the yarn is taking over

I'm usually pretty good about separating need from want.

Usually.

My urge to nest, however, does not seem appeased with these:



or this:



Despite the fact that I have approximately four billion skeins of sock yarn and enough yarn to knit at least four sweaters, (See: here and here and here) I just keep shopping. My new trick is to visit the various online shops, fill up a shopping cart, and then walk away from the computer before hitting "Check Out."

Yes, I hear you there, in the back, being all rational. I'm aware this is borderline losing one's grip on reality  erratic unhealthy behaviour. However, from now until exams are over, (December 11, 12, 15, and 20th -- all 3-hour, 100% finals thankyouverymuch) I'm adopting a "whatever works" approach, damn the consequences! Talk to me about counselling options after Christmas.

In Christmas knitting news, I officially have all but one make that two (small) projects complete. I won't say the words, because they are an invitation to calamity, but you know what I'm thinking.

Time for this law nerd to be getting back to nerding. More pics when hell freezes over the schedule eases up the studying gets to me again.

Muah!

a pickle

Normally, I like pickles, but this one...this one is of the metaphorical variety.

(Rather than my preferred polski ogorki variety.)

It seems that a work-friend who I confided in, thinking she was doing a good thing, outed my uncomfortable feelings to the person who made me feel that way before I was ready to have a conversation with that person about it.

I know that she was trying to help. I know she meant well. But I wasn't ready to confront it yet, and I'm a big girl; I fight my own battles, and I would've gotten there in good time. I just...hadn't quite digested yet.

So now I don't know what to do, because I feel like I can't talk to her about stuff anymore, and I so want to, but at the same time, if I ask her about it, (in the hope of sorting it out and assuring myself that if it was her that said something, she won't do it again, since she now has a better understanding of my process) that may make it seem like even more of a big deal at work when it's already been blown way out of proportion.

Office politics are the devil's handiwork.

I am a say-what-you-mean-and-mean-what-you-say kind of girl. I like my truth the way I like my gin: straight-up, and perhaps a bit sloppy. (I do love a dirty martini -- look it up, it's a real term, I swear!)

Now I just want to keep my head down, my mouth shut, and get through the shift without saying anything to anybody for fear of how and when it will come back to me.

If anybody has any constructive thoughts on the situation, I'd love to hear 'em.

I'm off to brood some more.

my new year's resolution is to grow more hands

I will not buy sock yarn.
I will not buy sock yarn.
I will not buy sock yarn.
I will not buy sock yarn.
I will not buy sock yarn.
I will not buy sock yarn.
I will not buy sock yarn.
I will not buy sock yarn.
I will not buy sock yarn.
I will not buy sock yarn.

(So, I caved the other day during a trip to Blue Moon. I bought this and this and this. I am a naughty, naughty knit-whore.)

I will not buy sock yarn.
I will not buy sock yarn.
I will not buy sock yarn.

the art of restraint

Despite my recently ever-present and aching urge to knitknitKNIT lately, and logically to buybuybuy things like this or this, or maybe this, I have remained strong. I have resisted. the. urge. Just barely.

I've developed a few techniques to help me with this. They are:

1. remind myself how similar the desired yarn is to something already in the stash


2. try to fit the entire stash in the designated containers all at the same time


3. make a list of all the projects left to knit

When all of those fail, I simply check out my (empty) bank account.

When I start calculating how many hours I have to work to buy X, Y, or Z, I write lines.

I will not buy yarn.
I will not buy yarn.
I will not buy yarn.

I (sob) will not (sob) buy (sob) yaaaaaarn....

Somebody take away my internet privileges.

It's for my own good, really.

the postman's girl

The UPS driver looked slightly perturbed about my vaguely lecherous expression when he handed me the electronic do-dad to sign for my package. How could he know that what awaited me inside was this?:



I. Heart. This. Bag.

Yes, it is just like my brown one. Only red. Which is of course better. Everything is better in red as far as I'm concerned. This bag is my Mary Poppins bag. It just keeps going and going and going...everything fits in it! It's a good thing I'm in law school, man. I have expensive taste.

This weekend I got called into the ballet school. I'm a house mommy (the technical term is "residence life counsellor") on a relief basis there. I quite like it because I get to spend some time with young souls who are at the point where they're capable of fairly adult reasoning. (the pay doesn't suck either) This weekend however, was quite challenging. There were some big attitudes and some inappropriate words thrown about. Groundings were issued. The scaryquietangry voice was called into service.

I always wondered what I would do if they ever acted up on my shift. Now I know.

In knitting news, I have successfully completed about four zillion hats to date. Today I met 3-year-old Astrid and her father with a strawberry hat. Her gorgeous blond curls and big, round blue eyes under that red hat were possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen. I love this business.

Additionally, yesterday I managed to knit half of my boss' Christmas present twice. Now, the uninformed reader might think that her present was complete, but they would be mistaken! Nono. I knit the first half...twice. Despite my most diligent swatching, my gauge was way off the first time. Given that I don't think my boss will be gaining any weight around her ankles in the near future, I had no choice.

Soon, I will be allowed to knit something for myself. (woo hoo!)

In furry news, everybody is safe and sound and the place has been death-attempt-free for just over a month now. The back-home kitty has also proved to be cancer-free, so happy days are these!

I am still perpetually amazed at the power of positive thought and intention. There truly is nothing that I cannot be or do or have. The power scares me a little.

So, on that note, I have a few knitting projects that I'm looking for some help on:

1. a friend has a thing for birds. I would like to make her socks for a "winter holidays gift." Any thoughts out there in the blogosphere?


2. I have heard read many stories regarding the notoriously difficult-to-attain ideal fit for the Loop-D-Loop Lace Leaf Pullover. Anybody got any instructions, tips, or other helpful comments?


3. where can I find a relatively inexpensive, used spinning wheel for learning on? I check craigslist, ebay and the newspaper regularly, but shipping from the USA is simply too expensive in most cases. Alternatively, if anyone y'all know is looking to re-home their neglected wheel, I'm your girl! I will love it and cherish it and take very good care of it.
   

Thanks in advance to all those who read and respond. Feel free to drop me a line just to sympathize!

Now I'm off to eat chili and cornbread and cake and wine at family dinner with G and E.

Later days...