wheeee

If there are hills and valleys, today's a valley.
I'm sick of hearing myself whine, for crying out loud...and let's hope I snap out of it quick before you get 30 days of this crap.

But I did actually laugh out loud after taking this little "quiz" filched from JanuaryOne:

What Disney Ride Are You? Mickey's Philharmagic You're not a ride at all, but you're magical, and 4-D, and when I'm on drugs, you're the coolest thing I've ever seen. You're Philharmagic!!!

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

the weekend score card

Gains & Losses
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gain #1--Goodies In The Mail

Ya' know...at some point here, I kvetched about my arm being cold with all the metal bits in it, and I was also complaining that my one and only pair of armwarmers was getting kind of worn out, and that they were gauntlet style, with fabric across the palms of my hands and I couldn't knit socks while wearing them because the dpns kept getting stuck in the gloves.

And lookie who took note of all of that complainin' and just fixed that right up for me?!! TheBon!! I just looove them! They are so damn cute. My favorite part is the matching little sheepsies *big fat grin*.

Leave it to a seasoned goodie swappin' kind of person to toss in little bonuses, too.




Some of her handspun, (I covet every single thing I've ever seen of hers, and this yarn is so yummy, and squishy and beautiful and it has beads spun onto it), some really fantastic tea (I think I'll be writing more about that soon...I'm in love with it and must have more), a finger puppet for MyFK, and one very knitterly card. It was like getting a secret pal gift, and it aint even a swap! I am consistently blown away by the generosity of fiber freaks. Just one very cool and thoughtful thing to do...and so very cool considerring we haven't even "met". Yet. It sounds like she might be cruising down in February for Stitches West. Woohoo!
---------------------

Gain #2--A new hat (in the style of Brownielocks and the 3 Attempts)

Oohhhh my, this hat is toooooo big...





And this hat is toooooo small...



But THIS hat is juuuuuust riiiiiiiight!

Beret
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted, Mineshaft+ Charcoal (from stash, leftovers from the Baby Surprise Jacket)
Needles: Denise US#8 circs, and Brittany US#8 dpns
Pattern: Last Minute "Purled" Beret by Wendy Bernard, found at TheGarterBelt
Modifications: Used CC for the ribbing and the "topper". The ribbing cast-on with 72 stistchas (as if for a size small), but knit to 1-1/2". On the first round with MC, I increased the stitch count to 80 (as if for Med/Large), then followed the pattern for the Med/Large from there on out.
Notes: used steam method for blocking.
Started: 10/24/06
Frogged: 10/25/06
Started: 10/25/06
Frogged: 10/26/06
Started: 10/27/06
Finished: 10/28/06
-----------------------

Gain #3--A New Wheelchair

TheMIG picked up a wheelchair for me this weekend!
I'm soooo thrilled to have it here, but I'm not quite in love with it yet. We're in the gangly fumbling stage. Thye wheels on this one are much smaller that that of it's predecessor, which means every time I reach down to go for spin or to lock the brakes, it looks like I'm waving my hands in the air like some magician waiting for the chair to move itself. The major bonus though, is that with the wheels being smaller, I am actually able to get into tighter spaces with it without banging into the walls...yay! In about a week or two, we'll be used to each other, and all will be right in the world, even better than before. No monthly co-pays.
---------------

Gain #3--Hallowiggin' (again).

This Hallowig was for Robbin. She is a patient at the convalescent hospital that I've been going to for several weeks now to visit my LITA match, James (more on James during NaBloPoMo). I really dig Robbin. We've had some great chats. She's about my age, and she has MS. We are both are really into music. Robbin just adores Halloween, she has her room is fully decorated, and has been wearing various Halloween shirts for a few weeks now gearing up. Last week I showed her my Hallowig, and she asked if I could make her one so she could get dolled up for tomorrow. Happy to olbige :-)


Same exact specs and everything as the first one (except!!... the method. I don't have two circs in size 8, so I on the first one, when I joined to go intot he round, I use dpngs. My dpns were a bit short to carry all the stitches, which drove me nuts last time...stuff falling off everywhichway. So this time, after I cast on for the bangs and joined in the round, I stayed round on a single circ for as long as possible before switching to the dpns. Much better).

------------------------

Gain #4--I Gained Many More Questions (but I have no answers--so maybe this is more like a loss instead of a gain?)

No answers to the question of why I am using my being an amputee as a primary identifier. Only more questions. Hate that. More knitting, more thinking. More knitting, more thinking.
-------------------------

Loss #1--And Only One. But a big one.

I am no longer a company member of Dandelion Dancetheater. I have been having issues for quite some time over the use of videotapes that have been made of performances. My issues and concerns are many, and are very emotionally charged. I'm not ready to sort them out here, nor am I certain it is appropriate for me to do so.

The director and I have tried talking this out on various occasions, and it's probably safe to say that we're not really hearing each other. From my perspective, if I really am hearing what I am pretty darn sure I am hearing, it is really not going to work for me going forward. We left it as that we might talk again down the road and see if things have shifted.

The resulting split reminds me of how it how it feels when you have an amicable break-up in a romantic relationship...you know...the, "I really care about you, but this just isn't working out..." and the, "I hope I can still have you in my life as a friend..." stuff.

...and then there is the losing half your friends in the split-up part.
Except in this case, I lose them all. They were all "his friends" in the first place.

I'm quite upset about it (understatement).
I know I can see the friends I've made there outside of working together, but I will really really miss dancing with them.

There are lots of other things I will miss for sure. Too many and too sad for me to list, but losing connection with the people I bonded with so deeply is a very sad thing.

knit...think...knit...think...knit

Heading north with TheMIG for the sound gig and to visit his family is something I decided to skip. TheMIG is still going though, and he very graciously offered to go check out a couple of wheelchairs spotted on that area's Craigslist. I just got the call that he's found one that should suit me just fine.
I'm jumping up and down with happiness. Internally. I'm not a fan of hopping ;-)

SOooooooooooooo.....
With TheMIG gone and MyFK off for the weekend with his dad, I'm alone, and totally enjoying myself.

When I was a little kid, I really had a ball when I was alone. I had a tree fort and used to go there by myself and do arts and crafts. But in my 20's I would go to these bizarre lengths so as to never be alone. It was like I was almost afraid of it (probably afraid of myself), and I would disguise my jumpy behavior as my just being super-social. If I wasn't having friends over, you'd probably find me hanging out where I was likely to find other people I knew. Almost always.

I am =nothing like that now. I totally enjoy the company of others, and have a blast at a party, but at some point I developed the need for solitude, peace, and quiet. Now that I think about it, this more balanced perspective probably came right after becoming the mommy to a child that is never silent (and I mean never--not even in his sleep--he talks then, too).

I love a good hermit day, and I really must have one everyy once in awhile to order to maintain my sanity.
----------------------------

So this hermit will do some knitting weekend.
When I do a lot of knitting, I also do a lot of thinking.
While I do have some of my best "A-ha!" moments while I'm in the shower or driving, the repetitive loops of yarn over sticks seems to give me the space to ponder some of life's deeper questions.

What's on my needles this morning is: the redux of the oversized hat (I'm actually on Take 3,--grr).
And what's currently on my mind is: Why am I using being an amputee as a primary identifier?


Today is the Fall Festival at MyFk's school. His teacher is in charge of the Cake Walk. She asked if I would call the families of her students and ask for donations of baked goods. One of the calls was to Franny's house. I know the dad-half of this family on a "hello, how ya' doing" basis (he's the one that drops off and picks up the kids), and although I was pretty sure I had met the mom once, I wasn't sure.

When I called about the Cake Walk, it was the mom I got on the phone. I gave her the Fall Festival schpeel, she happily agreed to bake something, and then she said to me, "I'm trying to figure out if I've met you before."

I said, "I was just wondering that myself, and I think we may have met a couple of years ago at So-And-So's house for an Easter Egg hunt with the kids...my parents were there too...they lived across the street..." and just as I was adding, "I'm the one-legged lady..."

...she overlapped by exclaiming, "Oh, Yeah! You're the bellydancer!!!"

Now, why she is identifying me with her recollection of my being a dancer, and why I am identifying myself (first) as a gimp, is pretty damn interesting to me.

And it's not the first time I've asked myself why I do that. Because I think I might do it more often than I take note of.
And I will be reflecting upon this while I'm knitting this weekend.

wigged out

Day (or three) late, dollar short...but finally!
The post about last Wednesday's Stitch-n-Bitch.

A few of our regular bunch had this idea to do a Hallowig KnitALong, with a photo shoot on the 25th. Only three of us brought finished do's, but it sounds like there could be at least 2-3 more finished up by next week, so you might being seeing one more round of photos.

(L to R: Beanmama, Donna, me--not sure how well it translates in the photos, but Donna's Hallowig has blonde "roots" heheeee!)

This was Donna's first SnB, and if I recall (it's late and I'm running on fumes) I think it was her first social knit gathering ever. Damn cool of her to show up at her first event donning the item we were using as a KAL. Yay! I'm pretty sure we were all on good behavior, but someone dusted her with wool dander (probably me), and she's allergic. Now that we know about the wool, next time we can plan for her to be flanked by people knitting cotton warshrags or something.

It was great to meet Donna because it was my first time meeting another knit blogger! Donna found my blog right after the Yarn Harlot's visit to California. She and I were both in attendance at the book signing, but didn't meet in person. We've been reading each other's blogs, and have a exchanged a few emails since then. She doesn't live too too far away, and she worked it out so that she could meet up at SnB. Hopefully she can come again sometime.

Here's Donna and I in our kittyhats, too.

-----------------

On another Hallowig note, I brought the silly-little-ditty to bellydance class last night for Circle Dancing. It is a night where we get a bit more dressed up than our regular classes and do some improv performing for and with each other.

With bellydancers and their garb, it's often about all things sparkly, swishy, and immodest. The wig got passed around and I think every one of us tried it on. It was hightly entertaining and amazing to see how different it looked on each of us, not to mention seeing how the wig looked paired with bellydance costumes. Lots of giggles. Wish like hell I'd have taken photos.
-----------------

Hallowig
Yarn: Red Heart Kids, 100% ACKrylic
Needles: US#8 Denise, and Brittany US#8 dpns
Pattern: found here at Knitty, designed by Megan Reardon
Modifications: After casting-on, I started with about 1-1/2" of stockinette to create the little rolled "flip". I made the entire wig a little shorter in the length (my face is too oval for a long bob), and I also went a little shorter in the bangs (so I wouldn't lose my eyebrows). I tossed in a couple of barettes and added some little snap-on sparkly-hair-do-dads I found buried in my hairclip bin.
Started: Oct 16, 2006
Finished: Oct 18, 2006
Notes: With NO disrespect at all to the designer (because I believe this to be quite the creative and clever little pattern), I do believe this may in fact be the most ridiculous thing I will ever knit.


Of course, I said that when I knit an icecream cozy...so who knows.

stream of conciousness style

I have more days like yesterday+today during November and NaBloPoMo, all you're going to get is a photo.
---------

Wednesday.
Wednesday night went late because of Stitch-N-Bitch, and I really need to get the photos up because it was fun, and I got to meet Donna in person, and because the wig is pretty damn silly.

Thursday. *siiiigh*
Thursday: did the morning mommy-drill, volunteered at the school for an hour, volunteered at the convalescent hospital for two hours, went across town to the Social Security Administration to pick up some document needed for the lawsuit, went to the main public library, then back to the convelescent hospital to loan out some books, stopped at a thrift store to "kill" 15 minutes before picking up kids (note to self: next time sit and nap or knit socks--duh), picked up MyFK and friend, brought them home, fed them a snack, went right back out again to taxi them to over to art class, back home to clean the house and chat with CatharticInk for a bit, started dealing with pain problems in my stump, put on stage make-up and got costume stuff together for dance class, went and had a really late night at class because we "circle danced" for Samhain/All Hallows Eve (a few days early yes, but our is class in on a Thursday, whatchagonnado), talked with friends/dancers way too late and got home around midnight, couldn't sleep...tossed and turned allll night long being awoken by extremely sharp pains in my stump (happens every once in awhile for no apparent reason, and pain meds didn't keep it down).

Today.
Totally friggin' exhausted and still have a very thick layer of makeup on. Haven't had coffee yet. Typing this in the middle of morning mommy duty drill. Have to help out in MyFK's classroom from the moment the bell rings up until 11am. Go buy cake for the cake walk for Saturday's Fall Festival (there is no way I'm turning on an oven--putting my head in it is far too tempting), put finishing details on MyFK's halloween costume, clean house, back to the school to pick up MyFK plus his super rowdie friend and host a playdate. Make dinner (something cold, no oven again LOL). MyFK gets picked up at 730pm to go with his dad for the weekend. If the pain stops, maybe go right to bed. If not, well...let's not go there.

This weekend.
TheMIG is headed up north to do sound engineering at a festival that is supposed to have some bellydancing, and while he's up there he's going to visit his family. I'm considerring tagging along to see that dancing, but also to check out a few wheelchairs advertised up there (big retirement community in the area). But TheMIG is the sounds guy, and he will be the first one in and the last one out, and that makes for a very long night and I'm already exhausted (and still in pain)...then staying at his sister's overnight, and I've never stayed with his family before...kinda awkward. Also, if I go, we need to take my car, because his isn't big enough to haul all of his equipment, plus me, plus the possible new wheelchair. Which mean unloading my car of many items and putting them...where-I-don't-know.



That's me. I'm not even going to reread it or edit it.
I'm going to brew coffee.
And maybe read this in a day or two. And hopefully laugh at myself.

frog and snippet

The shumps/snorts are momentarily on hold. I've finished the last leg panel, but I'm now pausing while I consider when to start sewing up the side seams and switch to working in the round. I also need to figure out how I want to handle tying the decorative side seam stitches in with the decreases.

While that's percolating in my tired noggin', I've been sitting here realizing that said noggin' is totally friggin' cold. It's getting quite chilly here, intermittently--one day I need a heavy jacket, the next, I'm in a tank top. So even though I should be whacking out a few hats for this awesome lady's charity knit, I selfishly decided to work on keeping my own head warm first. The only handknit bonnet that I have of my own has Kitty Ears. Not quite your go-with-anything topper. I really need another warm hat that I can wear when I don't want to look 5.

So yesterday afternoon I went through my stash, picked a pattern, and knit a swatch. I got gauge. I knit the ribbing of the hat. I tried it on. It fit. I kept knitting. I tried it on. It still fit. I knit some more. Tested. Fit. I repeated this a few times more, way more often than neccessary, because well, I'm just that compulsive about checking fit too often as I go. Anyhow, I reached midway and started in on the decreases. Checked, and it still fit. I knit three more rows. I tried it on one more time.



WTF??
It no longer fit.
I look like Dumb Donald.
Totally bizarre, and I still can't figure out what happened, other than maybe my head shrunk while knitting and watching The Colbert Report.

MyFk frogged it for me this morning. I couldn't bring myself to do it, and he had a blast with it anyhow. I'll try casting on again later this afternoon.
Grrr. Brrr.
---------------

I had a girl's day out yesterday with Wheelchair Dancer. It was fun, but a little awkward for me. I decided to be bold and admit to her that I'd been avoiding her, and why...because it was nothing at all she had done that caused me to put her off. It was all my own shit. I tried to resolve my feelings on my own internally, and it wasn't working. All that was left to do really, was to be honest.

I don't know WCD all that well. We've had dinner an a few coffees over the past couple of years after dance related things. She and I have one cool thing in common: we are both dancers with a disability. But beyond that, we are really quite different. Which is good. I'm not into having a little army of matching friends. But we are different in one specific aspect that has been troubling me.

She's got alot of bounty in her life. Abundance.
And I do not.

Now, normally this is not a thing that determines one way or the other whether or not I get to know you better. In fact, when I was a kid, my dad retired young a very rich man, and he lots his investments in a land deal when the interest rates shot up to 17+% back in the late 70's early 80's, whenever that was. We went from having two houses, horses, and my dad having his own private plane (his hobby/passion was being a private pilot)...we went from that, to living in a tiny two bedroom apartment and losing the frills, to say the least. Betcha didn't know that about me ;-) Point is, I'm very aware of the fact that how many "things" you have is not the sole determination for one's happiness.

Anyhow, so like I was saying, normally your abundance (or lack of) is not a thing that determines one way or the other whether or not I will get to know you better. But with WCD, it has. I think maybe because she has an abundance of pretty much exactly the things I am so damn frustrated about lacking. She's got an army of fancy wheelchairs, I've got a rental chair being taken away by the insurance company. She lives bi-coastally and travels several times a month, I haven't even been able to pool the resources to take my son to Boston to meet his own grandmother, and he's 9. I have a shanty of a house that is primarily inaccessible, she has 3 places she calls home, and is customizing a fourth to meet her disability needs. She landed the position at the nationally renowned dance company we both auditioned for, I'm trying to sort out whether or not I can continue to work with the grass roots company I performed with over the summer.

Stuff like that.
And the thing is, with any other friend in my life, I'd be so tickled pink and happy for him/her! I mean I really truly am the type of person that can be joyous for other people's success, even if I'm not all that successful myself at that same moment.

But I haven't been able to do that with WCD. And it's been troubling me immensely. I really really REALLY do not like thinking that I am missing out a what could be a good friendship just because I am steeped in jealously and envy. In all my 39 years (ugh), I've never run into this problem of not being able to be genuinely happy for someone who "has", just because presently I am a "have not". And as WCD put it, all could have been different just by a toss of the coin. Isn't life interesting?

I can't believe I'm actually blogging about this, but whatever. I'm always good for airing out my dirty laundry where the neighbors can see it.
It's what I'm working on right now. I gotta keep track of it somewhere.
------------------

So if you recall, as it turns out, WCD was the winner of the Blogiversary Raffle...and we finally settled up yesterday. Her dontation is (I think--and I've spaced, and am waiting for her to confirm) going to The Sierra Club. And for the little "something-something" (which was to be something like a book or yarn) we actually agreed on a handknit--some guantlet style arm warmers, a little lacy, in black.

Of course she asks for something handknit after twice pointing out that my knitting is a little ummmm, "obsessive". Hahahaha. Yah.

I have to get my head warm first and bang out a couple of holiday gifts before I add the armwarmers to the queue, but I'm already pouring over lace patterns so that I can choose one that feels just right for her. I'm actually thinking of adapting PomaWhatever somehow, but I'm not sure about the stitch count. We shall see.
------------------------

More on the wheelchair front.

A lot of what got me through the stress on Monday, was my reminding myself of the fact that I do at least have one wheelchair in my possession,and for the meantime, it will suffice. It suffices poorly, true, as it is too wide for my house....but hey, better than nothing. I spent a lot of time on Monday thinking about those commercials asking for donations for people in other countries who need chairs and have none. I have very strong images burned into my brain of people crawling down dirt roads on their knuckles, dragging their legs behind them, and meanwhile, I'm bitching about the fact that what I do have isn't perfect.

So ummm, it's very nice, but y'all need to not bug me anymore about the tip-jar thing on my blog for donations. I'm too pridefull to make a public request like that, and I'm too concientious to accept that kind of thing when that assistance really should go someone who has NO insurance company to be battling it out with. My problems should be over in a few weeks. There are people out there who need help more than I do, and there are already have links set up for donations. Please go there if you feel compelled to give.

Oh, and you are correct, Sara. Yes. I most definitley would be tempted to spend any incoming donations on yarn, even though yarn is not "smack".

Yarn is crack.
(is there another fiber junkie out there that can back me on this??)

If I were to allow donations, I would not fritter it away on yar. I would buy wheels with it.
Spinning wheels. Bwahahaha.

But thanks to you guys for being so generous of spirit. You rock *kisses*.
-----------------------

Tonight is the Berkeley Stitch and Bitch, which will include our photo shoot of ShallowPigs--I mean, Hallowigs. Whee! Donna is coming out to join us, and this is actually my first time meeting another knit-blogger that I met online. I'm very excited. Hopefully photos tomorrow.
-----------------------

Look at me! Look at me!
The total non-geek read a tutorial about how to add a button to the sidebar, and I did it ALL BY MYSELF!! (my parents tell me that "I do it myself" was my first sentence)

One of the buttons is for NaBloPoMo.
Come November there is high potential for things to get very strange over here.
A whole month of this prattling on and on.
Be scared. Be very scared.

update: the two week reprieve.

Thanks all, for commiserating with me yesterday and for the offers of housekeeping and bounty hunting. Truly appreciated ;-)

Here's what happened yesterday afternoon when the poor delivery/pick-up dude arrived.

I answered the door in my wheelchair, said hello, while the guy shuffled through his paperwork and announced he was there to pick up a return. I said, "Yes, I know..." and rolled backwards to where I park my crutches and grabbed them. Meanwhile, he was scanning the room, I guess looking for the other (non-existent) wheelchair that would take the place of the rental I was returning.

He said, "Aren't you still using that?"
I mean, ummm yeah...it would probably still be warm from my buns as he loaded it on the truck. So I explained, yes...I still use it. Everyday.

I think right about then I might have gotten a wee bit misty-eyed, but not to influence the guy, I swear. It honestly was a natural response to literally having my legs kicked out from under me.

The poor guy just kind of stood there with his mouth hanging open for a few seconds and then said, "I...I....I can't do that to you. " So I began to explain about the insurance snafu, and he opened the front door, started to slip out and said, "I'll just say I came and you weren't here," and tried to leave. But I said no, because (get this Sara) I've pulled that routine twice already, and I can't keep up that schtick forever.

He said he was going to step outside and make a call, and when he came back, he reported that they were giving me two weeks to sort things out with TheBigBoxInsuraneCompany (rhymes with Meiser), and that someone would call me from his office about the billing stuff.

Then the guy just stood there with his mouth open catching flies again, and then his eyes got all watered up, and he said, "I just can't take it. That just aint right."
And he turned around and left.
----------------

Now meanwhile, I would like to add (just so you don't think I'm sitting here wearing a hat that says "Victim" on it) that I have in fact been trying to fix this situation both from the insurance end, and from the equipment-ownership end.

The insurance snafu all began in June, and the mess created a lapse in coverage. It's very complicated, but the general gist is that in June, I needed to change coverage, and one department told me to apply for Plan A, while another department later, in mid-August, denied my application and informed me that I never even qualified for Plan A. Getting that straightened out took until the last week of Septmeber, and during that time, the Durable Medical Equipment stuff got very messed up.

It's almost fixed. I just got off the phone with my doc and his nurse (whom are both great, even given the fact that they work for TheMeiser), and it's almost straightened out. Couple more days, and a couple more rounds of phone calls probably.

Meanwhile, I have also been looking for a cheapie replacement chair that I could just outright buy, because yah...I do pay a small co-pay on the rental, and over time it will add up to the cost of the chair.

TheMIG has been helping by calling around on Craigslist ads for me, but it's very difficult to find exactly what I need when most of the fucktards advertising don't know diddly-squat about wheelchairs. They're probably just cleaning out dead grampa's garage. They don't even seem to know that wheelchairs come in more than one size. They don't know dimensions, details, brandnames, etc...hell, some of them are even selling "transport chairs" thinking that they are actual wheelchairs (transport chairs don't have the big wheels on them so you can push your own self...they only have four small wheels and therfore you have to be "transported" with an assistant pushing from behind).

The wheelchair I use in the home has a 16" seat and is a hemi chair (hemi basically means lower to the ground, at 17"). Most chairs we are finding advertised have 18" seats (which won't fit through most of the doorways in my house), and are adult standard (which means 21" from the ground, and then I can't use my one good working leg to help me scoot around...and I use that alot). The hemi chairs (or chairs that are somehow adjustable to become lower) seem to be more difficult to find used.

Also, the CL people here in the Bay Area seem to think the chairs they have are gilded thrones or something. The chairs on CL are all "just like new!" and the sellers are asking for well over $150 in most cases. Considerring TheMIG just found an on-line store I can buy the same clunker I have now NEW for $165, that's not making sense. There is a used one for $85 I'm checking out this weekend, hopefully. And yes, I have scanned garage sales, but that's been like looking for a needle in a haystack. Or a needle in a pile of needles, maybe.

So I'm cool for a couple of weeks, and hopfully the solution will be reached before the guy has to come back out and I make him cry again.

You can still come and bring casseroles if you want.
Not because I need it.
For the company.

..and so this is a day where things will get really interesting.

Today is the day that they come to take away my wheelchair.
The one I use inside my home.
It’s a rental via medical coverage.
There has been an insurance snafu, and until the mess is sorted out, the equipment supply company has to take it away.


I started to write this very funny and long 3rd person fairy-tale about how I ended up with this crappy (albeit neccessary) piece of mobility equipment. My story included little details about how I do, in fact, outright own a similar looking (but 2" wider) clunker that I keep in my car for running errands, but how I can't get it that chair into the house from the curb.
The entrance to my own home is not wheelchair accessible.
And even if I could get the chair into the house, it is wider than the rental chair (read as: really the right width for my AmpleAss), which makes it too wide to fit through the passageways of my teenytiny shack.

In my fictional kingdom, there was to be a princess that used a skinny carriage inside the house... and for sporting around town, a more well-fitting one (fitting, kind of like Cindarella's lost shoe...only my chair is more like a dirty old tennis shoe than a glass slipper). The Princess in my story uses crutches to get from inside the house to outside the house, from one chair to the other.

The fable included a Fairy-Godmother (occupational therapist) who way back in the beginning of gimphood had given poor equipment advice, based on hopes of all of the things people thought I would accomplish (ummm, like consisitently walking), rendering the need for fancy wheelchairs useless.

And of course, no tale is complete without the Wicked Evil Villian--the big-box-store version of a health insurance company who will either pay for prosthetics or a quality wheelchair, but not both.

I was going to write all that.
Actually, I did write quite a bit of that, but quickly realized that the editing would take far more time than I have.
Especially since every frickin' task I do around my home is now about to become 4-times more difficult and 10-times more time consuming, as they will all be performed on crutches.

~~A note from the non-TeeHeeing AmpuT

stoopids

THIS was my favorite Halloween decoration.




THAT was my box of Halloween decorations.




THIS is a (very dark, sorry) photo of the rest of the decorations strewn all over the livingroom.




THESE are The Stoopids.

please help. i can't stop.

Felted Miniature Pumpkins
Yarn: (all odds+ends from stash) Bodies are Lambs Pride Worsted in Autumn Harvest, Rust, and Orange You Glad. Stems are Cascade 220 and Lion Brand Wool Ease
Needles: Bodies on Brittany US#10 dpns; stems on Susan Bates US#6 dpns
Pattern: found at Wool Windings (free pattern here), although PieKnits was the pimp ;-)
Modifications: none
Started: yesterday
Finished: today
Notes: This is my first time felting my own knitting! (I've only done a few thrift store sweaters for butchering into other projects)

knitting knews

Last night's SnB was held at someone's home instead of our regular cafe, and our evening included a yarn swap (although I thought it was odd that a few folks interpreted "swap" to be synonymous with "give-away" and were taking yarn without having brought anything to trade...settling that was a bit uncomfortable).

I got a good deal though and swapped 2 skeins of my nice but neglected stash for 3 skeins of Brown Sheep Kaleidoscope (80% cotton/20% merino).

I have no idea what it's going to be when it grows up, but oh, how I love the colorway. Score!
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There was also a raffle last night for...get this one:
An unseamed, but fully complete, handknit sweater.




Now, I never got the entire backstory, but somehow this cardigan was donated to our group. I have no idea by whom or the reason why. The lone ball band with the leftovers for seaming says it's KnitPicks Shimmer in Grape Hyacinth. That must be incorrect, as this thing is most definitely not knit in a laceweight silk/alpaca blend, nor is it variegated. But whatever it's knit in, it's really cute, and a bit more plum colored than what my camera is picking up.

As luck would have it, it appears that the sweater will likely fit the winner perfectly, but since she has impaired vision and doesn't know how to sew up knitting (I think she was a crocheter), she's unable to seam it up herself. I've agreed to finish it off for her.

Why? Well, I actually enjoy finishing work, if you can believe that...and I do a fine job, if I do say so myself. But more importantly, I'm seaming up this wayward castaway because I see this sweater as my golden opportunity to tame my fear of set-in sleeves.

In all this time knitting, I have only made one sweater (and I just realized that I've never blogged about it or showed photos--ummm, I'll add that to my list of things to do). It was a drop shoulder hoodie. It fits great for what it is--an oversized sweater. But I don't really like the most way drop shoulder garments look on me. I look like a slouch.

Since the finishing of the hoodie, I have set aside umpteen-million patterns for fitted tanks and shells I might like to try. I've also considerred a modular T-shirt pattern that would bypass the sleeve issue altogether. I have even pondered the possibilities of a raglan. MyFK wants a sweater, so I could try it on a smaller scale. But never once have I considerred a sweater with a set-in sleeve, even though I know I prefer the fit of a set-in based on my store bought sweaters.
What's the panic with set-in sleeves?? Well, I am afraid that I will knit the sleeves and that they wont fit into the body of the sweater. I'm afraid that I will never understand the physics of "row count" meets "stitch count". That I won't understand my "knitted gauge" versus my "washed guage" and that I'll knit something that will look fine until it is laundered and will then look like crap and live in a closet. I fear that when it comes to sleeve finishing, my confidence in my seaming abilities will vanish--that I will suddenly lose all concept of "ease" (hehe--that's kinda funny).

If left to my own devices, I'll probably come up with any excuse and never try knitting set-in sleeves and find many other projects to support that. Nope, I am not one of those fearless knitters that just casts-on and tries things...and yes, I fully comprehend the notion that knitting is only sticks and string and that there are other events in life far more worthy of my fear. Ok now, where's that ativan ;-)
hahahaha

Anyhow, this is my plan. I'm going to learn to do this set-in sleeve thang ass-backwards. I'm going to do it with someone else's knitting LOL. I'm not going to knit my own sweater with set-in sleeves, all the while chewing off my fingernails worrying if the fit is going to succeed or fail. Oh no. I'm going to seam up this total stanger's finished sweater. With any luck, it will just work, and I will gain knowledge and confidence. And if the sleeve doesn't fit, well then another knitter can be the ass for screwing up the math.

Wish me luck.

Hey. Should I block the parts before I sew them up you think?? The shoulders are already seamed, but the side seams are not. I'm thinking block first because the pattern is a bit lacy, but I'm open for suggestions.
Thanks.
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I have also done a wee bit of knitting of my own this past week.
Wee. Very wee.

I sent a belated housewarming gift to Inky and Mr.Inky, and the basket included my attempts to create a couple of somewhat "goth-esque" Mason-Dixon Warshrags.




My other Finished Object this week is an ACKrylic, obnoxiously bubblegum-hot-pink, super Halloweeny, and "sooo last year" head covering thing, whose name rhymes with "Shallow Pig"....



...but I'm not going to model it yet . It will be donned at next week's SnB, where several of us are whipping them up (even Mz.Donna, who is going to make the pilgrimage to her first SnB and join us---woohoo!).

If I get permission from all involved parties, I'll post the group pic here.
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I've also done quite a bit of writing about my knitting habits and their current parallels with the rest of my life. I've threatening to blog about it for weeks now, and be thankful. It's a mess. The more I write, the more there is to write about. It is growing to epic proportions, is and destined to become some sort of part-mini-series. It asks way too many questions and doesn't have enough answers and may need to result in some sort of science experiment. I'm enjoying the reflecting and the writing, but what I have so far has a huge need for editing. It barely makes sense to ME and I'm the one who wrote it. hahahaha

But what else is new ;-)

48 things

I just finished up that last blogpost. It was a list. Then I sat down to surf a few favorite blogs while finishing my coffee only to find this other list-y thang floating around today, and so here it is.
Two in one day.
Aren't you excited.
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48 Things You Could Care Less About


1. FIRST NAME? TheAmpuT

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Technically, I was named after an event, not a person. Actually, TheMIG came up with the nickname, as well as my blog name, though. As for my real name, no I was not named after anyone.

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? A week ago. I was pms-ing and was certain TheMIG didn't find me attractive anymore. Actually, I might have even shed a little tear about something or another this past weekend. I'm big on the weeping. Leaky eyes.

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes, but you probably wouldn't. My everyday (less formal) handwriting is a messy blend of cursive-meets-printing.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? If it weren't for MyFK, I wouldn't eat any. But Honey Roasted Turkey is in the house, and I sometimes pick at it when I make his lunch.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I would definitely want to meet me, but I'm not sure I'd want to do what it takes to have a deeper freindship with me.

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? I do, although most of my writing is now blogging.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes, but I should have had them removed, and it's almost been scheduled twice in my adulthood. I go through bouts of recurring strep throat.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? If there is such thing as a torso harness, I would consider it. I do not have a desire to bounce around hung by my only leg though.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Oatmeal or Cream of Wheat with brown sugar. Yet, I rarely eat it. And now I want to go to the grocery store.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? If they are high-tops, yes. If they are ankle-high, no.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes. But not as strong as everyone has decided I am.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? That's like asking a mother of ten who her favorite kid is. Don't make me do it.

14. SHOE SIZE? us Size 8, although for a couple years after my kid was born, my arches fell and I was a 9.

15. RED OR PINK? Ok, this is hard for me to admit, but: Pink. I spent my whole life hating pink. Even as a little girl, I hated pink. In my 20's and 30's my wardrobe used to have a so much red it in, it was the featured color. But in the past two years, I wear (and knit) loads and loads of pink (mostly, but not exclusively, darker shades...lots of wine colors).

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? emotionally: Self-doubt; physically: the scar on my right arm.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My dance teacher and mentor, the late Jamie "Sabah" Miller.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Please no.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Black plants, a khaki green t-shirt with Japanese letters on it (who knows what it says), and black high top wrestling shoes. I mean, shoe.

20. LAST THING YOU ATE? Chocolate. At 9:00 am. Breakfast of Champions.

21. ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The annoying humm of my computer.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Sky Blue.

23. FAVORITE SMELL? TheMIG's armpits.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My ex-husband.

25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? (edited to correct) If it's a photo or if they are out sniffing distance, the whole face. First the nose, then the eyebrows, then the eyes, then the lips. If they are close enough, I notice their scent first.

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON YOU STOLE THIS FROM? I don't know her personally, but iof she's the self she really blogs about, yes. I like her.

27. FAVORITE DRINK? I love the flavor of my morning coffee.

28. FAVORITE SPORT? Sex.

29. EYE COLOR? Brown.

30. HAT SIZE? I have no idea, which is odd, because I own many. I just try them on and they either fit or they don't.

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Nope, and I dont' wear glasses.

32. FAVORITE FOOD? Anything potatoes.

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? I don't like the bloody kind of scary movie, but like the edge-of-my-seat kind of scary movie. Tension. Happy endings are okay unless they are too neat and tidy.

35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Spring, actually. And I do miss living somehwhere with real winters.

36. HUGS OR KISSES? Kisses. Lots and lots of making out please.

37. FAVORITE DESSERT? Same answer as #13, don't make me pick. I typically favor chocolate, but I can't pass up creme brulee or flan if it is on the menu.

38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? This is not an email response thing.

39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Same as above.

40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? "The Swallow" by Maria Doria Russel sits on my nightstand unread. It is sad, because TheMIG loved it and wanted to share it with me, and I haven't read it. I've been listening to AudioBooks lately. From the library, I currently have an Edgar Allan Poe collection, and "Every Mother is a Daughter," by Perri Klass & Sheila Solomon Klass.

41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE Pad? It says "click..pointg..click..point.." a million times and in various font sizes.

42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? The Colbert Report and an episode from season two of Six Feet Under (on dvd).

43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Silence--big time number one favorite sound. A babbling brooke/small stream. MyFk saying "I love you." The sound of someone saying my name (interestingly, I don't hear it that often). And the sound of TheMIG right before he....

44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? Beatles.

45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? France.

46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? I can organize or coordinate just about anything (like people or events, not like the piles of crap in my house). TheMIG calls me the Extra-Ordinator.

47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Hartford, CT.

48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Found at Inky's blog. Your turn.

excess

I have had many occasions over the past few weeks to reflect on my life and be grateful. "There, but for the grace of (insert whatever you believe in) go I." Those kinds of moments.

I have also had many occasions over the past few weeks to feel overwhelmed by life's excesses.

At present, the list of things that feel excessive seems longer than my gratitude list. And interestingly, there are things on my list of excess that are probably things I should be grateful for as being in my life excessively (like too much sock yarn in my stash). I mean, being that some of these things are good things, and you'd think more of a good thing is, well...a good thing.
But it doesn't feel that way.
Excess is feeling like a burden to me.
And excess feels like it comes with a very high level of responsibility.
----------------

There is/are too many:

details to store in my head
papers piling up on my desk
blogs to read
blogs that all seem to say the same thing
current projects in my knit-basket
new things that I want to knit
knitting projects that aren't showing progress
patterns that are starting to look alike
books and magazines at the book store
books that all look alike
crafty people I feel like tracking to watch everything they are making
bills and not enough money
loads of laundry to do
people at the convalescent hospital I visit who are lonely
spots on the kitchen floor that need mopping up
people parking in handicapped parking spots that don't really need to
illegal aliens--oops, I mean people--living in my neighbors house
balls of sock yarn in my stash that may never get knit
times a day that I sigh
stitches in this lace pattern
craft projects I bought materials for but don't do them
choices
things in my fridge that are spoiling
hungry people in this world
things I'd like to knit/make as holiday gifts in the next few weeks
miles on my car between oil changes
unused items taking up space in my tiny little home
jackets hanging on the coat rack
people who are cold
places I need to be at the same time this upcoming Saturday
unread emails in my inbox
times I behave like a cling-on girlfriend
words I don't know the meaning of
kids in each classroom at my son's school
potholes on the road leading to my house
things that keep me awake at night
times I believe I can't do something, then prove I actually can
times I can't fully articulate what I mean
complain about not being understood
things about people I will never understand
grudges I carry
people dying in violent crimes within a 25-mile radius of my home
things I need to teach my child
things I haven't a clue about
things I thought I understood, but as I get older, understand that I don't
things I could add to this list
things I need to be doing instead of writing this list

hopping along

If you're here for the knit, I just posted some knitting progress (and yarnporn!) to the Black Bunny Fibers Hop-A-Long. I've been working on the "Stump Cozy Pajama Shorts" (I need a better name. Something that rhymes with "snood" maybe? Any suggestions?)

My entry can be found here.

like i said, laughter really is part of the process

Check out the knitting haiku winners over at Januaury One and be prepared to laugh (ie no drinking fluids while reading, or keep a towel handy to wipe off your screen).

The rules for her contest were originally posted here.

Oh, and I am not the peg-legged knitter who won a random draw.
That would be my doppelganger Jodie ;-)

note to self

I got some feedback about the scarf from the last post, and it caused me to reread what I posted. If you are making your own Branching Out...I noted the wrong needle size! I have edited it to correct. I used a US#8 (not a #3). Oops. Sorry, but I was using a template to post the data, and I forgot to overkey that line. Hope nobody cast on without reading their pattern notes ;-)
---------------

Recently there were a couple of posts at a blog that I read it caused me to reflect on why I started (and why I still keep) a blog. Those reasons have changed a bit over this first year. Call me fickle.

When it comes right down to it, though, the bottom line is, I blog for myself.

Sometimes the sharing of my writing, or even just the act of the writing itself, is part of my process with an issue. Sometimes I need to just "put something out there", even if it's just to say something humorous--because laughing is a big part of my process, too. And sometimes I post only to have it serve as a memo to future myself, something that I can look back on later.

You see, senility runs on one side of my family. I have an entire line of predecessors that lose their minds early, but then live to about 100 or so. As I see it, there is a strong possibility that one day I might be some 94 year-old cranky old bag in a rest home with wireless and a laptop. I might have to read my old posts so I know how to introduce myself.



So. The memo for today is:

Lately what's going on in my life is that I'm doing a whole lot of thinking, but not a whole lot of doing. Well, that's not exactly accurate. I actually am doing a whole lot of doing, but I'm not always taking care of doing what it is that I'd been thinking about (if that makes any sense). And this somehow leaves the appearance of having done nothing because the thoughts are still there...not acted upon.

It's making for a busy head and a few sleepless nights.

ketchup (ooooo, that was bad)

Knitting Knews
I finished my 2nd Branching Out scarf this week, this time in black. Here's your standard Draped-Amongst-The-Greenery photo, along with your complimentary My-Arm-Isn't-Long-Enough-So-I'll-Just-Lob-Off-My-Head shot.

The weight of this scarf is perfect for this time of year where I live. It's going to get a lot of use. And I love it done up in black. As I think I mentioned here when I cast-on for it, my fall "uniform" is often black bottoms and a colorful, but plain, long sleeved top. The black scarf really ties it all together. I look a little less like "Freida Frump." Of course, that coat of lipstick didn't hurt LOL. When I wear the scarf with all black (another fashion fave), it's got a romantic gothic feel to it (and no, I've never been cool enough to be a real goth...I'm just a poser and bit of a dork).

Branching Out Scarf
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, color 001 (black); 1 skein
Needles: Denise US#8
Pattern: Branching Out by Susan Pierce Lawrence, found at Knitty.
Modifications: It doesn't specify a bind off method, but I bound off in purl.
Started: sometime during the last week of September 'o6, and worked on it only occasionally
Finished: October 1, 2006
Notes: Having made this twice now, I think I've had enough. On the other hand, I think I've got the pattern repeat so wired that I could probably spit another one out in my sleep. Using only 1 skein, this would make an affordable, quick, and elegent gift. There may be more in my future for friends.


I recently bought the Forest Canopy Shawl pattern from the same designer, and I have yarn I am swatching with right now so I can see how I like them together. More on that soon, along with an update about what's on my needles.

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ShiShi Tiki
YAY I got to hang out with mnvnjnsn last Monday! She is the author of the very first blog I ever read...and an excellent example of bloggy goodness, at that. Besides being one of my favorite reads, we have another interesting connection (previously blogged about here). Her ex is my current, and I'm now friends with her sister. Small world.

It was a photoworthy evening and somehow I managed to not take a single snapshot . Lame. I even had my camera out to show her pictures I had taken when I went to see the last gig of my boyfriend and her sister's band.

MyFK and I had taken the BART train to meet her (which I guess we don't do often enough, because he acted like we were getting on a ride at Disneyland or something). From there we hopped a cable car (another Disney-esque moment) and rode to the top of a very steep, classic, San Francisco hill. There lies perched the historic Fairmont Hotel.

We were early, so we snooped around the gilded halls for awhile and did things that a parent should not be teaching their child to do. For example, the ashtrays outside are models of exemplary maintennance. Some poor soul comes around, cleans out the butts, and presses a mold on top leaving a big fancy font impression of an "F" in the sand. So we went around and messed them all up and then hid and watched the special someone come fix it. I know. I'm an ass. But recently my son advised me that, "Mommy is only good for love" (not a bad thing to be good for, but...I happen to know I am good for that plus a whole bunch more) and he deemed his dad to be the "fun one." Screw that.

Anyhow, we finally made our way to meet mnvnjnsn at The Tonga Room for Happy Hour. It's basically a tiki lounge with an all you can eat buffet of chinese food, and while you snack, the place breaks out in a kitschy indoor rainstorm every 30 minutes. Luckily the drinks come with tiny umbrellas.

Now, it was MY brilliant idea to do the Tonga Room (note: that "brilliant" had a sarcastic tone). I looked it up online and was like, "Cool! $7 for the buffet! Cheap night out!".
Ummm, no LOL.
For starters, I didn't plan on MyFK not liking any of the buffet food and subsequently needing to order a grilled salmon entree at the fancy-pants-schmancy hotel prices. Yet because he had tried the buffet, we were billed for both. Nor did I factor in the 1 drink minimum, or tally in the fares for transportation (a cable car is apparently no longer transportation, but an "attraction"). The tab for the night was a wee bit painful. And uneccessary. I cook as good as what was served, and I should have brought a little homecooked "something-something" for mnvnjnsn as a show of my affection (I didn't even bring her the long overdue handknit kitty toys...I suck).

** Next time you come, girlfriend, I'm toting bubbly and fancy cheeses and we'll make a picnic in your hotel room. And btw...I really enjoyed yours. **

Oh. And we only shared one chuckle at our common friend's expense. Just one.

Whilst chatting about TheMIG's side business ventures, MyFK chimes in that maybe one day TheMIG will be rich and have a butler.
I replied, "Noooo...even if he could afford one, I don't think that TheMIG would ever spend his money on a butler."
"Why not?"
"Because he told me that when he was a kid he always wanted to grow up to be Oscar Madison."
Mnvnjnsn broke out in laughter, as did I the first time I heard it.

Then she said, "That explains a lot."

I would believe that it does.
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StatsCounter Stuff

For starters, I can't believe that someone actually typed this in as a search:
thanks a million - that really helps! by jove i think i am getting it now!
I find it interesting that of the first "1 - 10 of about 146,000 results" you get links to THREE knitting blogs (myself, Crazy Aunt Purl, and Yarn Harlot). There is not a single word about knitting in the query. Bizarre.

Okay.Which one of you got here by googling:
no outfit is complete without dog hair pillow

And last but not least, someone from Israel got here by googling:
poopis
..of which there was a mention, true...but this got me searching to figure out if "poopis" actually translates to something in Hebrew or Yiddish (it appears it does not, but I don't know how to search for Hebrew slang, either. I might need to call grandma on this one).

ahhhhnold

I'm not a huge fan of our Governator, but check out what he did. He signed a bill regarding us peg-legs.

I think it's a good thing. But with Arnie, one can never can tell.
At least the ACA is behind it.

I haven't read the fine print yet, though.
(I detest fine print...and conversely adore those who do my homework)

it's a link-o-rama kind of day today

Scarred For Life
This morning, Karen-The-Lurker sent me a link to an article about Ted Meyer's "Scarred For Life" art showing.

I find this fascinating. As a result of my accident, I sustained either incidental or surgical scars on every single part of my body except my left arm.
Betchyall didn't know that ;-)
Anyhow, they all have their own personalities, and I have this one on my upper right arm that causes me alot of grief as it catches people's attention so often.

I've considerred tatooing around it or something to make it into something more artistic and lovely. It is fascinating to me to see someone take scars and make scars art OFF of the body, though. Neat.
----------------------------

Biscuits
If you need a laugh, do check out today's post at Cabin Cove.

Not sure why that blonde jab had to be in there though, the story is totally hilarious all its own.
----------------------------

MarvinSuicide
It was M-H aka The Witty Knitter that offered a link to a new knitting podcast called Purl Diving. My jury is still out on whether or not I like the podcast yet, but at the very least, I do owe her a deep bow of gratitude for pointing me to my new favorite music thing: MarvinSuicide.

It's a weekly 30 minute show full of podsafe/free music. The shows are quite different from one another (some electronic, some jazz, some quirky, etc etc)...so click around. You might like some episodes more than others. I really like almost everything I've heard, and it's got me checking out new artists. I've downloaded about 9 shows so far and even if I don't like something he plays, I haven't found anything I couldn't stand yet. But my tastes might run a bit different than yours (I'm an episode 81-83-85 kind of gal).

I'm not entirely sure his name is Marvin, so I have no idea what to call him....but my favorite thing about the show is the host's voice and some of the dry humor he dishes out. I need to find a way to send this guy a cyber whiskey with a beer back.
------------------------------------

Snarkland got me doing the quiz thing yesterday:

Your Famous Last Words Will Be:

"What we know is not much. What we don't know is enormous."

What Will Your Famous Last Words Be?

--------------------------------

That's all folks. It's a very busy week for me. I've got some sort of appointment or commitment every single friggin' day this week. In between stuff, I am knitting away, I have an FO to share (photos soon), and I'm also working on a big philosophical post about knitting and life and it will probably end up being some huge brain fart that will make no sense to anyone other than the author but whatever.

quirk

Cathartic Ink told me to go tag myself.
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Quirk-
noun 1. a peculiarity of action, behavior, or personality; mannerism (from dictionary.com)

6 of mine:

* If I am feeling poopy, there are a few comfort foods that will straighten me right up. One of these would be a warm bowl of Spaghettios with Meatballs. I know. Gross. Shut up. It somehow makes everything in my world allllllright. Don't spoil it.

* I have a very difficult time walking away from purchasing sets of serveware that are matching, but have some sort of variation. I'd almost categorize it as an obsession. Examples (and I have many):






* It would seem I am completely incapbable of taming junk mail clutter. No matter what "organizational strategy" I have tried to employ, stacks form. When the piles of mail begin to topple, they are relocated into bags. I hereby admit to having bags piled in a couple corners of my home. I'd like to just set a match to them, but unfortumately, very important documents are interspersed between sheets of pizza coupons. It's a dilemma. Save me.

* I will carefully wind my yarn into "center-pull" balls...and then when I knit with them, I don't pull from the center, I work from the outside.

* I have a very brown thumb. I have even killed a cactus.

* Unless I'm sleeping with TheMIG (or hostessing the occasional "bad dream" sleep-in with MyFK), the I'm sleeping with BunnyMan.