Blogging as Journaling

Hey folks, if anyone is reading,

I know you wouldn't come here to listen to me whine, but right now, I need an outlet.

Back in December, my husband accepted a job with a company that provides geologists to oil and natural gas rigs. The job can take him away for more than a month at a time with unpredictable returns home. Sometimes this is pretty good for us financially even though it's rough emotionally. But more often, it's just plain stressful in the way that your typical 9-5 job isn't. For example, he worked 3 days last month. That means that I got to have plenty of time with him, but this month is financially screwed as we cling to my paycheck to make things work. We seem to be pretty good at setting ourselves up for failure as we recently purchased new furniture on a payment plan (a very nice, very expensive bedroom set) and we are still working on paying off the credit card we got before he managed to land a job.

The long and short of it is that I have 3 bills to pay this week with next to no money and we've both got to feed ourselves until payday on the 15th. He's looking for a more consistent job that would be closer to home, but right now he's in Oklahoma, and might not be able to afford to come back!

I know I've been blessed in many things, but sometimes, life just sucks.

Spoiled by Ravelry

So folks, have you missed me?

I blame Ravelry and depression for keeping me from blogging. Ravelry for being, in my mind, a sufficient place to communicate what's going on in my life, and depression for making me not care whether or not it was.

Right now, I'm deep in the midst of Christmas knitting, and thinking that I'm way behind. But completed so far, we have:

Savanna's Jayne Hat

Hillorie's Monkeys

Lizzie's Pat-a-Cake Mittens


And I think that's it. Eeek!

Does this Post Make Me Look Emo?

Cincinnati as a city is a great place for Ben and me. Or at least, it would be, if we could get jobs. We've now been here almost two full months unemployed. Money has effectively run out, and we are locked in a one-year lease. I'm now on the roster of substitute teachers in Brown County, but am yet to be called upon. I'm working on being added in Clermont County.

We love it here. The great grocery stores, access to just about any amenity you could ask for, my family nearby to help us when there's car trouble, but no work. It's really beginning to wear on the both of us. We don't have any fights or problems between us, but we are both rather depressed most of the time. Is there any hope out there?

My Blog: Now in Cincinnati!

I guess I'm technically in Eastgate/Batavia, but I'm not that far away from the city. Ben and I are happily moved in. Now we're just desperate for jobs, any jobs. I've had more interviews than I can count, and at least two more tomorrow. The positive side of all this is that I've had oodles of knitting time. This is even better considering my new approach to stash acquisition: will knit for yarn. That's right. I'm earning yarn by knitting socks for people. And I have plenty to do, so I best get my butt moving. Perhaps sometime soon I'll share pictures. Right now I'm too discombobulated.

What have I been up to?

Entirely too much, and nothing all at the same time. As per usual, there has been some knitting, with very little in the way of life to supplement it. I'm in a race against time to compete in Sock Showdown, a little contest in the Completely Pointless and Arbitrary Swap Group on Ravelry, knit a shawl for someone else in said group, knit a pair of Anglo-Saxon--looking socks for Melisande by Pennsic, and finish a Mary Poppins themed swap package by the end of July. And all I really want to do is knit for me. Selfish, aren't I?

Pictures you say? Here are a few:

A Sagrantino Shawl slowly being knit up in Jojoland Melody Superwash. I love the construction and watching the colors change.

The completed Sock Showdown socks for my partner, whose name I will not divulge yet. Made in overdyed Plymouth Yarn Happy Feet.

And finally, some socks I started in January and only recently finished. Shur'tugal in Dream in Color Smooshy in Black Parade. Love the yarn and the pattern, but I knit them a little too short for me. Will probably go to my sister for Christmas.

And that's all for now, folks!

P.S. I will be moving to Cincinnati in August. I am quietly freaking out. That is all.

A Lazy Bum, That's What I Am

So obviously I haven't been around for a while. Largely because I got married March 28.

Here you see me showing off the garter I made. I'm really also too lazy to post all kinds of pictures here, too, so this is the only shot you get, unless of course you're my friend on facebook.

Knitting-wise, I've accomplished a bit:


Meredith's Blackrose socks. Raveled here.


Liz's Wicked Witch socks. Raveled here.

And finally, Nicole's Leyburns. Raveled here.

Oh, and Molly's Hanging Vines are still in progress. I just couldn't get it all done in time. I am, however, taking a break from them with a pair of Heath's Socks for me, which are over half done now. Then I'll get back to Molly's. Other than getting hitched and spring quarter (my last one!) getting started, I don't have much else to report.

P.S. Enough pictures for ya?

Full Speed Ahead

What I've finished:


A pair of socks for Ben, known as Masonic Lodge, in Knit Picks Essential in Pine. Gigantor socks they are, and they fit him just right. My big accomplishment was knitting the foot of one, heel turn and all, in one day. Size 11EEEE? No problem.

What I've started:


A pair of Blackrose socks for Meredith, one of my bridesmaids in the wedding that is to take place March 28 (!). I've decided to knit a pair of socks for all four of my maids. This may have been downright silly, but I'm doing it anyway. So to recap, that is four pairs of socks plus a giant Princess Bride-themed project, all due by March 28. Oh dear.