Stress Reaction

New computer! Yeah!! This was a necessity, since I was forever having to throw one minor or another off my computer. Then there was the whole husband playing poker on my computer which required me shutting down my comments for several weeks to get the spammers off my site. (In addition to running blacklist about a thousand times)!

So now I have a MOM'S ONLY computer. All mine! Life is good!

Only problem is, I found out that even though my blog looks good on my 17 inch monitor, the formatting sucks for a 19 inch monitor. Crap! So a-formatting we will go.

See you on the flip side!

To my faithful few, I apologize. There has been a tremendous amount of activity in my life here of late, both in and out of the blog-o-sphere. I will attempt to bring you up to date in reverse chronological order.

1) Work

2) Today my friend Terrisa and I, as well as our children, Raced For The Cure (in celebration of my mom, a breast cancer survivor). Great fun was had by all. Lots of goodies were passed out, and I just love the sense of camaraderie that prevails at this event. My team (yeah, team leader Leah) consisted of 31 individuals (though I think the majority of them slept for the cure). We rock!

3) More work.

4) Trip to Mt. Pleasant and Pittsburg, Texas to see my family. Pittsburg, Texas. Home of Pilgrim's Pride (for whom my accomplished sister administers the employee benefits. If you think your health insurance sucks, go get her). And a really big head.

5) I bought a new computer. While I am a total techno geek, and I love having new hardware to play with, I hate moving. Physically, electronically, it is all the same to me! HATE IT!! Half my files are on one system, half on the other, and as result, I cannot find anything. The new printer/copier/scanner didn't install correctly. Can't print anything. Can't find anything.

6) Oh, yeah, and work.

7) I upgraded Moveable Type. I didn't realize that the upgrade would require me to approve comments, so if I haven't responded to your most recent comment, that's why. Sorry. Hopefully the program will recognize a previously approved commenter, and only require comment approval once. If not, bear with me. I'll have to get used to that extra step. I've also noticed that blacklist won't work with the upgrade, so if anyone has any suggestions, sing out!

8) Did I mention? Work!

9) Saw Movin' Out, the first show in the 2005/2006 Broadway Season here in the Sooner Nation. Don't laugh! We have us some culture too! Loved the show. I like Billy Joel's music, but I never thought of it in terms of a cohesive storyline. But it works. I would recommend it.

10) I purchased a new domain. And I am trying out new blogging software. WordPress. While I find a lot of the program to be intuitive, I am finding other parts of it more challenging. All in all, I think I will like it, and you can expect to see a gradual move (there's that word again) from whitelamb, to stressreaction.com (we'll talk about the name later) over the next couple of months. So update those bookmarks and/or bloglines friends and stalkers!

11) And I think there might have been some work in there, somewhere.

Next time. Knitting. I have been doing some. Promise.

And this past weekend, it happened to be in my house. Now don't get me wrong, I love my family, but solitude is a beautiful thing. Such an infrequent occurrence for us mothers and wives. So when my husband and my kids were all out of town this weekend, the dogs and I had a party!! (A stitchin' party! A whole weekend of needles and fiber and movies and sweats. Tell me if you think that doesn't sound like heaven)!

I love that it is Clapotis (link redundant, but here ya go) weather again. Woot!
I have been able to wear one to work every day this week.
The pink one, cause it's October, ya know.

There was a brief interruption in the knitting line-up to acknowledge the upcoming holiday. ( Prior to my knitting obsession, I had a serious cross stitch addiction. Lately, I have been jonesing for a floss fix).

I did, however, make the distressing discovery that I have gifted every single pair of socks I knit this year. It's only three, but still. No socks for me! So joining Lolly's Soctoberfest is a good thing. My Soctoberfest contribution will be these lovelies, which will be cast on the very second I finish the up the Merino Lace Socks. (Which will also be mine, by the way)!! Mountain Colors Bearfoot. The colorway is Garnet.

Rib and Cable Sock design by Nancy Bush featured in IK Fall 2005.

Last, but certainly not least, a visit from The Best Secret Pal Ever! Sari Yarn. According to my Secret Pal, "it's the only silk out there I find worth using". And yes, SP, the colors are fabulous! Thanks again!

Suggestions for a 100 yarn lace scarf pattern welcome!

I am fessin up! I joined another KAL, and it came and went before I even talked about it. I am a Socktoberfester! Cast on Sunday for my entry for a prize. I know I cast on at the last minute (which the rules allow), but I was already knitting a pair of socks started in September and I am a one-sock-at-a-time kind of girl. Multiple projects work for me, but in men, and socks, it's one pair at a time. Just a little quirk of mine, I guess. In a departure from my standard modus operandi, I am knitting a more recent pattern (I am usually about a year behind the crowd). I cast on with two circs, and will probably have to adapt the pattern somewhat when it comes time to turn the heel. Right now, I am enjoying the making of the cables (I wish you could see them better). I haven't even attempted a cable stitch in probably close to thirty years. Telling on myself, huh?

Anyway, in the spirit of Socktoberfest, to provide inspiration for other Soctoberfesters that might, like me, be getting a late start, I present for your consideration these beauties. Merino Lace Socks from IK Summer 2003. Love them! Love Koigu! Love lace! I'm just in love all over the place!!