EyeKnit

My poor boy. He's such a big fan of Madagascar.

Last night, we needed some natural foodstuffs-- we told him we were going to Wild Oats. His eyes got really big, and he asked, "We're going to... THE WILD!?!"

Way disappointed that they just sold groceries there.

Random.

Sam has been sick the past week-- he's had a fever, and a crazy cough. He's been getting up a bunch of times each night, and has been fairly miserable. He was home sick from school Tuesday & Wednesday... was okay to go Thursday... and then got sent home with fever again Friday. He seemed a bit better today... well enough to go for a long walk outside in this beautiful December weather...



We're supposed to go to our annual family non-Christmas party in Maryland tomorrow-- we're playing it by ear to see how he feels in the morning.

Work has been wonderfully crazy-- we are booked with appointments for people who need to use insurance benefits & flex spending money by the end of the year. It is wonderful to see the office so busy, and know that we built this from an empty building with gravel on the ground less than 5 years ago. Jonathan is leaving his "other" job-- he is working a few days in January, and will officially be gone from there by February 1st. I've been in total work mode lately-- it's been fun.

I am knitting a sock-- since the weather has been cold again, Jonathan has been wearing his handknit socks regularly, and I decided he needs another pair or two... so many bloggers have said wonderful things about Trekking sock yarn, so I decided I would get some. I went looking in the sock yarn stash to see what colors I already had... and lo & behold, I already had a ball of Trekking yarn, in a perfect color for Jonathan. Stash reduction at its finest. I did however, need to buy 2 new needles :)

This is the basic sock pattern (my favorite) from "Socks Soar On Two Circular Needles." Jean, note the turquoise poop-stone stitch markers... I giggle just a teeny bit each time I pass one (in my knitting).



I went to an interesting yarn store Friday-- Accent On Knits in Morristown, NJ. I don't know that I've ever seen a yarn store that organized their yarn by color, rather than type of fiber etc. It was kind of an interesting system. I guess if you know specifically what you want to make (ie, I want to make a green sweater), it is a great way to shop for different fibers in the color that you want. For someone who shops for yarn without any project in mind, it was a bit unsettling. I don't think I liked it. I did, however, buy more Trekking sock yarn.

Happy Chanukah to those who celebrate.

All good news from me today...

Dr. Sabin says it is doubtful that Sam's nose is broken, and if it is, it doesn't seem to be that big of a deal. If he still has swelling, I'm supposed to bring him back next Tuesday, although it is apparently normal for the swelling to last up to 6 weeks.

I took a picture of the finished shrug. Actually, Jonathan took the picture. I stood there feeling rather idiotic.



I knew there was a reason I don't wear shrugs. Fortunately, Sue's nieces are younger & thinner & cuter than I... hopefully they like them.

And just a little resume (actually cover letter) highlight from our recent search for a part-time receptionist...

12/13/2005

Dear [hiring manager name]:
[If hiring manager name is unknown, use:]
Dear Hiring Manager:

I was interested to see your job posting on Monster for a [job title] and would like to learn more about this opportunity.

I am a [Current Job Title] with extensive experience [highlight a skill or area where you achieved measurable benefits] for [employer names]. I have [number of years] years of experience [provide high-level description of responsibilities in this role]. In this role, I [describe key responsibilities].

I feel that my [name skill(s)] would be an asset in this role.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope to have the opportunity to discuss the opening with you in person.

Sincerely...

Wow. I mean, with a letter like that, so personalized to our business, how could I *not* call her back!?!

Good News! Best Buy called-- our camera was fixed & ready for pick-up. We picked it up this morning, and it seems to be working fine. Based the images in the camera, it seems we have this guy to thank...



Actually, we probably have the guy next to him to thank... but anyway... I'm glad it's back.

No pictures of the shrug-- it's finished, but considering I had to take my shirt off to try it on & get an idea of what it looks like, you will be pleased to know there were no pictures taken.

I did, however, take pictures of my poor bruised boy, now that a few days have passed since his run-in with a teeter-totter (that's a see-saw for us American folks.) Does anyone know a quick way to tell if a toddler has a broken nose?



NO, we are not making him wear the helmet full-time now. We just had it out from ice skating last night. Poor bug.

I've been knitting a shrug. It's for Sue's niece. Sue has two nieces, and she gets them matching gifts. Last year, she made them great ponchos. This year, she was making them shrugs. Then, Sue got tendonitis, or something. It hurts her to knit (oh, the horror!). SO... her friend Elizabeth offered to knit one of the shrugs. Of course, I offered to knit the other. (I swear I was thinking about offering, even before Elizabeth did, but I thought Sue would be offended... really!) Anyway, I've had lots of knitting time, and here is my progress.



The pattern is the ribbed shrug from Interweave knits. It's about a toddler and a half long.



I'm actually working on the bind-off edge now. It's some fancy-schmancy bind-off that Sue learned at Stitches. It takes approximately 48 times longer than a traditional bind-off... but I think it is worth the effort. It really looks good!

Sam thinks I should stop knitting & go outside and play in the snow!

The Matinee Coat is done. It looks better in person.


(photo courtesy of Sue's camera... thanks!)

I made a few changes-- I crocheted the picot edge along the bottom, instead of knitting it. I also did a crocheted border around the neck edge-- it just looked unfinished without it. My dad is babysitting Sam on Saturday, and will pick it up then. Hopefully, he'll get it to his friends before their baby grows out of it.

Thanks for the suggestions on the different-sized potholders... although the different sizes weren't the problem. That was somewhat intentional. The potential problem was that I was making a potholder a day, and couldn't stop... but I touched the Cashmerino, and it freed me from the potholder spell...

The Matinee Coat is done, and rather stunning (if I must say so myself.) You'll have to take my word for it, because I have no camera... Sam & I took it to Best Buy today for repair, and they had to send it out. We won't get it back for 2 to 4 weeks! Maybe Sue will let me use her camera tomorrow (hint hint).

Need some holiday gift ideas? Oprah has her favorite things... here is one of mine:

Ceiva is a digital picture frame-- we got one for my grandmother a few years ago. She has it on her nightstand, plugged into a phone line. At some point in the middle of the night, it dials into someplace, and uploads photos that I (or other family members) have uploaded to Grandma's account on the Ceiva website. She gets new pictures of Sam right on her nightstand whenever I get a chance to upload them... and I don't have to spend hours doing "tech support" because she forgot how to open e-mail attachments (again). It's a beautiful thing. No financial interest... just happy with ours.