August 10, 2005
My New Career
I do believe I have a future career as a mental-health specialist. The Mysterious K has officially gone from muttering, “I don’t wanna eat” to letting all the cold out of the refrigerator while she farts around in front of it with the door open, trying to find something to satisfy the never-ending munchies. That, and she’s wondering where we’re going to ride our mountain mutinous bikes this weekend. Hmmmm. Perhaps it’s time to sign up for an Acme Correspondence Course so I can get my fake-o Ryan Morrissey, Ph.D., certificate from Larvard University in a cheap-o plastic frame for my wall, and hang my shingle.
Add to that the fact that I made it through a week without leaking—which is extra important because, unlike my cat who leaked filtered water, I would’ve leaked Coca-Cola and what a sticky, sugary, syrupy mess that would’ve made—and that I’ve gotten a clean bill of health and my stitches are coming out today, and things look pretty rosy on the home front.
(Side note: Thank you ever so much to Patti and Melinda for offering to help while TMK was on the Disabled List. Your offers meant a lot to us! Given TMK's history, I'm inclined not to decline fully but to take a rain-check instead...)
In the meantime, I’ve been trying to settle back into my regular knitting after all the excitement of Stitch & Pitch and Stephanie’s visit. The Saffron Socks are coming along:
In Big Foot’s defense, although the finished sock may look hugely long, the top of the foot is ribbed so it really stretches and shortens when you put it on.
I can’t tell you how much I love the color of this yarn. It’s saffron coloring comes from a wonderful blend of a saturated light-to-medium oranges and light-to-medium yellows which makes for the most cheerful, rich, slightly variegated color. Just taking the sock and the yarn out of my bag brightens my spirit.
(While knitting the Saffron Socks, I invented a new word, "finking," which describes a process that is half-way between frogging and tinking. It applies to those times when you half frog and half tink, or to those times when you tink back many, many rows because it's preferable to trying to fit the needles back into the loops after frogging. In fact, I am in the process of finking part of the second Saffron Sock as we speak.)
I’ve also started on the aran cardigan for my co-worker in the Score, Dude! dark-green Encore.
Last night I realized that there is a special moment when you are knitting something new when it stops being short, stiff and cardboard-y and starts to droop and drape and behave like real fabric. That is where I am with this cardigan now; what a great feeling!
How lucky you are to be able to switch between so many careers. There is the techno stuff you currently do during the day and then there is the volunteer medical work in the evenings and on week ends. AND THEN you organize giantly succesful knitting scams AND baseball outings for hundreds. What an amazing life you lead Ryan.
How boring my life seems in comparison. (sigh)
No one even recognizes me at my deli. (sigh, again)
Love the green sweater to be!
I'm back from vacation, and I see that you all have been very busy while I've been away--sore backs, visits from the Harlot, mention in Vogue Knitting, no less, and other assorted EVENTS.
TMK, hope you are feeling better---remember all that swimming--strengthening your back will prove to be "money in the bank" now as you are on the mend. But, if you find yourself tripping over Ryan's last nerve and need ANYTHING at all, please don't hesitate to call!
I was never so sorry to have to miss something as I was to miss Stephanie's visit---hope she comes again when she writes her next book....
Just bought my copy of Vogue and read about Dulaan---wow! Great Press! Hugs to all, Mary B
Posted by: Mary B on August 10, 2005 02:11 PMFirst I read about the Cola leaking and thought, ooh, the ANTS that would draw, and then I read about the ribbed socks and thought, ah, ribbed for his pleasure, and then thought, but no, they are for a monk, a MONK, and I am making condom references. Does this mean I am going straight to hell? Or coming back as a slug? But hey, love the color!
Posted by: Annie on August 10, 2005 02:23 PMYou and me, we could go into business together...I've been doing the very same thing with Spiff, trying to get him to eat, and now he stands in front of the fridge with the door open wondering what's going to leap out in the form of chocolate. Of course, this means he needs a sweater. It's cold in there....
Posted by: Lee Ann on August 10, 2005 02:58 PMLarvard University. Heh.
Posted by: Lala on August 10, 2005 03:30 PMI just lurv the color of the cardi. So cheerful!
Glad to hear TMK is feeling better, but does she really believe she should be riding so soon? Does she WANT to be more hurt for all of the pampering it provides? Don't think so. Not worth it. Behave, woman! Hehe
I have to go wash my brain now because I have weird images of Ms. Ryan as a Super Spiral Sprinkler. *giggle*
http://www.adventuretoys.co.uk/prodpage.asp?ProdID=132
Have a great day!
Posted by: Stalker Angie on August 10, 2005 03:37 PMWhat a friend you are to knit someone an ARAN SWEATER!!! I hate to say it but it'd be plain stockinette if I were making it ;)
I must know more about this saffron sock yarn. If you already said it, please indulge me. I'm detoxing. Or something. Love love LOVE that little green aran cardi. Gawd, that is gonna be special! Very thoughtful to make it out of Encore -- a nice yarn that is machine washable for a puking mewling...oh, never mind. I'm ruining the mood.
Posted by: Norma on August 10, 2005 05:40 PMYah, hang out that shingle! Another scam for you to perpetrate! hahahaha
Posted by: CarolineF on August 10, 2005 05:43 PMNorma, the yarn is Wool Pak 14-ply. And it, too, was a Score, Dude! yarn. Normally my LYS sells a skein of Wool Pak for $17+ dollars, but it was on sale for $12+ dollars, but these two skeins didn't have labels and were sold for $7.50. See? Score, dude! And in saffron, no less. I figured it was a sign from God...er, Buddha...er, somewhere that the yarn was destined for Big Foot.
And, yes, indeed, I did take the PukingMewling Factor into consideration when I picked this yarn. It's knitting up very nicely although it seems a little pilly.
Sam, true, I am wondering exactly why I'm taking the trouble to knit an aran sweater since the baby will grow out of it thatfast but I just love the pattern. I can already see myself knitting another one for some other baby!
Annie, don't worry. Cuzzin Tom is not an ordinary monk. Whatever off-color puns you've thought of, he's probably thought of them first.
Welcome back, MaryB! We'll have a Stephanie Gab Fest at the next Ferals or Guild, hokay?
Posted by: Ryan on August 10, 2005 06:05 PMWhat kind of yarn are those socks? Is those socks? Is those socks yarn(s)? Are the socks in?
I might get to come to Ferals next Monday. Maybe I will be able to speak in correct sentences.
TMK on the DL and avoiding PT! Does she have RBI and ERA stats? That's a real can of corn!
Posted by: Patti on August 10, 2005 08:47 PMSo, I have seen references to Dulaan. What's the deal? (Yeah, I read the bit about the scam too - very good, zillions of little knit hats...) Anyway, is there a website or something that gives the full information? My extra blankies go to Project Linus, but I could make a hat or two...
Posted by: Carrie on August 11, 2005 03:52 PMBeautiful Saffron Socks...
I wish more of my friends knit... your friend is fortunate to have an Aran Cardi coming. wow.
Hope your back is better and better.
Posted by: PainterWoman on August 11, 2005 07:37 PM