Stress Reaction

I was harrassing Emily here recently when she flashed her sock stash. I offered to show her mine, so now I have to put my money where my mouth is. I hope you appreciate this Emily, cause all these skeins and balls had to be removed from their little zip-lock bags to take this photo, and now of course I have to put them all back. Me and my big mouth!

I didn't show you the pair I'm working on right now. My Bloomin' Feet socks and I are not in harmony. I'm not feeling the love. The Fleece Artist Merino is lovely, but the cast on, the pattern, the whole knitting experience is leaving me kind of flat. In fact, the whole knitting thing, for me, has been kind of flat since the end of the Knitting Olympics. I think I might be experiencing a little Post Traumatic Stress. Send me some good sock knitting mojo, yo?

By the way, the random number picker randomly selected Theresa as my KO cheerleader with the most spirit, so a little fiber prize will be flying her way shortly. Maybe she has my sock knitting mojo, and will send it back to me! Here's hoping!

I love to learn new things. I would consider myself a perpetual student of life. There are, however, things I never expected to learn about myself. Apparently, if I go by the spam waiting for moderation when I get home from work each day, I am an overweight, middle-aged, balding man with erectile dysfunction. I would also appear to be financially challenged, since I need to buy my drugs cheap. Never would have thought it, but there you go.

I have also learned that I suffer from a rebound effect with my knitting. I can become extremely focused for brief periods of time, and accomplish great feats of knitting. Witness Ene. Love Ene. Now, however, I am having difficulty focusing on any one project. I want to start another lace project (I'm thinking The Forest Path Stole) but I have my Bloomin' Feet socks deadline coming up. My lack of focus is creating some psychological distress. Apparently overweight, middle-aged, balding men with erectile dysfunction don't handle stress well. But I am forging ahead.

I have a cuff. And I have several inches. I just don't have an erection.

...entertainment.

Though I have long known I was born at the end of the Baby Boomer generation, I have since found out that I was born at the beginning of Generation X. My love of, and fascination with the digital age, I believe, lands me square in the latter category.

Though my love of reading, knitting, spinning and all things textile makes me some kind of genetic throwback, I'm sure.

...floss!

I love me some floss! Back before I rediscovered knitting, and became the queen of sock yarn hoarding, I was a floss glutton (At one point, I was able to boast that I had every color that DMC had ever made). I have floss, and kits, coming out my ears, and while I may be in retirement before I have time to knit all my yarn and stitch all my floss, I have every intention of eventually getting it all done. Because, like Lolly, I love color. And I think the results are so worth it!

I call this my Millennium Sampler. I finished it late December 1999 after working on it off and on for several years. So I figure I have another hundred years to complete the next one!

I love to tell stories. Just ask Terrisa*. Whenever we get together, which isn't nearly as frequent as either of us would like, I almost always have a story to tell her. Like the one about the unhappy woman.

We all know the unhappy woman. One of those women who just can't be happy, no matter what the circumstances. You can recognize her by her behavior. She either boasts about the perfection of her life to the point that you know she's exaggerating, or she whines incessantly. About everything. And don't make the mistake of suggesting a possible solution to her most recent complaint. Because there is always a reason for why the suggestion won't work. Trust me; this woman wants to be unhappy, although she would be deeply offended if you suggested that.

Another characteristic of the unhappy woman is the need she has to make everyone else as unhappy as she is. So she circulates rumors and gossip, and generally does what she can to make trouble.

The point of my story is that I have been the recent victim of the unhappy woman. For reasons known only to her, she has singled me out as the target of her unhappiness. While this is most likely temporary, I do find it disturbing, and much to my dismay, I have allowed this ridiculous situation to rob me of what should have been a relaxing and enjoyable weekend, with a two day migraine and mounting anxiety as the new week approaches.

Not wanting to be an unhappy woman myself, I did manage to finish my Bloomin' Feet socks. And I did want to share them with you, because I think they came out just wonderfully. This raw ingredient, mixed with needles and time, became this:

And I received my first Project Spectrum Postcard for March. My exchange pal is Chris, who lives in Hawaii and sent me this sweet card. To quote Chris: "I decided to craft those two 'flowers' in this 'postcard'. March 3rd is Girls Day, a Japanese celebration of girls which we observe locally. It's often coupled with the viewing of sakura (cherry blossom) blooms, hence the front of the card. And what could be more quintessential Hawaii than the lei?"

Chris, I just love it. I really do, and I am so glad to have gotten to meet you.

The card I sent Chris was the first I had ever made, and I have to say, I really enjoyed it. There is a huge section of paper craft items at Hobby Lobby, which is the one place I shopped, and I could have browsed for hours. If you are interested in a new hobby, and possibly a new addiction, head over to Lolly's and check out the Project Spectrum Postcard Swap.

*If you are so inclined to ask Terrisa about my story telling, you can leave your question here. She reads this blog, though she infrequently comments. Don't ask me why.

...GRIN!

After the week I had last week, what with the run in with the Unhappy Woman and all, I thought I would attempt to turn the tide and bring a little light and laughter to the world!

Amen!

...would smell as SWEET. Not that I expect you to smell my Bloomin' Feet socks. Though they are worthy of smelling. And petting, fondling, and just loving all over! Because they are truly the most beautiful socks I have ever owned! Karen outdid herself here folks. She absolutely nailed the landing! The fiber: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, the color: Bold Red, the fit: perfect!

Karen's package also included a cute sheep tape measure (which I forgot to photograph) and the nicest card. This lady is one class act, even if she does have something a little kinky going on with her new plying box! (Love ya, Karen)!

And with deadline knitting over for the time being, I have been working on some UFO's.

Ella
Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in Black Purl
6mm Addi Turbo Circ (US #10)

It about killed me to go in to work after this early morning photo shoot. The breezes are blowing, the sun is shining, and the birds are singing. What's called for here is a hammock and a book or iTunes and some knitting, because I think tomorrow it's supposed to rain. On the bright side, it gives me an excuse to stay in and start my next lace project.