Edith Piaf was a knitter!!  How awesome is that???  Did you know that?  I had no idea until I watched “La Vie en Rose”.   Then, I doubted whether she was really a knitter or they just put that in the movie for effect.  So, I googled it. 

I found this picture of her knitting in a hospital bed.

I found the movie a bit confusing.  I’ll have to read her biography.

It’s Christmas Eve and I’m off to work.

Merry Christmas everyone!

It’s December 22nd.  I can’t believe Christmas manages to sneak up on me every time.

I’ve been knitting like a madwoman trying to get things done on time.  I’m doing pretty darn good if I do say so myself.

Actually, I didn’t knit a lot of my gifts this year.  It’s tough when you question whether people appreciate it. 

Either way, here are a few pics.  I’m really behind on what’s been going on.

Pardon the quality.  D’Arcy took this pic with my phone.  It’s not too bad.  Anyway, that’s my Wurm and the shorter Wurm that I made for Sharon at work.

I had some leftover yarn so, I’m currently making this scarf to match her Wurm.  It’s not for Christmas though.  It’s just in my purse for when I’m waiting.

I finished these in a few days for my sister Mel.  They turned out nice.

I’m doing really well on France’s February Lady.  I worked on it for about four hours last night while I watched movies with Jacob.

I almost bought this hat at Adirondack Yarns last weekend in Lake Placid but, I couldn’t bring myself to pay $25 for it.  PLUS, it’s made in China.  Not even made by someone’s hands.  I was shocked ’cause it was for sale in a yarn shop.  You would think…  Anyway, I took some pics of it and I fully intend to figure it out… in a couple of months.

I also saw this hat at the yarn shop and thought it was really cool.  It’s reversible.

I thought it was pretty cool.  I was thinking of making one for Scott but… then decided against it.  His son wears the socks and the clogs I made him.  Maybe I should make Grant one!  At least he would wear it!  Hahah.

I forgot to take pictures of Sharon’s Felted Clogs.  Bummer.  Now, I have to wait for her to send me some.

I also still don’t have any pics of our Lake Placid weekend. 

I’ve just worked five nights shifts.  I came home yesterday morning, slept ’till a little past noon ’cause I had a lot of things to do around the house.  I didn’t do any of them.  Went into town and did some shopping, groceries and had a poutine!  It’s been a while since I’ve had one of those.  What a treat!

Jacob and I watched two movies, which is why I got a lot done on France’s sweater.

This morning, I slept ’till noon for the first time in about 10 years!    I wanted to hit my usual class at the gym but… guess what? I missed it.  This night shift stuff is for the birds!  Mind you, five in a row is not really the norm.  I’m not used to it anymore.  My body will adjust I suppose.

Scott’s visiting his parents in Toronto.  I’m off, he’s gone.  Figures!  I suppose it will give me a chance to catch up on some housework.  I can’t remember the last time I washed my floors.  Kinda gross I guess but, I’m not that dirty.  Not that many people live in this house.  I’m more concerned about the three weeks’ of laundry I still haven’t put away.  That’s my project for the day.  And, while I’m doing that, I’ll be cleaning out my closet.  There are items in there that I haven’t worn in a few years.  They’re taking up hangers for nothing.

I’m off tomorrow too.  Wooohooo!

In my last post, I asked for a sign telling me what to do about the job thing.  Well, I got one!

On Thursday the 10th, I got my sign in the form of an e-mail.  And e-mail OFFER to be more specific.  It wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for but, it was close enough that I thought to myself: “You gotta be shitting me!!!” 

So, I’m almost 100% sure I’m staying local.  I haven’t signed any paperwork yet but, I’m pretty sure it’s official.  

Friday the 11th was my last day at the office (not officially because of the aforesaid lack of paperwork).  Imagine my excitement.  I was sohappy that I didn’t cry – not one tear.  And, if I’m going to be honest, I should probably mention that I’m a cryer when it comes to shit like this –  saying goodbye to people and places is a toughie for anyone who has a sliver for a heart I think. 

Well, apparently not me last Friday!  I tell you… I was so happy to be out of there that I just grabbed all my crap, hugged my good friend Sharon, said see you later to everyone else and practically ran out the door.  It was as if I was coming back to work on today.  Hahahahahahahah.

On another note, I spent the weekend in Lake Placid with my family.  It was our Third Annual Christmas Family Vacation.  Youpi.  It was great.  We rented a big cottage and chilled out all weekend.  I really needed a break.  We ate, played games, watched a Christmas movie, chatted and just took it easy all weekend.  (Pictures will follow when I get them from my Mom.)

My mother and I actually went into the village of Lake Placid to Adirondack Yarns to go check out what they had.  You know you have too much yarn when you walk out of a perfectly good yarn shop with NOTHING!!!  That’s right.  I bought nothing.  I still can’t believe it myself.  I looked at yarn, played with it, rubbed it up against my cheek, thought of things I could make with said yarn and walked out with zippo.  That’s what I call self-control!

Today was check-out.  I hate leaving a place.  I always get super-bummed out.  You would think that I would just learn to expect/accept it. 

BUT, truth be told, I feel totally lost today.  I’ve been “going to the office” for 10 years now.  All of a sudden, I don’t have to go.  Part of me wants to go jump on the bed and the other part of me needs a paper bag to hyper-ventilate in.  It’s a giant change and I’ll get used to it.  For today though, I’m completely freaked out!!!

To top it all off, Jacob has a girlfriend.  He’s 15.  It was bound to happen right?  That’s what I keep telling myself.  He’s not my baby anymore.  It’s a really tough one though.  I’m torn between being an understanding parent who accepts that she has to give her adolescent some room to grow and being a total tyrant/psycho who wants to chain her kid up in the basement and never let him leave the house.  I’m sure that I’ll find a balance between the two.  But, I told him that he had to give me some time to get used to this.  As a young mother, I can totally remember how a statement like that would have made me feel – like I was in prison!  I get that he’s excited about this and that he wants to spend all his time with this little hoochie who wants to corrupt my baby young lady… I DON’T CARE.  I’m in denial!!!

While all this has been happening, I’ve started a “Wurm” scar for Sharon with the wool I had left over from her hat.  Should have enough to make her a short one.  I also started another pair (that would be #6 I think) of Bella’s Mittens for my sister Mel.  I hope I don’t have to make another pair for a long time after this.  I also got to work on France’s February Lady for a long time today seeing as I didn’t have to rush back to the office.  Haha. 

A lot of changes all of a sudden.  I hope I can adjust in a timely fashion.

I’m going to knit.

I have this giant decision to make – a career decision.  I have three choices.  I’ve made  a lost, you know, the old pros/cons list. 

It ruled one option out pretty quickly.  That option is to continue doing what I’m doing, which is working two jobs and never having any time off.

The second option is better than the first but doesn’t offer a lot of security.  BUT, it’s local.  It’s doing the job I do part-time (the station) only.  I’ll get more hours if I’m available.  I’ll have no guaranteed hours.  Maybe some pays, I won’t have enough to pay my mortgage. 

The third option has a lot of perks but requires I drive to Ottawa (about 45 minutes from home).  Now, if you live in a big city, you must think I’m a big pansy.  BUT, for me, it would be highway.  I would need a new car (which totally sucks ’cause I just got one less than a year ago.  It’s a total lemon though.)  My car insurance would go up and I would, I’m guessing, at the end of a month, dish out $500 more than I am now because of the car and travel expenses.  Now… will I make that much more?  I’m not sure. 

The weather’s really awful tonight.  There was a car in the ditch on my way home.  It’s the first snow.  People are nervous and a little crazywhen it snows for the first time each year.  I’ll have to drive in this crap whether I want to or not.  I know I already do it but, it takes me 30 minutes instead of 20 as opposed to 2 hours instead of 1 to get to the Ottawa job.

Decisions, decisions, decisions.  I wish someone would just tell me what I’m supposed to do.  What does my gut say?  I’m not sure.  It keeps changing its mind!  Stupid GUT!

Well, while all this has been whirling in my brain, I’ve knit Sharon’s Wurm.  I modified it because she didn’t want it slouchy like mine.

Again, not a great picture.   I miss summer when I could just go outside at 6:14 p.m. and take a nice picture because it was still light out.  Solstice is in a few weeks and then the days will start to get longer again. 

I also got started on my sister’s February Lady, finally.  I think I may have mentioned that already.  I really don’t like the buttonholes they suggest.  I’ve got two buttonholes done and too many rows to undo to make them nice.  I’ll just have to live with it.

 

I think the color’s pretty kick-ass!  It’s bold and I like it.  So, seeing as this is my sister’s Christmas present, I won’t be posting any more pics – in case she looks at my blog and sees it.  She knows I’m making it but I don’t want her to see the in-progress-version past this point.  Sorry France! 

We’re all heading to Lake Placid this weekend – the family.  I can’t wait.  We had a fantastic time last year.  NATURALLY, I can’t work on France’s FL if she’s there so… I’ll have to start another small project.  I had a big list in my head but, for some damn reason, I can’t remember anything that was on it!!!!  So, my gut is coming up short and my brain’s not working.  GREAT!