buy more yarn.

More fun at work today. At one point I was grunting incoherently in frustration and stalking (well, maybe it was more like leaping wildly) around my desk. Everyone was being very nice to me, though. I think they just didn't want to be on the wrong end of my pointy sticks.

But good and bad news (kind of a mixed bag here) I found the Monkees on TV today!! Yeah! Followed by the Partridge Family. And it was the first episode of the Partridge family! Bad news is that it's on squarely when I have PT, so I'll miss it two nights a week. I hope the Sadist appreciates the sacrifice I'm making for him. And speaking of PT, I found out that I do indeed have a meniscus tear (what I suspected) and I'm scheduled for an "outpatient procedure" (I'd call it surgery) on my knee at the end of October. The doctor told me I should be able to have the "procedure" on Friday and return to work the following Tuesday. People who've had it say he's nuts. But I only have three sick days left, and if I've got to go to work, I've got to go to work. I don't know what I'm going to do. (Yeah, I do. I'll go to work. At least I can hope that the crutches and whining will get me some sympathy.)

My Heart's Not In It

I apologise for not posting. I have issues. (Man, ain't that an understatement!) But here goes anyways. This is my yarn for Sock Wars. I wanted a wool/silk blend so as to give the socks a chance of wearing better. I dunno, dk yarn and size 5 needles? A bit too sleazy for my taste, I don't think these socks are gonna last very long. I'm hoping the silk will strengthen them up a little bit, at least. And the color is yummy. A beautiful deep turquoise.

I'm just about done with the knitting of my Fizz Mitts. This is mitten #2, and all I have to do is the thumb. Then felt, of course. Look, the yarn stained my needle tips! (But just the tips, how wierd is that?) And I'll have extra yarn! I may even take it back to the store. Imagine that, me returning yarn. That would definately be blog-worthy! I'll have to remember to take my camera with me to document it for posterity.

In and Out of Stitches

The ER Socks are done! I put in the last stitch today, which was, coincidentally, the day Older Son got his stitches removed. OS likes them (the socks, that is), and they are now residing happily in his sock drawer.

So what's next? I had cast on another sock, but Sock Wars starts next week, and I knew I couldn't finish them before then. And besides, I had to go get some size 5 double points (I'm not sure I have any). Welllll, I was at the yarn (craft, really) store and I got sucked in. (I know, I'm weak!! I can't help myself!) I got this yarn to make Felted Fizz Mitts. These will probably be for Christmas gifting. I also went to the regular yarn store at lunch and picked up some DK yarn for Sock Wars. (Can you believe I had none in the stash? Well, I'm not sure I don't, but there was at least none that I can easily recall.) Picture tomorrow.

Work is still busy. My boss has to present my data to the CEO tomorrow. I haven't gotten it together yet. (But it's not my fault! I was waiting for other people.)

Busy

Work is hectic. I am extremely busy. Not much time for knitting at all. I'm past the heel flap and working on the gusset of my ER Sock. I cannot wait for knitting tomorrow night. Get ready girls -- I have alot of relaxing to do! We may need to adjourn to the Eat-n-Park when they throw us out of B&N. Or maybe we can all get together for coffee and knitting Saturday morning. The Elder Celting will be playing soccer too early in the morning for it to be legal, though. (Yeah, that's why I can't make it -- It's before the legal driving time.) Interestingly enough, I passed the Clan Celtic tonight while they were trooping home from Back to School night. I just had time for a quick hello, though.

And I'm finally on the list for Sock Wars!! Yeah!! Tomorrow is the day the yarn and needle specs come out. Are all you warriors out there ready? I hope I get at least one kill.

The weather here has been cool, which has started me thinking about sweaters. Also, CQ has ripped through something like a half-dozen sweaters this month. Younger Son's b-day is in November, and I owe the kid a sweater. I'm thinking a Lopi-style sweater. I've been wanting to knit one for awhile. There are some great colors in 1824 Wool...

Randomness

Just some random thoughts today. Actually, I'm procrastinating about doing my shoulder exercises. (Don't wanna! It's gonna hurt!) Anyways, Older Son is still ok, but a little itchy and cranky along with it today. I was disappointed that they didn't shave him at the hospital, so he's still sporting a scruffy goatee.

Work is insane -- it's likely I'll have extra hours this week, and that's with leaving early tomorrow for PT and going in late on Friday because I'm getting an MRI done on my knee (suspected meniscus tear).

I recovered the sock yarn I left at work last Friday. I'm hoping to use one of these skeins for Sock Wars. I'll choose when I find out who the victim will be. Hmmm, maybe I'll get CQ. I can sabotage her!

Here's the state of my ER sock. I'm working the heel flap right now. This is the second of the pair, Older Son examined the first yesterday and pronounced them fit for his feet. So there's that, which is frankly a relief because I was afraid he would turn up his nose at them. As you can see, I'm working on a huge yarn burp. It's not quite out of the skein yet, and I'm hopeful I'll work it out without having the burp land in my lap. We'll see. It's the little things that keep me going....

Off to do my exercises. And here's something else. I must make some awful wierd faces when I'm in pain, because everyone who sees me feels compelled to make fun of me. Glad I can provide so much entertainment (I guess).

Knitting Time

Just in case you were wondering exactly how much 2x2 ribbing over 72 sts on size 1 needles you could get done while waiting in the ER with your son while he gets 5 stitches put in his chin -- it's this much. Just so you know. I've done all the research for you.
Older son tripped during gym class and fell on his face (literally). The impact split his chin open. He said it wasn't really painful, there was no loss of consciousness, all his teeth are intact. But it was gaping so he needed some stitches. We want to preserve his good looks.
Fortunately, I had already taken the day off work because of several doctor appointments, so I was able to pick him up. It's uncanny that every time my children require stitching up I've just happened to be home from work. Now I'm worried about taking off from work, though.
Unfortunately, I had made plans to meet Heather for coffee, and had to cancel. I guess I would have been too bad a mother if I made him wait to get stitched up. But we were able to meet up later, after my torture session, so it all worked out.

Hurricane Party

Our trip to the mountains was delayed by the arrival of Ernesto, so I decided to have a hurricane party at home and watch a couple of movies. Maybe have a glass of wine (don't you just love the name?) The camp we're staying at will open tomorrow at noon, so we'll be off in the morning. Fun for all!

If you're here for the knitting, well take a gander at this -- It's the Baby Sweater, and as I said, I'm knitting to the bottom. I've just about mastered this lace pattern, so it should be fairly straight-forward from here on in. Just have to get some buttons and there you go. I hope to finish it over the weekend. And in other news I bought two balls of Trekking XXL for Sock Wars. Because, you know, none of the ten thousand balls of sock yarn I already have in the house would do. In my defense, I was out for my lunch time walk and it started to rain. I had to find some shelter, and the yarn shop was right there. I am unable to show them to you because I left them sitting on my desk at work. Let's stop for a moment and consider that: I left the yarn behind. Egads! Things are worse than I thought! I may need medication...