Tuesday, July 10, 2007

O-U-C-H


Munchkin, having a fantastic time this weekend at the beach...

I'm not exactly sure why, but I ache everywhere. My back, all along my spine, is stunningly sore. My knees, hip joints, neck, and the left hinge of my jaw aches. My shoulders ache too. When I mentioned this fact to the Munch's daycare provider this evening as I went to pick him up, she said that maybe I had fibromyalgia. Or else maybe I had previously-undiagnosed rheumatoid arthritis and the incoming thunderstorm (and corresponding change in barometric pressure) was causing it to seriously twinge.

Cheerful, isn't she?

Peggers has it too, tho' - when he came to get the Munch he said that he too aches all over - mostly in his back - which makes me wonder if this isn't the start of something ickily viral that we've both caught and will soon fully come down with. Either that or else we've been bitten by the same tick and both have Lyme's disease. I'm guessing it's viral, myself.


Damn viruses.

It's not only achy and potentially stormy here, it's also STUNNINGLY hot. Today's heat index was 102 degrees, with almost 100% humidity. And while I went for a walk/run yesterday the warnings against such strenuous activity were just too obvious for me to do so again today. So rather than come into work a wee bit early and get in a run/walk (I work until 9 PM tonight, so I got to stay home until the early afternoon) I instead sat on the couch in my central-air-conditioned house set to a lovely and low-humidity 81 degrees and started watching the second season of Deadwood while I worked on a new pair of socks.

New socks that I can't show you, as they're an *original design * (Say it all together, now: "ooohhhhhhhh, ahhhhhhhhhh") of my own that I might - just might - submit for publication somewhere. Depending on what my design workshop folks tell me. Even if they're not accepted anywhere, I really really really like them - which is good - because no matter what at the end of all this I'll have a nifty & beautiful pair of handknit socks for myself, which is always a good thing, right my lovely ducklings?



New stamp, stamp pads - black and brown - and twill tape. All 15 feet of it.

I'm also currently working on writing up the pattern for my Screw-y Socks - one that Gryphon might take as a pattern to sell on her Etsy shop. I'm having fun typing it up and making it look all magazine-y and official. When I'm done I'll put it in pdf format, so it will look really and truly special and official. (Again, everyone: "ooooooohhhhhhhh....................aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!") To help me in this endeavor I was able to steal back the original pair of Screw-y socks from their gift recipient which is extra extra extra helpful - nothing like actually physically counting stitches and poking at a gusset to help you to remember what you did while knitting! That also means that I can take extra pictures, which is always good as well.

Speaking of extra pictures, here are some recent ones from my digital camera taken over the weekend, this morning, and this evening:



A finished sockpal sock heel. More pictures will - of course
appear here eventually. Many, many more. :)



Beautiful, beautiful, smooth organic woven cotton ribbon/twill tape.

Pink sockpal footsies.



Remember how I won a contest at Mim's blog? My gift box from Miriam came! 2 skeins of Claudia handpainted sock yarn ('Chocolate' colourway) plus real chocolate as well! That's in my tummy - so no pics of that, I'm afraid.....


A shot of how I more (or, in this case, less) managed to get
the cuff of my sockpal socks to match.
Sorta'.
Kinda'.


And I have a confession to make about Mystery Stole 3. I've frogged it. Again. You cannot cheat with Ms. Mystery - she's not a Birch or an Icarus that is quite so easy and forgiving as those two kind, kind souls. There is no room to craftily hide your lack of attention or your extra stitch or missing yarnover - she's a demanding, demanding snippet of a mistress. Every stitch, every row, has to be carefully counted, watched, looked after and scrutinized. And what that means for me is a book on CD or iPod (goodbye 2nd season of Deadwood - you and I shall henceforth only meet over vests and socks!), a cookbook holder used to prop up my chart and written directions, a pencil to shade out my knitted rows/stitches so that I can better keep track as I go, and - last but certainly not least - a lifeline every 10 or so rows. I'm personally a lifeline virgin - I jumped right in to the lace game with Birch and never looked back - in fact I even arrogantly scoffed at lifelines when it came to knitting Icarus - and either because Mim is extremely kind or else I just got very very very lucky - I never needed a lifeline for either lace project.

But Ms. Mystery - she is a-kickin' my ass - and with her I need all the help I can get.

I just might - maybe, possibly - start her tonight. Sitting comfortably propped up in bed, embroidery thread poised & at the ready to be my first lifeline somewhere around row 10 or 15 - with Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix (read by the superb Mr. Jim Dale) keeping me company while an achy hubby peacefully snoozes next to me..........

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oooooooo! Ahhhhhhhh! And look how I actually signed in anonymously, Oooooo! Ahhhhhh!

Anonymous said...

Susan - I'm not the knitter that you all are, but I'm looking for a very basic(read that as not complicated) raglan cardigan pattern for a seven-year-old child using cotton yarn. Any thoughts? Oma Annie

Sandy said...

Lifelines are a necessity for me! Even if I go AGES without using them, they're my little safety net... I'm very impressed that you got through two whole shawls without using one. I've used mine twice already on the Mystery Stole.

Do you like the way the chart is on two pages, one for the left side, one for the right? I don't! I taped them together but they're too big for my chart holder so I'm sure that's a part of my problem. I'm trying a new way to keep my place and will see how it goes from here on.

Anonymous said...

Ohhh! Tooooo many good things in one post!

1. I hope you are feeling better!
2. That twill tape and stamp - gah, it's just so simple and classy looking. Love it!
3. That chocolate yarn is good enough to eat. It's gorgeous. I want some (chocolate and yarn). Bad. Heading to the vending machine for hersheys. I don't care if it's 7am.
4. The socks came out lovely - you have one very lucky sock pal!!
5. You're a ROCKIN'GIRL! I tagged you as a Rockin' Girl Blogger, I hope you don't mind! I enjoy your blog and your fiber exploits, and I'm thrilled that I got to meet you at MDSW. Play along only if you like :)