My Own Little Pitiful Party....

Oh well. Better that I'm gainfully employed. And SIL's birthday is Friday (Happy Birthday, SIL!), my parents 50th Anniversary is Saturday and Easter is on Sunday. I plan to work through all of them.

But look! Look what I did!

I have even cast on for the left side. And knit a row. Mind you, it's four stitches, but it's started. I'm just shocked I've gotten this far what with the insane hours I'm working.

There was a brief moment of panic when I held it up to me and realized how low cut it was going to be but.....there's that little thing called swatching (*cough*the sleeve*cough) that shrunk up a bit in length when I heaved it (gently) into the washing machine so I deliberately made the back longer. I'd just forgotten in the ensuing years....

From Purling Dervish:

You Are Peppermint Flavored Gum

You have a sharp mind that is always churning. You are mentally hyper. You're always thinking of something. And while your mind is always on, you're not the most physically active person around. Some people make mistake you for being lazy, but the truth is: you never relax. You tend to get so deeply into your projects that you ignore everything around you. You are creative and cutting edge. You love telling people about your newest ideas and discoveries.

What Flavor Gum Are You?

See? I never relax. Just because it looks like I'm lying on the couch staring vacantly into space, I am DEEPLY THINKING. And I do love telling people my newest ideas and discoveries! Sometimes I have to follow them down the road for several miles before it's all carefully explained to them.......

No, that's not blurry, why do you ask? I might have swatched for a ribbed pullover that I'm going to have to make up the pattern myself. Aren't the colors lovely and Spring-like? It's the tape yarn I was going to do the Joan Vass top out of before I realized how much I loathed the way I look in raglan sleeves.

And from Pick Up Sticks:

What Carrie Means

You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily. You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind. A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Strive? I do not strive for perfection. I merely obtain it. Hahahahahahaha.

Hez, not so much playing with the giant mouse that has moved into her condo as bemusedly cleaning her shoulder. She occasionally runs by and whacks one of the crackly ears but that's about it.

So. Is it August yet?

Comments

[bellamoden]

Aw! Poor Carrie! But she's awesome! Truly.

And no. It's not August. That's a couple weeks off yet. :P

[Michelle]

So I'm not lazy, just a deep thinker? At least I'm in good company!

[Chris]

Poor Carrie! Um, only a few more weeks?? And you are making great progress on your sweater!!

My, but that IS a giant mouse.

[twig]

Ah that stinks having to work so much. It's good that it appears you're getting some quality knitting time in to help decompress.

[Marina]

Wow! This is getting exciting! I can't remember the last time I saw a whole, completed sweater on the blog ;^) It is looking very pretty!

[Tim Rooch]

SiL,
Thanks for the advance birthday wishes. How old am I now? Your algorithm for your brother put him at about 14 when we married. We'll be married 22 years in May.

Congratulations to the in-laws on 50 years together.

The sweater looks great. I can type like a demon, but lack the patience and the hand-eye coordination to even try to knit.

Shaleigh is the victim of tough love. My beloved and I let her sit unmolested in a spare bedroom for a week, but have started literally dragging her out from behind the bookcase where she spends her time and cuddling her. She doesn't fight it and MB said she actually purred after a while with him today. She doesn't like us much, but seems willing to learn.

For those who follow Carrie's east coast family, Lindsey, our nearly 16-year-old cat died at home last Tuesday and MB adopted Shaleigh from a woman who rescues animals and keeps them in her home. I found her on the internet, much like a mail-order bride. MB wanted a Maine Coon like our other feral, sweet Charity, so I searched and found Shaleigh (she came already named). She isn't adapting so well to home life becaue, unlike Charity, she lived with her foster family for two years and MB dragged her away from the only stable environment she has ever known.

We do have hope, though. She's not agressive towards us nor towards Charity and her foster family said she did eventually come around to them. But it's just heartbreaking to see such a lovely animal so scared and unable to understand that we will love her for the rest of her life.

[Tim Rooch]

Sorry for the double post. Our power went out for a few seconds due to a storm.

Shaleigh is 5. Charity is 10. She came up to us all friendly outside a store on St. Pat's Day 1997 and the vet estimated she was 9 months. We don't think she ever had a home because she didn't know how to jump on furniture nor climb stairs. She's an expert at all things house cat now. It took time. I hope Shaleigh comes to love us, too. I'm too heartbroken about Lindsey to give a kitten what she needs, so wanted an older cat, but it also hurts to know that we're causing Shaleigh to suffer, no matter how temporary that may be.

Animals make us more human, I suppose. They help us get down to our basic needs for love and acceptance.

It's not been a good few weeks, either at home or at work, but happy spring to all.

[Opal]

So. I'm bubblegum flavored gum. *blink*

[Brigitte]

I am Wintergreen - which just so happens to be my favourite gum!

And, no *sigh*, it's not August, or even April... :(

Hey! Great progress on your cardigan, it's going to look fabulous when it's done. Wow, who knew that sticking to only one WIP could result in a FO...!

[Karen]

Your sweater is beautiful!

[deb]

So sorry you're down in the dumps. Don't forget - you still have a prize package coming *someday* from me. I'm still gathering Minnesota items for it!! but hope to get it in the mail before we leave next Wednesday!

[melanie]

I'm peppermint, too!

(I's the small things that get me through the day.)

The sweater will be gorgeous.

[Liz]

The sweater will be beautiful and totally and completely fit, I say this with authority, so it will be so! I SO love the whole front look.... And August, truly, it's right around the corner, albeit a dark corner at the moment, but nevertheless...

[Kim]

A journey of a thousand rows begins with four stitches. . .

[La]

OMG, Hez and the pillow crack me up. Your sweater is coming along nicely. It's going to be so beautiful when it's done!

Sorry about missing out on the parties!

[kookiejar]

I love the personality tests you always have here. You always find new and interesting ones. :D

[Geraldine]

Your sweater is looking fine!!!

Happy Easter to you and your family and of course, lovely Hez too! :)

[Jocelyn]

I am loving that sweater! But I am hating those long hours, as I'm sure you are too. Hang in there :)

[Sonya]

That's going to be a great sweater! I'll be indexing through the weekend so we can commiserate together. Well after I go the LYS today anyway. I'm surprised Hez hasn't taken that mouse down by now!

[Jeanne]

Don't fast forward to August on me. May through September are the only month I enjoy in this frozen state.

[Carrie]

Apparently I have the wrong name. (Except for being perfect and also not finishing what I start. What? Those things are not exclusive.)

[rhelynn]

dropped by as well to see if you had anything to say about the earthquake 'swarm'. The sweater is coming along nicely! Hope you get some time to rest and relax when the rays of summer DO start coming in ;) but yes, August is a ways off and I'm glad for it since there is a lot of Esme-growing to do in that time I don't want to miss!

[Julia]

Such a beautiful sweater. It's going to be great, and hopefully not in August! Maybe being inside so much is better for allergies - we'll try to look at the bright side. And gainful employment is good. Sigh.

[Christie]

Great cables! Any knitting is good knitting!

[BigAlice]

Dang, I'm sorry you have to work through all those special events. I suppose gainful employment does have it's pluses, though. Congratulations to your parents and happy birthday to your SIL!

Your sweater is gorgeous, I love that cable down the front. Here's hoping swatch magic will come through.