Now what?! Go to sleep, silly brain!

The ‘contract to hire’ position is a decent job BUT…. there are no open positions at the company.  None.  Haven’t been for ages.  A temp has been hired here and there over the last few months but there are dozens of temps that have been there for up to two years now.  hmmm….  interesting.  Won’t bore you with the details but let’s go with there was a conversation between the 30 or so of us former Caremark employees and the temp company that pitched this as a permanent type thing.  Whatever.  It’s a temp company and it’s a temp job not a perm one.  HOWEVER…. HR messed up my schedule, instead of the 8:30 – 5 (perfect!) that I was told, it’s 9:30 – 6 which absolutely does not work.  Earlier works, later does not.  This is a major problem.  Not good.

Our severance checks arrived yesterday – good!  (taxes totalled 62% – wow! that’s a lot of money in Uncle Sam’s pocket)  I’ve been getting some things taken care of like car insurance, rent, utilities, you know… the stuff that gets you in serious trouble if you go for weeks without money.  Since yesterday was also pay day for last week at the temp job, the first thing I did was cash that check and got a Diet Coke and some chocolate.  It’s true – I went for over a week without a Diet Coke!

not my pic, but pretty much how I feel about it!  yummmmmmmmmmmm

in knitting news….   four stitches slipped off the needle on the Olive Drab Socks 4 Soldiers.  Yes, I had them in my knitting bag…. which I also had another skein of yarn and er well, let’s see, hair mousse, herbal tea packets, cough drops, lip gloss, hand lotion, and my lunch.  Perhaps that was the problem – over crowding without proper precautions.  ARGHHHH   I’ll pick them up and do any repairs later today.  Just can’t quite bring myself to do it right now.

On the observation list for today – we watched a dvd a Monday on the Utah State Correctional Facility at the ‘Point of the Mountain.’   I drive by it every weekday (and often on weekends as well) but never paid a whole lot of attention to it other than it’s just there.

Apparently, Utah’s state prison is one of the most violent in the country.  Interesting.  What really struck me though was the difference between the men and women’s facilities.  It may have been the way MSNBC edited, or who knows, but the point was made that at the women’s facilities the offenders generally work together, support each other, generally try to make life tolerable and perhaps even a bit better for one another.  Not quite the same at the men’s facility.   This could be a rather long observational bit about anthropological/sociological differences, etc.  I’ll just stop here though and comment that I found it particularly interesting.

Part of the program is on Youtube.

The other bit of oddity for the day – a half green, half red apple grown in Devon (UK).  It’s amazing!

It’s true – insomnia is striking again.  Doing the relaxation things, doing the shutting down stuff but…. brain just keeps going and going like a very demented Energizer Bunny zig zagging through the quagmire of situations going on in life.  Silly brain.  You must sleep now!  Oh wait, not just yet – need to take daughter to a friend’s bridal shower this afternoon and get some more bills paid and see what’s on for the weekend, finalize the car insurance stuff, might be good to hop in the shower before all that, oh and my nails reallllly need to be done and  …. yeah…… kinda like that.  Again, silly brain!

If you’re in the mood for a vent, see the “Life” page.  Add your own vent!  Go on, you’ll feel better!!!!!

And again….

Blogging from the library today – yes, there is still no computer around and won’t have one for a while yet. Other priorities and all…. although school is very high on the list and obviously requires one.

Anyway….. I’ll be posting pics of the roll top purlies, green fraternal twins (socks, I got bored, they are ‘matchish’ rather than matching), along with a couple other projects. Socks for Soldiers is still a high priority although I’m hybernating the original pair and working on olive ones now. The first pair is still giving me fits so the logic is, go to the second one.

I’ve moved into a house with several roomates, constantly changing roomates, lots of coming and going. It’s really not working out that well, unfortunately so will be doing something differently soon. Oh, and the current diagnosis is lupus. Not exactly thrilled but it’s the only thing that makes sense to the various doctors so am moving forward.

Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer last week. She’s handling things reasonably well but Dad’s taking it very hard. We’re trying to show him the statistics on how treatable it is when caught early but he’s a bit stuck in the death sentence it was a few years go. It doesn’t help that she had to postpone double knee replacement surgery to go to her oncology apt. Yes, I’m concerned.

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!

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.

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.

2009 commitments

I don’t make resolutions. I turn into a big bowl of pure fail if I do. So… this time it’s commitments. I can do those! I’m a pretty committed person.

Knitting:

• Socks for soldiers – knit 30 – 40 minutes per day.  It’s not difficult, suck it up and do it girl – you enjoy it, the need is strong and you know it.
  
• Get stash replenished.  1/4 of purchases will be socks for soldiers regulation yarns.
  
• Learn color knitting and finish at least 2 major colorwork projects
• Finish Grylions socks.  Geez!
  
• Make yourself some socks – your feet are cold, you silly girl!
• Finish your scarf – it’s beautiful and you know you want to.  Besides, it was a gift.
• Make the freaking sweater – you know the one.
• Make at least one lace shawl.
  

Personal:

• Get the divorce finalized and survive through it – well.  It’s the best thing and you know it. You’ve moved on.
• Lose those pesky last 20 pounds.  Again, it’s the best thing and you know it.
• Get back in school.
• Pay it back and then start paying forward.
• Get a new sewing machine and start sewing, quilting again

Work:

• Keep moving forward.

Las Vegas, more progress and waiting

We had extreme fun driving to Las Vegas, being there, and driving back.  I can’t accurately describe how wonderful it was to laugh hard, to think things through without stress, to talk openly without repercussion but most of all – to have FUN!  What did we do?!   what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas… *grin*…

Just a few random tidbits though.  The first pair of fingerless gloves are finished with the exception of weaving in ends – that’s saved for The Great Evening Weave In, some call it Christmas Eve –

and a plain pair was cast on in blue, pics to come later.  Progress was made on the Big Sand Socks for Soldiers

and…..  B, being the thoughtful and overly generous man that he is, bought me this at the Harley Davidson store on top of everything else – insert huge grin –

It’s a gorgeous tank but you don’t get a modeled pic as D (son) has some odd aversion to Mom (that would be me) wearing tank tops around him.  Particularly ones that fit like gloves.

Silly me remembered walking shoes but not socks so B let me borrow a pair, what a guy!  My calves are sore from walking, my arms are sore from knitting but I’m smiling like crazy!  It’s been years since I was there so was amazed at how much things have changed.  We stayed right by the beginning of the Freemont Experience which we wandered around Saturday night.  The watershow at the Bellagio was gorgeous, New York New York complete with a lovely dinner at Il Fornaio

no, not a pic of us, and a few minutes at Coyote Ugly was marvelous – definitely going back next time.  Caesars Palace is still a great place.  The Sahara brought some fairly major personal growth and… I won more than I lost, which we promptly spent.  The word thankful doesn’t begin to cover my gratitude for everything.

I’m waiting for the call from work to tell me when I’m coming back.  It’s all ready 10:30 so guessing it won’t be today as I was hoping so it must be next Monday.  I’m still hoping for an offer from another company too.  I’ve GOT to get back to work, it’s getting fairly critical.  First and foremost, I can’t stand not being self sufficient.  Second and also urgent -  D and I desperately need to move out of here; the tension when 4B came back to the apartment last night was pretty thick.  I know what he wants to happen but there is NO chance he’s pushing me into doing anything just because he chose to walk away from his family.  I am looking forward to this divorce being final.

Continued idiocy and Vegas, baby!

For some reason my hands forgot how to knit properly right around midnight.  I have no idea what happened, I put the very nearly finished fingerless 2 down for a couple of hours, picked it back up and was knitting backwards.  Not backwards knitting mind you – I was throwing the yarn over rather than curling from under resulting in oddly half raised stitches.  I’d frog but… they are so nearly finished now after all ready being an idiot that I’m just not going to.  All that’s left is the top ribbing and finishing the thumb.  Roughly half an hour’s work.

And I’m oddly unmotivated.  I want to cast on the next pair.  I can’t (won’t) until this pair is finished.  Arghhhhh…. ok, ok…. another half hour of ravelry and blog browsing then it’s off to finalize the gift.

And… in other news…  I’m going to Las Vegas on Friday!!!!!!  It was a total surprise, and I’m entirely excited.  Six hours or so of knitting time driving down, another six or so driving back and a fun filled two days there with one of the best humans ever!!!!!!!! 

I’m taking the socks for soldiers BSS, WRT socks, Grylion socks and probably the pair of fingerless gloves that I WILL cast on this afternoon.

Know what?!  I’m discovering that having a life is actually fun!

4B and I switched rooms last night.  My bed is a queen.  Since his feet hang over the bottom of the double he thought he might sleep better fully ensconsed in bedness.  Ok, whatever.  I like my room though.

He requested that I take my knitting off the bed.  I’ve been known to cozy up and knit in bed.  He was alarmed at the number of printed patterns – I can never knit that many things.  Of course not!  But I can knit quite a few and many are inspiration pieces and/or have features I’d like to incorporate into other designs.  Accompanied by much eye rolling by both parties.
He was also a bit upset that all his underwear has disappeared.  uhmmm… I don’t wear your underwear… all I know is they go in the wash, in the dryer, come out and still exist.  D doesn’t wear ugly tighty whities.  How does one lose ALL their underwear?!  Seriously??  And do I even want to know?

Tomorrow is the traditional off to mom’s Thanksgiving Event.  The kids are going to meet me down there, I’m happy they’ve decided to go.  Their dad has to work, sounds a bit odd but it’s going to be different not having him there.  We’ve been divorced for over eight years now but he still comes to most major family gatherings and we’re all fine with that.  4B is most likely going to a friends’ – I’m glad.  Although he feels holidays, birthdays, etc. are ‘just another day’  I’d hate for him to be alone.

Considering this has without question, been the worst year of my life, I have much to be grateful for.  The lessons learned, the changes made, the dear friends, the opportunities presented, I am truly thankful and very humbled.

Very nearly Finished Object

I am finally binding off sister’s capelet, stole thing. It’s turning out fairly well, can’t wait to block it!  Truth be told, I can’t wait to finish it’s driving me insane.  Literally.  For some reason, I decided to add a ruffle at the top.  A very slight ruffle (increase by apx 1/4 overall)… that was fine.  Then decided to double that…. OUCH.  I started binding off last night about 9:00, was still binding off at 11:00.    There’s still about 200 stitches left. Of course, had a couple phone calls and breaks inbetween but geeeeeeeeeez.  Elbows and wrists are letting me know they are completely annoyed with me and fingertips are going numb again but… it will get finished!

Now back to binding off.  It WILL be finished and sweetly blocking away plus two more inches on each sock for soldier socks (say THAT five times!)  before I can cast on anything else.

Frog Pond for WRT socks, Progress Socks for Soldiers

arghhhhhhhhhhhh (and a whole bunch of swearing).  Woke up with a serious head cold this morning complete with eye swelling.  Supposed to meet a friend later, going to have to cancel – again.  This sucks.

Know what else sucks? I have about 4.5 inches done on toe-up WRT socks and they are freaking HUGE.  If a sock is wide on my foot it will drown someone elses.  I even swatched and everything!  Frogged, dropped down to sz 1 for toes and 2.75mm (2) for body.  Recipient can try them on soon just to be sure.

freaking wide sock

My sincerest apologies for subjecting you to a pic of my left foot – it is displayed comparison purposes only.

Son is going to his dad’s for a few days to socialize (loving the flexibility of home-school).  Roomie (hubby? nearly ex hubby? what IS he?!) is shooting pool so will be gone until late tonight or perhaps tomorrow sometime.  Bright spot of the day is this translates to knitting time, frenzied knitting as fast as I can because Yule, Christmas, Holiday Season is sneaking up on me rather quickly.

The Big Tan (Sand) Socks for Socks for Soldiers, however, are coming along nicely.  You’ll notice that this time I am knitting far more concurrently than I was before.  How does such a random person accomplish this you ask?  By timing – knit 20 minutes(ish) on one, switch to the other one.  Yes, it’s true, I’m both clock watching AND paying attention.  My mother would be so proud!

Slight progress has been made on sister’s stole…..

Grylion’s socks will be up in a bit, it’s supposed to be a surprise so no peeking just yet!

And… tada…. I’ve managed to decide on a pair of socks for me!  I’ve been quite impressed with Ioumms year of socks.  The cheater’s tip is a definite ‘must try!’  Thinking will do in lavender, quite possibly the singing in the rain socks.  Of course, casting on shall have to wait until I have other projects a bit more under control but am doing happy dance that a decision was made!  Still not quite sure what to do with the Kollage Brilliant as there are so many choices and I have 200 yards.  Leaning towards a glam scarf/cowl to go with my not even close to glam jean jacket.

Oh, oh oh oh oh oh…..  Something I must have…. knit corset.  Check out SarahPurls.

Yep, frogged WRT sock, starting over… can’t count, browsing ravelry instead.

Snowing = knitting, Detente

Cast on two  toe up pairs of socks last night, stopped around 3am.  Had the weirdest dream about knitting socks and House.  (not mine – the tv show) Kept dropping stitches, somehow figured out how to crochet with dp needles, yarn was incredibly strange pink/yellow color and scratchy beyond belief.  I was knitting in class at medical school.  Strangeness on steroids.

Watched most of the election returns last night.  In some ways, I’m proud that we (as in general America) have finally progressed enough to elect an African American to the presidency.  I don’t agree with his overall politics but was impressed with how he mentioned McCain in his acceptance speech.  I more impressed with McCain’s most gracious speech.   Both my kids wanted Obama to win.  OMG, I’ve raised independent thinking children – go me!  Enough politics for now.

Hubby and I finally discussed some urgent issues last night.  This separation thing with no obvious direction is beyond ridiculous.  He stated that he wants a life revolving around his alcohol addiction (addiction is my word, he said alcohol). I don’t.  He has no concept of the changes/forward movement I’ve made in the past few months.  That’s okay, he doesn’t have to.   He has no clue who I am anyway.  He wanted a marriage that was effortless.  I don’t think there is such a creature.  I told him watching him dying is difficult.  He wants to be alone when he goes.

Should we delay divorce?  Kind of have to financially and I feel he needs someone more than a long-term acquaintance around.  Then again, as I detach even more and work on the al-anon steps, I’m not sure that’s what is best for either of us.

We’ve verbalized the detente needed to co-exist in the same space a while longer.  We’ve agreed to focus on the things we like about each other to achieve that.  We agreed that some fairly serious mistakes have been made.  Then he bought my son new RAM for his puter and went to the bar.  This morning he wore my favorite shirt – because I like it.  I find him confusing but hey…. he confuses himself.

I knit.  Worked on Socks for Soldiers for about 45 minutes, cast on a new pair of socks, cast on another new pair of socks.  Decided to stress over what I’m making for myself.  How hard can it be to decide what I want to make for me?!?

Woke up to snow and it’s still snowing.  That means it’s time to knit obsessively until I hear back from some of the companies I’ve applied with.  I’m STILL waiting for my 2 October paycheck.  Decided I’ll pay some more bills and buy some supplies for Socks for Soldiers.  Feeling guilty about how long it’s taking me to get my first pair of BTS done.  Mailing the leisure socks I made for a lady soldier (ok, in the Army it’s a ‘female’ soldier but the socks are lady like and hence shall go to a lady) on Friday.  They’ve been sitting here since May waiting for me to finish the re-worked numerous times Big Tan Socks.  They are needed elsewhere.

Have really been wanting to go back to England and Israel lately.  England has been my ‘run away’ place for two decades.  Israel is my ‘get lost/become found’ place.  Shall we revisit the whole lottery thing?

Back, Socks for Soldiers, Christmas socks, more socks, and pillows too

Last Wednesday the silliest thing happened… I was walking in the parking lot outside our apartment and just fell.  As in ‘fall down forcefully for no apparent reason.’  Bruised my knee, elbow, wrenched my back rather badly and had no idea why!!!  After I’d managed to catch my breath and stand up, there it was – a rock about as big around as a silver dollar and as thick as a tube of lipstick.  Geeeeeez!

I had to call in sick as I couldn’t get my back in an upright position so spent the evening with my son going over school work, and alternating ice, heat, positions, anything I could think of to get the back and knee to quit their throbbing.  By the next morning the knee pain wasn’t so bad, the elbow and wrist still felt like someone whacked them pretty good… but the back….  still felt like screaming made up profanities instead of the ones we use for regular old every day things.

Long story short, as they say, went to the local urgent care, was told I’d messed it up (ya think?!) and to give it a few days to heal.  Since I had a rather nasty back injury (from playing with aforementioned son when he was a toddler),  I took the PA’s advice and kept reasonably still, did the heat pad thing, took muscle relaxers and anti inflamatories (arthritis in the back too dontcha know), etc etc etc.  Come Monday, wasn’t feeling too bad so went in to work with my required Dr’s note…. had to run home quickly to change (ok, ok, so I didn’t actually run), started putting my panty hose on… did that little hip wiggle thing anyone who has pulled pantyhose up to their waist is familiar with, and OMG… did someone shove iron rods through my spinal column?!  How rude!!!!!!

So… now I am again among the masses of unemployed as of this morning.  At least for a little while.

Last night I tore out all but 4″ of the socks for soldiers that I’d done – it just didn’t look right at all.  Then started over, have about 4″ done.  Go me!  Perhaps I’m a bit overly picky on those socks but I truly want them to be just right for the hard working soldier that will wear them in the line of duty. 

Socks for Soldiers

I’ve also got about 3/4 of one of my own socks for Christmas finished.  It’s a personal pattern that resides exclusively in my head.   I’m using Knit Picks Palette – red and green (not exact names).  If it turns out all right, I’ll post it here   It’s loosely based on ‘Blackhearted’ but with some heavy duty somewhat free style mods. 

The child socks are finished and gifted – only a week after the 3rd birthday of the recipient.  Now she wants a knit purple crown.  I’m going to have to figure that one out!

And… just for something to do (hehehe) broke down and bought some more sz 9 needles so I can start on Christmas throw pillows.  Not difficult at all, just going to do a bit of color work on one – thinking brown arrowheads on a blue background for one out of Knit Pics Gloss from the yarn stash, Celtic like cable work on the other from yarn I picked up quite a while ago.  Again, patterns in my own head – if they work out tolerably well, I’ll post those here too.

Work and progress

I’ve been working on the S4S and sister’s stole at work.  It’s slow going at times – silly pharmacies keep calling wanting over rides… Geez!   Have to admit, I’m a bit frustrated, I have NO clue where I put the rest of my needles.  This having the place half packed is not working out real well.  They might be at a friends’ house but haven’t had a chance to check.

Sister’s stole is moving right along but can’t get cam to get the color right.  It’s actually a deep, rich burgundy and the pattern is an adaptation of fan and feather (all knit, no purling on ‘right’ side) done on size 6 circulars.

How do I start on Christmas presents without size 7s and 8s?!  uhmmm… guess that involves figuring out where my absent minded self put things – oops! 

It’s time to start thinking about a new computer system and upgrade my son’s rather old one.  Anyone have extra lottery tickets? hehe