A Knitting Affair

In 1.5 sleeps (1.5 because tomorrow night I won’t sleep much) I am off for a fun in the sun vacation. Have happy holidays and all that. I might even have something to show knitting wise due to the 20+ hours of travel (one way) that I will be doing on friday.

I have no knitting mojo at the moment. I am stuck. It sucks. I can’t decide what to do. I have started a few projects but they are just not jiving with my knitting mood. I would like to work on a sweater or vest but with the weight I am losing I don’t want to knit something that won’t fit me by the time that I am done it. So I have put those aside. I could knit some socks (we know I am not at a loss for sock yarn) but again, I can’t decide what yarn to use. I would love to do some scarves, but again … that whole motivation thing. I have been working on my blocks for the NYOBE and am almost done. Maybe then I will have more of a clue.

I was laid off at work last week. To be honest, it was kinda a godsend. Those whom I talk to on a regular basis are actually quite pleased with this turn of events and I can’t disagree. This has nothing to do with the lack of mojo, but amplifies it as I am at a time in my life where I can spend a time actually knitting. Frustrating. I have interviews this week and am gone on the 19th for my trip. If I don’t get an offer before I leave I will work through some agencies when I am back. The worst thing that happens is I get a job at ‘bucks (sorry Karen!!) or McDonalds or something. Just so long as I am doing something, anything!! As much as I long to be able to stay at home, I don’t think its something I could do long term. But hey, if you know anyone who is hiring and needs an executive assistant let me know!

On another front – WOW – am I ever excited to go away. I have been fake tanning. I am still white, but more off white! And, I can fit into Victoria Secret clothing. If I could show you my grin as I talk about this I would, but alas, my hair isn’t done. I even bought a bra that should have fit (well it did when I first got it) but after two weeks it is already getting gappy (yes I know thats not a word). I am in the under 20lbs to lose range and it  couldn’t feel better.  To think that I started off with wanting to lose 70+ lbs. Just awesome. So while I am eating right, exercising and looking for work, I am also cleaning and trying to organize some of my house so that it is nice to come home to. Cameron sidetracks that but I am doing my best to work around him.

So there you have it. In a nutshell. Oh, and even the spinning mojo is gone.

Well, I haven’t updated in a bit which is actually normal for me. So here is the low down on all that is going on.

1. Knitting Content – I will cover this part first so that you don’t have to read the personal stuff if you don’t want to.

Nati is complete. It was a very easy knit. The yarn calls for something bulky. I used two strands held together and find that it isn’t bulky at all. It also fits really well. I am glad that I knit it and may even do it again!

I have also been spinning. I am working on knitting socks and was supposed to do a secret project but am not motivated. So I started spinning again.

I have all of my “yarn” for my trip. I am planning on doing socks as they are light and simple AND I need to get some done. I am also working on my Block Exchange in Ravelry. I have half the blocks done, will be sending them out this week and will complete the rest in the next week or so.

2. Travel – Here is where the personal stuff starts so move on if you don’t want to read. David leaves tomorrow for Argentina. We had a great dinner tonight with his boys and got our arrangements straight. I will see him in 28 days (add one day due to the time difference) and it feels like it will be forever yet I know it is going to fly by (I hope!). He and his youngest are very excited and I am looking forward to hearing all the stories. But, I am anxious for December 19 to arrive.

3. Health – I started a health blog but I am not keeping that up either so I am most likely going to just post the stuff here. I have lost 47 lbs since January (stopped at the end of March and maintained my weight till Oct 27 when I started the weight loss journey again). I am 23lbs from my goal. When I reach it I will probably look at losing more since my target weight is at the high end of my suggested weight range. I would really like to lose another 10lbs before I head away but I am starting with Jillian Michaels 30 day shred video which is kick ass. So, if I change the fat to muscle but don’t lose the weight then its perfect! This weekend I had the first “I’m skinny” moment. People comment on the weight that I have lost but its different when I look at myself. I see me. Not the me that has lost the weight. Just me. I was getting ready to go to the High School City volleyball championships on Friday and as I was looking at myself to check my outfit I had that moment. It was pretty cool. I have also noticed that I am on the verge of dropping to the next size down in clothing. I put my jeans on and within 5 minutes they were feeling too big (after just coming out of the wash). It is a great feeling. Also, I put on a shirt that a month ago I couldn’t wear. It wouldn’t fit over my boobs and the sleeves were too tight on my arms to wear buttoned up. But, today I was able to wear the shirt AND have the buttons on my upper arms done up.

I am proud of myself for working so hard. I have a goal to be healthy for both me and Cameron. I want him to see his mom healthy and in shape. And it is happening!

Today was my one year anniversary at my job. There have been hard times and good times with this job so far. I love my work. I have flex time. And I found out that I have over 22 days worth of time that I can take. I have taken days off over the last year, usually making long weekends longer, or when I need to just have a long weekend. I am using 8 of those 22 days for Uruguay. And they gave us Monday off as well as Tuesday for this upcoming week. So here is to hopefully another year.

On another note. I pulled a muscle or something on my right side at my shoulder but in the front by the collarbone. It hurts. And it pulls at the oddest of movements. Now I need to get a massage. And I know that it will hurt.

I am test knitting a pattern and instead of using a bulky yarn I have been using stash dk yarn doubled. It is luscious. But, I am short one ball. I usually never buy yarn in odd numbers so I don’t know what i was thinking. Since I am on the hunt for more I will get two balls just to be safe.

Nuff said.

**thanks Sandi, I didn’t realize that this wasn’t published!!**

Well it is Thursday and I haven’t updated for almost a week. I had posted about the first day of the Mystery Wedding and then nothing afterwards. It was busy, great but also tiring. I almost need a vacation from the vacation! We arrived in Jasper on Friday night as I had mentioned earlier. And, as you can see, our family really is close and loves each other a lot.

The rooms were great. Some were cabins others were houses with multiple rooms. My mom stayed in the house where the Queen stayed! Saturday was the wedding, Emily and Padraig were already married, it was more of a celebration ceremony. We had thought that we would all go back to our rooms and relax, how wrong I was. The family (my aunts and a few cousins) stayed in the bar until 6 pm. Yes, 4 hours of merry drinking with the whole dinner to follow. I left the dinner at 11 pm and some were still going very hard at the partying. Sunday most of the guests left and the family stuck around. We had a great fire out by one of the little lakes on the property – roasting marshmallows, making smores and drinking bailey’s and hot chocolate. Monday was the ride home and I was exhausted.

On the knitting front, I had started the Mystery Drops Sweater on Friday, adapting this Drops pattern to be knit from the neck down. While I didn’t finish it by Monday, I only had 1.5 sleeves left to do. I finished it last night. It is now blocking. The yarn is Rowanspun Chunky in Fern. The only thing about this yarn is that it takes FOREVER to dry.

Then of course there is the need for the next project. I picked Bloom from Rowan 36. Part of my Rowan project and am doing some stashbusting at the same time by using Rowan Felted Tweed DK in Crush. That is TWO projects on a month that I am using stash yarn. I feel rather proud of myself in a weird way.