Short updates....

No matter how much I feel I've accomplished, there's too much more.

92% on assignment #5. Assignment #6.1 now functioning. 6.2 is frameworked out, and 6.3 has been read. I have those and 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 due before my exam, which will probably be Nov 28. I would LIKE to have them done before we go on vacation on Nov 9th, but that's seeming unlikely with a parent having surgery, an all-nighter for a big work project, and an all-day weekend for a big work project all looming in the next 7 days.

Knitting goes on between the real work, (and blogging between the knitting).

Adam's anniversary surprise has been un-surprised and he is at the moment a victim of Single Sock Syndrome, but the second will be started soon. I have to finish 1 sock toe, two baby sweater sleeves, a button band and a toque before our arrival in Peekskill November 11th.

It's probably a symptom of my increasingly middle-aged perspective that the knitting is just as important as the academic grades nowadays.

Other than the above - cats are holding their own, I need sleep - bye!

Raven Spoilers!

For those who want!
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... hang on a screen or so....

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...just in case you're here by accident. Don't scroll if you don't want to know!

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The first of the Ravens has landed!

The Yarn:



Yes, the spiders came with it.

The pattern name - and note the designer! Whee!



Sorry about the glare.

The pattern pic:



Gotta zoom - walk club night.

Another pointless blog post....

I've just written, and then deleted, 3 attempts at expressing what I think of the results of our most recent election.

Unfortunately, my opinions have been sucked down the drain of the massive outpouring of complete apathy that Ontario has demonstrated with its pathetic voter turnout and yet another "majority" government endorsed by only 40% of the voters. Note, that works out to only 20% of the citizenship of the province given the 51% voter turnout.

Citizens of Ontario: You suck. Completely stuck in the mud of the status quo. Half you of didn't even show up, and I'm disgusted. You'd expect that in the US.

Yeesh.

Gratuitous cat of the day (because all I've got left to do is knit and appreciate the cats before massive climate change eliminates both humans and domestic pets from the planet):



I took this snap, not Adam, so it's not really anything good, but it illustrates something funny I've noticed about Maui - he's taken to posing for cameras. He's found, I guess, that getting his picture taken is the level of attention he wants. When he sees someone taking snaps (I was photographing yarn stash and knitting), he hops up to exactly that corner of the sofa and watches intently. Looks right at the camera without alot of prompting. He's done it to Adam & friends when they're having a photo night, too. What a goof. I'm guessing, since he's normally skittish about being touched/petted/grabbed, but wants to be social to some degree, that humans with their hands full are less threatening as they won't grab him, and he can hang out and be interested in all that activity.

Or, maybe he's just mugging it up.

It's probably a good thing....

... that I have some rudimentary sense of taste, and am generally annoyed at alot of stupid things that people post online. Because if not for that vague sense of decorum holding me back, I'd so be blogging a picture of my left butt cheek otherwise.

You guys should SEE this bruise! I slipped at the top of the stairs yesterday morning and bounced down to the landing, on my backside. Fortunately the pudgy parts took the impact, so I am bruised but not broken. I slipped a bit off-centre which saved my tailbone. The bruise is about the size and colour of a very ripe avocado and feels like I'm sitting on a rolled-up sock in my back pocket. The front of my left leg and hip are achey as I've been sitting funny for 36 hours trying to NOT sit on the bump.

It's the second-worst, but possibly "deepest" (as in deep in the muscle) bruise I've ever had. The worst, in terms of area covered in bruise, was when I took a soccerball in the thigh, after it had been kicked full-force by a former pro player turned grad student at close range. Though I don't think I had a palpable lump that time.

I suppose it's about time we do something about the slanted floor board at the top of the stairs. A colleague of mine just explained how it is the result of either stupidity or laziness on behalf of whoever installed our flooring. The question is, can it be fixed without re-installing the whole floor. Ugh.

So many needles, so little time....

Okay, so, when the Yarn Harlot got on Ravelry, she succumbed immediately to a severe infection of malignant startitis.

Ooops. Me too. I think there are 7 WIPs, now, and I don't mean tossed-in-the-back-of-the-stash-closet UFOs, I mean things I'm picking up at random intervals and knitting on all over the place.

I blame Knit Picks for the latest. After being only moderately satisfied with my Boye Needlemaster interchangeable set, I decided to spring for the infinitely cheaper (and better even with the exchange!) new Harmony set of wooden interchangeables. I'd heard raves (mostly on Ravelry)! I'd heard of bugs, too (no quality control is flawless) but that Knit Picks took care of things. I love wooden needles. I love circular needles. I think interchangeable needles are a brilliant invention. Wooden interchangeable needles in beautiful coloured hardwood to boot? And only about 70% of the price of the Needlemaster.

So this came in the mail today:



I immediately tried out all the tips on all the cords - and did indeed find one broken tip (wood not anchored into base right). Well, a 5 minute call to the KP 800-number and they're expressing a replacement, so no worries there!

Meanwhile, the stash watched closely while I tried all my new needles. I thought I'd find some scrap and make a little swatch. Maybe transfer the little Ladybug outfit from the Boyes to the Harmony... but noooooo.... something had OTHER plans.

I hardly turned my back when 3 skeins of Fleece Artist Ottawa leaped from the stash and threw themselves onto the size 8 tips (fortunately, it was a 9 that was out of commission). So, my 7th WIP at the moment:



A Jane has totally jumped the holiday gift queue is on the stitch (different colour, but that sweater).

PS: I have 6 sets of wood or bamboo straights that are now for sale.