LOOK!

It's my knee! It's stitch-free! And I can drive now! The surgeon had pictures of the inside of my knee when I went to see him today, but I was not really all that interested in seeing them. But he said there was no arthritis at all, so that's good news. This picture doesn't really do justice to the bruised halo around my knee (although that's fading away now) and you (fortunately) can't see the patch of hair that was under the bandaids so didn't get shaved with the rest of my leg. But both the doctor and the physical therapist did! Look, it's long enough to braid! How appealing and attractive!!

In the Weekend Knitting News, I presented Younger Son with his knitted birthday gifts. The sweater fits perfectly and looks great, but you'll have to take my word on it for now. Pictured are his feet in his own Fuzzy Feet which he and I closely supervised the fulling of to ensure they did not shrink too much. He is liking them very much. Can you just feel the fuzzy love?

We saw Santa Clause III The Escape Clause and I recommend it. We all really liked it. A friend saw it with some borrowed 5 year-olds though, and said that they didn't really get it. So it might be more for an older crowd.

Clapotis Movie Conferences

On the knitting front, I have not worked on Christmas Cables today. (I may after I'm done posting here, though.) I am almost done with my Clapotis. I have 'turned the corner', if you please. BUT (Cue the suspenseful music)
This is all the yarn I have left. Will it be enough? Will I have to rip back all my decreasing plus another twelve rows? Will I be forced to buy another ball of yarn and use only three feet of it? Only time will tell. Tune in next week for another exciting episode of As the Stash Grows.

Big plans for the weekend. Younger Son turns 13. (How the heck did that happen??) We are planning to go out for breakfast and then to the movies to see Santa Clause III. One of our biannual trips to the movies. I was surveyed last weekend on my movie habits and it didn't seem so pathetic until I said it out loud.

Survey Guy: Have you been to the movies in the past 2 months?

Me: No.

SG: How about in the past year?

Me: Yes.

SG: How many times have you been to the movies?

Me: Once.

SG: sounds a little desperate Does anyone else in your household go to the movies? Your children, your spouse? (Like I don't know who else lives here.)

Me: No. We go to the movies twice a year. We went in May and we'll be going again next weekend.

SG: sounds a little freaked out Ok, uh, thanks for your time....

But it's true -- we go to the movies twice a year. Once for Older Son's birthday in May and once for Younger Son's birthday in November. (We saw X-Men III for OS's birthday, btw. This is just a year of IIIs, I guess.)

Parent/Teacher conferences today. Two solid hours of "I really like him, he's a great kid, but..." Not too bad. YS has improved, OS is holding steady at commendable. If we could only push YS into the doing well category. And I had to get a key for the elevator -- no stairs for my knee! I kept telling teachers to call me. I felt like Blondie...

Nostalgia

Jean Miles posted yesterday about the old UseNet group rec.crafts.textiles.yarn and it got me thinking about when I discovered the on-line knitting community. That was back in '96. I posted pretty regularly on r.c.t.y (and r.c.t.n., but that's another story), and even wrote the first FAQs for r.c.t.y. (Wonder if they're even still around?) I joined the KnitList too, but that was when the List Nazis were in full swing (I'm sure she's probably a really nice person, but one of the major reasons I haven't gone to Knitting Camp despite my love for all things EZ and Meg Swansen is because Amy Detjen is involved in it.) So I didn't stay in for very long. That was around the time that Rick Mondragon was banned from the list. (Every time I read one of his "Letters From the Editor" columns I think about how the KnitList shot themselves in the foot on that one.) But for the most part, I liked the on-line community. Started a couple mailing lists myself, did an exchange or two. Then life got busy (I moved out of the country for awhile, then went back to school and started working full time) and I cut back. I picked up again in 2002 and discovered the world of knit blogs and on-line knitting magazines. And here I am writing about my knitting most days.

In other news, my dad is doing okay. I stopped in and saw him today after PT. He's sore from his fall, but doesn't seem to be seriously injured, so I'm relieved. We're getting him a lift chair this weekend (he slipped pushing up from his chair) and he's using his walker around the house.

Limping Along

I'm getting along ok without my crutches, but I'm still limping. I have to remember to do my exercises tonight -- I have PT tomorrow. Yippee!!

My dad fell today. Fortunately, I happened to call within minutes of when he fell and when he didn't answer I called Celtic Queen and sent her off to the rescue (she lives right up the street). I'm concerned, and worried, and frustrated. This is the third or fourth time he's fallen, and it's only been good fortune that we've gotten to him quickly and he hasn't had to spend a day laying on the floor, unable to get up. He's resistant to all our suggestions of things to help him. Maybe this time he'll be shook up enough so that we can get him one of those call services.

So I've been a bit preoccupied. Only a couple of rows on Christmas Cables. But my Clapotis is nearing completion. I'll probably start decreasing for the end sometime tomorrow. The end is in sight there!

And I'm interviewing tomorrow. Should be interesting. I spent the greater part of this evening looking at interview questions, so I know what to ask. Some of them are real toughies! Based on these, I'm not sure I could pass muster!

More Cables, No Crutches

Here is the Christmas Cable sweater. The cables here are (moving out from the center): in the center the lovely Wheat Ear Cable, then the Little Plait, then the Horseshoe, then the Triple Gull Stitch, then the Aran Braid, then the Coin Cable. All except the Aran Braid are in BGW's First Treasury. The Aran Braid is in the Second Treasury. It's interesting to note that I have chosen a couple of cables that are twisting every row (Little Plait and Aran Braid). I like these alot, and the Wheat Ear twists every fourth row, still pretty tight for a 3 X 3 cable -- Think I might be wound just a teensy bit tight?? The yarn is Chaco, a no-name worsted weight wool I got for I think $1 or $2 a 100gr ball from Little Barn at MDS&W.

My Physical Therapist says I don't need the crutches anymore. In fact he laughed at me and told me I was more of a hazard with the crutches than without. (It's all that grace and coordination.) I'm still a bit leery and fearful of re-injuring my knee, so we agreed that I'm going to use a cane for a couple of days. And I have a rash on my leg. Well, it started on my leg, but has spread to my other leg and my arm. I called the surgeon, but his office says it's a matter for my PCP. I'll call them Saturday morning. Which I think is stupid. I could call now and have them schedule me for Saturday, but nooooo. They can't schedule an appointment for me for 6 weeks (and that's for a weekday, not a Saturday). BUT, if I call with an emergency on Saturday, they'll see me then. Makes sense, right?? Meanwhile, I probably have some hospital incubated super resistant to everything staph infection.

Cables

I've started the Christmas Cables sweater. I spent the weekend babying my knee, so was able to get in plenty of knitting. I had to add two more cables, I added the Horseshoe Cable (for luck) -- actually two of them, one on each side. I needed a little more width. The total width of the front is 19.5" (so total circumference of sweater will be 39"). I've knitted up the first skein (of 20, so I think I'll have more than enough!) so far. This is going to be a simple drop shoulder style.

My Clapotis is coming along, I've started on skein 6, which is the last skein before I start decreasing. So I hope to get it done this week.

My knee is feeling better, I was able to put some weight on it today. I'm starting to be frustrated about all the stuff that is not getting done around here. The guys have not been as helpful as I would have liked. Although I did get some vegetables (asparagus) for dinner tonight (but I had to ask).

Swatch Watch

This is the state of the swatch for the Christmas Cables sweater. It's actually the whole width of the front/back of the sweater. I was initially thinking that I'd make this sweater the same way I did The Celting with no ribbing, so that this could be the front if it worked out to be the right width. But as I'm thinking about it, I decided that I wanted a nice twisted rib, so I'll have to start over anyways. I've got a couple other cable patterns ready to go so I can augment if it's not wide enough (I guesstimated that just over 100 sts in cable patterns would be enough). The patterns are: From BGW Treasury I Coin Cable, Triple Gull Cable, Little Plait, and Wheat Ear Cable; and from Treasury II Aran Braid. Each cable has 2 stitches in reverse stockinette around it (BGW did that) and there is one twisted stockinette stitch between each of the cables. The set up is as follows: Coin Cable, Aran Braid, Triple Gull Cable, Little Plait, Wheat Ear Cable, Little Plait, Triple Gull Cable, Aran Braid, Coin Cable. I'll knit a couple three four inches and measure the width to see where I want to go. Hopefully I'll be done swatching and started on knitting the sweater front by the end of the weekend.


And Clapotis! A veritable black hole of knitting. I keep buying more yarn and knitting and knitting and knitting and the dang thing isn't anywhere near being done! It tricks you with the decreasing and increasing and moving markers around every couple of rows so that you think you're making progress, but really you aren't. This is skein #5, and by my estimate I'll need at least 2 more skeins, maybe 3 (it will take one whole skein to decrease). CQ has graciously agreed to take me to buy more yarn tomorrow, before Friday Knitting at Barnes & Noble. So come and check us out. I'll be the one with the crutches.

Christmas Cables

Yarn? Check
BGW? Check
Needles? Check
Barely intelligible scribbled instructions? Check

Yeah, baby we're ready to start knitting the Christmas Cables sweater! Inspired by KnitPicks Amhra'n Gra' I decided to make Younger Son's Christmas sweater a collection of cables. I got Dave and Older Son to find my yarn and BGW Treasuries, picked out 5 great cables and I'm off the races. Well, I'm swatching. Depending on how things look I may be adding in an extra 4 st cable. We'll see. That's what swatching is all about.

Feeling better today. My knee is much less painful, and I can almost put weight on it! Work was better, but everyone still makes fun of me, and I still feel guilty about asking my minion to get me coffee. BTW, I came back from my surgery to find out he is leaving at the end of the week, so I'll be interviewing in the weeks to come. Fun.

We have about 5 pounds of Halloween candy left over. I ate so much candy today I'm sick. You know, what we tell our kids not to do.

Tired

I'm pretty wiped out. Work today, then PT. I didn't get home until almost 8:00. And all I'd been thinking about from 3:00 on was a vicodin and an ice pack. I went to bed as soon as I walked in the door. Dave had to send me up dinner. I feel kinda bad because it's his birthday, but I'm too exhausted to make any kind of effort. (And he has his Tivo to play with.)
I was happy to come home to a package from my 'Favorite Sister'. I'd been looking at the Kitty Bartholomew book for awhile, so was happy to get it! I've been browsing, it's pretty good. Decorating is a common interest my sister and I share (but you wouldn't know it looking at my house!) I'm too tired to write more (or even knit anymore -- the vicodin is starting to kick in) so I'm going to bed. Talk amongst yourselves...

Recuperating

I am on the mend. Sunday was my worst day. Apparently all the drugs/shock/whatever wore off all at once. I actually took a shower tonight, and I feel like a new woman. I'm off to work tomorrow, so the long knitting vacation is over. Still having a bit of trouble with the crutches though. I did make it downstairs today (no one was here to feed me) but then the realization hit me -- you can't carry anything while you're using crutches. So I could make myself something to eat, but I couldn't take it anywhere to eat it. I was famished by the time Older Son got home from school.

So what did I accomplish while I was lounging around, watching Season 5 of The West Wing and knitting?

Camo Christmas is done. (The first of the Christmas sweaters! Yeah!)

A pair of FuzzyFeet that will be supplemental birthday gifts for Younger Son were cast on and completed. YS desperately wants a pair of these, and we had a bit of a fulling debacle with the last pair. I'll be more careful this time.

And lots more knitted on the Clapotis. I think I'm going to have to get more yarn for this, which means I have to get someone to drive me. (No driving until I see the doctor again in 2 weeks.)

I'm hoping to start on the next Christmas sweater tomorrow, but because of poor planning on my part, I'll be dependent on one of the guys to find the yarn and the pattern books in the stash. Wish me luck, it's going to be an ordeal...

Survivor

I am safely home and in surprisingly minimal discomfort after my knee surgery today. (But I have taken a vicadin and am having more trouble than I would have expected typing.) I'm still having trouble with the crutches, as I told CQ when I called to give her the sad news that I had indeed survived and she was not about to inherit my stash. You know, because I'm so graceful and well coordinated.
Really the only casualty was my Clapotis, I missed an increase at the end of the row, and had to correct it on the next one. The yarn is Soy Wool Stripes in the Natural Navy colorway. It is my current "on the go" knitting project. I'm hoping to finish and wear it for Thanksgiving. I'm still working on Camo Christmas at home. And oh, how terrible, I have to sit all weekend with my leg elevated, watching TV and knitting (and with the occasional narcotic supplement). The only fly in the ointment there is that I'm dependent on the guys to bring me food. Well, I was hoping to lose some weight anyways.
I'll leave with another photo of the Celtings, at the request of my Evil Twin. I love this one!

Knitting Night

Celtic Queen and I arrived for our regular knitting night at B&N at South Hills Village to see in our regular spot by the cafe (and knitting books):

John Ratzenberger. I did not speak to him, but Stacey did, and said he was very nice and even did the voice of Hamm from Toy Story for her daughter. So I guess I can forgive him for usurping our knitting spot. Although I did mention that we should go and take over the spot by force seeing as how we had a bigger crowd of knitters than he had for his book signing. And he didn't come and see us, even though we were making things in America. (And really, it's not like he could have missed us -- Stacy's husband came over and told us we were so rowdy he could hear us all over the store.) I presented CQ with her slightly delayed birthday gift:

The KiPper bag set from KnitPicks. And CQ heard about my bad day last Thursday and got me this:

Trekking XXL in the bright primary colorway. Yeah! Happy colors! She told me she got a skein for herself and I mentioned I was jealous because I'd been looking for it, so she went back and got me my own skein!

Soccer was cancelled this weekend, so there was no shivering and knitting on the sidelines for me. But the Celtings invited me to lunch with them instead.


Aren't they a couple of cuties?

Camo Christmas

Here's the state of the Camo Christmas sweater. This is the outside (as I'm knitting).
Here's the inside. I (and just about everyone else I've shown it to) prefer the inside, so I plan to finish it with that side out. I'm hoping to get the body done tomorrow or Saturday.

My KnitPicks order arrived today! I'm going to tease you and say I'll have pictures tomorrow of all that yarn-y goodness (and other stuff too!)

Here's how things went when I got home:

Me: Is this my box? Yay, my yarn's here!

Older Son: Oh yeah, Mom, a box of yarn came for you today.

Younger Son: Uhh, Mom? There's a box of yarn here for you.

Dave: Laur, I think there's a box of yarn for you in the hallway.

Yeah, I live with a bunch of comedians. I had a bad day at work -- I blew up the system and it was all my fault. Really. Programmers running around, processing delayed until tomorrow. All because I screwed up. Makes me feel special, you know? At least my boss was understanding about it. And I'm getting one of my minions (well, my one and only minion) to fix things so it doesn't happen again (in other words, to save me from myself). So I at least have a plan in place when I get asked about it. I can't wait for knitting tomorrow!

Plans

Still knitting the Camo Christmas sweater. Everyone I've shown it to likes the backside better than the front, so that will probably end up being the "right" side when it's done. (But I'll still make it reversible.) As soon as it gets to the joining of the body and shoulders I'll have to take something else for bus knitting. I have to make another pair of Fuzzy Feet for Younger Son (for reasons I can't go into at the present), which I hope to get done by his birthday. So probably those, then the SWS Clapotis for Thanksgiving. By then I should be ready for Younger Son's Christmas sweater, the Celtic Christmas - it's going to be a grey aran. Then the Husby. Dark green wool with a center cable inset. And finally me. Greys, black, and burgundy. I'm doing a Lopi design. And then? Who knows. Maybe some gloves, maybe something in "plain, regular blue", maybe a snowman hat or two. It's all about the edge-of-your seat knitting excitement, right??

Since I'm lazy and don't feel like taking a picture of my knitting (it looks like yesterday, just an inch or so longer) I'll direct you to a local blog project. Elizabeth Perry is doing an online drawing project in which she is drawing something from the Carnegie Museum every day it's open thru June 30, 2007. Check it out! If you're planning on visiting the museum with kids, this would make a great scavenger hunt. Or, you can look for things you've seen on previous visits.

It's a Guy Thing

After a false start (Hint: Don't cast-on a new project late at night when you're really tired) I've knit this much on Older Son's Christmas sweater. It's a 4X1 rib, and I have to tell you, I'm digging on the reverse side (the top of the circle in the pic). I'm going to finish it so it will be reversible. I'm also really liking the colors here. This is Red Heart in the "Camouflage" color. (I know!) But these are OS's colors. And I wanted a variegated. I could have used Patons Camouflage yarn, but there's a story there. I was sitting with Celtic Queen shivering and knitting at the Elder Celting's soccer match, and she was telling me all about the sweaters she was going to make for the Celtings out of the Paton's yarn. Later that day I stopped at the craft store and Lo and Behold! there was the Camouflage yarn! And I thought "Hmmm, Older Son would look really good in those colors." But I couldn't do it, it was right after CQ told me about her sweaters! It'd be like I was copying her! So I didn't get it, but then I was buying another plastic cedar yarn storage bin and the Red Heart was there and....well, I was weak. Why is it so hard, to find manly variegateds though?

In other news, I'm waiting for my Knit Picks order to arrive. I'm hoping that it gets here by Friday so I can take it to knitting. (And as much as I love Knit Picks, they need to work on their manly colorways.)

Let the Holiday Knitting Begin!

The Birthday Sweater will be finished tonight! We're moving on to Christmas knitting. Well, maybe I'll throw in some Thanksgiving knitting. I picked up some SWS in the "Natural Navy" color to make myself a Clapotis. I have a nice navy (really my fave new color dark indigo) outfit that it would look fab with for Thanksgiving. So, it might be bus knitting. I've got sweaters to make for all four of us for Christmas. Plus maybe some other holiday knitting. Will I make it? Who knows? You're all here for the edge of your seat knitting excitement, right?


I was angry at everyone in my house Friday night, so I left and went to the bookstore where I hung out until they closed (knitting, of course) and bought this book. I like it! I might start a project to knit every pair of socks in the book.


By Sunday I was (barely) on speaking terms with my family, and Dave took me to Michael's so I could check out the SWS (on sale, btw). I liked it, and bought some. Then I popped next door to Half Priced Books and scored this book for only $12.98. I'm enjoying reading it.

So why are kids so difficult? Is it just boys, or me, or what? Anybody with answers, please clue me in!

Homework Wars

We're dug in deep in the trenches here. I've been deep in enemy territory, and had to appear before a tribunal of Younger Son's teachers. Fighting continues unabated. Tonight it's the research paper "Classical Music". There is also the general every-night struggle going on as well, with much casualties on both sides. The lines of communication with the school seem to have taken a hard hit, with several phone calls going unreturned, and no response to any written communiques. High command here at the G household is beginning to show signs of strain.

In knitting news, I'm working on the second sleeve of Younger Son's birthday sweater. I can't wait to get this thing done and move on to my Christmas knitting. I do like the colors, though. Manly, perfect with jeans or khakis.

I have been thinking alot about these socks or maybe these ones. I'm kinda jonesing for something to wear for Thanksgiving and
I have three skeins of this orange yarn. Somewhere.

Maybe..

...I'll let the family stay. But there will have to be some grovelling and begging. Extravagant gifts wouldn't go amiss either. AND, they all have to take an oath of obedience, and some (at least one) of them will have to spend some time at the gym and (more importantly) the home improvement store. I may still be just a tad hormonal. Also, I had to clean the bathroom. Enough said.

In knitting news, I have finished the first sleeve in Younger Son's Birthday Sweater, and am knitting the ribbing on sleeve #2. Whoopee! I might get this done by early next week. Then on to the Christmas knitting. Ack!

Over the weekend the boys, Dave and I met up with Heather and her boys for fun at Trax Farms. We got lost in the corn maze (a kid had to lead us out.) And it was wierd, while we were in the maze it got really cloudy, then cleared up after we got out. Someone cue the ominous music!
Younger Son picked a pumpkin that weighs almost as much as he does, and I got some yummy apples.
Here's everyone but me ('cause I'm taking the picture) waiting for the Great Pumpkin. Wait! Does that make me the Great Pumpkin? I knew I should have worn something orange!

And yes, if you read CQ's comment Dan Marino did once ask me out on a date (in college) and I did refuse. (What was I thinking!?) I'd forgotten about the curly hair, though.

Knitting News

I've been knitting. I finished the replacement Flashy Glove, and the Lucky Gloves,
and started Younger Son's Birthday Sweater. I've got the body and some of the first sleeve done. Yes, that's the end of a skein of yarn there. That makes two skeins I've used up! Whoo Hoo! I'm on a roll. Next up is Older Son's Christmas Sweater.

In other news, I'm dissatisfied. I hate my job, I want to quit and go work in a yarn shop. (Anyone interested?) I actually told my boss that. I also want to divorce my husband and move away. I'm going to marry a younger, really good looking guy who adores me and takes out the garbage and start a new family. My new kids will not only be better looking, but better behaved and will always do their homework. They'll have curly hair, too. Or, I could just be a little bit hormonal.

Thursday, No Pictures

That about says it all. I have pictures in my camera, but I lent my cable to Dave over the weekend and haven't gotten it back yet. So you'll have to trust me that I did indeed finish all my gloves and have started a new project -- it's Younger Son's birthday sweater. His birthday is in only 38 days! But the project is in worsted weight yarn and it's just a simple raglan, so I should be good! Then it's on to Christmas knitting. I want to make each of the boys a sweater (I already have the yarn). I also want to make a tam, I think, to match my Lucky gloves to give to my sister. Don't know about Celtic Queen and the Celtings. Haven't decided yet.

Still not sleeping well. Although today I have an excuse. Dave had to get up and get ready for work at 3:00 in the morning (he had to be at work at 4:00 AM for some ungodly reason) and so I was up too. (Uust because I'm a light sleeper, not because I had to.) But the Sadist took it a little easier on me in therapy tonight. He says our time together is almost over. But actually not, because I'll be starting up again in November after my knee surgery. He can't get enough of me. What can I say, I have that effect on men. It's a burden, but I've learned to live with it. Maybe I'll have pictures tomorrow.

Still

here. Yet another crazy, busy week. Also, I'm not feeling quite up to snuff. Kind of disconnected. I mentioned to a coworker I was having trouble sleeping and she immediately said "That's a major sign of depression. You need to talk to your doctor." Well, yeah, I said, but so is loss of appetite and I certainly don't have that problem. I think it's just stress. I'm going to the doctor next week to get my endocrine levels checked (the frozen shoulder I've been struggling with has a connection to both diabetes and thyroid disorders, both of which I have a strong family history of) and I'll talk to him about it. Maybe I'll get some good drugs. I saw a news article about the new sleeping drugs and the rare side effect of people sleep eating while they take them. That would be me! Especially since I'm dieting again. (I want to haul as little weight around on those crutches as possible!)

Ok, on to the knitting. I finished the spare Flashy glove, and am almost done with the second of a pair knit in Moda Dea Sassy Stripes in the colorway "Lucky". Apparently my super power extends to all items of hand attire, not just mittens. Pictures soon!

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...