As of yesterday at noon I have been a non-smoker for three years. According to QuitTime, I have not smoked 38,384 cigarettes and saved $6,717.20. Cody says I can get a $50 prize for myself. What to buy what to buy.

I finished the tweedy fuzzyfeet for my father-in-law on Friday night at a big dinner with the Aunts, their daughters, daughters-in-law, and granddaughters. I will felt them to fit his feet when he comes by this week.

I also just finished my first Jaywalker. That’s my very first “normal” sock, ladies and gents. And I cast on the other one like a good girl.

And I spun (for the first time since December) a bobbinful some great Neopolitan roving from Spunky Eclectic. The roving was a giftmas prezzie from Cody and his mom so I’m keeping this yarn. It was nice to spin again I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed it until I was doing it.

Photos to come soon, tomorrow when I wake up. I’ve been busy with family stuff and a web project and my usual lethargic self. (yay hypothyroidism and depression!) I had a good night tonight. Cody was at work but I had all my babies (except the hedgehog) cuddled up with me. We watched strange programs about Tomb Hunters and Cannibalism on the History Channel as I worked away on my sock. Also a Cary Grant Ginger Rogers movie called Once Upon a Honeymoon which has Rogers recite the original Pledge of Allegiance (sans the under God part that wasn’t added until the fifties). That’s always interesting.

Thanks for your thoughts about my sister and her kitty. It’s hard to lose a member of the family, even when it’s a fuzzy member.

Please send your prayers, prayer-equivalents, thoughts, or simply drink a toast to my sister and her sixteen year-old cat (my favorite kitty niece), Veruca Salt. They were together this afternoon when Veruca peacefully passed into the kitty hereafter following a very bad bout of kidney problems.

May she have lots of fresh catnip where she is now and may her litterbox always be clean.

Last year for valentine’s day I bought the perfect shirts for Cody and I.

Of course, he has taken over wearing them both. But it was the perfect gift for us both: silly with no serious pressure because really, and I’m not kidding, every day is Valentine’s Day for us. I know it sounds all dumb and cheesy but it’s true. We buy little gifties for each other and ourselves pretty often so the idea of putting all this pressure to buy each other “special”, ie: expensive, gifts is more than we really need. We’ll probably go out to dinner (most likely sushi) to recognize the special day. Maybe go buy a dvd or something.

But really, the whole expecting him to pick out the very rare piece of jewelry I would be willing to wear is a very unfair task to ask of Cody. And what are you supposed to get a geek for valentine’s day? A glowing heart lamp that plugs into the USB? Total waste of money for him he’d enjoy it for about a week then get annoyed by the usb port being taken by something not pertaining to gaming.

Last year’s gift was just perfect: it was cute, useable, and something we both really liked a lot. So I’ve decided that every year for Valentine’s Day we will both get silly shirts. Of course Cody likes this because it takes a lot of pressure off of him and he gets a new shirt to wear at home. And I’ll probably pick out my own shirt.

These are this year’s tentative choices (assuming I don’t find something dorkier for us or they don’t sell out before the next paycheck)

Cody’s

With his love of lesbian rock and security in his masculinity I just can’t resist putting this on him. Yeah it’s kind of tacky. But that’s part of the fun with this new tradition. He won’t be wearing it outside the house but he never wears tshirts outside anyway.

Mine

Believe me, wearing a pink thermal Lynyrd Skynyrd shirt is embarassing for me on several levels but if I’m putting my husband in a shirt declaring him a lesbian I’ll have to give myself something equally humiliating. And this one is. Playing on both my weaknesses for pink and bad redneck classic rock.

Jaywalker Update: I’ve turned the heel and am working on the gusset decreases. Which seems like it’s taking forever because I picked up several more stitches than the pattern called for. But three more repeats should do it then I’m on the home stretch for the foot. I tried it on this morning and it fits fairly well. Might be a bit big but I don’t care I WILL finish a normal pair of adult socks. They may end up fitting Cody or my dad but I will finish them.

It’s gross and cold and slushy outside. I had a blast last night at the knit n kvetch. Little Miss Sugarbug’s mom came and picked her up while I was out. Cody stayed home to wait for her and since she was leaving for NO that night he made a pot of coffee and printed a map for the journey. Sugarbug and Mom are probably somewhere in Texas right now.

Ok, back to the Jays and Tivoed eps of Will and Grace. Project Runway tonight! Whee!

I didn’t get to work on the Jaywalkers at the KnQ as I’d hoped. The ends snapped off one of my (not cheap Lantern Moon) dpns on the way to the knitting group!

Thankfully the stitches didn’t slip off or anything. I didn’t want to mess up the great rhythm I had going with the pattern using 5 needles. We went to Village after KnQ and I picked up that set of sock needles Jamie pimped on her blog. I will be calling Yarnmarket tomorrow to see if they can do anything or if I should speak to Lantern Moon. Really, it’s not like I was being abusive to these needles they were in my knitting bag and the others were fine, I’d had them just over a week, and they weren’t cheap for needles - like seventeen bucks. So, yeah, I’m hoping I can get some help.

Or maybe this is payback for being too flip about the lady with the Cherry Tree Hill Birches issue. I didn’t think I was being that way but who knows?

The good part is I usually carry extra projects along so I had everything I needed to start on another pair of fuzzyfeet for my father-in-law’s birthday since he enjoyed the ones I made for Christmas and asked for another pair. These will be in an interesting grey yarn with tweedy flecks of color.

I think it’ll felt nicely. I don’t remember exactly what brand it is but I picked it up at Village last week (it’s two shelves below the Manos). Anyway it’s masculine enough to keep my fil happy but fun enough to keep me interested.. I turned the heel at the group then did more work at Flying Star with Beverly. We had so much fun last night hanging out doing yarn and book things.

I finished the toe up this morning. Such a great “mindless” pattern for the times I don’t want to have to think too much - just keep going around and around then do the heel then round and round then do the toe.. And if there are a few small mistakes it doesn’t matter because it’ll be felted anyway! Yaaay for felting!

Oh, I loved the Lorna’s Laces Stripe that Carol was using for her “Jays” that I looked around online for some. I found this great color with pinks and chocolate browns from an ebay store.

And I’m getting some beautiful Socks That Rock yarn from Ramona for designing a few buttons for her Olympic Knitting Fanalong. These will be SO COOL to knit with!

I am swimming in incredibly cool sock yarn!! I just want to knit cool socks and wear them and cable something while I wear them. Do it all. Now now now! Hehe just kidding. I’m just trying to get through my first “normal” pair of socks. Then I can make another pair with the other beautiful yarn.

Ms. Sugarbug is doing a lot better today. She’s gotten used to the room and has let us give her a few ear and chin scratches. It’s cold in this part of the house so I have a microwavable disc heater under her blanket and turned the heater on in the bathroom for a few hours this morning.

She has some beautiful ocelot-like markings on her side and a stripe right down her back. I’d almost say she’s a ridgeback kitty.

I’ve been meaning to post about some of my favorite non-knitting blogs out there. These three are fairly popular, I don’t comment or interact with the writers I just love reading their posts.

I Blame the Patriarchy.
Favorite post so far: Twisty’s Injustice Corner but pretty much all her posts are acerbic, hilarious, and true.

Defective Yeti.
Favorite post so far: Xyzzy Although the Bad Review Revue is always fun

Yuppie Punk,
Favorite post so far: a tie between Serial Killer Art and Rock Star Art Revue

Meet Sugarbug.

She’s not a very sociable kitty. She growls and hisses at any attempt to pet her. Despite attempted bribery in a few different forms and doing all my usual “getting to know a kitty” tricks. We have a cat here that fails to understand the purpose of catnip. Not working. She did play with the wand toy a bit which was nice. I’ll keep going in to check on her though. Maybe we can be friends.

It makes me appreciate my cats though. They will do anything to get head and chin scratches (and in Phunq’s case, spanks). They love pets and attention all day long. Especially Phunq. He’s not even shy with strangers. He’ll come right up and start talking…”Merrrrr give me pets! (and spanks!)” Melon and Kurry take a while to warm up to strangers but they’ll be in your lap within about two hours. Love my kitties. Hopefully I’ll get a better photo of Ms. Pouty Sugarbug. She was on the bed on her blanket last night but went back under the bed when the sun came up.

Now, meet Jaywalker

We’re getting along REALLY well. In fact, I’ll be turning her heel today. At the Knitter’s not Quitters group. And if all goes well, I might be finishing tonight? Maybe.

About the Cherry Tree Hill Birches yarn. I didn’t hear about the fading problems with it until after I’d ordered it. I’m going to operate on two assumptions: it was the machine wash and the possible phosphates in the detergent (since she’s in England), and possibly a bad dye lot that caused the color bleeding. So to at least try to avoid it I will handwash them and use my usual baby shampoo. Thanks to KnitterGail’s test swatches I’m fairly confident that they won’t bleed too badly. If they do..well, I’ll just overdye em a different color! Not my favorite option considering that the reason I was willing to pay a heftier cost for this sock yarn was because of the neat handpainted colorway but, hey, I’m just trying to keep it all in perspective. (Yay for that Zoloft Wellbutrin cocktail eh?)

I’m going to be a bit busy today tidying the house and preparing the guest room and bathroom for a visitor. The house is still recovering from the holiday insanity and leaving Cody and the pets to their own devices.

My friend Will (the one that lives in New Orleans - he’s back there btw!) asked me call one of his friends that had evacuated and settled in Taos to let her know that if she needed anything to let me know. Well, she called the other night needing a place for her cat to stay for the weekend while she goes to a funeral in Chicago. This girl has had a very bad year. So I said “Yes! Of course!!” I thought I’d give this kitty her own suite since she’s not used to other cats and dogs. The good news is she and her kitty will be heading back to New Orleans next week. Her apartment has been completely redone after being under eight feet of water. I’m just happy to be able to help.

Hush Mom she’ll be back on Tuesday I won’t be stuck with another cat I swear.

Carole posted a music meme the other day and I’ve been meaning to do it.

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your journal/blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to.

Delicate - Damien Rice
One of my more recent plaintive poet boy finds - I still love me some Bright Eyes and Eliot Smith.

Boogie on Reggae Woman - Stevie Wonder
No idea how old this song is but I found it on itunes right before Christmas then it seemed to follow me around - was on the radio in a clothing store in Birmingham, overheard on a car radio. Spooky!

F*ck the Pain Away - Peaches
Believe me I’m just as suprised as you are that I like this.

She Bop (new acoustic remake) - Cyndi Lauper
This is from a really interesting album released last fall where she collaborated with a variety of people like Sarah McLachlan, Jeff Beck, Shaggy…

In the Waiting Line - Zero 7
Any song on the Garden State soundtrack really.

China Girl - Iggy Pop
I’ve been rediscovering Iggy songs. Seems like I’d been listening to the Bowie version almost all my life. Then I heard the original. Damn.

Use Me - Bill Withers
I love Classic Soul. Just love it.

Lover’s Rock - The Clash
I bought the Legacy Edition of London Calling last month and have been enjoying it like it’s brand new.

The cold is still around. It’s mostly in my throat and chest so I make deeelightful sounds that can gross out the whole family but at least it’s getting out. I had an appointment with the doctor yesterday and he took my pulse, blood pressure, and listened to my heart. It’s all working just fine! We made some adjustments to my meds (which I was expecting) and talked about some alternatives for the nastyass armour thyroid (I decided to stay on it for now and see how my levels are after six weeks). We also discussed me doing a monitored sleep lab sometime this spring to see if I’m breathing properly in my sleep. And yes we’ve discussed diet a bit. He’s is a thorough guy isn’t he? I like this new doc!

I’ll post about what we think I’ve got someday. Just not up to it right now. And sometimes I get shy about talking about the more personal issues so publically. That’s why I’ve focused so much on the knitting. Well, that and I’ve been spending most of my time doing a lotta knitting.

So I feel a bit better but sound a lot worse. This seems to be part of the healing process so fine, I guess I’ll deal with it. I took a hyper cleansing shower and steambath yesterday and went out last night anyway.

While I was starting this

with these ladies at Flying Star

(more photos here and here)

the dog did this

and now has a belly full of 16 large greenies.

That’s 32 ounces. A month’s supply.

Eek!

So today between letting the dog outside and back in every few minutes I have been doing more work on this

and wearing these

Well, I managed to catch that cold that’s been going around. Or I’m severely allergic to the angora in the Noro Transitions yarn. Either way I sound like Tatum O’Neal after a week-long bender. Should I be spooked that Cody thinks I sound sexy when my voice is raspy? Maybe he has a weird fetish for Cathy Moriarty sound-alikes. But I don’t sound nearly as cool as Marianne Faithfull.

I went to the Knitters not Quitters group yesterday and I hope no one catches it. I didn’t lick anyone’s knitting needles when they weren’t looking so hopefully they’re all safe. I needed to see my KNQ gals I hadn’t seen them since the Christmas party. Of course Beverly and I went to Village Wools afterward (even though we’d both been there yesterday to visit Jamie) then went to Pars for some comfort-food Fesenjoon. I really think that dish could help promote world peace if more people knew about it. It’s impossible to eat that and not be happy.

I finished the handknit hat with Hello Yarn thick and thin in granitey colors.

Turns out it was quite large

So I felted it

I think it looks really nice. And will be pretty warm too. And if my cousin doesn’t like it as a hat she can use it as a really cool bowl

Have you noticed how the seasons tend to affect the colors I like to use? Weird isn’t it? I’ve been calling it Seasonal Color Affective Disorder. SCAD!

And, of course, if affects what default layout I like to use for my weblog too.

Not much time to write a post at the moment but I have a lot of fun photos to share.

Anyway this is the scarf I knit in Noro Iro last week. It’s a pattern called “Opposing Biases” that I picked up at my LYS. Basically it’s two panels of biased stockinette (one skein for each panel with enough kept to make fringe) that are grafted together. It curls a bit even after severe blocking but I like it.

Then I knit this fun giant needle (US 35s) garter stitch elongated stitch scarf knit with some purple knit wool-nylon ribbon yarn from my Mom’s friend’s stash with tufty white novelty yarn from the same stash added for crazy fringe. (love that craaaaazy fringe) It was very hard to photograph properly. But it took about two hours to knit. Seriously.

I took a few self-portraits too since I haven’t taken any since I dyed my hair and my mother-in-law cut it before I left for B’ham. The dye was just some pantene stuff from Target. And, of course, Cody’s mom used to have a shop so it’s not like I let my mil give me a bowl cut or something. I usually just have her or Valena in Birmingham cut it these days. I don’t really trust other people with my hair anymore.

(Interesting factoid: both Cody’s and my mom are (formerly natural) redheads that were licensed beauticians at one time. That’s pretty much where their similarities end aside from both still being in happy long-term marriages.)

I really like this photo

Although my hair isn’t exactly at its best here after being slept on and not brushed or anything yet.

But you can get a good idea of the color anyway

I also got a photo of the dog just after she finished scratching her ear, which wasn’t exactly my intent

Phunq sitting in the window

Our view of the big watermelon from the sideyard.

And a photo of me with my dad at Nana’s Farm in Holly Springs, MS circa 1976-77ish

Looking forward to tonight’s SNB! My post holiday prize of Noro Transitions should arrive in the mail today for me to play with! And I’m working on my cousin’s hat.