Conspiracy Theory

While T. has been trying to avoid knitting socks, I have embraced it with open arms and joyful DPNs.

My obsession seems to stem in part from my stash. For some reason, I seem to have accumulated a large quantity of sock yarn. Is it because sock yarn can be found in such luscious colors and sumptuous fibres? Perhaps the fact that a little yarn seems to last a long time has something to do with it? Or maybe I just don't have a backbone.

I have finished this sock for someone's upcoming birthday. (Not you, T. LCBrown vetoed this color for you so if you really like these socks, you know who to blame.)

Here is some yarn I picked for 30% off on Boxing Day. I just love online shopping, don't you? No nasty lineups. No beligerent shoppers. Just me, my coffee and some yarn.

T. is also contributing to my sock yarn stash. She picked this up for me on her recent trip. Isn't she a doll?

My SIL got me this great hand dyeing kit for my birthday.

And there are so many great patterns and books to tempt me.

I think it's a conspiracy. You all want me to knit you socks, don't you?

It took about 72 hours.

I spent the weekend visiting my grandmothers in Regina. I left the kids and hubbie at home and trotted off to the 306 to spend some quality time with some special ladies (including my aunt). I brought my Monkey socks to work on as well as my Swallowtail shawl. My Monkeys were designated as the in-flight knitting project - they require little concentration and I have bamboo DPNs that pose no serious threat to the flight crew. The Swallowtail on the other hand is on Addi Lace Needles that could be used as weapons. Given the monetary investment in my Addi's, I elected to pack them in my luggage instead, rather than having them confiscated.

In between a multitude of visits and lunches and dinners and driving, I finished the Monkeys Sunday morning. This was a little bit of a problem because I no longer had a good in-flight project. But wait, I also packed some Lorna's Laces to start some Thelonius socks. I pulled out the yarn, I pulled out the bamboo DPNs and I pulled out the pattern (I'm a planner, if nothing else).

Except....I hadn't actually looked at the Thelonius pattern before packing it. It was in a nice folder and I'd just left it that way. I pulled out the instructions and Chart #1. Oh. This is going to be a problem. The chart is MASSIVE. Yes, massive in full caps. For copyright reasons I won't post a picture of it here, but trust me. It was 64 squares across by about a ba-jillion squares up. It required stitch counters, sticky notes and a graduate degree in math. Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm up for the challenge. Just not up for it while 35 000 feet in the air, with bad lighting and the chance of turbulence screwing up my counts.

So I flew home knit-less. I read my book, I closed my eyes, I did nothing. It was good. I got home and the insanity of being away for a few days set it. I put the Thelonius thoughts away, and focused on home maintenance. J. asked me a couple times, "You don't have any socks on the needles???". I kept saying nope, not now, don't plan on casting anything on, blah blah blah.

Till this am. I couldn't do it anymore. I needed some socks on the needles. I can go through all the reasons why this is, but other knitters understand - portability, ease of transport, mindless (not including any Cat Bordhi patterns). So I cast some on this morning. I went 72 hours with no socks and that was all I could muster. I cast on some Go With the Flow Socks from Favorite Socks. Easy, pretty, no graduate math degree required.


And all is right in T's world again.

Party...like it's your birthday....drink Bacardi....like it's your birthday

It was her birthday yesterday and I missed it (because I was computer-less) ... so in a half-assed attempt to make it up to her I've penned a beautiful poem (well, beautiful is debatable).

An Ode to J.

J - is for Joline (d-uh).

O - is for old, NO way!

L - is for lightening fast knitting needles - watch out - they're on FIRE!

I - is for inspirational (did you see her Christmas sock tally; I dream of that)

N - is for naughty. That's all I'm saying about that.

E - is for EXTREME KNITTING. Her goal is 24 socks in 2008 - any guesses on what her actual total will be.... I call 48 pairs.

Happy Birthday Girlfriend!!

And the Peasants Rejoiced...

..for lo, it is my birthday. I present to you....

...Birthday Socks!

Now, let us eat cake!

Dude.

It's my Dude's birthday so I thought I'd do a brief tribute.

You how when you meet someone and you know they're special? And then the longer you know them the more special they become? Well, that's my Dude.

I won't embarass him by telling you how hard he works to provide for his family or how much he adores our daughter. He would blush if I let on that he makes me laugh every day. It would not be appropriate to tell you that he makes me feel beautiful and safe and loved.

Let me just say Happy Birthday, Dude. And many, many happy returns of the day.

(I would tell you that I love you but that would be going way overboard, don't you think?)