On the Home Stretch

I have ZERO time to knit.  I am so deep in the work hole I may never get out alive.  I am feeling so much guilt about the work thing I may never be able to breathe again.  Work keeps piling on.  It's the "birth of the glacier" Stephanie talked about a while back.  (Seriously, I don't need to link to her, do I?  Everybody knows who I'm talking about.)  In addition to my workload being heavy and my work ethic having eroded considerably, there is this little vision thing going on.  And there I was thinking that I had developed ADD and that it was because I was distracted by the knitting and blogging.  It may actually have its genesis in a legitimate eye health problem.  I kept thinking it was the screen of my new laptop, and it may be, but a routine doctor's visit suggests that, much to my surprise, it may also be a physiologic thing that needs to be taken care of, and soon.  Expect whining.  I'm not as stoic as I used to be. 

And on top of it all, the computer of one of my colleagues just crashed, so guess who got to take her work for yesterday, a day I so desperately needed for catching-up purposes and for perhaps even resting purposes.  Part of what's been going on is too little sleep, as well.  And even MORE backlog piled up on top of the backlog. 

This is not a good time, therefore, to make a visit to the college to see our One And Only in a play.  But we'll be there, with bells on.  She's got the lead. 

Quickly overtaking the serious guilt and leaving it far behind is a feeling of guilty pleasure and guilty relief.  I have to be in the car for at least five and a half hours today, and again tomorrow.  I cannot use the computer in the car (I've tried that, and it's a sure way to make me very, very carsick.)  But I can knit.  This has been proven.  I must *try* to be moderate in it, though, because I should not exacerbate the vision thing. 

Looky what I can work on:

Eminently finishable, maybe by the time we reach the High Peaks Rest Area, a very favorite rest stop on the Northway.  Something to be added to my 100-something list:  I love the High Peaks Rest Area on the Northway.  Another thing, slightly related:  I measure car trips by the rest (read: "toilet," for you Europeans) stops. 

And evidence that I'm frickin' insane:

This is just a sampling of the things I "need to knit now."  Clockwise, starting at the left:

1.  The beginning of my gold Rogue cardi.

2.  The pattern I picked up yesterday (yes, yesterday) for Fiber Trends' "Everybody's Favorite Hat and Scarf."  I know some people (I won't name names) will laugh at me buying a pattern for those two items.  Those people could whip either one of these things up without a pattern.  I know, I know.  And I probably could, too, but I'm too lazy.  And I saw one knitted up in...

3.  (WHAT WAS I THINKING) a brand new skein (one of three I bought) of Noro Iro.  I usually am not that fond of Noro yarns, but I wanted to eat this orangey-scrumptious color.  Can you believe it's jumped the queue ahead of all the other umpty-bazillion things I want to knit NOW?  But such is life.  And it's portable, for the car.  You know, it's only just for the car.  Not for me.  The car.

4.  Skeins of manly blue yarn to make Abigail's boyfriend the Canadian Winter hat & mittens.  The black multi yarn sort of in front of them will be double-stranded with it.  It is, say it with me, now: "mmmmmmm".... Mountain Colors in the colorway Granite Peak.  I really only got this for Abigail to knit him that set with.  She chose it.  But I hardly ever knit anything for myself in blue, and it's an excuse to use blue.  I love blue. 

5.  Skip back in the clockwise sequence a bit.  I got out of sequence.  Sorry.  It's the Denim People book that I bought myself yesterday.  I was just feeling sorry for myself yesterday, and the yarn store I dipped in had just got it in.  Totally LOVE those patterns, even though I have an allergy to Kim Hargreaves.  But I do love her designs.  Too bad she hates writing patterns. 

Kim H. to Norma:  "You don't like it that I don't put directions in my patterns?  Fuck off.  Figure it out yourself.  I'm going to take a smoke break."  <---this line shamelessly stolen from the blog of Kitten Avec Whip many moons ago.  I always totally loved that line.  She was talking about somebody else, but I like it for the voice of Kim Hargreaves.  End of story.

6.  The skein of Cascade 220 in the same color as Abigail's Rogue.  Destined (very soon) for felted mittens with suede palms.  The suede palms are somewhere in this photo.  I'm all out of the clockwise sequence now, so go ahead and play "find the suede palms."  Sorry, there's no prize for this.  Just the personal satisfaction you will get in finding them.

7.  The dark gold skein on the right side of the photo:  a Sophie bag for my hairdresser.  I know, I know, I said I was going to make her a clone of my brown bag with the brooch.  I changed my mind.  I've ordered a set of gold/brown/amber beaded handles.  I couldn't resist.  I may not even give it to my hairdresser when it's done, but it makes me sound very giving to say I will.

8.  I fucking walked into this dumb little LYS that is my least favorite in the area, only because it's the closest to where I worked yesterday -- and I reiterate, I was feeling sorry for myself after work -- and what is the first thing I saw?  The reason I'm not as fond of this store is because they are really understocked.  But what's the first thing I saw, right inside the door?  Debbie Bliss Cashmerino, 40% off.  They have NEVER had D.B. Cashmerino before.  Need I remind you about the whole Cashmerino for the daughter's boyfriend thing?  Need I tell you that I ordered four skeins from The Knitting Garden yesterday morning before I left for work, at full price, plus shipping?  Arrrrrgh.  But they didn't have the color that The Boy wanted -- lilac.   This store is weird.  I am starting to get the distinct feeling that they buy up odd lots and sell them.  There was this yarn, 40% off, and they had two skeins of the light gold you see in my photo, four of navy blue, ONE medium purple, maybe six or eight hunter green.  This is weird.  I've seen other evidence of my theory before.  I don't get it.  But whatever. I bought the two light gold and the four navy.  I'll do something with them.  Don't know what yet. 

9.  The white skein is a skein of the special Rambouillet from which I made Plain Vanilla.  I want to double-strand it with the Cascade Ecological wool I have for a bulky pair of mittens with a cable running down the hand.  I got the pattern from Green Mt. Spinnery.  Or maybe THIS will be the felted pair with the suede palms and the salmon pink will be the bulky with the cable.  You never can tell with me.  Or it could very well be neither.  You NEVER EVER can tell with me.

10.  And last but not least in the photo, the gorgeous homespun merino from someone special.  That stuff needs to get around my neck NOW.  I have designed my own special dressy scarf for it, but I.NEED.TIME.TO.KNIT.  If I don't knit it soon, I'm just going to start draping the skeins around my neck and wear it that way.  I'm pathetic.  Just pathetic.  At Christmastime, I can put a glass Christmas bulb on a hook hanging from the center.  That would be cool.  Pathetic. 

Of course this is only a smattering of the projects I have dancing around in my head like sugar plums.  But I know you all know this is perfectly normal.  Thank goodness for you-all. 

Now, just for shits and giggles, I leave you with this.  This should inspire some conversation.  A true impulse purchase, and I never EVER pay full price for a book, but I was in Staples the other day and walked out with this:

I just couldn't resist the title.  So far, just flipping through, I might think this book is a bunch of shite.  I'm not sure.  I'm just not really one for psychobabble, which this looks like it is. How do I deal with people I can't stand?  Steamroll 'em.  Or shoot 'em.  Wait, can I say that in my blog?  Nahhhh, I don't really shoot 'em.  Or do I?  Poke 'em with my knitting needles?  What do you think? 

It might have some good stuff, but what the hell was I thinking?  It's like recovery from addiction or alcoholism.  If you want to "deal with people you can't stand," first you have to WANT to.  I guess the answer is in the title.  They don't say "get along with people you can't stand," or "like people you can't stand," they say "deal with" people you can't stand.  There's a distinct difference.  I guess there is the "have to" aspect. "Have to get along with people you can't stand," as in the workplace.  That's where this is directed.  Thankfully, as a freelancer, I seriously don't have this problem.  I really don't have to work with people I can't stand.  Well, ok, sometimes I do, but it's only for a day and it's over.  I've hardly even figured out that I can't stand the person, and I'm gone. 

Okie-dokie.  Congratulate me.  I've just successfully killed an entire evening (I wrote this what will be "last night" by the time you read it - does this make ANY sense?) I could have been chipping away at the mountain of work I have.  Great.  That will help pay the bills.  Oh yes, it will.  Thank you, thank you.  Yes, I'm very proud of my accomplishment. Have a great weekend.  *bowing*

Comments

[sandy]

Ahhh, pictures. I remember those! :)
Thank you so much for wallowing with me. It doesn't seem so lonely when there is company!
I hug you!
Sending good eye vibes. And, well, go knit something will ya? Your stash is even calling to ME for cripes sake!
There. Now I've left comments to 2 peeps. I'm getting there!
haha!

[Mia]

Norma, Norma, Norma,
You may be going slightly insane, but you sure make me laugh! Sounds like maybe a cocktail would be in order this morning for breakfast!

Enjoy the car ride :-)

mia

[Cassie]

Need.......Iro....

I swear you told me you were too tired to blog yesterday.

[margene]

Is this called a second wind? Sometimes you just need to connect to friends near and far. Good thoughts and prayers for your eye problem and pray it is easily fixed. You already know you must breathe, take time to rest, too. The play sounds like a perfect diversion and knitting your way there sounds almost as good. That Rogue has really moved along quicly. Hugs, Norma.

[roggey]

I'm thinking a sabbatical might be a word you want to allow to creep into your vocabulary, dearheart and *soon* before I read of a crazed woman going after her coworkers with books and needles. Hmm... although that would be more interesting than the Brokaw "introspective" I keep hearing about for news. *hug*

[Maureen]

Hoping all goes well with your eye problem. Those are some nice gifts you have planned.Always enjoy your posts with my morning coffee.

[Vicki]

O.M.G., "...first you have to WANT to." My fingers are limp and I'm crying -- every muscle in my body is quivering with laughter and agreement. You are too precious, my dear.

[Elizabeth]

I'm sorry, but was I the only one who noticed that the boy wanted lilac and you called the STORE weird? Who wants lilac and why? I thought the boyfriend was getting the blue. I'm awash in your knitting/yarn frenzy here and I'm getting a little woozy. But it's a good woozy.... I think.

[allyson]

You can get suede palms (sounds like a condition) at Woodland Woolworks. Get rested.

[Kristen]

Oh dear, eyes! Take care of those precious things!

BTW, you have made me feel like a complete wuss for fearing the three whole knitting projects I have to complete before the holidays!

[joan]

Thanks for the whirlwind of excitement re: yarns and projects - it was chaotic enough to help center me! I wish you well with all, or whichever you choose!

About the book - how to deal with people you can't stand, I'd like to share my experience. Due to my training (social work) and my practice (small towns and tribal communities) I have made something of a study of this issue. The problem arises, that people I can't stand, generally also can't stand me. NOw I'm a fairly pacificistic live and let live, tolerant kind of person, who has only belately noticed that others may not follow suit. My mentor assures me that the only way to deal with those I can't stand is:

1) realize that they also have problems with me;
2) believe that I have both worth and rights to exist and:
3) be proactive, which looks like this:
4) and I quote, "lead them out on the ice,until you hear it crack", and then'
5 "get off the ice yourself".

I have tried this and frankly, enjoyed it. Perhaps I am a flawed person....but only you will know what this looks like for you!

Once they are off your trail, you can knit without looking over your shoulder......

Happy Christmas.