Rant

*Disclaimer* This is my blog. I have opinions. They might differ from yours. If so, and you don't like what I have to say, don't read. No one is forcing you to read my opinion. So there.

That being said, I have a rant. My son is in a wheelchair. We drive a van with a wheelchair lift that loads from the passenger side. When I park this van, I need to park in a handicapped space that had a loading zone on the right. These are hard to come by. Especially when going to places like medical facilities or shopping centers. There never seem to be enough handicapped parking spaces.

Today, I took The Boy to a doctor's appointment in Sacramento. I parked in a handicapped space with a smallish loading zone. I made it work. When I came out after his appointment, a new car was parked next to me. This car had decided to park IN the loading zone, most likely to unload someone out of the passenger side. I was totally peeved, to say the least. I had to move The Boy several spaces down, park him, alone, and reverse to move into a new spot where I could load him. Luckily for me, a car had moved and I was able to find a nearby spot to load.

Several things about this irk me. One: I can only park on the lowest level. My van is too tall to park on the upper levels. I have limited spaces available to me. Two: I HAVE to have a loading zone on the right. Three: a car can park on ANY level, it just may not be as convenient. Four: Since I was traveling alone, I had to leave my son unattended, in the open, while I moved the van. VERY SCARY! I was so peeved, I left a note on the offending car's windshield.

If you know me, I get mad, and curse and moan, but I usually don't do much about it. I am a pretty patient and accommodating person. For me to leave a note is pretty extreme. I even signed my name to it. It makes me shake just thinking about it.

People are so inconsiderate and self-centered most of the time. Most of the time, I roll with it. When it affects my child, especially my HANDICAPPED child, it really bugs me. Life is hard enough without having to deal with stupid stuff like that. I wish people would just stop to think about someone else once in a while.

Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Annoying. grrrrr...... Okay, shake it off. Let it go. Move on. But, the next time you're thinking about pulling into that handicapped spot for just a second, or if you DO need a handicapped parking spot, consider the van that needs to park there, before you take the ONE spot that has a side entry. Just think.

I'm back

So I believe it's been about a year, or just over, right? I'm going to start doing this again. Why? I have no idea. Will anyone read this? I doubt it. But, I need to keep these creative writing juices going.

First off, I have made two pairs of socks successfully for The Boy. The first two socks were not the same size, but luckily, his feet aren't either. The second pair is much closer. I have just cast on a third pair this afternoon. I'm anticipating a long wait in a waiting room on Wednesday and figured a sock would be easy to pack along. Though, come to think on it, I also have a second mitten that needs finishing...... After the second pair of socks, I had an entire skein of yarn left. It was so soft and warm as socks, I reckoned I'd make a pair of mittens. I've had to design my own, based off a pattern I found on Ravelry. I lost the pattern at one point, so, naturally, I began another project, and the mittens got put down. I have since found the pattern, but become obsessed with something else.

Now, you may be thinking, "It's spring, almost summer. You live in Northern California. It gets over 100° there in July/August. Why mittens?" Well, since you asked ;)..... My son has....issues. One of his issues is cold hands and feet, all the time. Even when it's over 100°. This is what spurred me to knit. I needed to make socks that fit his feet and kept him warm without being tight and making his toes purple. This necessity for knitting has become an all-consuming passion. I really enjoy it. It also bears telling that I enjoy a challenge. When I had tried knitting in the past and failed....well, that just didn't set well with my brain. I had to give it a try again. (Just like my homemade macaroni and cheese obsession...but that's another ball of yarn all together).

I will save my new knitting project (besides the socks and mittens :) ) for another post. That way I have something to write about. Plus, it isn't put together yet. I have a hard time with that. The Final Stage. Actually finishing things. I love to plan, and imagine and begin....but finishing..... I have a lovely cross-stitched calendar that I made for myself, gosh, 15 years ago. I still haven't managed to sew the damn thing together yet. I keep saying, "Maybe this year."

Alright. Time to go take care of The Boy and take The Dogs out. Then, try for some sleep. The next few days are busy, but I hope to be back before another year goes by.

If you write it, they will come

Not to totally rip off a famous movie quote, but I needed an intro.

No one has read this yet.  I just keep writing, figuring someday, someone WILL read this.

I am frustrated at my lack of ability to find a FIVE PACK of double pointed needles.  I have FOUR packs, which just aren't good for socks.  Yes, I'm still trying to find a way to knit socks. 

That's all I have to say about that.

New Projects

I am sort of between projects right now.  I think I've finished most of my hanger covers.  I've given up on the socks for now.  I don't have any baby blankets to be working on.  The only thing I have in the hopper, so to speak, is an afghan for my aunt.  She's asked me to make a replacement afghan.  apparently, one of my great aunts made one for my grandmother.  My aunt has been using this one for years and it is finally wearing out.  I have been selected to make it's replacement.  She's picked a really easy pattern, but not so easy that it's boring.  Also, I say easy, knowing full well I had stitched and ripped out one row four times before I got it right.  

I have been a little preoccupied with the rest of my life.  Recently, I've signed on to do a 3 Day, 60 mile walk for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  My sister-in-law and I are doing it in honor of our mothers.  Both of them have been diagnosed with and treated (successfully) for breast cancer.  I've been trying to schedule extended walking into my schedule.  I am not in shape, by any stretch of the imagination, so I've been just walking 3 miles a day.  Now, I'm up to 4.  Even though it's not a whole lot, I've still got to carve out an hour and a half for walking.  Considering I've only got a couple hours a morning without children, and without waking up at the crack of dawn, my time is precious.  i am NOT a morning person, but I'm afraid I'm going to become one.  The only upside is that I'm slimming down, which is fab.  

The moral of this tale is that my craftiness has taken a slight backseat.  I've got three stockings I've got to make, so that will be the next project.  

In the meantime, I work on my aunt's afghan.  Oh!  and i've got to make flowers for my hanger covers.  Just as soon as I find a decent pattern........

Those *&#!@ socks

Socks, socks, socks

I've been trying to work on knitting some socks for my son.  I got this great book for knitting both socks at the same time on two circular needles.  The directions are clear and it's been pretty easy.  Until tonight.  Somehow, I've managed to get tangled, every time around.  So now, the socks look like this:

So, as you can see, the scissors are standing by just in case there is an emergency.  I'm highly tempted to rip the whole thing out and start over on double pointed needles.  I don't have an outrageous amount of time invested..... Maybe tomorrow.

Baby blanket

As I was uploading pictures of those darn socks, I found a picture of my favorite baby blanket.  This was just the beginning, but you might be able to see the pattern emerging.  Maybe next time I'll manage to get a picture of the completed blanket.  They say hope springs eternal.....

So that's the blanket.  It took some time to get that darn picture posted, so I hope it was worth it.  

Crochet Guild

I was too chicken tonight to mention to my crochet group my idea for starting a chapter of the Crochet Guild of America.  I thought of it, but just couldn't bridge the fear.  Maybe next week.  I'm still thinking about it.  How far do I really want to take this group?  What is my goal and purpose?  I guess I'm questioning that.  How much can I take on?  As it is, I've started this group.  I signed up to do the 3 Day walk (and having to raise $2,300 to do so), which may turn into being a team leader.  I've decided to join Easter Star, which is a women's group.  I take my niece to her Rainbow meetings and am on the Advisory Board there.  I sing in the church choir, which meets once a week.  My daughter goes to a private Catholic school where I volunteer once a week and have to fundraise for.  She's also a Daisy Girl Scout.  Oh, and yeah, I am married to  a man whom I hardly ever see and have two kids, one of which has special needs.  Can I really add 'start a chapter of Crochet Guild of America' to my to do list and do a good job?  Then the other side of my brain kicks in and says, "but would it be any different than what you're doing now??"  You can see how I'm torn.  I'll research it and see what is involved.  I'm spreading myself too thin, trying to find what I'm good at and what I'm passionate about.  I need to narrow my focus.  Seeing it all written out is a little frightening.  And I'm sure there's more that I could add to the list.  I keep thinking of more.  Too much.  too much.  I've got to scale back.  somehow.  If you have any ideas, let me know.

Finished blanket, started socks etc.

Crafty things

In usual style, I finished my baby blanket, and didn't take a picture.  I was crocheting on that thing up until the very last minute.  Then it was a mad dash to get it stuffed in a pretty baby gift bag and high tail it over to the baby shower.  Of course, that left no time for pictures. Oh well.  Maybe next time.  I'm sure there is someone else I know that is going to have a baby.

As for my socks, they are going.....slowly.  I just can't seem to get interested.  i'm going to finish them, however, because I have started them.  Maybe they're going slow because I know they're for me.  This first pair, at least, are in the pattern for a grown up woman.  I figured I'd start there, then adapt them for my son, once I knew what the heck I was doing.  We'll see.

I also have some hanger covers that need to get finished.  I've been working on those things for two years now.  I've given myself the deadline of this year.  They must be done by the time the choir starts back up in September.  (They are covers for padded hangers.  They will eventually find their way down to the church for our choir robes.  This way, everyone can have their own individual, padded, covered hanger.  Ooo la la!)

Other things.....

I am beginning to train for a 3 day, 60 mile walk for breast cancer.  As my daughter would say "Wow-ee Kazow-ee".  It's in October in San Francisco.  I'm trying to figure out when I have time to do all my house work, knit/crochet, and walk in one day.  I guess this means I'm going to have to wake up before the butt-crack of dawn to get my mileage in.  I should be walking 3 miles on one walk at this stage in my training.  I can do it, but it takes an hour.  In a few weeks I have to increase my mileage to 4, then 5 etc.  Time will run short very quickly.  I hate getting up early, but I'm scared of the dark and most of my evenings are booked with meetings.    Oh well.  It will work out some how.

Now, I've got to figure out how I'm going to get to my daughter's Daisy meeting in Arbuckle (20 min away), by 6.  Plus, get the laundry done and dinner accomplished.  Shoot, the kid should have been in the bathtub 30 minutes ago!  Jeesh.  Can't we just add a couple hours to the day already??

Socks

I've got to start my socks.  I got a new sock book for Christmas, about knitting two socks at the same time on circular needles.  I keep putting off starting them.  I've got to do it now.  I've vowed I will start, tonight.  Tonight is the weekly meeting of my knit and crochet group I started through the church.  We've been strictly crocheters, but now, a couple of the ladies have decided to try knitting.  One had knit as a child, and was able to pick it back up with no problem.  The other was a total newbie.  She picks things up pretty quickly.  I'm actually thinking of starting a chapter of the Crochet Guild of America or the Knitting Guild.  Or both.  As far as I can tell, there aren't any local chapters.  The closest is Sacramento, which isn't that close.  We'll see.  

I haven't done any work on my second baby blanket.  I haven't finished my cardigan either.  Plus the previously mentioned socks that are non-existent.  Jeesh, I've GOT to get to work.  

I guess I should be doing that instead of this, hm?