What is Better?

...to remain in a job where you're miserable, but receiving a paycheck and health insurance for your family, or take a gamble, leave the job, and pray something else works out?

I just don't know if it's worth getting out of bed anymore. I'm so miserable.

Sick

I'm home sick today. Yuck. Sore throats suck.

I did, however, decide to attempt a crochet project, so I'm working on a beginner's hat from an old issue of Crochet magazine. So far, so good. If it doesn't make a convincing hat, I believe I have a future in handmade coasters.

Bleagh. I've had two cups of tea and still I feel like I've got a dull ache in my throat. This stinks. I think the same cold is going around, Will was home sick yesterday with it and Alex's nose is running like a faucet today. Mike has had the same blasted cough for weeks, so I blame it all on him. :-)

I'm going to stop zoning out on the computer and play blocks with Alex. He looks like he's having fun.

So here is the blanket-in-progress. These are 8 of the 16 (so far) panels that the pattern calls for. Somehow, I think I'll need to knit more than 16 for a 9-year old girl.

I joined Crafster.org instead of just lurking all the time. There are some kickin' projects up there! Now, I just need unlimited time and resources... but hopefully, since I'm also in the process of rediscovering my sewing machine, I'm going to check and see if I can find a couple of 'sewing for BIG dummies'-type patterns. Crafster is a great site for hip and funky crafts, you should check it out. I've linked to them over in the links section to the right. The message boards rock, and everyone is very supportive.

So I'm knitting away on this blanket - man, it's a lot of knitting. I have put myself to sleep a couple of times. I am at the stage where it's "okay, this was fun, can we finish this now so I can find another project?" But it did pull me out of the knitting funk. And I'm committed, having promised this to my cousin for her 9th birthday.

Sewing - if anyone knows a really, really simple pattern, please send it my way. I've made two pillowcases (with very cool Star Wars material - I'll take pictures) for Will (no, not for me - yet). I bought more Star Wars material (yes, for Will) and some DragonTales material for Alex, but I'd like to try something a little more exciting. Yes, I'm putting the cart before the horse again. Hey, that's me.

By the way - can I tell you how much I HATE the subway? I sat at 57th Street for half an hour tonight. There was either a track fire or a switching problem - one conductor said one, another said the other - you think they'd at least coordinate their B.S. excuses. Anyway, got lots of work done on the latest panel. If I didn't have my knitting, I probably would have gone postal, being the throes of a horrible PMS time of the week.

So let me go and post the other shot of this blanket, an individual pattern swatch. Stay tuned.

Heeeeeere's the panel.

It's a seed stitch diamond on a field of stockinette... doesn't that sound so dreamy?

Holy cow, it's been a long time since I updated.

I just checked in to Stacey's bridal blog, and I realize she's had like three new posts since I last looked - I have been seriously remiss.

I feel like I've just shrunk from public view over the past few weeks. The new job didn't turn out to be what I wanted it to be; my stepdad has been in pretty bad shape for over a month now; there have been some other random acts of insanity that have come up, and basically I just withdrew, like I always do. If it weren't for Will starting school, I probably would still be like that. But seeing all the parents that I became friendly with again, and getting back into the swing of things with Will and the school helped me start coming back. So here I am, making amends one more time. So to all that I may have been blowing off, I'm sorry.

Knitting, knitting, knitting - finally started climbing out of the knitting funk and found a relatively easy but interesting blanket pattern. I'm making it for my cousin Elizabeth's 9th birthday and will post a picture shortly. It's with purple leftover Bernat Baby Yarn and it's a seed stitch diamond on a field of stockinette. There are 16 panels in the original pattern; I may add another row or two more so it will fit a 9 year old, depending on what the blanket looks like (the beauty of blankets is that I don't normally have to worry about gauge!). I took some pictures of it in progress the other night, but haven't unloaded my camera yet (so very lazy) so as soon as I do, I'll post the shots in progress.

Trying desperately to get back into the weight loss groove. Tired of being double digit sized clothing, dammit. I started coming up with a menu the night before; it worked once and really helped me see exactly what I'm eating and can do away with. I haven't logged onto the Self site in ages, tired of logging in all my calories and fat grams and seeing that my diet sucks.

So I'm up and down, but hopefully closer to the upswing.

So, lots to catch up on...

Still having yarn issues, so no projects to post. I tried a wavy rib knit, but I think the yarn may be wrong for it because it's looking rather sad. Anyway.

So - my fare-thee-well party was great, but SO sad. These are people I've spent six years with... it was totally like high school graduation. I am happy to say that I've been in touch with everyone at the table. They've been my lifeline, especially adjusting to my new surroundings. Guys, I love and miss all of you!

The new job is good. Scary the first week, culture shock usually is. But the second week started evening out. And I'm bringing home obscene amounts of kids' books, so I'm a celebrity to my boys, at least.