It's Been a While

I know it's been a while since I've been here.

Lots of life changes have been going on in my life this year, most initiated by me, and, in my mind, most necessary.  Many of them weren't anything I could talk about till recently and some I won't talk about at all except to say that Ken and I have split and the decision was mine.

As if that isn't a big enough change, I took a position in our Plano Texas office recently. Yes that's right, I packed up a U-Haul with all my stuff, put the Explorer on a trailer and drove across the country.

The guys in the Plano office have been really helpful and making me feel welcome.

You already know that I lost Oscar and that I almost lost Cliff the Mutt. Even though he's apparently allergic to Texas, he is actually doing better and I'm glad he's still with me.

He and I have a little apartment in Allen. We like it even if I seem to be spending more than 50% of my time at work. I'm working on that.  Cliff gets to spend the day with a friend's dog, so he's not alone and it's working out well for both parties, because my friend's dog isn't alone now either and he and Cliff are just like the 'Odd Couple.'

That's them, Cliff and Jackson.

Some things don't change though.  I'm still knitting.  I still have way too many projects on the needles at once, but we all know how much I love yarn.

One of the thins I still try to do daily is read the Yarn Harlot's blog because she's just so funny and she really makes some gorgeous stuff.

I haven't missed one of her book tours since I found her in 2007.  She has a new book out called All Wound Up and I've already read it cover to cover and checked to see if she would be close by on this tour.

Since Plano is to Dallas as Petaluma is to Santa Rosa, it looked like she'd be close.  Then I looked up the venue, A Real Bookstore, and it's less than 5 miles from my apartment.  I was totally going.

There's only one problem.  Except for the folks at work, and they don't knit, I still don't know anyone here.  Every single book signing I've gone to of Stephanie's I haven't gone alone.  And I sure as heck wasn't ready to this time, but neither was I missing it.

So I sucked it up and went.  I've been following the current one.  And as usual, it seems, she's not always getting enough time to eat.  I try to give her something when I see her, even if I know probably half of it can't make it home, suitcases are only so big, so I figured to bring something she wouldn't have to pack.  I think a beer, a small box of good crackers, three cheeses (real cheese), some Nutella in a cool single serving package and a small thing of coffee (to take home) would go over nicely, and I made sure she had a little cheese knife in there too.

I hope she likes it.  It's always cool when she remembers me given all the people she sees on these tours.  She did say for a minute she wasn't sure she was in Texas, since I always see her in California.  And no I'm not stalking her.  She's genuinely nice and funny and grateful for the fact that she gets to do this for a living.  So when I see her I'll make darn sure she gets some kindness back and I'll buy anything she writes.

So I still don't know any knitters here really (there's a member of my International Sock Swap that lives close by but I haven't met her in person) and after tonight I'm sure the local knitting clicks wonder why the heck she took my picture.  

But I'm just me.  Another knitter, another Yarn Harlot fan, another person looking for friends in a new place. Maybe this will help. Maybe it won't, but, if nothing else, I took myself outside of my normal comfort zone and went even when I was terrified to go alone (painfully devastatingly shy am I).  And you know what?  I survived.  I had a mini panic attack, but I got over it and I didn't bolt, because, damnit, I was making sure she got dinner.

Missing Mecca

Mecca for most of the West Coast knitters I know is Stitches West, which is happening this weekend, and most of my favorite people will be there, just a couple of hours south of me.

I, however, consciously chose to skip it this weekend. Trust me my bank account is thanking me. But I'm not skipping it for that reason.

You see, I have more than one hobby. Or rather I have friends that do stuff other than knit and try to get me involved in their hobbies. And I have more than one hobby. ;-)

My neighbor down the street, who is turning into a best friend, is a Creative Memories Consultant. She has tried repeatedly to get me to start scrap booking. I have actually made a small one for the doggies. But that's it. She has a crop night and I get invited even though we both know I won't show up with pictures. Instead I show up with yarn.

She's know if I ever decide to start scrap booking (I think kids will be needed for that happen, my life is too incredibly boring), she'll be my go to supply person. And I'm teaching her how to knit.

So back in September, her regulars started talking about setting up a scrap booking weekend out in Bodega. 8 women, one house, a ton of photos and paper and glue and pens. I got invited along and they understand I'll be knitting this weekend.

That means that I'm heading out there after work tonight. Which means I needed to get everything ready to go this morning and get to a PT appt by 7 am.

So I grab the suitcase this morning and roll it down the hall. That sets the dogs off. They KNOW that sound and they want to know where the hell Mom is going and NOW. Barking behind closed doors ensued. I'm grabbing clothes and yarn and swifts and winders and books and school work (I have homework due next week) and food.

When I was ready to start loading the car, I let the dogs out so they could do their business while I loaded the car. I put one load in and left the back of the car open and went back for the rest.

On the way back to the car I'm calling for the dogs. Oscar comes right away, but Cliff and Scrat are ignoring me. So I'm still calling them when I get to the car. Then I see this.

Cliff and Scrat apparently decided they were going anywhere that suitcase was going. It was fun getting them out of the car and getting them into the office with the hubster.

Let's just say I was late for my PT appointment. Unfortunately Mark is used to that and he was running behind today anyway.

Needless to say I'm looking forward to this weekend even if I'm leaving the hubby and all the furbabies at home.

I'm hoping to finish the baby sweater I'm making for a friend as part of Ravelympics. I need to medal in at least one thing. The shawl I entered too will be with me as well as a couple of wips and some of these for when I need a break.

That is a minor minion that I gave to a friend as a cat toy. I'm making more for friends. They are cute and I have to do something with all that fiber fill left over from my Stay-Puft Marshmallow man Halloween customer.

PS I found the CUTEST buttons for the sweater at lunch time.

PPS A shout out to my mom. Happy Birthday! When are you guys coming to stay for a while?

Trying to Get it Under Control

Since I'm OCD, this is not a surprising statement.

However since I'm talking about my knitting I expect loads of laughter to ensue.

I have a problem.

It's called Startitis. I LOVE to start new projects. I LOVE to pull patterns down that I KNOW I have the stuff to finish.

I need to knock it the f* off.

I have a ton of yarn.

I am in 3 sock KAL contests, whatever that start in the next two weeks.

I just committed myself to a wedding present for a friend's fiance. The wedding is in May. I chose Icarus. I want to add beads to it. I think perhaps I should shoot myself instead, but the yarn for it was only $12.

I need to finish the Husband's sweater (that might be a Ravelypmic WIP event project). I need to finish the second sock for the dad of the sprites down the street that now have mittens. Not to mention socks for two co-workers that are already on the needles.

There is also a BSJ due mid April for another friend's first child.

I need to go through my wips and figure out what I'm actually going to finish and what I'm not and recycle the yarn.

I need to stop starting projects bigger than socks till I get some of the old stuff out of the way. And I need to find the battery for my camera so I can start posting this stuff again.

Let 2010 be the year of the WIP Smackdown.

Knitters Do

We were watching 'De-Lovely' last night and there is a scene where Cole and Mr Murphy are on horseback and talking about Murphy's son's TB prognosis and how their wives are there to help them through the tough times.

Mr Murphy said at the end of it, "who catches them when they fall? " meaning the wives.

My answer for me is that Knitters Do.

I went to my Saturday knit group for the first time in about 6 weeks this past weekend. They've been following on my blog and my FB account everything Slugbo and I have been going through with the adoption stuff and Little N. They've seen the mood swings caused by the IVF drugs and the heartbreak when neither of them worked.

They know how hard it is for us to be going through this.

So I got to knit group Saturday and when I walked in some of the ladies were off to the side working on the crocheted border of a blanket. I said it looked nice without really looking at it (though I did wonder but not out loud if they needed help with the crochet) and started talking to Ba, thinking the blanket was for Angelita's new grandson, since her daughter is also part of our knit group.

A little while later I'm fighting with my lace and Carol has to leave and is saying goodbye to everyone and the next thing I know the blanket gets plopped down in my lap with them saying it's for me. Of course I promptly burst into tears.

Lynne, Anne, Sheri, Carol, Jan, Lois, Mary Sue, Liz, Angelita, Rosemary, Bridget, Kristen, Ba, June, and Taunya all contributed a square or two.

Ba, Carol, Jan, Angelita, Anne, Laura, Lynne, Sheri and Rachel all contributed to the putting together and the border.

Now most of these ladies I know. A couple I might be able to pick out in the group by process of elimination and there are at least 2 I haven't officially met. Quite a few of these ladies are super busy in their home and professional life. The fact that any of them took time out of their regularly scheduled knitting to make something like this for me, let's me know that even if I'm not a regular at the group, they have my back. They are my support group no matter how long it's been since the last visit.

Thanks so much my Knotty Knitters.

It's beautiful and I'll treasure it always.

You Know You're a Knitter When

you find out a friend actually has one leg that is 13mm shorter than the other and you wonder what needle size that is.

Hehehehehehehehe

PS 13mm needles are the equivalent of US 17 needles.

Look... Knitting

I do still knit. I have proof.

That is my basic beanie hat in Plymouth Baby Alpaca in Black. Just over one skein.

I knit this up on size 6's because I wanted this to be nice and tight and warm for the recipient.

On that hat are some stitch markers I received in the mail yesterday as a surprise. They are from Kellie a.k.a Lizardtoes on etsy. Someone knows I like pink and purple and orange. I cannot wait to try these.

I finally got pics of the other things I finished and sent out in the past few weeks to assorted co-workers.

That is the Yarn Harlot's One Row Handspun pattern in Paton's Scotland Tweed in a brown with orange, yellow and green flecks.

This particular co-worker told me over a year ago that he got a new jacket that had a brown lining and I offered a scarf to go with it. Sight unseen.

Thankfully I know that when a guy says something is brown, he means brown. Not taupe, or coffee, or nutmeg, or chestnut, but brown. Perfect match if I do say so myself.

Off to Stitches West to drool over fiber galore tomorrow. Should be fun.

When the Rough Get the Go Ahead...

the rough start freaking out all over again about the new shots they add to their schedule tonight.

Brief IVF update:

Ultrasound on Wednesday was fine. 6 follicles on the right 4 on the left. There could be more. There could not be. All 10 could not develop. All 10 could not produce an egg. Hope for at least 3 please, though I'll settle for any number other than 0.

Blood test was clear (for the smart a* out there that does not mean my blood is clear and I'm from the planet ziploc).

So we add the Follistim and Menopur to the shot sequence tonight. One is a dial up pen injection and the other is something you have mix - multiple vials - different needles. Fun times, let me tell you.

I fully expect the office to start a pool on how many times they can either make me cry or lose my temper over the next two weeks over trivial items. Note to co-workers: repeatedly setting off the office doorbell to change the tune is not considered trivial.

I'd say send chocolate but I'm giving it up. Actually I can have white chocolate. So send that. Please. Buckets of it. We are going to need it.

Knitting:

Clockwise from gray blob on left.

Gray Blob: Thorpe for a colleague in Texas in Patons Classic Wool two different shades of gray held double. Won't be an exact Thorpe, but will mod the pattern to fit him and my gauge.

Never Not Knitting Calendar face page. Because I haven't thrown it away yet. :-)

Stripey sock: Red Heart Heart and Sole with Aloe - color Rustica. The boy (another co-worker) has freaking long feet (11") and I went through almost 4 color repeats.

Sock wannabe: Patons Kroy is a red black blend. For me maybe. I know other people with the same foot size. I want to play with some baby cables on it. Don't expect lots of progress soon.

Scarf: For another colleague (you'd think they'd like me more ;-) ) Yarn Harlot's One Row Handspun done up in Patons Shetland Tweed in a brown with specs of green, yellow and orange.

Yummy yarn: Blue Sky Alpaca's Cabled Cowl in Suri Merino color Snow. I LOVE THIS YARN. It is so soft. Susan would totally want to eat this stuff.

Center: My Moleskine notebook that I'm using for all my IVF stuff.

Not shown: LOTS. Hubby's sweater. A Noro two row scarf (because I am still a lemming). More socks. Lace. Tuscany. A poncho (don't ask how old that one is - I should finish it is since it is certainly an easy enough pattern). Hats in progress in my head if not on my needles. More.

So I've been knitting. I've been shooting up. I'm still here. Hubby is being supportive. I'm being a basket case. We will all survive.

>> edited to modify photo which was showing client information - Not GOOD!

It's November

Not exactly sure when that happened.

Okay hush you smart aleck in the back, I know 12:00 am this morning. :-P

It's been a rough month and a half, with hubby's mom passing away, taking care of all of that. Work has been way more stressful lately. Then you take into account my latest hearing results and I just want to crawl into a really dark hole with all my knitting (and a small light) and not come out till the world decides to do thing my way.

While I'm dreaming I'd still like a Black Arabian horsey and a 1976 Volkswagen beetle convertible.

There has been knitting. I'm trying to finish a scarf for a friend that just had the same throat surgery as me. Socks for three different people. A sweater for hubby. I have a few hats I want to make as Christmas presents, but we will see how that works out.

I hope to start posting pictures here again soon. It's certainly not for a lack of any, just haven't done it.

Till next time.

Oh, I finally got in contact with my sister Chris again after way too long. Say hi since she might stop by the blog for a gander.