I am really rather surprised I finished these and in less than a week.  I have been in some sort of knit funk lately.  I knit one lonely sock out of some Trekking but can’t get into the pair.  I started knitting the latest sock club sock and frogged it.  (You know, I’ve only knit one sock club sock this year.  One.  Not a pair, one sock.  The green one.)  Just didn’t feel like doin’ it, so I figured short socks would be the thang.  And, it occurred to me that I don’t wear tall socks so why in the hell am I knitting tall socks and tall socks only?  I think it’s partly cheapness on my part.  I don’t want to waste the rest of the hank by going short.  That’s why the Jitterbug worked out ‘cos I’ve got size 10 feet and those hanks of yarn are short.  So there ya have it.  My lazy, cheapass knit a complete pair of socks this week.  Now I am going to try and knit that Trekking match, although I do have some Shibui knits calling my name.  It’s pretty purpley too.  Maybe that’s my problem?  Not enough purple?  Onward.

I’ve got a big, less whiny update coming later on.  I’ve been doing things.  Again.

I figure the aloe and jojoba oil will only enhance all the greazing up they do with a pedicure.  Anyway, it can’t hurt.  And no, I didn’t even bother matching the stripes.  I wanted to get as much out of the skein as possible and I did.  I still have 29 g left for frankensocks!

Next I got started on March’s RSC shipment, Leafling:

I really love this pattern.  The heel is worked in a semi-crazy way but it totally works out.  That gets the AWESOME ranking.  KnittingSuzanne’s toe mod gets the AWESOME rating, too.  So simple but it never would have occurred to me on my own.  I am glad she came up with it because it finishes the toe off really nicely.

I have knitted some other things along the way that aren’t really blog or Ravelry worthy, but I am producing:  hemp bags/dishcloths/towels…boring shit, that.  This weekend I’ve got gardening to do for MeMe – doesn’t matter how old Southern women get they’ve got to have their gardens – and for myself but I also need to get started on a Mother’s Day gift for Moms.  I’m thinking shawl, as in house shawl.  Something in a heavier weight yarn.  I’ll let you know what I come up with.  Leave it to me to wait ’til the last minute.

Now it’s time for cocktails and smack talkin’ on the front porch.  Catch y’all on the flip.

First, there was Saginaw where we visited Grandma. She’s doing well but doing all that death talk that old people do when they are getting ready to go. She’s old. She’s tired. She’s buried most of her people. I don’t blame her. Still, it was nice to see her. We are planning a road trip up there in the next little bit to gather her up and bring her back down. She’s not up to air travel for personal reasons but she’ll allow us to chauffeur her.

After Saginaw we shuffled over to Windsor and caught the train to Toronto.

The Girl on the Train

I hadn’t been there since 1978, but damn, has it grown. We hit the CN Tower because, well, it’s there and it’s really tall and the last time I was there it wasn’t completed and that open air observation deck was frightening. That deck is still frightening now, completed so nothing has changed. They added the glass floor which is just ridiculously cruel. I wouldn’t go near it and could not watch when The Girl went near it. We also hit the science center but otherwise we walked the neighborhoods.

Moms and The Girl

That was taken on our last day over in Little Italy. Y’all, it was so cold but after a couple of jugs o’ wine, we warmed up. Aren’t they pretty? Moms and The Girl are tight.

We did also make it over to Duke’s temporary location. They are up and running and doing all they can to keep things going while they rebuild. They are getting tons of community and city support which should make things go more smoothly. I do have one tool report, though but I really shouldn’t be surprised. You know those guys that ride in kits? Even in the city? You know, full on Tour de France gear? Those guys. Now, I don’t generally have a problem with anyone on a bike. I figure more power to you and the more the merrier, share the road, do your thang, but those kit guys are squicky. They are squicky everywhere as evidenced by the guy I encountered on the way to Duke’s. I made the mistake of calling him “Sir”. Seriously. Right in the middle of him telling me Duke’s is no more, he is obviously out of the loop, he said “and I am not a sir!” with such a whine. Dude, get over yourself. Next time I ask a question of a kit man I am just going to walk up and say “excuse me? Asshole?” and be done with it. I am from the South. Sir and Ma’am are terms we use. Especially if we don’t know your name and we are interrupting or need something. Besides that fucko was at least ten years younger than me and should respect his elders or he’ll get his ass kicked. ha!

Got home from Toronto on Saturday evening, did laundry, worked on my Camp homework and then headed out for the airport Monday morning at 6am for Sock Camp. Yow. Early. All went well. My connection was made and I arrived in Seattle where Casey – her blog is well hidden so no linkage – picked me up and carried me with her to Orcas. On the ferry we picked up Celia. What a lucky, lucky encounter. Both women are awesome and we all just sort of clicked immediately. Turns out we were all staying in the same building with Celia right across the hall from me and Casey just two doors down.

Bow to the awesome

I can’t say enough how lucky I was to meet these two. I laughed so hard and had so much fun with them but they also saved my sanity at times. Especially towards the end. Camp was interesting. I don’t think I have ever been with so many women so exclusively for such a long period of time. Stephen/hizKNITS was there too, but one man is not enough to counter all that estrogen. Really, if y’all want to see camp stuff you should check his blog. He’s got the goods. Or check The Harlot’s blog out. She’s got info, too. Most everyone at camp was great but there were some strange dynamics going on. Of course, the people that went last year were tight. They have history so it’s understandable but at times it was like being an interloper. Also, too, I haven’t ever done any sort of knitting thing. I don’t knit with people at home and have never been to any sort of even where vendors are involved or anything like that so I wasn’t aware of how fast the yarn that was for sale would be gobbled up. No idea. It was astonishing really. I bought 3 hanks, one pattern and one monkey kit and I was lucky to get them. Now I know that next time I gotta get in there with my elbows and get what I want or it won’t be there. Overall it was the personalities involved that were the most entertaining. I would have been happy to stay in a corner and just watch. Mostly though it was a good time and I am glad I did it but I am glad to be home too. Finally home that is. It started snowing on the last day of camp but I was assured that when I got to Seattle there would be no evidence of the snow and I wouldn’t have a problem getting out. LIARS! First the flight coming in from Dallas was late and then the weather intruded. After deicing we took off two hours late and I, of course, missed my connection to Atlanta and had to stay over in Dallas. I got home about 11am Sunday. I was tired and dirty but glad to be home. Now I’ma stay home for a bit and get some shit done. My yard is calling.

All that is why the next is so painful. I’ve decided I need a new ugly cardigan. A new ugly cardigan that is more presentable and not acrylic. I can have an unbridled love affair with my ugly store bought acrylic cardigan but I cannot knit with acrylic and I find that I can’t knit ugly. I’ve been looking at the Central Park Hoodie but it isn’t quite right and everybody and her brother has knit that thing. I am also looking at Ribbed Diamonds. That is reminiscent of my beloved but I am not yet committed. I would have to knit it at a smaller gauge maybe since I am not a man – contrary to the rumor about my balls – and I am not a big woman. I am a 10 on top, broad shoulders, and a 6 on the bottom, although, if I don’t get back into the gym STAT my bottom will be expanding. Although, I am attracted to a big boxy cardigan that I can throw on and go. I’ve got to decide because I need a big project and I would like to take it with me to Sock Camp. That is if I can ever work out my travel arrangements. It’s turning into planes, trains and automobiles. Plus, the cost of the flight is about to give me cardiac arrest. In order to get there in less than 12 hours I need a direct flight which is running 500+. Do you know where I can go for 500 bucks? Most of the world is open if you’ve got 500 bucks to spend on a flight. So I wait. And watch. And hope for a better price on the flight I need and try to resign myself to having to fork over my hard earned cheese.

I used Cat Bordhi’s Riverbed Architecture and followed her Rushing Rivulet chart for the pattern.  Simple four stitch repeat.  The only thinking I had to do was to remember to increase my pattern on each side as I increased along the sole of the foot.  Otherwise the pattern was going to run up a strip on the top of the foot, which I didn’t care for.

I’ve already started ripping back the cuffs on the Inside Out socks, too.  They were the first shipment of the 2007 Rockin’ Sock Club.  With all the cabling and The Girl’s high instep the cuff just became too tight for her to get on as her foot grew even the littlest bit.  I think I may just knit them up in k2 p1 ribbing and call it a day.  I love the colors in the yarn and it will stand on it’s own nicely without patterning.

Speaking of RSC…I did join again for 2008 and received my first shipment.  Not my colors at all and I typically love orange.  Just not burnt oranges/rusts.  I’ve got a couple of takers though – both Moms and Mr. like the colors but I think the pattern will probably do better for Moms.  As liberal as I am I can’t see Mr. in lace socks.  I’ve got some other hanks of yarn in bright colors that he’ll like so I’ll have to get on the socks for him.  At least my speed has picked up so a pair doesn’t take forever anymore.  Anyway, I’ll throw the orange RSC into the stash and knit it up when the mood strikes.

God, I feel like I haven’t left the house in days which I guess I haven’t.  I went to see the doctor yesterday for my physical and then home again.  Today I ran out and voted and then home again.  That took all of 10 minutes round trip which was awesome.  I hate standing around waiting.  The Girl was like “that’s it?”  She’s used to those big state ballots when you have to vote for everyone and his brother.  The two clicks and it’s done – we’ve got a 1% sales tax increase up for grabs – was little disconcerting I guess.  Sunday I stayed in and Saturday I only left to hook up for dinner with everyone.  I even skipped the Yacht Club afterwards which just shows I was deathly ill.  I never pass up beers and laughs.  So all told, I guess I haven’t really been out out since last week.  No wonder I feel so humorless and flat.  Tomorrow though, tomorrow I get my hairs did which always makes me feel better.  Gotta get my sparkles covered and hear about Joey’s trip and maybe run around the corner to Knitch and see if they got any Louet  Gems in yet.  Maybe.  Maybe if they aren’t too covered in crazy women buying huge hanks of boucle mohair and 35mm straights and worrying about droppings stitches on the plane while they knit up a scarf.  The man she was with actually said I, I, should have helped her.  As if.  Holly can’t and won’t help crazy.  There aren’t enough hours in the day.