My apologies for the silence, but I've had a thing or two go on in my life that made me feel like I could barely get out of bed. So I'll recap the last couple of months, being as vague as I'll allow myself, and then you can go ahead and judge away.
As it turns out, I hate surprises and I hate waiting. So there is something going on in my marriage that's pretty much splitting me in half, and it got to the point where I would postpone pretty much everything for another day, and then the next day would come, and I would postpone for yet another day. I didn't write my column for over a month. Then, just as the one thing was coming to a head, the other thing actually DID snap me in half.
My dogs were in an unfamiliar situation, and to make a long story short, Penny attacked and killed two little dogs. My sweet, unassuming animals that are afraid of pretty much everything and say hello to the smelly garbage man every Tuesday. Penny, who had the chihuahua at the dog park at Berteau and Central bite the back of her leg and she would just turn around and look at it like, "Seriously?"
So I have done pretty much nothing of value except cry and feel sorry for myself for the last, I would say, eight to ten weeks. To top it off, I was struggling in my head by screaming, "Get out get out get out get out!" to one problem, and then screaming "Get me out get me out get me out!" to another. Basically, I just needed to shake out all in my life to reset things to where they belonged.
I have succeeded, sort of. One issue is resolved, I had to put Penny down (which isn't resolve but it is closure, as awful as it was), and a few others are on the horizon. But because I can see the future, I am finally starting to feel better. So I have that going for me.
I finished a pair of socks, and after ripping the first one out when I was all the way down to the ball of the foot, only to start it on a larger pair of needles, I decided I still didn't like how they looked on ME. I mailed them to someone with a similar foot size. The person was pleased. So then, so was I.
I finished a garment...it is the sample for the Chicago Yarn Crawl. Perhaps you have seen it...Cascade Yarns featured it on their website. If you want to get it for free, just stop by Knot Just Knits during the Yarn Crawl. If you want to buy it, give me a few days and I'll have it up on Ravelry. It's called the Plot Twist Shell, and here is Elizabeth modeling it in her store:
Now I'm knitting one the next size up for me...the least I could do is wear my own design, right?
Anyway, then I finally started the Vogue Knitting 30th Anniversary issue aran tunic designed by Deborah Newton. I have finished one panel and plan to bring the ball with me when I leave town next week, so I can maybe finish the second panel and start on the third one.
Oh, and finally...I will by tomorrow have completed Steve's harmonica cozy. I hope to remember to post a photo of it...basically, Steve (our rhythm guitar player and my former roommate on Laporte) only plays the harmonica on one song, so he doesn't want to bring a music stand to shows just to hold his harmonica. I knitted him a harmonica sock that hooks onto his guitar strap, so all he has to do is reach in and grab the sucker.
So yes, I have been knitting. But I have been extremely depressed and lacking direction and wishing things would change...they are. I no longer lack direction. I am getting there. Hang in there with me and keep those needles clicking!
If you want to indulge in a sale or two before the yarn crawl, here are some stores offering discounts in the coming week or two:
Speaking of writing...which I only sort of was, but still...
...I think I'm going to have an AWESOME speaking gig next year relating to my column. Stay tuned! Big things happening because of my silly little column...yay! Guess that means I have to keep blogging...
