the last time I did this....

...was when I had two legs.






I was pleased to find out that the local bowling alley has a ramp at one end of the lanes and that they allow wheelchairs. Good news for me, because I'd been trying to imagine bowling on crutches, and I just couldn't see it happening without my ending up flat on my ass (my balance is fantastic, but my right arm is also a bit jacked up from the car accident).

I tried blowing from a seated position in the wheelchair, but felt like I was swinging out too far to clear the wheel and getting a curve on the ball that I couldn't seem to compensate for. I'm certain with practice that it can be done, but since I have one working leg, I decided to try it standing up. I'd roll up to the line, stand up, and pivot the wheelchair facing away from me at a 90-degree angle. Basically my left hip was between the two handles meant for someone to be able to push me (except I rarely get pushed---I used those to hang my purse! LOL). In this configuration I was able to hold onto the handle of the chair with my left hand, and still be able to lean my hip to the left a bit where the soft fabric back of the chair was, and then off she goes!

I had so much Fun! I didn't get a very high score, but it wasn't because I'm a gimp now. I sucked as a bowler when I had two legs, so no surprises there ;-)

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photo credit: TheMostImportantGuy

Ya' know, I wouldn't even bother reading this post. I'd just go back and read each other's comments to the last post. You all are far more entertaining than I am! Thank you ALL for your replies. They were awesome! (special shout out to one of you at the end, though)

While I was pondering what to do about the shawl, I just went ahead and banged out an entirely different project...

Netherfield Mara
Ravelry project page * pattern * amazingly beautiful yarn
started Aug 24, complete Aug 31

....and since I rarely flash my mug here, I'll toss this one in for shits and giggles:

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Other fiber-y things I tinkered with while pondering the shawl:

Daily spinning on the wheel in an attempt to achieve sock yarn.

By jove, I think she's got it!
(maybe)
(let's wait until I ply and knit a sample though)


I also started a pair of socks.

This is a "Mystery Knit Along", where only a portion of the pattern is being released weekly during the month of September. Nobody knitting knows what the final product will look like, but we're all knitting it in some form of yellow. The reason I took up this Knit-Along is because the designer, Nancy Bush, is one of the teachers on the retreat I am attending next month. I'm so excited about going I can hardly wait, so I figured a fun way to pass the time would be to knit something she designed.

So far the pattern has been pretty great because I've learned two new techniques...an Estonian Cast-On, and a vikkel braid (that lateral braid right next to the needles there. Total coolness. I love it so much that I might just be tossing random vikkel braids onto every single thing I knit from this day forward).

One other fiber related thing I did this past week (while I was avoiding fixing the shawl), was to fix another project that I've had sitting idle.

Pretty cute sweater, eh? Yah? Well it also had a boo-boo, and it was smack dab in the middle of the back of the sweater. I didn't notice the mistake sooner because I swear to you that you could not see the mistake from the outside. I only saw it when I was trying on the sweater for fit and saw it on the inside of the sweater. Of course, like my other projects, once I saw the mistake, I set it aside until I could work up the gumption to fix it.

*sigh*

For the record, I do know how to drop down and fix a mistake.


I just don't always have a block of time long enough to actually sit down and do it. I even know how to drop down through a mess of lace. I had to do that on the corner section on the border of Desdemona, and that even had lace action every row. I just don't enjoy dropping down along the edge of lace project where all the YO's and dec's line up (that would be a row of holes and angles, for the muggles out there). It's do-able, but it's a big fat drag.

Anyhow, the verdict on the shawl is that I am going to take it off the needles, rip back several rows, get it back on the needles, and resume. I just need an hour with a flat surface and no interuptions to get that done, and I can't seem to find that time.

Ok, I can't seem to MAKE that time.
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Now I don't mean to exclude anyone out there, because as I said, ALL the comments were great, and they ALL made me think and/or were quite supportive of me and my knitting struggles. But I DO need to give a special shout out to Jodi, though.

See, the question at hand was not so much about if I should fix it, or if I could fix it, or even how I should fix it, but it was about how fixing it or not fixing it was overlapping with lessons from my spiritual life. Two conflicting lessons, and lessons that I am only barely muddling my way through.

My spiritual practice is based in Buddhism, by the way....and I spend much time "exercising" on the "path of comapssion".

So Jodi writes:
"....fix it just to spare your friends and loved ones having to endure you pointing out each and every flaw."

I read that and totally cracked up laughing.

So, yah. I am going to fix the shawl. Not for me. But so that I spare y'all from having to listen to me.
One very compassionate act ;-)