Japanese Feather & Fan Shawl

I finished my Japanese Feather and Fan Shawl, designed by Izzy.
Domo Arigato Izzy for a great pattern!!
I need to block it and it will be presented to the recipient.


Project Notes:
Started 7/11/08 Finished 7/27/08
Yarn: Regia Silk #002 soft white colorway I used 3 1/2 50g/200m balls
Needles: Knit Picks Harmony 4mm/US Size 6

The pattern charts only show the right side of the shawl, you knit the charts in reverse on the left side (changing K2TOGs to SSKs, etc.)
Chart 3: Row 75 there are 3 repeats. Row 89 there are 4 repeats. The charts don't show the new repeats.
Chart 4: Rows 109, 111, 113 there are SSKs missing before the Purl stitches.



I love the fit and drape of the shawl. I would like to make this pattern again.

Clearing the Decks

I am almost done with the Japanese Feather and Fan Shawl. I have 30 rows left on the fourth and final chart. I love this pattern. It did not come with instructions and the third chart is missing a repeat section. There are several Ravelers that made the shawl and they were able to clarify the confusing sections for me. Izzy got me started in the right direction and they kept me going. I want to finish this shawl before the UFOlympics begins. I would also like to put the border on my Adamas Shawl. That would be two lace projects completed - whohoo.

I just finished listening to two really good audiobooks, Broken Window by Jeffrey Deaver and The Disappeared by Kristine Rusch. I still have two parts to listen to of The Eight by Katherine Neville, unfortunately the reader's style gets on my nerves after about 30 minutes. Especially when she is doing the main character. I probably should have just reread the paperback!

I have a new favorite tool - Pattern Tamers !!! They rock. The Etsy shop is out of stock right now but there are several online sources. Just Google it. I bought mine from the Loopy Ewe.

Mending and Knitting

My hand is healing well. The scarring is minimal. The carpal tunnel incision area is still sensitive. I cannot turn a door knob or a key, or use the blow dryer - but everything else is doable. The thumb where the tumor was removed is completely normal looking and I have not had any problems.

So . . . I am knitting my needles off!!! I have completed 16 repeats of the Adamas shawl. I could start the border and finish it off. But, I am using a cone of Zephyr Main Line 2/8 so I want to use as much of the yarn as possible. I think I can do at least 18, maybe even 20 repeats before I start the border.

While catching up on the Ravelry Forums I discovered a wonderful little shawl by Izzy, called the Japanese Feather and Fan Shawl.

I could not resist. I cast on when I got home Friday night and I am almost done with the second chart. It is a great pattern. I am making it for Pam. She has given me some wonderful hand made jewelry and I had promised her a trinket chair. But the turning of the arms of the trinket chair became too painful so I never made one for her. The Japanese Feather and Fan shawl is very pretty and I thought of her immediately, I think she will like it.



My Sister and I had another day out together. It was so nice. The weather was perfect, we found everything on our lists. We had Barnes and Noble's coupons and gift cards to spend - just a really lovely day. Our B&N Cafe Barista made the perfect Mocha for her and the perfect Caramel Machiatto for me. Then we went out to brunch and gossiped. We also celebrated, she just got a new job and will be working in San Francisco. This will be the first time we worked in the same city since we worked for Dun & Bradstreet in the 70's. I gave her my iPod mini for her commute. She has always worked where she could drive to work - but that's not convenient in the SF Financial District so she will be taking BART. The tunnel under the Bay Bridge alone calls for some kind of noise abatement. So I gave her my mini. I love "toys" and since I use my iPod Touch now the mini had been abandoned in a drawer.

I bought several Interweave Press Hurt Books and I cannot wait for them to come. I know it was only about three weeks, but it seems like I was cut off from knitting forever. Now I cannot get enough. I even pulled out my mystery sock bags that I need to complete for the 52 Pair Plunge. Oh my, when I look at my sock wip pictures on my sock blog I blush. I have not finished a pair of socks since MARCH. I might have to look at a pattern when I pick up the gusset on my next pair 8} I registered for the Sea Socks Cruise 2009 today. My Mom and I have been planning a trip to the East and never quite made it. Royal Carribean is our preferred cruise line, so when I saw the ship was RCCL Grandeur of the Seas and they had Superior Balcony Staterooms it was a done deal. We are sailing next June. Mom does not knit and she only wears her handknit socks for special occasions but she will enjoy the ship and the ports of call. And I, yes it's all about me - again - I will end up getting TWO goody bags.

I made my final decision for the UFOlympics. I am going to finish my Clay Felice Socks and my Feather and Fan Stole - both are of Knit Picks yarns. I still want to finish my vest and lots of my socks, but these projects have really been neglected.

I really need the shawl for the artic air conditioning at work and I am dying to see what the stripes are going to end up looking like on the Clay Felice socks. I have several more skeins of Felice in my stash.



Okay, my posts are getting fewer and longer. Note to Self: adjustment needed . . .

Catching Up

I have been listening to podcasts and reading Ravelry Forums. It is so nice to be getting all caught up on the knitting/crocheting world. I recently read a fun needlecraft mystery you may want to check out. If you want to read it let me know and I will mail my copy out to you [first come first served on that]. There is a cake recipe and a crochet pattern included at the end of the book.


UFOlympics August 8 -24, 2008








It is time to start thinking about my UFO for the UFOlympics 2008. I have lots of Unfinished Objects to choose from and I want to start another pair of Monkey Socks. I am a cheerer and clapper so I know I need to pick a project that will not suffer from being thrown aside occasionally. Socks are good, because a couple of rounds can be completed during commercial breaks. I have a vest and sweater project too that are mostly stockinette on larger needles. Either of them would be good for this challenge. I started them around the same time so they are both pretty old WIPs.

The Bookworm Vest probably has the best chance of being completed in 2 weeks time, it is knit all in one piece. I have to knit the pockets and shape the armholes and it is pretty much done. There are a ton of stitches per row but it is primarily stockinette.

The Kenobi Jacket has a variety of stitches. I still have to knit the sleeves and both front panels of the Kenobi Jacket. I may not be able to finish it in 2 weeks but I really do want to start wearing it this fall. Maybe I can get the sleeves out of the way, the unfinished part would be the just the two front panels.

On the Mend

June 9 - surgery went well. Recovery room staff lost my Mom, and I was the one on drugs, really!!!! Finally got home and got a cup of coffee. I felt really good. Then dinner time came and I could not hold a fork or spoon and dropped lots of things from my usually-out-of-work left hand. But at least I had the rest of the week off to look forward to.

June 10-15 - not so much fun. I could not read, books were too heavy and awkward with one hand. Could not play sudoku - my 3s and 5s look the same when written with my left hand, and the rest of the numbers never quite ended up in the center of the square. No knitting or crocheting. Day time TV makes my skin crawl and Netflix turnaround time was just not fast enough. It was the only time in my life that I managed to sleep more than the dog!!! Also, I forgot to mention the temperature was between 94 and 104 degrees every day. Highlight - I totally know how to take a shower with a sock (no, not a wool one) and a plastic bag rubberbanded to my right hand.

June 16-19 back to work. I went to Starbucks for coffee since I cannot tear open the little sugar packets with one hand. I had to eat lunch out because my frozen lunches made my tote bag too heavy and awkard getting in and out of vanpool one handed.

June 18 - my birthday was wonderful. I received the most amazing roses and my Mom made me Lobster Thermidor and a Chocolate cake. YUmmmy. I also received many wonderful greeting, e-cards and Ravelry birthday wishes. Fabulous. I am a glorious 49 and can't wait to hit 50 next year and join AARP.

June 20 - I couldn't make it through the whole week, and took off Friday.

June 23 - my post op appointment was kinda interesting. I think he took the sutures out too soon though. Anywho I was taken off work until June 30. I have tons of projects, and deadlines and it's month end - but hey, I only have one right hand. If it does not heal properly there won't be another month-end or anymore completed projects. So I took a deep breath and let the work worries and stress release. And since I was being charged vacation time for June 24 - June 30 I told my teams to stop e-mailing me questions and passing on horror stories.

June 25 - my Mom had a birthday. I did what decorating I could do. She would not let me cook anything but we had fun. Needless to say she got a gazillion birthday cards from far and near and phone calls all day long. But, oh dear, my Uncle George FORGOT his baby sister's birthday. She stayed up until 12:30. But he was her first call the next day, bless his heart. I told her to cut him some slack, he turned 75 in May. She's still only 73 and she forgets birthdays now too.

July 1 - back at work and blogging. I have overdone it a bit and I have a cramp in my hand. I can knit again, I worked a row on some socks with size 2 needles and I did not feel anything anywhere. I cannot write for more than a few words with a pen or pencil - hurts too much. I can type without any adverse affects, but mousing more than 5 or 10 minutes hurts. I will finish my day by catching up on some legal articles. Tomorrow is another day, and I am on the mend.

WIPS Stash and a Little Gift

WIPS:
Adamas Shawl in Zephyr Main Line 2/8 Peacock on US Size 5 Addi Turbo Lace Needles

Shi Bui Socks on Knit Picks US Size 2 (2.75 mm)

Rockin Sock Club Lucky Leafling Socks on US Size 3 Knit Picks











STASH:


Schaefer Anne Mint


Yarn Chef Chalcedony and Cool Mint


Rocking Sock Club Shrinking Violet

Not Good

I had a bad day yesterday. I had to deal with several people that were just plain stuck on stupid. Then there were two never-ending meetings. . . and so on and so on. When I have days like this I call my sister and whine to her, or rant, or vent - whatever you want to call it. But, my sister was having issues of her own - so much so that her blood pressure was 200+ over 170. CRAZY numbers. So she had a headache and could hardly talk, which meant I could not dump on her. So, heavy sigh, I got very depressed. Since I have been van pooling I have been cut off from my usual resource of new friends - public transportation. My best bud cheap chick Peggy moved to Las Vegas, then Florida. Miss her loads. My best bud handbag fairie queen Kendall hates computers and I no longer ride BART with her. My best bud my-twin-separated-from-me-at-birth Jenn JUST started a new job in Palo Alto, so we can no longer meet for lunch in SF. The topic of my whining was not appropriate for any of my extended family members. I suffered alone and went silently crazy hashing and rehashing the madness of the day to myself. Happily I was able to contain it enough that I did not start talking to myself out loud about it. Which has been known to happen in the past - anyone having worked in a law firm can probably relate to that.

Well, today, never one to just let go - I told my sister all about my day yesterday and compared myself to one of our extended family members who has only my sister to call a friend. And she said - oh no way, don't compare yourself to her, you have so much more going on for you. You have (she listed all of the above) and then she said AND YOU HAVE YOUR BLOG AND YOUR KNITTING FRIENDS. OH MY GOD, being stuck on stupid must rub off. What was I (not) thinking? I could have whined to y'all yesterday and had a good night's sleep!!!! so - now y'all are back in the loop. SO THERE, thanks for listening/reading.

Hi Amy - waving up the street - I hope you like your new job!!!! I might take you up on your offer, this iPod Touch has about a bazillion features. I got the AV Cable TV hookup yesterday, now I can watch Lost Season 4 on my television. I can even watch Cat's "Let's Knit Together" video podcast on TV. I am loving it.

Funny story. For some non-sensical reason if you are under the age of 50, you must have a pregnancy test before you have surgery. The lab sheet I received at my pre-op appt had the WRONG hours on it, the lab no longer closes at 7:00 p.m. (for those of us who work for a living) - it now closes at 5:30 p.m. Yep this is one of the "and so ons" from yesterday. We rush from the vanpool and get to the Lab at 6:15 p.m. to find it closed. My ever ready Mom says "don't worry. I have a container - my doctor gave me an extra one to keep on hand to monitor diabetes. You can use that and I will drop it off for you." Cool. She takes the package to the lab for me today and she says the receptionist swiped my med card and looked up at her and says, Mame do you know this is for a pregnancy test? My Mom says, yes that's what it's for. My Mom is 72 years old with glorious gray hair and could not possibly be pregnant without a bunch of scientific help. And she did not explain to the poor girl, she just left her completely confused as to why this old chick was being checked to see if she was pregnant. Gotta love her.

I am on the 10th (out of 14) repeat on my Adamas Shawl. I have got to get a photo up, it is really pretty. I would love to get to the 14th repeat this weekend, but I am not gonna stress about it.

Awwww, I am feeling much better now. Blog Therapy, there is nothing like it!! Cheers.

Touchy Touchy

My birthday present this year is the iPod Touch. I bought it a little early so I can use it during recovery - no mouse ;D - pretty smart huh?!? I also bought the TV Cable Adapter so I can watch the TV Shows, Video Podcasts and Movies I download to iTunes on my "real" TV. Coolness squared!

Still loving Adamas too !!!

Focus Focus Focus

Oh my goodness gracious. Why can't I focus? I do realize I have a birthday coming up next month that is knocking soundly on the door to 50, but geez.

I did not finish my socks.
I put the Mystic Waters Shawl away again.
I cast on Adamas, where did that come from???

Out of the blue I decided that I wanted to find a simple shawl pattern that I could possibly finish before surgery.

Why???

I love the Forest Canopy shawl and I have two more skeins of Puck's Mischief. I gave the first FC Shawl away as a gift because I want to make a larger size and I already have the yarn. Did I cast on the Forest Canopy shawl - which I know I can knit in about a week???? NOPE!

Why not????

Instead I log into Ravelry and look at all the lace group forums and pull Adamas out of my queue. Hmmm, 48 going on 5 - I have the attention span of a knat. So anyway I am on the 6th repeat of the body aka Chart 2 of the Adamas pattern. The knitting goes surprisingly well with the I Am Legend Audiobook, Netflix picks, National Treasure 2, and the Deadliest Catch marathon. Yay!!! Multi-tasking, or just more lack of focus - you be the judge. I shall add yet another shawl icon to the sidebar projects list.

Oh, and I did not take the pictures I was supposed to take either. But I did order more Addi Turbo Lace needles with my Loopy Ewe Credit, so I can have yet another lace project on the needles soon. I cannot wait to be on pain meds after my surgery so I have something to blame my lack of focus on. 8-P

Ouch! Shocking!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH to ALL Our VETERANS.
Including my Daddy who served in the Army during the Korean War and my Uncle G who served in the Marine's during the Korean War and my Cousins who have served and are currently serving in the armed forces.

I am short two stitches on Clue D row 207 of my Schaefer Anne version of the Mystic Waters Shawl. Ugh!!! I have to tink back to the extra decrease I have done somewhere along the way. I completed the heel and part of the foot of one of my Shi Bui Rapids socks and I added another 10 rows to my Felice Clay socks. I will be taking some photos over the 3-Day weekend. My poor little WIP page has not been updated this month.

Oh the pain, I had my nerve conduction study yesterday and IT REALLY HURT!!! 8~{

I have carpal tunnel to the max in my right hand, and symptoms starting in the left hand. Three of my sensory nerves and three of my motor nerves are damaged. So it is confirmed - I will be having carpal tunnel surgery the same time I have the tumor removed. Oh - Joy 8-\ The test showed that the nerves in my right hand have degenerated. So I will be out of service for a few weeks. I don't plan to stay home after the first week though - day time television makes my skin crawl. I will come to work and blissfully delegate my work to others. It's good to have a great support team!! However, I cannot ask them to type entries for my blog! I will have a big long gap in blog entries after June 8th. What will I do without knitting and the computer? I just don't know. If the pain wasn't so bad and the tumor so big I would just ignore the whole thing.

Almost Over

Whew, this is the last day of the conference. So far the sessions were the best part. The last session we got to ask for enhancements to the software and the two my firm asked for look like they are a go. Yay!! The Rumble in the Jungle Night at the San Diego Zoo was a bit disappointing - the few animals we saw were asleep or immobile. Most were missing in action in their habitats. I don't know - do they all look depressed to you when you go to a zoo? The cougars, mountain lions and sunrise bear that were awake were so lack luster and sad looking. The habitats are so small, they just do not look like they are having a good life. The food was inadequate, most people had to go out to dinner when we got back downtown. But I guess for people who have never been to the US, of CA it was an experience. For me - not so much.

I have packed all of my session materials and vendor give aways to be Fedexed home. I even managed to pre code two large invoices for one of my Coordinators. I still have some writing to do tonight, I am revising a manual.

I watched the DVDs I brought and I was able to get through the first leaf repeat on my Leafling socks. I made the cuff a full two inches instead of the 1 1/4 inch called for in the pattern. I dropped all the way down to the small size sock - 60 sts. I have knit many socks with this weight yarn and I usually only cast on 56 sts. So we'll see. I can always give them as a gift if they are too tight. I love knitting. Some times I enjoy it more than other times, this sock is really a fun knit.

I read through all of the new Ravelry Forum postings for my groups. Now I need to catch up on my podcasts. I listened to Knit Science, and Bean Knits and watched Lets Knit Together, Deadliest Catch and Lion Brands Ruffle Scarf video podcasts. I still have Knitting Uncensored and Sticks and String and a few new ones to listen to this afternoon.

Thank You SO MUCH!!

I want to thank you all for the well wishes. I will be glad to get my hand back to normal!!

I am in San Diego this week, so far the weather has been chilly. I cannot believe it, San Francisco has better weather than San Diego at this time of year. The Conference kicks off today. I am glad I came in a day early, this foggy drizzly weather may cause airport delays. The Hard Rock Hotel is not what I expected. The room is nothing spectacular, it is comfortable though. The turn down service was excellent. But $8.00 for a bottle of water - and I thought the $2.45 at the airport was absurd. I must get out more - I am suffering from sticker shock!! I went to Ralph's and bought a gallon of water and some soft drinks - there are no vending machines and the 10 oz soft drinks are $4.00 from the in room frig. The cab ride from the airport took me past the Cruise ship dock, so I actually got to see where we will be departing from for our cruise in October.

I am waiting for my Fedex from work, I sent myself some work. I had no room in my suitcase and did not want to bring a second bag so I Fedexed some invoices and documents I need to work on. I packed return Fedex packing inside the box. Our San Diego office is about 20 blocks from here, but right now I am not planning a visit. I may change my mind.

I brought my Leafling socks to work on. Based on the Ravelry forum discussion about sizing I am going to make the Medium sized socks instead of the Large. I had only knit the cuff so I don't have much to rip out. I had planned to rip them out several weeks ago, but waited since I chose them for the project for this trip. I love this yarn, again the colorway reminds me of County Clare. I will also probably be using this cuff stitch on some of my future pairs of plain stockinette socks. There is a slight twist to the ribbing with a very pretty result. I cannot really say much more since it is a Rockin Sock Club pattern and yarn, which are for club members only. There has also been a forum discussion on Ravelry about members breaking the club rules. I don't want to be one of those. Thousands of people paid for the privilege of getting these patterns and yarn a year before their commercial release. Members should honor that agreement, and not be selling exclusive sock club patterns and yarn on EBay!! Jusy Saying . . .

Have you seen the KnitPicks lace yarn samplers? Oh my goodness. I want all four, but so far I have fought the temptation. What a great idea, making up color palettes of the various lace weight yarns.

Pictorial Review

I finally posted the pictures of my Laci yarn and the Rockin' Sock Club Kit and 2008 Year of Lace kit. My Sister's latest pair of socks, Sassy Self Striping yarn creates a very nice pattern and the socks are nice and thick. My new toy, I finally have a web cam, dangerous!!! I lost my Yarn Chef and Schaefer Anne pics somewhere along the way, hmmm. I will check flicker and ravelry and see if I managed to get them up there before I deleted them from the memory stick. I am in love with my Mystic Waters Shawl again. So pretty and the pattern is not really hard to read - thank goodness.

All Set

I have been scheduled for surgery on my tumor - yay! May 21 is the pre-op exam and June 9 I go under the knife. I am almost finished with Clue D of the Mystic Waters Shawl. It is the one I chose to finish for the cruise. I will get as far as I can before surgery. Unfortunately this sucker is still growing and I cannot do simple things like blow dry my hair or write with a pen for long. Luckily I have the conference coming up which will give me a mouse free week - my laptop has a touch pad. I am really looking forward to the conference. I have received two cocktail party invitations, one for the Skybar at the top of the Hard Rock Hotel. Whohoo.

Sad news, the Mystery Lace KAL went offline. After the first clue the designer was so overwhelmed with whiners and complainers that she did not get an opportunity to post the second clue. Then she was in a car accident. Now that she is ready to proceed she has announced that to continue with the KAL we must Paypal her $10.00 because the time she is spending answering questions is cutting into her real life income. SO, I have removed myself from the Ravelry group and unsubscribed from the Yahoo group. I don't object to paid Mystery KALs, I am doing two of the Knit Goddesses Mystery Shawls. But the group is so negative and the designer so overwrought, I don't need the drama. I knit to RELAX!!!!

Today is my nephew's birthday - Mr. Lebron "Boomie" Cross is 4 years old today. Isn't he lovely? His cousin Indy sent him a birthday card and his Auntie bought him a box full of Dingos. If y'all have never bought Dingos for your dogs - DON'T. It is doggie crack. My pup checks the counter for the Dingo bag and we get no peace until we give him one. Granted they do eliminate doggie breath - but they are so ADDICTIVE. Happy Birthday Boom Boom!!!

She's BAAACCCKKKKKKK

Yeah, Socks in The City Podcast is BACK!!!!!

Adrift

I have been adrift waiting for the next Knit Along to begin. Our Mystery Lace KAL is in a holding pattern for the time being. I have been working half-heartedly on my socks. Miss Laura Perry of Crazy Aunt Purl blog fame is to blame for that - I have been watching the Deadliest Catch. I cannot knit and watch the Deadliest Catch because I want to see if someone is going overboard, going to be rescued and how many crabs are in each pot. Then there is the torturing of the Greenhorns. I am riveted, so no knitting gets done. My tumor is still growing, but it is not a factor because it does not bother me when I am knitting.

Best Place to Work in the SF Bay Area. Our firm won this honor for the 4th time. It is Staff Appreciation week. Monday we were served Breakfast. Tuesday we received 2 Golden AMC Theater Passes each. Wednesday we had Make-Your-Own-Sundaes Ice Cream Bar. Thursday we received $25 VISA Gift Cards. Today we are being served Dim Sum from the best dim sum restaurant in the city, Yank Sing.

Booked. I was shocked when I booked our cruise to the Panama Canal. There were only 6 cabins with windows available above the 4th deck. OMG, we are 6 months out. I have always booked our cruises six months before sailing and never had any problem with availability. Geez, what goes on????? I got THE last cabin on deck 8 with a balcony. My Mom will be 73 this year and our vacations together are getting fewer and farther apart so we NEED this time. That probably sounds wierd since we live together. But I leave for work at 5: 30 am and get home at 6:30 pm. I eat and go to my room to do mail, computer stuff, maybe watch one TV program and knit for maybe one hour, then it is bed time. On Saturday and Sunday I do chores, laundry, cleaning, filing, dusting, etc. and rub the dog for about an hour. So even though we live together, we don't get to enjoy each other's company for more than a hour or so here or there. Our vacations we get caught up on family gossip, and world events and watch golf together. So we are off to the Panama Canal, Costa Rica and Mexico for 14 days in October on the RCCL Radiance of the Seas.

14 Night Eastbound Panama Canal Cruise Ship Name: Radiance Of The Seas Departure Port: San Diego, California Ports of Call: San Diego, California; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Acapulco, Mexico; Huatulco, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Panama Canal (Cruising Canal); Cristobal Pier, Panama; Cartagena, Colombia; Fort Lauderdale, Florida 2008 Date(s): Oct 26

We have lots of cruising days, or days at sea. I am trying to decide which knitting project to take with me. On our last cruise to Alaska I finished my Mom's ribbed Cardigan and the back and one front panel of my vest. She got to wear her Cardigan off the ship on her birthday. I have read some Ravelry and travel blog entries that it is very humid on this cruise and that the wool starts smelling a little funny. Also, that it might get a little damp if stored in plastic. I am thinking I should choose a project which calls for silk or bamboo yarn instead of something made of wool. There are a gazillion shawl/stole projects in my queue. I have several hanks of silk yarn I bought in the Marketplace at the last TKGA/CGOA Conference in Oakland. I don't think I have enough Bamboo yarn in my collection for a Shawl, but maybe a lace scarf.

I am also trying to pick a project to take to the Conference in San Diego week after next. I need so much stuff to do lace - I use rulers, and post-tape and highlighters, and pencils, and tons of stitchmarkers and most of my lace yarn is cones. I have my two non-lace projects in hibernation. Maybe I should take one of them. There's always socks, but my love of socks has twindled since I did not meet my 52 pair plunge goal. Maybe I can rekindle the joy - I really like the Rocking Sock Club pattern I am working on. But I have to rip it all out and start over. The gauge is all wrong, the cuff is HUGE. I could restart them and work on them during my stay in San Diego. That sounds, good.

My cough is finally gone. No more headaches and sore throat or ears. The guy in the Vanpool who sits behind me is still sick though, I hope he does not give it to me again!!!!! Mom's cough is back and has worsened. We have had a death in the family and we also lost a very good family friend. Glynda Oliver-Allen was a superior educator, loving sister and wife and one of the best friends you could ever hope for. I will miss her. My Uncle Earsel Neal was the last of the family historians. He was married to my Aunt Jurestine who was the oldest of my Mother's Sisters. When my Grandmother lost her eye sight due to diabetes and glaucoma I went to Arkansas to take care of her until we could arrange to move her to California. My Uncle Earsel drove down from Minnesota to help out because I was too young to drive. He was a wonderful man, he remembered all of our names and interests. He knew every branch of the family tree. When we had our family reunion in Minnesota he had 5 generations represented at the picnic, he being the oldest and my Cousin Sylvester's 3 week old great-great- grandaughter being the youngest.
I cannot tell you what a loss this is to our family. Minnesota was planning to host next year's family reunion because he could no longer travel. He was not able to attend the reunion in Las Vegas and it really bothered him. So we were all going to him next time. I miss him already . . .

Trying to Focus

I have been under the weather. I could barely raise my head from the bed for four days straight. Such a waste of good knitting time!!! But before the plague hit I did finish a ball of yarn on my Dimple Shale scarf and got started on ball 3, it is a 4 ball scarf. The yarn is so soft and the pattern is a four row repeat. I am trying to focus on one pair of socks and one lace project at a time. I did not get to finish the Sassy Socks as planned because I fell over and could not get up. I really don't know why people take drugs when they don't have to!!! I hate being incapacitated by cold "remedies". I made it to work today, but I still feel puny and cotton-headed. Geez, I hope I don't look as bad as I feel 8-/

Well at least I got good yarn love in the mail. Five skeins from the Yarn Chef and two of Schafer Anne from the Loopy Ewe. Don't know when the next photo shoot will be, but I will get to it eventually.

Ick

Well I saw the Orthopaedic Specialist and what I have is a Giant Cell Tumor on my thumb bone. Surgery will be required. It is non-cancerous and can be removed while awake. I opted for being put to sleep because the one I have is so large it is pressing against two nerves - hence the pain and discomfort. It is best if there is zero movement when they are cutting around the nerves. The surgical waiting list is 2 weeks to 2 months long, which is common in our area. I am still waiting for an appointment for the nerve conduction study regarding my carpal tunnel. These are two separate ailments but Dr. L says they can probably do both surgeries at once. A ray of light at the end of the tunnel :/

Anywho, I can still knit for awhile. I almost finished my Sister's socks. I need to do the toe decreases. Then I am going to pick one of my Lace WIPS and work it until it is done. I have learned a lesson with the Mystery Shawl/Stole KALS. I am not going to be concerned with keeping up with the clues each week. I just ripped out two of them Sunday because I did not like the finished piece(s). I lost a little Zephyr on one of them, got entangled just at the end. I also had some major problems with some Wollmeise, trying to wind it into a ball. I got about 2/3 of it in a nice perfect cake, the rest looks like my hair after swimming when I was a little girl still wearing a press and curl (sorry if you don't get the reference).

I have informed my cast and crew at work that they will be called upon to do high-click tasks for me, cause it hurts to mouse!!! Now who can I get to cast on The Bad Nauheim shawl for me, hmmm?

Thumb-el-ina

The knot on my thumb has grown some more and was sore and red on Tuesday. I iced it which helped a bit. I have not knit since Monday night. I did cast on my 2008 Year of Lace Fire Brick Red Shawl and the Mystic Lights Mystery Shawl. I am using Schaefer Heather Rapids for the Mystic Lights shawl. I have an appointment with an Orthopaedic Specialist Monday and hopefully he can fix me!! Michael has taken to calling me Thumbelina :/ I swear if the man did not give me Coach, Louis Vuitton and Chanel I don't think I would put up with such things.

I am almost done with my taxes. I usually mail them out in February, this is very unusual timing for me. I just wasn't in the mood this year. The amounts don't change much year to year. I still have to plug in my cost basis for some stocks I bought and sold and my expenses for my home based business. Easy peasy, I already printed out my MS Money report, I just need to plug in the numbers. I am going to e-file again this year.

I am representing today!!! We have some students coming to the firm from James Lick Middle School. They are learning about civics and how laws are made. I am on the brief tour of the law firm representing the Accounting Dept. I like these types of programs, I was in Junior Achievement and the mentoring and good experiences were helpful in my plans for my future.

Month-end again. I have reports to do and a few recurring payments - boring. At least I have a good book to listen to.