Half A Sheep: In Which Our Heroine Disappears...and Reappears!

...or "That which does not kill us will make us batshit!" ~ Halfasheep

I looked on my blog and realized that I haven't posted a single thing since April! I was honestly shocked! It seemed like only yesterday that the Firebird kit arrived (and, trust me, it looks like it was only yesterday, as well!). Now, it is the end of June, and I can feel life spiraling out of control! Tanasay from Ravelry and I have been talking alot about knitting vortices, this week. But I think I've fallen into a life vortex...all of my time is being sucked down into a black hole!

April, which is now known as the month of the arthritic(!) hip, was fairly crazy. I have somehow injured one little spot on my left hip, which sent shooting pain into my groin every 5th step or so. Please understand that this arthritis(!) developed literally overnight! Also, understand that I walk constantly at work! So, for about 3 weeks, I walked constantly leaning on one crutch! Did I take off work? NO! One of the surgeons greeted me one morning with "Hi, Crip!" to which I responded "It's Gimp, to you, sir!" I've never had issues with mobility, ever! But I can tell you, my heart goes out to anyone with chronic issues like this. Not only is it painful, but it's completely flippin' annoying! I couldn't carry anything and negotiate with the crutch, so housework went right out the window! As did large knitting projects (unless I was home). No grocery shopping. No shopping at all (except on-line)! But all is not lost! A friend in pain management injected the joint with anesthetic and steriods, and all is improved! It still hurts if I'm very tired, but not in the let's stick a cattle prod in your left hip socket and see how fast you go down sort of way. Hip resurfacing will, hopefully, be another 10 years down the road.

While I was incapacitated, I was sucked into a side-vortex of Ravelry...and watched as one after another train-wreck occurred before my very eyes! Now, I assume that knitterly folk are all fiber-sistahs (and brudders) and would never threaten to poke someone's eyes out with pointy sticks unless their stash was being threatened. I had my eyes opened, and have been throroughly transfixed by the war of words between zombies, pseudozombies, sock-puppets, and righteously angry knitters! (Extra credit if you guess which train-wreck of a thread I'm referring to!)

May might have been a little better, but with many of my co-workers on vacation, work became almost the only thing I had time to do! I did manage to meet with my peeps in Lancaster, TX, for the Second Saturday on the Square. The "Over the Wheel Gang" meets in the town square (brick streets, live oaks, etc.) to spin, knit, whatever each 2nd Saturday, weather permitting, right outside the Sassy Spinster, which is a lovely new shop for knitting, spinning and weaving. I had arrived with my trusty Victoria, and set up my chair next to a woman who was trying to put together a new wheel...the Louet Julia! The owner of the store was showing her this wheel, and they were unsure of how to assemble the bobbin and flyer. I was able to help them, as it is almost exactly like the Victoria...and I fell in love! I've been looking at full sized wheels for about 3 months, as the Victoria is a little low for comfort when spinning at home, but is perfect for a mobile project. I had looked at the Schacht Matchless, but it was a little pricey. But this was absolutely perfect! Tense negotiation began. This woman didn't know if she wanted it, but wanted to try it out. "I'll take it if she doesn't!" popped right out of my mouth!

The woman looked at me strangely. Then I took a second look at her! OMG! It was Sherry from Brooks Farm Yarn! My hero! I groveled obsequiously at her feet for awhile, trying to absorb her sense of color, while, at the same time, trying to nab the wheel! No such luck, since Sherry knows her wheels! However, thanks to the good owner of the shop and Louet, orders were placed and a new Julia is now residing in my spinning corner! As are several skeins of Solo, which I scoredsince Sherry was there! You'll see it in the Clapotis, if I can ever get the pictures loaded onto the computer!

June has been devoted to work and to getting DD's ready for summer! Big DD is off for 6 weeks in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Venia del Mar, Chile. Little DD is doing her softball thing and whining about being bored. DH keeps coming up with things that I need to do (because they are too, too difficult for his addled little brain), like charging the iPod he got for Father's Day! I've had three complete days off in the month of June, so far (it's the 25th!) I'm buried in laundry, the floors are unbelievable, my printer has died, and I can't find the cord to upload pictures! My dogs don't recognize me anymore. The cats have taken to swiping at me as I pass. And every time I walk in the door, someone has lists of things for me to do!

Maybe I'll really disappear this time....if I can pack all this yarn!

Comments

Greetings! I have missed seeing your thoughts on this page! Have you ever considered getting yourself a bottle or two of Xango? The stuff is amazing and it works wonders for those of us who have joint issues and arthritis. It takes about 3 months for it to really kick in and work but, when it does, you will feel like a million bucks. I am supposed to be selling it, I haven't sold a bottle but, I am drinking it. I am not much of a salesperson these days but, that is okay, my life is yarn, not retail.
Have you tried spinning sweet grass targhee? That is my new love. It spins divinely! Avoid Ingeo, it bites, the big one!

Posted by: Laura Neal | June 25, 2008 at 23:39