Still packing/stash packing

How on earth does one loose 3/4 of their worldly possessions and STILL have more than can be packed up in 3 hours??!?? One bedroom is finished except for taking the bed apart and folding the sheets up. The other one is where all the boxes are, the ones with things in them that is. There are still a few empties that need filling.

It took well over an hour to go through the paperwork that had dumped itself on the computer desk. Why do papers seem to migrate towards work spaces?! hmmm… oh wait, could it possibly be that I failed to put each one neatly away at some point because I knew I’d need it in 20 minutes – or was that sometime 3 months from now.

One could ask why do I move so often. Please don’t! I hate moving, it’s about the only thing that I truly dislike to the point of near hatred anyway. It’s even further into the ‘this is horrible’ pool than loosing car keys and breaking a fingernail. However, I did live here over two years, that seems to be my personal best these days. I’m hoping for one more move after this and then…. actually settle down for a good long time.

Saturday morning B and I are going to go get a small storage unit so I can put the boxes and small items there. Then I’ll work ’til 7:30, finish up whatever is left and Sunday move the couches to the ex’s to visit for a while then the boxes to storage.

The most organized thing I’ve done so far is sort the stash – works in progress in one bag, things to start within the next month in another, both placed in the same box with piles of printed patterns; then a plastic container filled with the rest. (Read stuff I won’t touch for a while and have to accept it.)

Free Lace Stitch Patterns, Roll Top Pearlies Progress, more of life….

Roll Top Pearlies are coming right along -

Roll Top Pearlies free sock pattern

So….. there have been several new pattern possibilities running through my head. I want to combine several lace patterns for some new stoles, a blouse or two, perhaps even a skirt. Rather ambitious for such a slow, beginning lace knitter! One of the projects rambling around is screaming for attention – a wrap/stole/shawl type object with combination of lace edgings and lace border. A few of the current faves are:

Apple Leaf Lace 1

English Lace 1

Palm Leaf Insertion

Wouldn’t this make a gorgeous sleeve edging?

Fluted Lace With Edge

Where can these pieces of visual delight come from? Knit Wiki, of course!

And I’ve been toying around with the idea of using the underskirt and edging panels in Inspired to Knit by Michelle Rose Orne as a shawl and matching skirt.
Will I get those projects on the needles and turn them into finish objects?!? Very good question!

The words for the week are: insomnia and nightmares.

It hasn’t been a bad week just long and a hella lot of life ’stuff.’ I got home about 7:30 or so last night after work, made some spaghetti for myself, sorted through knitting and yarn, threw away a bunch of stuff that I’m simply not moving (some call that stuff ‘junk’), approved a couple patterns for inclusion on ravelry (go me!!!!! seriously – I’m beyond thrilled), knit for a while, frogged about 2″ on sock1 socks for soldiers due to a dropped stitch then re-knit, they even have their own container now – Christmas candy bucket, works perfectly! - 

I wasted some time playing games online, re-worked the divorce papers and went over January’s bank statement (so far). Maybe that was the root of the latest round of nightmares hehe. 4B has spent $1,068 on bars, taking someone or other out to dinner, etc so far this month. Rather a lot considering his income is about $1500/month.  That doesn’t include ANY household expenses such as electric, gas, rent, etc.  I’ve spent $500 total on myself including regular meds, 2 doctor visits and 2 rounds of other meds, my luxury item – nails, of course, and a couple other necessary things.  Yet, I managed to get rent paid, utilities paid, blah blah blah.  He wonders why I’m not out of here just yet…. hmmm……

I’d do a self-congratulatory pat on the back but that’s soooo not the point. Can you hear the “it’s only a few more days” chanting in the background?

Getting the hang of it

I haven’t blogged the last few days, been trying to find a place to live and had some complications with that. It’ll work out somehow though.

This week I’ve been concentrating on getting gauge while knitting between calls at work and am FINALLY getting there. The first roll top pearly is nearly done, it’s been my concentration/experimentation knitting. When I’ve got it down, I’ll be able to work on the Socks 4 Soldiers there. I’m so glad! The legs of first regulation pair are nearly finished (knitting consecutively on dpn’s) and I am soooo glad. I can’t wait to get these sent off and get started on the next pair.

And…. have been re-working the divorce papers. I plan on submitting them on Monday, was going to do it a while ago but some things changed and had to add a few clauses. Wow that feels good!

Things I’d rather do today

For the last couple of weeks I’ve been grouchy, nauseated, back pain, dizzy blah blah blah. Being the quasi responsible for my health person that I am, I finally went to the urgent care after work last night. It’s true… I’m sick, freakin’ kidney infection. Since I haven’t been running a fever, the dr’s a bit concerned that my body isn’t even trying to fight this thing on it’s own. He said they didn’t even have to test my ’sample’ just looking at it made it obvious. Oh joy. He thinks I should go back in tomorrow for a scan to check for kidney stones. Uhhhhh not unless the pain gets worse. I took a day and a half off sick earlier this week so can’t take any more time off or risk loosing my job.

I’d rather stay in bed and watch tv while knitting for a while then go ride. I need a bike. I think a soft tail. I’m tired of not riding anymore.

I’d rather sit on a hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee, that always makes me feel better.

I’d rather sit on a bench on the Embankment and watch the boats go by on the Thames.

I’d rather well, I’d rather do almost anything but am hopping in the shower and going to work. I’ll talk to a few dozen people about why their insurance company hasn’t sent them new Prescription cards (no idea why – but will get them new a new one), why their claims are rejecting (uhhh, medication ‘x’ is non formulary), send out Prior Authorization forms and check on the status of pending ones, tell pharmacists how to get prescriptions to run when they don’t have the right codes, and maybe do a few over rides. Go me!

Roll Top Pearlies Free Sock Pattern

This started out as something I can pick up and put down at a moments’ notice. Have to admit, I’m really loving them! So far, I’ve only got one nearly finished but here’s the pattern straight out of my scary brain:

roll top pearly sock heel view

The ‘lumpy’ things are pearls – they look cute and add texture when stretched out – pic of finished object coming shortly.

roll top pearly sock 2

Materials:
Knit Picks Essential Lilac (2 skeins)
dpns: size 3 and size 2.75mm

Using size 3’s cast on 60 stitches fairly loosely, join in the round
Knit 6 rows
Knit 2 Pearl 2 ribbing 5 rows
Switch to smaller needles
Knit 2 Pearl 2 ribbing 2 rows

Knit 18 rows throwing in 2 pearl stitches wherever you feel like – try for somewhat random look

Divide for heel putting 15 stitches each on dpn 1 and 2; 30 on dpn 3

Slip 1 Knit 1 across
Slip 1 Pearl 1 across
repeat until you’ve worked as deep as you need your heel, about 30 rows

Turn heel beginning on WS row:
Pearl 17 Pearl 2 tog, P1 more turn
Knit 5 Knit 2 tog K1 more turn
Repeat this until you have 18 stitches left (knit or pearl according to side to one stitch prior to the ‘gap’ P2 tog on wrong side, K2 tog on right side then do one more stitch)

End on knit row then pick up 15 stitches evenly across heel edge, knit along the top (I usually move the sock top stitches onto one needle at this point). Using another dpn pick up 15 stitches along other edge and knit to middle of heel. Arrange stitches if needed so you have the 15 picked up stitches and half the heel stitches on one dpn and half the heel stitches and the other 15 picked up stitches on the other.

Knit around.

Gusset decreases:
Beginning at middle of heel knit to last 3 stitches, K2 tog, K1
Knit across top
K1 S1 K1 PSSO (pass slipped stitch over just knit stitch)
Knit across next round
Continue this pattern until you have 15 stitches remaining on each of the heel needles. (Note: I only decrease until 18 stitches remain since I have wide feet then do extra toe decreases later. Feel free to adjust as needed.)

Knit around 40 – 44 rows according to foot length stopping 1.5 inches shorter than total length of sock foot.

Toe: Starting at the center back of the heel, work across to last three stitches and K2tog, K1. On instep needle K1, Sl1, K1 psso, knit across to last three stitches, K2 tog, K2. On second heel needle K1, Sl1, K2, psso, Knit across.
Knit across next round.
Continue this pattern for 9 rows until you have 24 stitches left, 6 on each of the heel needles and 12 on the instep needle. Knit across next heel needle, slip remaining heel needles’ stitches onto that needle and continue knitting across. The yarn should be at the side of the sock. Cut yarn leaving about 15 inches and weave remaining stitches together. (See Kirchner link on side bar.)

Stash additions – fun stuff!

The olive drab Regia Stretch arrived from Sarge (Kim Opperman, President of Socks for Soldiers, Inc.) on Saturday and my KnitPicks order arrived today!!! The Regia is well… drab… but I’m knitting away an hour a day as promised.

KnitPicks rocks! They have great wool and silk yarns are very affordable prices; perhaps not top of the line but well within budgetary constraints and soooo fun to work with. I’ve got a couple skeins of Jay Kettle Essentials which will eventually be a pair of soft socks for B.

A couple skeins of Essentials Glacial which are mine, mine, mine for socks and… several balls of Fog Palatte just waiting to be turned into a lace piece. I also bought another pair of double points from them, seem to be needing more all the time. I also found a previously stashed ball of acrylic multi color that will be turned into toys for grandkids – no, NOT mine, none of those yet thank goodness.

Currently on the needles are Socks 4 Soldiers leisure pair 2, roll top pearlies socks for me, grylion’s socks, lace scarf, rib scarf and some handwarmers.

This weekend B and I went to O’Sushi again, we love that place.

O'Sushi

We’d planned to go to a show at the planetarium but I managed to lose my phone so we spent quite a while trying to track it down. He’s such a good sport and is constantly amazing me. The rest of the weekend was pretty quiet and thoroughly enjoyable.

DUH! and DUH!

Since work is sometimes slow in the evenings, I often knit between calls. (I work in Pharmacy Benefits Management for Medicare Part D providers.) I tried working on the regulation socks for soldiers but picking up, putting down, picking up, putting down constantly throws my gauge off. It’s not that big of a deal for most of my projects but those babies need to be perfectly on gauge. This has really been bothering me. Until the light bulb FINALLY went on. I can do leisure socks to be sent while working and do the regulation socks at home. DOHHHHHH! (Can you hear Homer Simpson?!)

So, I cast one on last night and got most of the ribbing done – Originally, I’d planned to do men’s socks but after asking several age 20-30 male colleagues if the yarn color was masculine, switched to female. It seems the ‘red’ is a bit on the pink side and if those guys wouldn’t wear socks with pink, I’m guessing a soldier wouldn’t be so thrilled wearing them either. One even commented the green was a girl shade of green… never thought about that one. I’d always figured anything darker than light minty baby green was gender neutral. It seems that I was wrong. Good thing to know!

This morning I had a court hearing, the judge was very fair. I’m happy. I also wrote a letter to the judge in a related but different matter requesting she allow socks for soldiers to be included in community service hours. No, I’m NOT a habitual offender. I just made a rather stupid mistake last summer in trying to get away from a verbal attack by 4B. Yes, I’m the one who drove after downing a couple of beers and a shot. At the time, ‘fight or flight’ took over and I chose flight. Fortunately, there wasn’t an accident, no one was injured. I take full responsibility for that idiocy on my part and am trying to take care of all the ramifications from that act.

It did serve one good purpose though, it was then that I resolved that I am not going to allow his alcoholism to invade my life any more. It hasn’t been easy to break some of the patterns, I don’t go take him oxygen anymore, I stopped feeling responsible when he chose to drive after drinking heavily, I’ve quit feeling guilty when he goes on one of his verbal and/or physical rampages, and I’ve disengaged emotionally. If he chooses to call and ask for a ride home, I will do that. I’d far prefer picking him up than having him drive drunk but he rarely calls and only once in a great while gets a ride from someone else.

Last night he chose to go drink at the bar he works for tips – after calling in sick. While there drinking, he asked for the rest of the week off. He was let go. He sees it as inherently unfair and is hurt and upset. I do feel badly for him on one level, he has made that his life and ‘family’ and now has lost that as well as his real family. On the other hand, it takes a special kind of stupid…..again, DUHHHHHH!

And he drove home. He was all ready pretty wasted when I saw him about 7:30pm – had to switch vehicles and needed the keys from him. Why did he drive? Because he was pissed off. Ohhh, okay. That works. NOT.

I’m financially concerned as that was part of his ‘drinking’ money as well as whatever he spent out of ‘our’ money (he perceives everything as his). He’s been spending around $1200 – $1400 per month on drinking and related activities.

Even though we’ve been separated since last summer we’re still sharing the apartment. I’m leaving as soon as humanly possible so am trying to get things in order to make that possible. I’ve made a new life and am happy with it. Just getting the details sorted, so to speak.

D’s decided to stay at his dad’s for a few weeks, although it’s difficult for me, I agree with his decision. He can’t be around 4B without wanting to do damage – he’s 15, it’s an appropriate response for his age. Choosing to remove himself from the situation shows maturity when he would rather stay.

Frustrated with Ice

I went to pick up D yesterday afternoon from his dad’s. We left his dad’s around 3pm and didn’t get home until after 8 – it’s usually a 35-40 minute trip but the roads were HORRIBLE. I couldn’t drive on the highway, if I went over 35 mph the car was fishtailing all over the place so got off and went surface streets. We ended up going around the mountains the verrrrrrry long way at 25 – 30 mph the whole way.

So… instead of taking the tree down, knitting, cleaning, etc. as I’d planned for my day off… I drove. I only got in 15 minutes of socks for soldiers knitting and that was it. But, that’s better than nothing and keeps me sort of in line with my daily commitment. The Post Office was long closed by the time we got home so the finished leisure pair didn’t get sent off either. My hands and elbows hurt too much from fighting the slides for hours.

Fortunately, we only slid badly once – no damage and easily corrected. And, it was a great opportunity to teach my new driver how to drive on ice/snow and in the fog with nearly zero visibility. Fun stuff.

It’s supposed to snow more today, more tonight, more tomorrow.

Something for me!

I need something to keep my hands warm but still functional so cast on a pair of fingerless gloves Saturday (yep, at work).   Since any type of lace work is impossible for me if there are interruptions I waited until Sunday to do the patterns on the hand and finish the first one.

The lace pattern is an adaptation of the Elaine’s Blouse in Interweave Knits Winter 2008.  The pic is a little wonky and yes, the tree is up – coming down today, promise!  But you get the general idea.  The top has an eyelet border that may or may not show when blocked.

I went with a buttonhole thumb opening since I need my thumbs not to be slippery most of the time.  I’ll be casting on the mate shortly.  This is definitely a test knit and will be making mods before posting the pattern.

Then… I’ve got a pair of socks on the needles for myself, too!  The color is one of my favorites – lilac and they’re turning out soft and cozy.  (Knit Picks Essential).

I’d originally started on 2.75 mm needles and dropped to size 1 but after turning the heel realized there was no chance my size 8 feet were fitting in 64 stitches of that tinnnnny of a gauge so frogged and redid the top part on size 3’s and will drop down to 2.75s after another row or two of ribbing.  I actually like the roll part on the larger needle anyway.  It’s less of a tight roll and more a fluid roll/wave.

Again, as this is a knit at work project and has to be put down and picked up readily, nothing complicated or even requiring thought with this pair.

I’m a little frustrated at not being able to knit Socks for Soldiers at work.  I am absolutely committed to working on those daily.  But, I discovered the constant picking up/putting down changes my gauge too much and that just won’t do!

In non-knitting news….  4B is sick and I’m rather concerned about him but trying not to fall into the co-dependent thing again.  I’ve stayed away for the most part but did stay a couple nights ago to make sure he’s surviving and call a few times a day.  It’s difficult to know where to draw the line right now.  I have decided though if this turns into pneumonia then I need to be around.  It’s far too dangerous for someone with full blown emphysema to be alone with pneumonia and his decision making skills are somewhat skewed.

—————-
update – 4B actually did take himself to the VA yesterday. (I stayed elsewhere last night so just found out when he woke up this morning.) It’s a lung infection and they wanted to admit him but he refused. This is not good at all.

Socks for Soldiers

One of our members lost her son in Iraq a few days ago. It’s hit us all pretty hard so… Brooke… next pair is in memory of Blake.

I’m working away on a pair for S4S, created a new pattern for a pair of my own socks, and ordered/ordering more yarn for additional things. This is wonderful!

I’m mailing in the long overdue female leisure socks as soon as I can get to the Post Office (looks like it will be Monday); and I’m renewing and extending my commitment.

Work is crazy right now, we have a new account that refuses to give us anything but extreme minimal information… I’ve been having a boatload of technical issues… it goes on and on but, I’m employed again and very thankful.