Identity

I’ve always identified myself by what I do. If I’m knitting, I’m a knitter. If I’m training dogs, I’m a dog trainer. If I’m with S, I’m a girlfriend. If I’m with my family, I’m a daughter, sister, cousin, niece.  Why is it that I can’t identify myself as me? I am me, and no one else is me. Just like no one else is my dad, my mother, my brothers.

As a knitter, I knit, obsess about yarn, live in my perfect knitting world where everything is amazing and done, and I do other knitterly things. I read knitting books and blogs. I puzzle out how to do that one particular thing that I can’t quite seem to figure out, and I feel accomplished when I get past a tricky spot in a pattern, or figure out how to fix an awful end-of-the-world mistake.

As a writer, I write, read, plot, and plan. Occasionally, the characters in my story take over, and that’s all I can think about. If this is the case, I write, or mumble to myself while writing on an invisible board. As a writer, I’m more than slightly crazy, I’m almost certifiable.

As a family member, I’m what ever I need to be for whoever I’m with. I could be a friend, a confidante, a partner in crime, or just plain awesome. I know when to be a tattle tale, when to keep my mouth shut, when to gossip, when to listen, and when being invisible really would be a handy trick.

As me, I’m all of these things, and more. So why is it when I’m around alone I’m me, and when I’m not I’m whatever I need to be? Why do I feel the need to identify myself as some one other than who I am? Can’t I be all of the above at the same time?

Perspective…

I went back to the doctor, ya know, that one doctor, the rheumatologist (which isn’t spelled wrong despite the spell check’s very demanding squiggle red line). At least I didn’t have to do blood work this time. I’m still on the same medicine, and it’s the mildest one he can give me. Oh joy… Hopefully, it doesn’t stop working. My next appointment is in three months. Hoo-rah!

In other good news, Doofus leaves tomorrow!!! 6 months of Doofus-free living, and suddenly I’m feeling better. Just a little bit of perspective. Also, dad is going back to karate. I’m jealous. KP tonight; I need the break. Then there’s tomorrow… Tomorrow, I find out if I’m going to be certified or not as a Dog Training Instructor (their words, not mine). I hope yes.

Matilda is coming along nicely, or so I’m pretending. LFS is coming along even more nicely. In the world inside my head, LFS is already done, and I’m wearing it today. If only, if only. I love the world inside my head. It’s so much more satisfying than the real knitting world.

Other than that, I have no news. Oooo… I lied. Dad said he was going to work on quitting smoking! Yeah!!!

Happy (imaginary) Knitting!!!

Fall

I’m back from LMU. This semester didn’t go so well. But to my surprise when I got home, fall had come. I love the cool weather, the falling leaves, knitting, and just the awesome smells. Fall also means winter is coming, and what’s better than getting snowed in and knitting while drinking hot chocolate with your dog and cat curled up around? Absolutely nothing.

Happy Fall Knitting!

I’ve Given Up…

Temporarily of course, on LFS. I needed a break, but I’m going to pick it up soon. My goal is to have it finished by November. Instead, I’m working on Matilda. She is absolutely beautiful, though I’m only 8 rows into the pattern.

As soon as I can, I’m going to post pictures.

Happy Knitting.

How Cake Saved Me

Because of the idiocy of wrong wording on a form, I am now going to have 11 days to get my student loan money… Until those 11 days are up, I can not attend any of my classes, nor move in. After calling the housing director, being transferred four, FOUR, different times (the fourth one being back to the housing director), I’ve worked it out so I can move in. I can even go to class if my loan approval letter will come in the mail. Here’s how today went:

I woke up because my phone was ringing. I almost didn’t answer it because I didn’t recognize the number. However, I did answer the number. The lady (who was rather rude by the way) said my self certification form was incorrect, more specifically Line C was less than the amount applied for. Well,  the instructions for Line C say, “Difference between amounts A and B”.  After reading the rest of the paper you find out, “If you borrow more than the amount on line C, you risk reducing your eligibility for free or lower-cost federal, state, or school financial aid.” The entire time I’m looking at the form, and trying to explain to this rude woman, I have no clue what I need to do, or even what she’s saying, I’ve wasted thirty minutes (30!!!). Finally, I said, “Okay, sure, I’ll figure it out. Thank you so much for your help.” and I hung up. Four phone calls, two emails, and one rather annoyed person later, I’m finally ready to call back to the bank.

This time the lady (thankfully not the same one) was super patient. She gave me all the information and numbers I needed, told me I where I can go to fax the form free, when to call back to speed up the process. After another two phone calls, I found out the financial aid office at LMU is closed today. So, I called my close friend (she’s probably tired of me by now) Lesley Chumley, the director of housing at LMU, and she got me all situated.

And here comes yet another phone call, trying to figure out when the little brother’s band practice is, if it has changed, and why no one can do anything on their own. Finally, I say I’m done with it all, and start slamming the cabinet doors in the kitchen, when I find cake mix and icing.

I combine all the ingredients, beating the cake mix furiously. I didn’t even use the mixer thingy. I just beat away until all the lumps were gone. And now, I have 10 more minutes until my Cake of Frustration has been throughly beaten and baked to a fiery death in the stove.

And that, my friends, is how cake saved me from killing everyone in sight.

Happy Baking (and knitting of course)!

Monday Night Is Not KP

I am unable to go to KP tonight, but I’m going tomorrow night instead. I’m taking my loom and working on S’s scarf. First I’m going to rip it out and then do stripes, because I’m that awesome. Actaully, I’m only striping it because it’s on the loom, and it takes a little less time to loom than to knit on needles. Which brings me to:

WIPs!!!

Skipping right over BoW and heading straight to LFS:  I’m still chugging along slowly. I’ve started the skirt body, and I think I’m going to have to cut the length short. It’s a bit longer than I expected. When I get to an good length, I’ll finish the skirt body, and then do the rest of it. I’m going to double check the length first. Maybe I just read the pattern wrong.

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Curtains doubled: I haven’t even started. I think I’m going to wait until I get to LMU, teach B to knit on kneedles, and have her knit her own curtains, while I do the same pattern. If she doesn’t want to learn the needles, I’ll just do it while I’m there. The pattern isn’t too hard.

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Sweaters: S and I haven’t even casted on. I’ll let you know when we do.

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Timeless Lace Wrap: I’m dying to work on this. I’ve dyed yarn and it’s the gorgeous color. I can’t wait to work on with it. I’m working on it after LFS and work on it during all the other projects, when I need a little break.

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That’s all the WIPs for now. Thursday, I have the appointment with the rheumatologist, and I’ll definitely be posting about it. Other than that, I don’t think I have any news. Until next time:

Happy Knitting!

It’s Been Awhile

My week with S was amazing!!! I didn’t do much to teach him how to purl. Left handed knitters are weird, people. Everything’s backwards, and nothing makes sense. I did, however, show him how to cable. He went with me to KP Monday where he started his sweater three times (well, my sweater actually).

I’m making (very, very) slow progress on LFS. But it is pretty. I really should take some pictures of the skirt. I have decided I’m not working on anything else until I finish LFS, and by finish, I mean one hundred percent completely done. It’s going to be blocked, tails weaved in, the whole shebang before I start working on anything else. Maybe then, I’ll finish BoW, but probably not.

Happy Knitting!

Monday: WIPs, KP, and Cleaning

I have two more days until S get’s here, and I have to clean. I really don’t have time to knit (or blog), but I am.

I’m going to start another Ellie Cora today. I still have LFS, BoW, both curtains, the triplets (Matilda, Dawn, and Angela), and several more hats to work on. I’m going to teach S to purl and cable while he’s here, and we’re going to work on these. It’s going to be a very busy two days, but once the house is clean, I won’t feel so rushed.

Happy Knitting!!!

What I Haven’t Told You

I went to the doctor early last week, and they ran a rheumatoid panel, checking for rheumatoid arthritis. Well… I didn’t say anything because it could be nothing, but as it turns out it’s something. I did battle long and hard before finding out my test results.

My doctor’s office has this automated number to call and get test results. I called when the time frame was up and got nothing. I tried calling several more times, still nothing. Yesterday, a letter came from the Arthritis Center of Lexington. I have an appointment there I didn’t set up. So, I called the doctor’s office. I gave them my number, was told they’d call me with the results, and I was left still waiting.

I worked last night, so I was conked out pretty hard when my phone rang. When I woke up, I checked the message, and called back per the instructions left. As it turns out, Amanda (I don’t know who she is, but she was very polite.) was at lunch, so I left a message for her. I was on the phone with S, when my phone beeped in my ear, I believe I said something like this, “Oh! I’ve got to go, well sorta, I’m putting you on hold.” And answered the other call.

She told me, “The blood work shows you have some arthritis.” She went on to tell me, my rheumatoid levels were up, and she faxed a referral over to the ACL, but they never called her back…

That is my three day ordeal trying to figure out my test results. So, I’m going to my appointment, I’m not sure what to expect though. On a happier note, mom and I have been invited to my cousin’s baby shower. I figured I’d make two more Ellie Cora’s and loom a newborn baby hat for her. I’m also making another Ellie Cora for NB. This one is going to be mainly pink.

I’ll post pictures of everything. (Yeah right! ) I’ll try to post pictures of everything. LFS is looking good. I’m impressed with it. Posting pictures soon. I lost my camera again, but I will find it.

Happy Knitting!

My Mini Break Is Now Over!

After I finished Ellie Cora, I took a mini break. I barely knitted, so nothing has gotten done. My WIPs remain the same.

BoW: Is this even necessary? Moving on.

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LFS: I’m still working on the pleats, but I realized I have no pictures of it posted. I’ll post some later today or tomorrow.

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NB’s Baby’s Baby Blanket: I think I’m going to wait for S to come visit me in a week and a half and started it then. He did mention he wanted to help with it. Plus it won’t take too long to do, especially with two of us working on it.

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Curtains Times Two: I’m going to start working on them soon; I just don’t know when.

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As far as WIPs go this is all I have. I’m taking Ellie Cora to my aunt’s house tomorrow and to KP on Monday. I have to show it off before I give it to NB. I might just giver her the blanket and hat at the same time. We shall see.

Happy Knitting!!!