OMG, WOW!!!

Dilema solved, I finished the book. Just let me say that when.....and then.....and I ....... and well, it just floored me when..... Just read it yourself. Wonderful, Masterful, Incredible storytelling.

Harry Potter or Knitting?

It's Tuesday. I don't have to work tonight (({{( happy dance )}})). I've worked the last 3 and I'm off. Now the dilemma:

I've got a pair of Loksins, that I am knitting according to the instructions even though I prefer toe up and short row heel construction, out of STR Love in Idleness. I highly recommend this pattern. It is clear, and lovely. My yarn access drastically decreases when I work (like none at all, except may be a casual pet on my way out the door). I'm feeling the withdrawal. I need wool.

I am on chapter 15 of the new Harry Potter book. Fascinating reading. Wonderfully crafted. Again, greatly interrupted by what I have to do to support my hot water habit, and my wool habit, and that food thing. Oh, and then there's the whole roof issue. (as in needing one, makes the sleeping much more pleasurable). Hubby's almost done with it. This is the first time in our marriage that he has finished a book before me. My honor is tarnished!

Do I read, or knit? No I can't do both, I'm working a gusset with a patterned stitch. I can't even watch the Tour de France and knit this one.

By the way, stop on over to see Thomasina. She's got a great idea, perfectly executed I must add, for creating a sock with a lacy cuff that hides the ribbing to help keep it up. I've gotta try this!

Monkey, Monkey, Where for art thou Monkey?

Anyone know what happened to Yarn-Monkey? I've been checking her blog regularly for Sock Wars II signup info, and it seems her blog has been deleted. Any information greatly appreciated.

Lost in ACLS

It's been a while since I've posted. I've been trying to convince my job to let me come back. Not happening until the 21st. Since my medical leave was not caused by a work related injury (unless you count the strict diet of fried food that the night shift is on...), I cannot come back until I am fully released, including the ability to lift patients. Nevermind the 6 or so pregnant women on our floor, they can't lift either, and I know their medical conditions are not work related (if they are, we have other problems!).

In preparation for my return, I am studying for my ACLS recertification. They've changed the rules, and I now have to have it all memorized. Still working at it.

I've also started Yule gifts - teddy bears and stockings for the grandson and DH's nephew. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm impressed with the pattern so far. Bobbi Bear rocks!

My latest trip to the desert - and what I knit there

The only good thing to come out of gallbladder surgery is that when doctors decided my grandson needed to be birthed, I was able to be there. I'll spare you the horrid tale of getting there. Suffice it to say that if I have my way, I will NEVER fly again. Apparently, paying these people (airlines) your money does not mean they have to fulfill their end of the contract. (Read: I drove from Phoenix to Tucson, because they gave my seat away, because I was late, because their connecting flight was late)

This little boy was well worth the wait:

Meet Jacob Nathaniel, born June 19, just over 7 lbs, just over 20 inches, and full of love. He's a snuggler. I spent a week there, just holding him. Funny, I usually don't do babies. This one is different. When Em (his mother) was born, my mom told me that some people have a gene that makes babies smell good. I thought I had missed that gene, now I know I was just a late bloomer. (Yes, he's a little jaundiced, Em's milk came in and it's all better now)

Keeping with my vow not to fly, I took the train home. It meant I spent the night in LA. Fortunately, Sweeny and Carmella were happy to let me crash on their couch. On the train, I knit, and knit, and knit. It helped the empty spot left by this little boy.

Here's what I managed in the trip from Tucson to Chico:
Three pair of socks. Then I wound the last of my STR skeins, as it turns out I will be off for another three weeks. More knitting time!
I am, however, in danger of running out of sock yarn. I will have to remedy this situation, soon.

World meet BABY

The String Attack family wishes to announce the arrival of it's newest member: Jacob. He is a bundle of love. More to follow soon, if you can get me away from holding him.

Vicodin and knitting are mutually exclusive

I've been on a lot of Vicodin lately. Apparently, there was a wrestling match involved in the removal of my gallbladder - previous scar tissue got in the way. This means lingering pain of the unhappy sort. I tried driving yesterday - 4 whole miles!! That was it.

Back to the knitting. I can turn toes/heels on Vicodin. I cannot successfully execute involved sock patterns. Lace shawl is right out. The sweater I was prototyping went well until I three needle bound off two pieces - no real movement, must take that out (it's a surprise, I'll show you when it works).

I can knit soakers. So I am. By the way 3 cm, 70% effaced, and lost mucus plug. Any bets as to whether I can get there in time? Not contracting yet, but she's further along than I was with her.

Soakers it is. Are their butts really that small? Oh, I remember, small and cute.

I feel like I've been kicked in the belly by a horse

Surgery happened yesterday. The gallstones came out. Actually the whole darned gallbladder came out. Fortunately, Dr Wonderful was able to do the deed laparoscopically. Four little holes. Apparently it was still inflamed and the stones had to be broken up a bit prior to and during the 'wrestling match' that was the final removal from the body cavity. On the up side, it is out, and can eat fat again. That was the most satisfying PB&H I've ever had. There is something to be said for a doctor who will add you on to his list for sugery on the day he is to go on vacation, and wait patiently for the OR to open up (we started several hours late), and can still cheerfully tell you he got tired of waiting and went home to pick fruit before coming back to operate. I can't sing this man's praises enough.

Now on to the healing. 6 weeks of not being able to lift more than 20 lbs. No work. Consigned to knitting. Oh woe is me. At least I'll be able to take off for Tucson if the Girl decides to pop. No holding legs, no laundry. Just sitting in the corner holding my grandson. I can hardly wait.

The Boy Graduates

Last week was spent making our way to graduation. Bear won't fly, so we drove, 2200 miles roundtrip.

We started in LA. I was going to take sock pictures, but I was afraid the smog would affect them. Our friend Frodo and Bilbo have a gorgeous house that is a little slice of heaven, complete with overproductive peach tree and waterfall/pond with koi. Heaven I tell you. Two days of relaxation, conversation, fun and yarn crawl. There is just something about having a non-knitting friend that will drive you to yarn shops because it's what you like to do. We also went to the fashion institute's student store, where I scored a bunch of bobbin lace and a cone of lace weight yarn. Hideous color, unknown composition, but perfect for that design project you're not sure is going to work and you don't want to ruin good yarn on.

Then it was off to Tucson, to see the Boy graduate. The relationship to the kids is complicated. I gave birth, but my mom adopted and raised them. I'm more like a sister to them and act accordingly. As previously discussed, I am to be a grandmother. It's official. I'll be called Mimi sometime in the next 4-6 weeks. Here's the proof:

We got to meet the Girlfriend of the Boy. She is sweet, intelligent, driven and knows what she wants to do. She even sticks up for the Girl when the Boy is being mean to her (as brothers often are). We also attended graduation. Boy submitted more out of self-preservation than desire to actually walk. He doesn't see the need. He could just show up at the office the next morning and pick up that stupid piece of paper. My mom wouldn't have it. So he walked.
The cheesy grin says it all. He leaves June 11 for the Marines. We wish him all the best.

After we left Tucson, we decided to go to Vegas for a honeymoon. On the way was the Hoover Dam.
Other photos were taken for color purposes, I see some hand-dyed sock yarn coming. The colors of the mountains were breathtaking.

On to Vegas, where we stayed at the Luxor, in a pyramid spa suite. There is something decadent about a hot tub in the room that overlooks the strip with one-way glass windows. Massges at the spa there, Nurture, we wonderful and much needed. Cirque show 'O' was fabulous, though devoid of the actual story which I've come to expect from Cirque d'Soleil. And the seats were to small. Other than that and the smoke, it was wonderful. At least now we can say we've done Vegas. In the future, if I want to see Cirque, I think we'll go to the City to do it.

The unwilling vegetarian

The trip went well. More on that later. First we must discuss the unwilling vegetarian - Me!

On the way home I developed my first (and hopefully, last) gallstone attack. If you have never experienced this, it is pain unlike anyother. Worse than childbirth, even. Breath sapping, unwilling to move, unable to sit still, piercing through to your back pain. I endured this for six hours in a car on the way home (at the time hubby claimed it was my way of getting out of driving, he has since appologetically recanted).

Upon arriving home, it had calmed a bit, enough so that I believed that this was merely constipation or something. The nurse in me had indeed already palpated Murphy's point, but we were ignoring her for the time being. I woke several hours later starving, and had peanut butter toast. Bad choice. This lead to a trip to prompt care, who scheduled an ultrasound and gave me drugs and instructions for a low fat diet. The next morning I had the ultrasound - gallstones- and went home. There I had the last of my chicken pizza (no cheese) and commence the pain cycle once again. When the chills/rigors began I went to the ER. They rehydrated me, suggested surgery (non-emergent - apparently pain doesn't qualify as life threatening) and a no fat diet. Here is the dilemma: no fat. What follows is a partial list of what I cannot have:
bread
meat
tortillas,
chips
patries
chocolate
gravies, sauces
pasta
ice cream
cookies
peanut butter
salad dressing
oil
butter
eggs

Any other suggestions? Any ideas about what I can eat? I've got salad with beans, no dressing; fruit; rice cakes; malt-o-meal/oatmeal.

This is boring folks. I need help in a big bad way. Don't get me started on finding a surgeon - that seems to take an act of God.

Knitting at the Movies, and other things (Mimm, this is for you)

We saw Spiderman 3 last night. Good enough flick. Poor knitting choice. I knit through movies at home all the time. Apparently k2,p2 rib is far more challenging than I realized, especially in the dark. Is it a sign of a problem that I took off for a few minutes (missing a plot important fight), not to use the loo, but to correct the dropped stitches in my sock? Priorities, it's all about the priorities.

Furitive cleaning is occurring here in Snuzzleheim. The trip is upon us, and our cat sitter is coming over tomorrow night. I'm almost finished with her socks. One leg and cuff, then to knit a matching sock-shaped sachet from the leftovers, and I'm done. I'm working on my choice of projects for the trip. I've got it narrowed down to two pairs of socks (must make copies of patterns) and this:

Lady Eleanor for Madam Mimm, in the colors she chose.

And this is for Mistress Hollywood.

Let the packing begin!!!

Hogwarts Express

My pal got her package. She described it much better than I could. You can see it on her blog. The socks were a modified Jaywalker (I decreased the number of stockinette stitches per repeat) in a hand-dyed Knitpicks Gloss. I used Saphire Blue, Chestnut and Silver. The stitch markers were small skeins of the sock yarn (and I mean tiny). She asked for Lantern Moon needles, and my LYS happened to have them in stock, how lucky! I also included a skein of STR for her to try. You know how it is, the first one's free. I'm such a enabler. I think everyone should try BMFA. Then I had some fun - wool wash, emergency hand repair kit (Burt's Bees), needlework scissors, and CHOCOLATE. All in all, I think she enjoyed it. Wonder what she's going to make with the sock yarn.

On the home front, we leave in just over 10 days to make a whirlwind tour of the southwest. Actually, we're going to Tucson for the boy's graduation. Chico to LA, LA to Tucson, Tucson to Vegas, Vegas home. A friend from work will be stopping in to check on the fuzzy mistress of the house. I'm knitting her a pair of socks as payment, she picked the yarn, and I'm designing the pattern. We were talking about it the other night, so I could design a pair she'd really enjoy. The conversation went something like 'So are you a plain or ribbed sort of gal'. One of the guys actually blushed (I know where his mind was), so I explained what I was working on. He says I'm getting off easy on paying my housesitter. Easy. Hmmmm. Yes, I did explain how long a pair of socks takes to knit. He immediately reversed his position on the subject. Easy, no. Fun, Yes.

40 Years, where did they all go?

Yep, you read correctly, 40 years. Today is in fact my 40th birthday. What will I be doing? Knitting in the comfort of my own home? Being wined and dined by my hubby? Nope. I'll be going to work tonight, which means I will be sleeping all day. I've baked 3 dozen cupcakes, which are cooling, and will be iced before I go to bed. Sugar up the nurses, it's how we live on the dark side.

I found this quiz over at M's Musings, and i've got to see what comes up.

1. Go to Wikipedia and enter your birthday without the year:
May 4

2. List 3 events that occurred that day:

1415 - Religious reformers John Wycliffe and Jan Hus were condemned as heretics at the Council of Constance.
1471 - Wars of the Roses: The Battle of Tewkesbury – Edward IV defeats a Lancastrian Army and kills Edward, Prince of Wales.
1930 - British police arrest Mahatma Gandhi and place him in Yeravda Central Prison.

3. List 2 important birthdays.

1852 - Alice Pleasance Liddell, English schoolgirl model for Alice in Wonderland (d. 1934)

1008 - King Henry I of France (d. 1060)

4. List 1 death:

• 1970 - Kent State victims:
  • Allison Krause (b. 1951)
  • Jeffrey Miller (b. 1950)
  • Sandra Scheuer (b. 1949)
  • William Schroeder (b. 1950)

5 List one holiday or observance
International No Pants Day

I married a BOY

Yes, this was apparent before the honeymoon. Proper equipment and all. But sometimes I get reminded that he is indeed a boy. Like this week...

Me (after my meeting, before going to bed): Did you eat?
Him: Yeah, I ate the last of the ham.
Me: The stuff I bought 5 days ago?
Him: Yeah, but it tasted like butter. (confused tone)
Me: Well, of course it did. It's 5 days old. My rule is 3 days in the fridge, just 3 days. (giggling)
Him: That explains the upset stomach.
Me: You did it again, didn't you? Food poisoning. (tittering)
Him: Well, I ran out last weekend, so I rationed it this time.
Me: I bought extra because you ran out. (laughing)
Him: Well, that explains why it lasted so long.

This is not the first time, nor will it be the last. Twenty-four hours of tummy funk, followed by another 24-48 of random gas clouds. As a nurse I should be a bit more compassionate. But that's hard to do when your married to someone who does this not once, not twice, but at least annually.

I definitely married a boy.

Sigh...

This is the foot,



For which the yarn was bought (Knitpicks Gloss in Dusk)


To knit the sock (Almost Argyle)



This is the foot that the sock fit (the colorful one - smartly dressed in Horcrux socks out of STR Fire on the Mountain)


That were to be frogged and wound by hand using my nostepinne,



Until I remembered the 'Auto-Frogger' recently purchased


To produce this ball of yarn, ready to be knit again.

Cry with me people, that sock represents a vacation's work and dedication. Good thing I'm a process knitter. Of course, this means war - or at least starting with a different pair of socks in a different yarn.

Sigh.

It's been a long weekend

Friday, my Waterlilies yarn showed up. What pretty colors!!! I'd post a picture, but my camera and I aren't exactly speaking right now. I found my package when I woke up with a fever. Bad enough to make my muscles ache from rigors. Needless to say, I called in sick to work. Night shift on the cardiac floor on the weekend is always hard to fill. But I was definitely sick.

Presently, I am knitting two pairs of socks. First is my socks out of Nodding Violets from STR. The second is my husbands Horcrux socks out of Chapman Springs from STR. Tooo loud for me, perfect for him!

I'm working on my package for my Hogwart's pal. The yarn and dye should arrive tomorrow, then I get to color my fingers before I can knit. Now to just pick a pattern....

Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionnaire

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into?
Ravenclaw
2. Shoe size?
7-1/2 US
3. Foot Length?
9-1/4 inches
4. Foot Circumference?
9 inches
5. List your three favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length.
a.Clover #1 short
b. Britanny #1 short
c. Knitpicks classics #0 (okay, not circular, but what I adore)
6. Would you like to try a new brand needle? If so, which brand? Size? Length?

I would like to find a wooden set of size 0's shorter is better (I have small fat paws and large breastie-beasties)

7. If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book? Do you have a strong preference?

Book colors, please, although film colors would not be amiss.

8. Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal?

Yes

I've been busy lately

First I finished Little Bunny Doom-Doom (socks knit with the International Sock of Doom Pattern in BMFA Little Bunny Foo-Foo)



I finished my February RSC pattern, although I did it in Titania instead of Monsoon. Unfortuantely, they fit my hubby. He loves them!


I will do this pattern again, but I will resize it to fit me. How do people manage to get 8st/in?

I knit a pair of Embossed Leaf Socks (again reengineered) in BMFA Puck's Mischeif.


And I finished the baby blanket for the impending grandson, Jacob Nathaniel, who is due to make his appearance sometime in June.



I also sent his mother a Baby Viking Hat (we are of Nordic heritage, afterall)



I've also had two cortisone injections in my toes for Morton's neuroma. I do not reccommend this. Not at all happy.

Knitting Rules!!

DIY Network, April 17, 2pm, Knitty Gritty - Knitting Rules!! with our favorite Yarn Harlot. Be there. I will be.