Madman*

Lately, I've been seaming.  Lots and lots of seaming.  I don't mind seaming - it is fairly mindless work, all things considered, and goes fairly quickly.  Much faster than knitting, at least.  I did finish season 6 of The West Wing, though, so I'm now waiting for the final season to arrive in the mailbox.



Somehow, I managed to sprain/strain my ankle while sitting on a horse.  As a result, I had to take the last week off from running.  I'm afraid to go run tomorrow - afraid of how much I'll have lost in a week, afraid how much effort it will take to re-build this habit, to get back to the point where I don't have to talk myself into heading out, where I'm not counting the seconds until the damned run is over.  It would be much easier to remain at home, curl up on the couch with a cat or two and a book.

Of course, the past week's lack of running seems to have screwed with the sleep cycle I finally had managed to wrestle into some sort of submission.  Since I wasn't heading out in the early evenings, I was falling asleep on the couch, waking up in time to do night check and realize that I wasn't going to get more than 5 hours of sleep before the alarm in the morning.



I have a lot of socks on the needles at the moment.  That makes me happy.  However, I've been reading a lot more lately, and I've never found a good way to read a novel and knit.  Textbooks, sure, as they tend to hold themselves open and have more text per page, requiring fewer pauses to turn the page.



The kitten has not messed with the Once Missing Sock since I spend a few hours untangling it.  I'm tempted to put it in one of the failed hiding spots, to see if I can tempt him.  I'm not quite sure I'm ok with the idea of him growing up and no longer messing with stuff.  After all, I still call him the kitten, even if he did have the nerve to grow up and become a fairly decent-sized monster, though still under 10lbs.



He fell asleep on me the other day, curled up with his head resting on my shoulder as I myself was curled up on the couch.  I glanced down and disrupted his peaceful slumber by bursting into laughter as he was sound asleep with his mouth hanging open.  I'll admit to being happy that he doesn't snore.



I have a black light for various reasons, most of them being cause it is fun to play with from time to time.  I used it the other day after taking a shower and discovered a number of spots on my arms and hands that were glowing bright yellow.  Upon reflection, I realized that those spots were where some doxy had fallen after I attempted to squirt the powder contained in some 50 50mg capsules, mixed with water, down a horse's throat.  Still, that's a bit scary - that those spots would glow hours past a shower.



*Charlotte Martin

If I Had More Time*

Last summer, I attended the wedding of a CPaAGer.  Some time in June, I think.  Shortly after the wedding, I put a sock-in-progress in a Very Safe Place, as the kitten had been finding it in the various hiding spots.  Hiding spots such as on top of the fridge (he's not supposed to be up there..) and behind the microwave (he's not supposed to be on the kitchen counters.)

Evidently, it truly was a Very Safe Place, as I have since looked in places such as the bread machine, the freezer, all kitchen cabinets, all closets, the oven, etc.  No dice.



Wednesday, I was cleaning and dusting and vacuuming and filing and other boring, adult like things that I should probably do a bit more often, and found the sock-in-progress.  In a lunch box.

Incidentally, that lunch box was borrowed from a friend and used to transport some freshly fallen snow to TheUrmily during THON our senior year when she danced and was upset that she couldn't see the fresh snow.  I have no idea who lent me the lunch box, no one has claimed it, and uh... that was three years ago.  I guess they don't need it back any time soon.

Anyway, that sock was supposed to be a finished ahead of time giftmoose gift for my sister.  (She got wristwarmers instead.  She was very happy with them.)  Wednesday was her birthday.  Odd, that.



I started an eye of partridge heel and ... yeah, I hate heel flaps.  I really do.  I ought to spend more time with Cat Bordhi's books and memorize the various different ways to knit heels on cuff-down socks.  Or just continue to be happy with my short-row heels.

In other knitting news:  Finished dad's first sock.  Had enough yarn AND it fits him.  (he did ask if I could make the leg longer.  I flat-out refused.)  Happily for me, the sock ALSO fits HWIA, so that will make it a bit easier to knit socks for him, as I'll have some idea of the insane number of stitches needed.



The kitten is lucky I love him because I ended up spending more than 2.5 hours on Wednesday evening untangling the yarn of my sister's sock.  I ended up cutting the yarn and just winding little balls from each end of the original ball of yarn.  I put them on Sharpies and would work a bit on one end and then slip the yarn under the clip of the cap when I went to work on the other end.  Worked very well.

*Tarkio

Brainy*

My father has very large feet.  At least, compared to the people for whom I normally knit socks, he has large feet.  Plus, he has trouble bending over to REACH his feet, meaning all of his current socks (none handknit, thankfully) are all stretched out and resemble tube socks.



I feel like I've been knitting socks for him for ever and ever and ever and ever, but it can't have been that long.  Ravelry tells me I started January 6th and I'm on the toe of the first sock.  I texted my mother - there is something so very weird about that statement - to ask the length of dad's feet, in inches.  I have decided not to think about the fact that she had an answer for me in under two minutes.  If nothing else, I knew that dad was nearby to offer up a foot for measurement.



I'm a bit concerned, though, as I am only a quarter of the way through the toe, and ... well, see?



6 grams.  I do have two extra skeins of yarn, if needed, but HWIA also requested socks and he also has large feet (oh, be quite, 12 year old male who lives in my head).  He approved of this yarn and I was kinda hoping to make socks for him with the same yarn.  Because that wouldn't be weird at all.

Also? I don't recommend pulling a sock on for a photo shoot and then suddenly realizing that you didn't put the memory card in the camera.  And then hobbling over to get the card and hobbling back.  At least, not if you love to knit socks on DPNs.

Much better to just get the card in the first place OR remove the sock while retrieving the card.

*The National

King of Anything

I have been having a lot of fun with a photo app lately. It is making me wonder if there's a pin-hole camera app out there yet.



I've also been trying to run again. Motivation is difficult to come by, after a day at the barn. But I've been borrowing my neighbor's dog and my best friend's husband and between the two, I manage to get out at least twice a week, if not three times. I hate running during a run, but I love it afterwards. My shins continue to hate me afterwards, but I think they'll eventually shut up.



I've been knitting more. It is weird to realize that I keep thinking I need to watch more tv, but that means more knitting time. I left the tv on the other night when I went to do night check and when I came back inside and open the door, I froze for a second at the sound of voices upstairs.



Rumor has it that we're in spring. I'm not convinced, given the number of days I've spent cold. But things are blooming and the world looks pretty again. Plus, it keeps raining rather than snowing, so there's that.

Random thought: how many people actually scrub their ears when they bathe? I remember reading about mothers nagging their children to scrub their ears (and behind their ears) when they took their weekly bath... but I don't know if I have ever actually scrubbed behind my ears.

I'll have to start doing so lest I feel dirty.

Lit Up

Dear horses,

You're turned out during the day so you can be supervised. As a result, I'd suggest NOT doing anything stupid as I am then forced to bring you in and shove you back in your stall. If you want to be out, then be sensible. Also? Stop growing so much hair. I'm starting to get really worried about how nasty this winter is going to be, based on how hairy you all are.

resigned,

the bringer of nomms, wrangler of hoses, and mover of horses.

Dear body,

Yes, I know - winter is coming. But please to be ignoring that little fact and stop with the random aches and pains that seem to serve no more point than to tell me that it is raining. Or below 40. I already know that and don't need a reminder. When you can predict weather rather than just telling me the obvious, I'll reconsider.

yours with ibuprofen,

me.

Dear cats,

You have water. And food. Drink that and eat that, rather than licking the bottom of the bath tub. And yelling at me every time I move towards the kitchen. Guess what - the kitchen is in the center of the apartment. 50% of my movements are thus towards the kitchen and yet, not destined for the kitchen.

love,

the one who cleans the litter boxes.

Dear sock that went missing,

Please come back. I promise to pet you and love you and I have even found the missing DPN to make sure that my gauge will be spot-on. It is hard to give you the attention you deserve when you are in hiding.

love,

the one who needs to finish up Christmas knitting.

Dear apartment,

Please clean yourself. Or at least, spit out all the hay and straw. That's half the cleaning battle. I doubt that the cats can be persuaded to stop shedding, so we're just going to have to deal with that.

love,

the one who lives here.

Gotta Stay Postive

I evidently very much fail at this whole "keeping a blog" thing. I think I'm supposed to actually post on a regular basis. Much like I'm supposed to actually water my plants. Instead, I seem to carrying out a not-very-well-regulated experiment on how many times one can bring basil back from the brink of death.

Life ... continues. I work, I eat, I shower, I knit, I read, I waste hours online, I go to bed way too late. Lather, rinse, repeat. (How many people actually do repeat?)

I have two scratches caused by a cat chasing another cat.

I am evidently a grown-up in that I want a vacuum cleaner attachment for my birthday.

I have now played laser tag while wearing a suit twice. Some of my friends are crazy enough to not only indulge me with such hair-brained ideas, but to do so twice. And to eat dinner at strange places such as a pub located inside a grocery store. In suits.

My family spends way too much time at IKEA. I realized this when a few of us randomly decided to go tonight ... and ran into two more. Either that, or we're all part of a hive mind and should start to wear tin-foil hats.

My best friend is getting married in October. I am maid of honor. This means that one: YAY! Wedding! and that two: I have to plan a bridal shower and a bachelorette party. I think I have a better handle on the bachelorette party. Alcohol, a penis-shaped object or five, make t-shirts before heading out. Bridal shower, however, will require invitations and a location and a date and and and. Blargh. I'd say good thing I love her, but she's helped me move many, many times. Even helped me get a couch stuck halfway in and halfway out of my apartment. (And thankfully, unstuck once we sawed off 1/2" of a corner...) I guess I owe her. And hey, excuse to wear a awesome dress! And maybe even some pearls.

I need to start taking pictures again.

a comparison

in the snow.


in the rain.


Not the exact same view, but the same trees and fence line are obscured by shit falling from the sky.


I almost like the snow better, as it didn't leave me without power (and a cold beer) for 30 hours.

Silver Linings?

I've developed great reaction speeds to hearing the kitten throwing up. As this happens on a very regular basis, I've had lots of chances to hone my reaction time.

So has the kitten.

The good news? Chasing him around the apartment tends to prevent him from throwing up. Or, I manage to catch him in time to get him over a tile surface.

Don't Rain On My Parade

Dear horses, Why do you all seem to drink more water when it is raining out? Does the sound of rain makes you thirsty? in wonderment, the bringer of noms, wrangler of hoses, and shoveler of poop. Dear CCLS, Requiring my full name, library card number, AND a PIN just pisses me off. Mostly because the odds of me actually remembering the entirety of my library card number are slim-to-none and since you require three fields, my web browser doesn't recognize the info as a password and thus, won't save it. Also, renting out DVDs disc by disc and NOT specifying VERY CLEARLY in the online catalog which disc is which is just cruel. And I used to wonder why I never make time to go to the library... a MLS graduate who greatly dislikes your system. Dear body, Get with the program. These random aches and pains? I'm going to ignore them until I can't, and then I just throw ibuprofen at them anyway. Don't you like your daily vitamin? And all the water I've been managing to drink? Oh, you just want warm weather again. I'll see what I can do about that. the person who has no say in this matter, evidently. Dear cats, When you jump up on the bathroom sink and yell at me, I assume you want a drink. If you want something else, such as attention or love, don't demand it on the bathroom sink. You and I speak different languages and I'm doing my best here. Oh, and kitten? Stop sneaking into my purse to fish out the ball of yarn. the person who knows full well that she's not actually in charge. Dear weather, I'm tired of having to change my underwear and pants multiple times a day. Please to be stopping with the multiple-day rain storms, mkay? Also, isn't it spring? Shouldn't there be a few awesome days of great weather? the person who is tired of wearing a load of laundry a day. 

On that first night

There is a lot of snow on the ground. Too much snow. Way, way too much snow when you have to shovel it and plow it and there is no where for it to go. Good news is that it is already melting. Bad news is that those puddles are currently frozen. I am refusing to take bets as to how many times I fall tomorrow morning though.

Pictures: