lunch @ Purl

Purl was hopping when I went over there a little bit ago. All kinds of people buying yarn. There was a line for the ball winder and swift. I didn't get either of the buttons I was originally looking at. I wound up with a henna bone oval. Hopefully, I'll be able to get the button holes to work. If not, I'll be starting on a button stash!

Think anyone would mind if I started seaming at my desk?

Zipping Zipo

Yay! I finished the second sleeve of Zipo this morning. Woo! I don't know why I didn't post yesterday. I had a very productive knitting day Tuesday. I knitted an entire ball on the second sleeve getting it mostly finished. I had forgotten how great hockey is for knitting/crocheting. Hubby figured we should watch the Devils' Championship DVD from 2003 since there wasn't anything else on. I just cruised through the bulk of the increases. I sure wish the NHL had gotten a new agreement in place to play this season. I miss hockey!

Now all I have left is to finish seaming and do the neckband. I'm still leaning toward putting in some buttons. Think I'll run up to Purl at lunch and pick up a few of these or maybe these.

I also have to do that pesky neckband. Hope the bus isn't too crowded tonight on the way home. I do think Dad will be getting the sweater in pieces. But, I will have it finished and get a picture to post for the manalong!

Also in the Woo column, my latests stashquisition came yesterday. The Hubby accused me of lying to him; I disagree. I broke a promise; I didn't lie. (Just call me Netter Clinton.) Anyway, he agrees that they will make a nice birthday sweater for Billy. I'm leaning toward this one in just two colors (I'm thinking large stripes of gold with smaller blue stripes). I can't wait to start! I'm also excited to make him a bucket hat to match!

Design thoughts*

Thinking of an ASC garter stitch baby blanket for a friend.

Use 2 skeins of four colors: Copper, Sizzlin, Orkney, Regal.

Alternate one color each row (she likes that look) knotting ends in square knots and leaving short fringe.

Should be 18” x 36” with horizontal stripes.

*Probably shouldn't call this "designing" as it's so simple!

chronic ear infections and a sick mommy

I had to take Billy back to the doctor yesterday afternoon to follow-up on his ear infections. When I picked him up at daycare his eye was goopy again. I figured I'd reinfected him. She agreed so we put him back on the drops. Then she looked in his ears and they were fire engine red. Back on antibiotics. She's got him on Zithromax. Hubby pointed out that Zithromax was the first one we tried back in November. I'm calling her this morning to see if she wants to try something else. (Must make sure to get the phone number for our drug store.) Fortunately, his temp was 99.5, so he's not running a fever.

I, of course, was then down in the dumps. I was so hopping she'd say that his ears are finally better and we don't have to see her until February for his next physical. We're fortunate in that he's not too fussy while he's ill; we're also fortunate that his ear drums haven't been impacted. I know things could be a lot worse; my parents went through a lot worse with my sisters. It's just so draining to be running to and from the doctors all the time and giving him so many drugs. I need to start focusing on the fact that it's just an ear infection.

I remember when my sister was about 7 she was having problems with recurrent ear infections and tonsilitis. She actually had an ear infection so bad she had a hole in her ear drum the size of a pencil eraser! Needless to say, she had her tonsils and adenoids out shortly thereafter. No problms since (except for a couple of cases of epiglotitis, eww). My other sister's health problems were a little more severe and much more complicated.

Me, I've been the healthy one. Except for this nagging cold I cannot get rid of this winter. Last night I went to bed early. Billy went to sleep before 7:30 which is way early for him and I was in bed by 8. Of course I woke up at 12:50 when the Nyquil wore off and again at 4:45 when the second dose wore off. I'm feeling a little better this morning. I don't think I'll need to go to the doctor. My throat was ridiculously sore last night, but it's barely noticeable this morning. Got to keep up with teh Dayquil.

Since I was asleep before primetime TV even started last night, not much knitting got accomplished. I've finished 5 of the first 9 increases as of this morning. I think it's pretty realistic to estimate that I'll have the sleeves done and seamed to the body before I see my parents on Thursday. I'd love to have the neckband knitted, too. We'll see. The house still needs tidying!

One thing, should I leave the neck open as in the picture or should I add buttons? I'm leaning toward a few buttons....

Chemo cap for Tom

Tom was one of the first sales reps I ever dealt with when starting out in this field. Today, his firm is one of our top compositors. Over the years we've had a number of lunches together and I've gotten to know him as a person. He even barbecued for us when we visited his company two years ago. Tom's a great guy; he reminds me a lot of my father, being about his age with a similar background. He's been diagnosed with lung cancer and has started chemo. He called me last week to follow-up on a few things and to wish me a Merry Christmas. He mentioned that he had his wife shave his head because he'd been losing his hair. Now, he's in need of a chemo cap. I know he's got hats and I imagine he's received quite a few for Christmas, but I want to knit him one anyway. I'd like to whip one out after I finish Zipo and before he comes up to the city again.

2 Christmases done, one to go

It was a very nice weekend chez Netter. Christmas Eve I was pretty sick (this darned cold), but managed to enjoy dinner with the in-laws and a lovely chuch service. Billy was well-behaved throughout. After church we drove over to a very large Christmas light display. It's a private home and the man's been doing a crazy display for years. He's got Disney characaters, elves, a band of toy soldiers, a giant rotating Christmas tree, an animatronic Creche (including moving baby sheep) and more white lights than you can see stars this close to the metropolis.

Christmas day started rocky. In my family, we open presents first thing and then eat a big breakfasts. The in-laws eat, read scripture, and take their time getting to presents. Billy got us up just after six. So I took him downstairs and the hubby got the dog going. Then he had to read the paper, then he got his grapefruit ready, then it was time to make homemade hot chocolate, then he made eggs and bacon (burned the bacon in the microwave), then we ate, then I had to change Billy's diaper, then we got to open presents. By the time we opened presents we'd been up for two hours adn it was daylight! My dad was, and still is, a huge fan of opening presents in the dark (tree looks better and it seems more magical) while hubby's family's never been up before seven on Christmas day!

But, we wound up having a great day. As predicted, Billy didn't really get into it much. Molly did; she loves unwrapping presents.

(Funny Molly story. We normally keep a gate at the bottom of the stairs to keep her from stealing socks and shoes and baby toys. Christmas eve day one of us, and I can't remember who but I'm pretty sure it was for a good reason, didn't put the gate up and she got upstairs. She went into the guest room, sniffed out the wrapped presents, grabbed what she KNEW was a rawhide for her, ran downstairs with it and proceeded to unwrap it. We took it away and gave it back to her Christmas morning. That kept her from trying to unwrap our gifts, although, one of Billy's was partially opened.)

Billy seems to like all of his toys. My in-laws bought him a tricycle that starts as a rocking bike, converts to a push trike, and then a trike he peddles on his own. He LOOVES it. He can't get on or off by himself, but he loves to sit on it and try to make it go. It's even better if he sits and you make it go. He got lots of great toys and clothes, too. They're so generous.

Hubby loved his DVDs. I got him Cheers, seasons 1-3, and All in the Family season 1. He loves old sitcoms from the '70s and '80s. Now, if he's ever home sick again, he'll have something to watch. Or, when football's over I know what we'll be watching on Sundays until Baseball starts! (We sure miss hockey.) He got lots of practical gifts from his mom and dad and really appreciated it. He hates spending his own money on shoes, socks, and underwear and really loves getting them for Christmas. I kind of agree.

I made out like a bandit (I tell my sisters to marry an only child). Hubby bought me a beautiful peridot pendant and chain. He also bought one for his mom. Peridot is our birthstone. He's been on a peridot jag for me lately; my birthday last year was a peridot ring and I got earrings last Christmas. Billy gave me the 2005 Knitting Pattern-a-Day calendar. It's on my desk. M-i-l and f-i-l gave me lots of new clothes, a new casual watch, new shoes, and new slippers. I think I was most excited about the slippers. I really needed a new pair of slippers and they got me some awesome ones.

We had a lovely Christmas dinner (very rare rib roast with homemade apple pie for dessert). Yesterday, it was quiet. Hubby and I bought a new toaster oven, I got some underwear and clearance tops, and we finally got an air matress and sheets for our office/guest room. Then he went to the Jets game with his dad and I stayed home with the kids. Billy took a nice long nap and I vegged with Molly. Well, she vegged and I knit.

I managed to get the first sleeve done on Zipo yesterday afternoon and I cast-on for the second. Which I ripped this morning after realizing I'd not used the 7 US needle as I had with the first. I figured the change in gauge would seem weird on the cuffs! I cast back on this morning and am well past where I was when I ripped. I started seaming and weaving in ends* last night as well. I picked up The Knitters Guide to Finishing Techniques by Nancy Wiseman when we were in Baltimore and it really helped me do some lovely seams. Unfortunately, I'd already seamed all the body when I realized she has you put in the set-in sleeves before you seam the body. Oh well. I guess it's a leftover from my sewing days. It worked okay with Grecian Plait and Loll. And since the cap isn't so deep on Zipo, I should have no problems putting it into a seamed body. I'll try doing it the way she suggests if I ever get around to putting Air together!

*My one grouse about ASC, the yardage is short so a ball doesn't go very far and I've had at least one note in all but two balls I've used so far! I've got a lot of weaving for a one-color sweater.

tooth, tooth, sixth tooth

Billy's sixth tooth came through yesterday. He's really great about teething. I think a lot of recent crankiness I attributed to teething was due to his repeated ear infections. He's been a delight lately (as long as he gets his bottles fast enough).

Wrapping paper, embarrassing slippers, and zipping sleeves

I’ve got all of the Christmas morning presents wrapped. That’s the Hubby’s, the doggy’s, the baby’s and one for me. (Yes, I know what Billy got me for Christmas.) Tonight I’ll wrap the Christmas afternoon presents (although, we’ll probably be up really early, Saturday morning’s tend to be Billy’s early mornings, and ready to go to the in-laws well before noon) and might get started on the New Year’s Day presents. I cheated a bit with Billy’s presents. All of his new clothes got put in one box together. He still has quite a haul. I have to decide how to handle my parents’ presents. Do I wrap all the CDs individually? Group them somehow? Not really sure....

Billy got gifts from his caregivers at daycare yesterday. He got a cute toy with different legs that make different noises (squeaks, jingles, crinkles). His lead caregiver gave him two pairs of slippers. I found that present to be highly embarrassing. Billy has large feet and for most of the summer he only wore socks or went barefoot. This fall, I bought him some slippers and a pair of soft-soled boots. The boots don’t really fit, so he’s been living in his slippers. Unfortunately, Molly got a hold of one of them and ripped a seam up the front of the ankle and I haven’t gotten around to fixing it for weeks. They also look pretty beat up because the fleece is pilling and they’re just hard to keep clean. So, obviously Michelle figured he NEEDED new slippers. I am humiliated. We gave all the caregivers in his classroom very generous cash tips and I’ve not bought my kid new shoes in two months!

I’m over half-way through the first Zipo sleeves. Hence, zipping sleeves, because it’s zipping along. I hope to get it finished tomorrow. I’ll start seaming and try to put the neckband on over the weekend. Then, I’ll only have the second sleeve to knit, seam, and attach. Whew. I still haven’t touched Air in forever. Maybe, I’ll get some time to squeeze it in as well! I’d like to at least get it seamed and I can work on the pockets flaps while Mom’s here.

you know what stinks?

I keep thinking today is my last day in the office for the week. Un-huhn. I've got one more day. I can't believe that Christmas is so soon. Must get started with the wrapping.

Hubby's given me another reason not to stash

From his e-mail titled "I ALWAYS KNEW THIS WAS CRUEL":

I saw a new billboard on 9th ave today. It said, "DID YOUR SWEATER CAUSE A BLEEDING BUTT?" and had a picture of a lamb or sheep with a cut-up butt. Looked gross as this was a campagain to boycott Australian wool.

Sad, please buy acrylic only.

I've done some preliminary research and it's a PETA campaign aimed mostly at clothing retailers. I guess, as conscientious knitters, we'll have to start looking at whether or not the wool and other animal fibers we use are cruelty-free.

I will have to give him a hard time the next time he eats veal, lamb, or chicken. If he wants to do this anti-cruelty thing, we should go all the way.

of pink eye, zipo, and packages

I was out sick yesterday. I came down with pink eye. I thought I was in the clear because he's been on meds for a week. Nope. Dr says I have bit laterally only; but he likes to be agressive with it since it's so virulent. Drops for Mommy, too.

Since I was home sans child and not feeling too icky, I tried to get some stuff done around the house. I took care of the dishes and put away a ton of laundry. I bribed myself, for every basket of laundry I put away, I got to knit for 10 minutes. I finished the front of Zipo and cast-on for the first sleeve. Today on the bus I got through the ribbing for the sleeve and am into the first set of increases.

I got a package from the Knitting Garden yesterday. Rowan #33 and Miss Bea's Playtime. Many, many patterns to knit and lots of things to bust stash. I still haven't told my husband about my last purchase, but I'm staying off Elann, eBay, and Herrschners until I bust through a lot of what I have already.

Quick post on my way out the door

I've separated for the neck on Zipo. Hope to have the front finished tomorrow. Am also 1/2 done the Christmas cards....

this is what a little education does for you

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Justify my Stash

I did it. I went ahead and bought two bags of ASC from Cucumberpatch's eBay store. Even with shipment from the UK, it's 60% off retail price. Yes, they are two discontinued colors (regal, a wonderful royal blue, and Orkney, gold-yellow), but come on who could resist.

Parts of each bag will be Billy's birthday sweater. I also purchased a couple of Rowan Mags from The Knitting Garden. Miss Bea's Playtime for Billy and #33 for me. I think I also need to get the aran weight Bucket Pattern from Chicknits.com to make Billy an ASC bucket to match his sweater.

I'll start knitting the sweater as soon as I have all the supplies (and Zipo and Air are finished). I should definitely finish by his birthday 2/2.

To rip or not

I just realized this morning that I used the wrong size needles for the ribbing on the front of Zipo. Now that it's done and I'm two inches into the rev st st, I don't think I'll be ripping. I held the two pieces together to compare and they seem similar enough.

I thought it was strange that I didn't remember knitting on two circs for this piece. (Knitting from the US7 to the US8.)

In other news, we got a Christmas check from Grandma in Florida. Can I buy yarn now?

whip it out

What do you think the reaction would be if I just whipped out my knitting and started ribbing away for the rest of the afternoon? I doubt it would be good.

I'd so much rather be knitting; or reading about knitting; or thinking about knitting; or buying yarn! I love ordering yarn and the anticipation of it showing up. I keep going back to the bargain ASC. So many lovely colors; such lovely yarn. Why, why, why did I have to promise the Hubby that I wouldn't buy anymore yarn? How stupid was that. This ASC is less than 50% retail! How much longer can I resist the siren call of yarn?

indulging

I didn’t get any knitting done on the way home last night. My departmental Holiday Party was last night and I overindulged. I slept (passed out) most of the way home. Surprisingly, I was able to get quite a bit of the ribbing done this morning. My behavior of last night didn’t seem conducive to knitting this morning. I figured I’d doze all the way into the city after getting home at 1 last night and waking up at 4 am. I dozed a bit after 4, but didn’t really get much sleep. I hope to be able to get quite a bit more of the front done tonight. Hubby’s department is having their get-together so it’ll be just me and the kids tonight. Hopefully, Molly will be good and let Mommy do lots of knitting while she watches CBS. I’m really going to try to get some knitting done this weekend. Hubby and I are thinking of doing dinner and a movie Saturday; 30+ cm of rev st st sounds like good movie knitting to me.

I can see why Bonne Marie calls ASC her favorite yarn. It’s great to work with; makes a great fabric; and seems like it would wear well. Calmer is still my favorite yarn to touch; but it’s so delicate. ASC is a hearty yarn. I can’t wait to start my Salsa Splash next year (after f-i-l’s b-day sweater completes the parents’ sweaters). There are good deals in some eBay stores for ASC, in lots of colors. If I hadn’t promised the hubby no new yarn, I’d be snapping some up!

I need to have my mother-in-law stay with Billy more often. She did two loads of laundry; emptied and re-loaded the dishwasher; swept; and organized the magazines on our coffee table. She would have vacuumed but that’s not easy with Molly around. Molly is a typical dog and thinks the vacuum is evil and must be destroyed. And of course, they only way she knows to destroy things is to try and eat them. It’s not just the big vac either. She goes bonkers over the dustbuster. I don’t know how m-i-l manages to get so much done. When I’m home with Billy, I tend to just play with him when he’s awake (and that's a lot of the time, since he doesn’t like to sleep when Mama’s around).

Billy’s back at daycare today. He seems to be doing better. His eyes are much improved. He’s got a juicy cough again, but I think we’ll have one of those most of the winter. I hope this kid develops a strong immune system.

It’s ironic. I received the January issue of Parents Magazine on Tuesday and there’s an article on ear infections. What’s ironic (besides the great timing) is that we’ve done everything on their list of ways to help prevent ear infections (including nursing until he was 10 months old) and we’ve had an ear infection for over a month!

Back completed

What an exciting title. I did finish the back. This morning as opposed to last night which was the plan. However, Billy came down with pink eye and his ear infection re-appeared. I had to leave work at 11:30 and take him to the doctor, then the pharmacy to get his scripts filled. Then we had to have dinner and a bath and early bedtime (he was fussy after not napping much all day). Finally, when it was mommy time, I had to clean up because m-i-l is babysitting him today (can't go back to daycare until tomorrow) so I can be here at work. Then Molly was a brat and I didn't have as much knitting time as I wanted.

I have cast on for the front and hope it takes me about as much time to finish it as the back (if not less). Then it's off to sleeves and the collar. Hope I can do it all in two weeks and a day.

(I also need to seam Air and knit up to pocket flaps, but hey what's that going to take?)

The baby silk is no longer a temptation. Elann sold the last of it. I'm a bit bummed, but I remembered that I have some lovely fingering weight cotton in the stash that I can use to make the crochet sweater from Rowan 33.

It's freezing here today. I wish I'd taken the time to find my hat and scarf. I did find my mittens. I have yarn in the stash to make myself a new hat and scarf. I may get around to it in August.

I have big thoughts for next year. Besides the fact that I owe the hubby, the son and a sister knit items (socks and two sweaters) and I want to knit something for myself (Salsa Splash anyone), I was thinking that I'd like to knit sweaters for grandparents. Yep. I'm downright crazy! Ooh, maybe Dave's Grandma Triner would like the crocheted sweater. Have to see how she feels about lilac. (If she doesn't like it I bet my Meme would!)

Well, I've got a meeting.

I think I may come back later to post about The Amazing Race. I've got some thoughts.

Fiber Cravings

I'm still desperately craving the baby silk over at Elann. It's such a bargain! The color I want is the least popular. Can't I buy it, please? There's a perfect crochet pattern in Rowan 33 (which I'd need to buy as well). I haven't stashed in over three weeks and I'm going through withdrawal!

My sister informed me that she nearly got me orange alpaca for Christmas. A very lovely, very large cone of fingering weight. She wasn't sure if I'd want it, though. I set her right; I wouldn't want it I'd love it! Can't wait to find out what she got me instead!

I'm doing well with Zipo, although I haven't finished the back yet. I hope to do so tonight. Hubby is out with his Dad (going to the Knicks game at the Meadowlands). I'll be alone with the dog and baby. But baby goes to bed early (by 8 last night) and I can bribe the dog with a bone. I will get the back done tonight. I'll stay up late if I have to.

(I was going to buy the yarn at elann, but I can't lie to the hubby. I told him no more stashing.)

templates and java

I've signed up for Google Adsense. I'd like to earn some yarn money. But, I can't get the stupid Java to work in my blogger template.

I'll just have to keep fiddling. I've had this problem with other java scripts, too. I'm sure I'll think of something.

I've done quite a bit on Zipo. I need to get the back finished today or tomorrow. I only have 2 1/2 weeks to get it finished!

I know Dad wouldn't mind getting a half-finished sweater for his birthday, but I have deadline for the Manalong.

Remember asymmetrical hair dos from the 80s? I do (I always wanted one but never had the guts to get it). I just saw a woman walk by my office in one. Dude, the 80s are so back. Like totally!

Why can't people drive in the rain?

It was misting last night, so of course it took me 2 1/2 hours to get home! I appreciate nearly 2 hours uninterrupted knitting time. But, does it have to be on a stuffy bus?

I've finished the collar for Air. I'll work on seaming it this weekend.

I've started the second ball of ASC for Zipo. At this rate, I'm definitely using the 12 balls called for in the pattern.

It's strange. I had a lot of leftover yarn after Loll; I might have most of a ball leftover after Air; but I think I'll use all the suggested ASC.

The Hubby and I are going Christmas shopping tomorrow. Our daycare is providing 5 hours of sitting for $20. Can't go wrong with that. Fortunately, we don't have too much to do. My sisters are done and I know what I'm getting Stephie's boyfriend and dog. My parents are pretty done (we at least know what we're buying and where). So it's grandparents, my father-in-law and the hubby. Hubby tends to be the hardest one. Mainly because I don't want to disappoint. He usually does a great job for me.

Billy's going through a growth spurt. At dinner last night, he was shoving crackers and bread into his mouth as though he hadn't eaten all day. It was kind of funny because he was literally shoving stuff into his mouth. He'd put it mostly in with his fingers and then finishing shoving it in with the back of his hand. We're going to go broke when he's a teenager.

An Oldie, but a Goodie

This meme seems to have popped back up. Since I’ve never done it before, here are 100 things about me

1. I’m the oldest of 3 girls

2. I’ve been married for nearly 5 years
3. I’ve been in the same committed relationship for nearly 10 years
4. I’m the mother of a wonderful little boy
5. I moved to New Jersey from VT 9 years ago
6. I lived in Washington Heights for four months
7. I am a feminist
8. I believe in women’s education
9. I graduated from a women’s college
10. summa cum laude
11. I majored in English
12. I wrote my senior thesis on Lillian Hellman’s plays
13. I used to write poetry
14. I’ve not written anything in a while until recently
15. I am a big fan of symbolic language
16. I struggle with questions of faith
17. I love to knit
18. I used to read a lot
19. I got my vocabulary from reading
20. I’m 100 pounds over weight
21. I joined Curves in September
22. I haven’t worked out since before Thanksgiving
23. I miss having a lot of friends like I did in College
24. I don’t do anything to meet new people
25. I have very few friends these days
26. I have curly brown hair
27. I’ve always wanted to be a red head
28. I always look a little tanned
29. I’m often thought of as Italian or Puerto Rican
30. I’m mostly French Canadian
31. With lots of bits from Great Britain
32. And I’m part Native American
33. I used to be fluent in French
34. I lived and studied in Bath, England for a semester
35. I am an Anglophile; but I love all things Scottish
36. I have eaten Haggis
37. I had a bagpiper walk down the aisle before my father and I at my wedding
38. My husband and I walked down the aisle to Scotland the Brave
39. We named our son William Angus
40. Sometimes, I wish we’d had the guts to name him Angus
41. I took all the drugs they’d give me during my labor
42. I had two epidurals
43. I agree with my co-manager, you don’t get fillings without drugs, why go through labor drug-less?
44. I had really hoped to have my son without drugs
45. I’ve never fought with my mother
46. I have fought with my father
47. I want my son to know how to do housework
48. I hate to clean
49. I always wanted to be rich and famous
50. I work in NYC in publishing
51. I commute over an hour everyday
52. I’d like to work closer to my house
53. I’d even do it for less money
54. I’m rather liberal in my beliefs
55. I’ve marched on Washington
56. I need a lot of sleep
57. I’m an insomniac and a poor sleeper
58. I have post partum depression
59. I’ve been on anti-depressants since March
60. I joke about my condition
61. I believe if you can’t laugh at your own mental health, you can’t laugh at anything
62. I have a hard time lying
63. I think I’m pretty ethical
64. I’m probably a goody-two-shoes
65. I used to drink a lot
66. I come from a family of alcoholics
67. I stopped drinking for nearly two years
68. I’ve found I can moderate and now have a glass of wine on occasion
69. I still haven’t had a beer in two years
70. I like women singers
71. I can listen to the same CD over and over and over
72. I can be very focused
73. I live in my own head
74. I tend to be a loner
75. I am not too observant
76. I believe it’s important to be nice
77. I can be very bitchy without meaning to
78. Sarcasm comes very naturally to me
79. I am often mean to my husband
80. I always regret it
81. I have a yarn problem
82. I have a hard time with moderation in most things
83. I believe creativity is very important
84. I believe all people have the capacity to be creative
85. I think intelligence is the ability to learn
86. I like to learn new things
87. I like change
88. I have a hard time seeing when I need to change and instituting it
89. If something scares me, I do it
90. I have a gap between my front two teeth
91. I got my first tooth at four months
92. I try too hard to be self-reliant and independent
93. I have a hard time asking for help
94. I think my husband should be able to read my mind
95. I wanted to learn to play the piano as a child
96. I wish I could draw better
97. I have a wicked sweet tooth
98. I expect too much of myself
99. I can be lazy
100. I’m happy in my life

walk like a man

I just peeked in on my baby boy (day care has web cams, tres cool) and he's walking around holding Miss Roxana's hands. Ah, gee. Before I know it, he'll be walking off to college (sense a theme?). He's moving up to a different classroom. Normally, they wait until the babies are walking or 18 months to move them up; but if they don't move Billy now, they won't be able to move him until next September and by then he'll really have outgrown the infants room. (Run on much?)

Elann.com is my enabler. They sent me a news letter with samples of upcoming yarn. I'm in love with the Peruvian Collection Baby Silk (alpaca and silk) in a luscious salmon. It went on sale yesterday. I've resisted so far, but it is soo soft and the color of the sample is so much nicer than on screen. I will just sit here and sigh. I promised the hub no new yarn. Read my lips Blogosphere, no new yarn.

Dare I say zipping Zipo?

Nah, I don't dare. I had to cast-on twice. Once Monday night in my hotel room and then again yesterday. I did no knitting in the car on the trip down to York and none on the way back. Heck, on the way back it was in the trunk. It is nice working in this gauge, though. Dad's mitts and hat were worsted but both Loll and Air are in Calmer and the DK gauge can feel like it takes forever. I'm alternating between Air's collar (boring seed stitch) and Zipo's ribbing (slipped 1 x 3) which seems much more interesting right now. I'm sure when I'm working miles of rev st st, I'll be more than happy to pick up the pocket plackets for Air. Zipo is my reward for working on Air right now, but Air will be the reward for working on Zipo.

I can't believe I've only given myself 3 weeks to knit this sweater. What am I crazy? It better zip along!

Echo, echo, echo, Chamber, chamber, chamber

This head cold is so ridiculous. My ears are so clogged I can hear myself think. I've adjusted to hearing myself breathe, but seriously, I think I hear the wheels turning up there. It's driving me nuts!

If this is how Billy's felt for the last month, the kid deserves a pony and a life-time supply of Cheerios on demand. I don't know how he's been good so much of the time. I'd be a constant whining brat if I were 10 months old and my head felt like this. Heck, I'm 32 and feel like being a whining brat!

I wonder how my beloved is doing with his stomach ick. (OK, he says. He's watching Office Space; he'll never want to go back to work.)

Wish me luck, I'm off to the wilds of York, PA for a plant tour. Hmm, 3 + hours in the car with some people I barely know. It should be interesting.

I'm so busy ...

I've been spending my time reading blogs and looking at pretty yarn. I really need to stop looking; because with me, looking rapidly turns into buying.

Elves wanted, and not just for knitting

I am so far behind, in my knitting, at work, with my housework (laundry alone is 2 weeks behind).

It was an interesting weekend Chez Netter. It started early. Thursday I had to dash out of the office to pick up Billy (let’s not get into the fact that both Hubby and I wound up on the same bus home) because he’d thrown up and there was a virus going around. Of course he could not go back to daycare Friday. I got nothing done except a nice long nap. Which was good, I have the mother of all head colds lingering here. Hubby got home Friday and got us a pizza for dinner.

Saturday, my mother-in-law picked up Billy and Molly for some kid and dog-sitting. I did the dishes and Hubby and I decorated. Tree is up. I did the majority of the lights for the first time and it looks pretty good. We got the mantle done and the knick knacks all around. I even did a Ho-Ho-Ho wall in the kitchen (all Santa stuff). I made Dave snort his beverage out his nose when I called it he Ho-Ho-Ho wall. The whole time I had a killer of an earache and realized what a trooper Billy’s been for the last month. As Dave and I were getting ready to go to a clinic (I wouldn’t be able to see our Dr until tomorrow at the soonest), I realized I’d left my wallet in the office. Just in case I was wrong and I’d lost it, we cancelled all my cards. Then I saw the doc at the clinic and got a super decongestant and some drops. Then it was off to the in-laws for dinner and picking up the kids.

Sunday, I did bupkus. I sat around and vegged all day. Discovery channel had a Mythbusters marathon on. Cool. I really like it when they blow stuff up. Yeah, I’m a bit of a 12-year-old boy at heart. (Although, I don’t really like toilet humor.) I did finish the cast on for Air’s collar and did a row and a half while Billy was playing.

Today, I’m here in the office until 1 (maybe 12) and it’s off for a plant tour in York, PA. I did pack knitting for the car. We get back about 4 tomorrow afternoon. Just in time to go home. So all the stuff that really needed to get done last week isn’t getting done until Wednesday, most likely. I also have a meeting at 10 to go over our new timesheet program that starts in a few weeks. Snot.

I packed two balls of ASC to cast on for Zipo, if/when I get the collar done on Air. I lost my photocopy of the instructions for the pocket flaps, so I’ll start those some other time. Good thing I wasn’t planning on any Christmas knitting!

Looking out my window

My office building is in SoHo. My office windows face North. When I look out over my shoulder, I have a beautiful view of the Empire State Building. This morning, I couldn't believe that I was here. Me, little ole hick from NW Vermont, first Bachelor's degree in the family (with grandfathers who didn't go to high school, much less graduate), one generation from cow manure between the toes, sits in a Manhattan office everyday. It boggles the mind. Especially considering I am not one of those ambitious, first-borns who is driven to succeed at everything. I have perfectionist tendencies, but my life is not about getting ahead. The great sadness in my ordinary day is that NY/NJ is 6 hours from where I grew up.

Deja Vu, All Over Again

Whew, finished the back of Air again. Started casting on for the collar this morning. I had to rip it out. The first bobble didn't look right. Oh well. The cast on will take a while, 117 total stitches, not counting the 2 of every 5 that get cast off!

I'm so excited that I'll be able to start Zipo soon. I've had this project on my mind for quite some time now. I bought the yarn in late May.

Today, my little man in ten months old. I can't believe it's been that long since he came into the world. A year ago, I was heading into the home stretch of the pregnancy, and now I've got a little guy who is starting to cruise, loves cheerios, and has 5 teeth! Amazing.

I think Billy's starting to feel better after this marathon ear infection. He actually started nursing a bit list night (for the first time since Sunday), after a few minutes it degenerated into biting again. I don't know why he likes to bite Mommy so much. You'd think I'd learn, but he suckers me in everytime. He leans forward and grabs me and I think, oh how sweet a hug and maybe a kiss, and then wham! Little teeth pinching the crap out of me! It wears on my patience.

I'm so looking forward to decorating for Christmas. It's December, tree should be up, my little houses should be out, stockings on the mantle, etc....

Ramblings of a knitted mind

I'm still working on Air. I had planned a big SC seaming party, but ran afoul of the back being 1" shorter than the fronts. Urgh. I ripped and am re-knitting. I should have the back finished again tonight. Then it's off to seam, knit the collar and pocket flaps. I will be casting on Zipo next week no matter what. I only have 4 weeks to finish it! The Manalong lasts until 12/31, but my family comes to visit on 12/30 and I want to give it to Dad then. Especially since his b-day is 12/29.

Our trip to SC was good. I didn't get much knitting done in the car. As usual, Netter figured she'd get more done than she could. Billy was great most of the trip. He only got cranky the last hour each day.

Everyone down there loved him. He's still struggling with his ear infection, but we got him more antibiotics, so he'll hopefully be feeling better soon.

My Kid Classic and Phildar came while I was away. I love both. The Juicy Kid Classic may be the first project I knit for myself. Maybe that's a good stash rule; last in first out! Eh, I think I'll get more use out of the ASC I bought in Copper and Sizzling.

Here's what I've been thinking of in the way of upcoming projects:

Zipo
Something for Billy (b-day 2/2)
F-I-L's vest (b-day 3/23)
Paris Loops for my sisters (sometime in April)
Socks for Hubby for father's day
Salsa Splash for me so I can wear it next summer

I've officially promised my husband that I would not buy anymore yarn. He wanted me to say that I wouldn't buy anymore until I ran out, but I couldn't agree to that. Run out of yarn! I'd never let that happen. I will make a serious dent in the stash before I buy again. I will admit to looking, but I have to stop browsing for it rapidly leads to purchasing! We're not in extreme financial straits, but things could be better if we stop the discretionary spending. Yarn is discretionary, I know it's hard to believe. We're also cutting back on eating out (made dinner 3 nights in a row) and brown bagging it for lunch.

Christmas shopping is interesting this year. We got Billy finished at an outlet in SC. I have no idea what to get my husband. Everyone else may be shopped for online. I just don't know if we'll make it to the stores. My in-laws are watching the baby Saturday so we can get the house decorated. I'm really pushing my husband to put lights up outside. He went nuts the three years we lived in our last apartment, but hasn't put any lights on the house in the 4 years we've been here. I think it's time!