inward focus

One result of feeling too sick to do anything other than sit on the couch? A lot of mindless knitting... Here are the plain black mittens, as requested by my sister-in-law. This was probably 10 hours of knitting pleasure, knitted in Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran, and I squished it down to sizes 3(3.25mm) and5(3.75mm) dpns to be extra warm. I hope she wears them for lots of fun snow ball fights and other winter adventures.

Hanukah is winding down and my big effort, dinner for all the professor's lab research students and their guests, went well. It just about made me keel over (taking down dishes from the top shelf of our breakfront for 14 while having a fever? bad idea) but we'd been planning it for months, the professor helped a lot, and all had fun. Every single student came, and left smiling after loading up on dinner, doughnuts, chocolate gelt, and dreidl fun. I spent all weekend resting afterwards.

I'm still fighting some sort of infection, and have been told by the gynecologist that if I don't get better after this bout of antibiotics, I should see my primary care physician. She's apparently done treating me. I've never had a doctor just wash her hands of me in quite this way before. (ahh, healthcare in KY!) Luckily, I like my primary care physician and if things don't improve, I'll see him next week. I'm stunned that when I called her office, saying, uhh, I'm 6 days into antibiotic #2 and things haven't improved? The result was an adult version of "stop bothering me with your questions." Hmph.

Good news, I got my first advance check from the publisher yesterday! This means I can soon pay my bills for this Fiber Gathering book, like paying the designers who have contributed. Gone are the days when an advance would be useful for things like keeping a writer fed and warm! In my case, when I receive the whole advance, it will just about cover this book's expenses. That will be breaking even--no salary this year from this project. I'll hope everyone and her sisters buy copies of the book instead. It's essentially a business investment in my future career.

Another present that came in the mail: Yarns for me to swatch. Every year, members of the Association of Knitwear Designers are offered an opportunity to volunteer for this. TNNA, a big trade organization for the knitting industry, has industry conventions which feature the "Great Wall of Yarn." Yarn companies pay to have their yarns featured, and send in yarns to be displayed. I get the chance to see some of the new yarns, knit up small samples, and possibly make connections in the industry. I'm not a member of TNNA itself (can't afford that business decision just now) and have yet to make a firm industry relationship this way, but I love playing with the yarns. This year? I've got all natural fibers, including two organic wools. Fun work knitting ahead, and I can tell you all about it!


The professor's giving his Genetics students their final exam at very this moment. Soon he will be able to work at home more during winter break, or in the completely empty Biology department. This time period will include frequent rests with Harry while they consult the 2008 seed catalogs. This is one of his wintertime hobbies. It gives him something to do in the dead quiet we face this time of the year, which we often work right through. We've had a super Hanukah this year--it's a pretty lowkey holiday--and it'll be over by tomorrow night.

Remember to say hey every so often! I see you're visiting but don't get many comments..keep me company over here, 'kay?