Zzzzzzz, dental hygiene, and the letter E.

On Mar 21st I left Calgary... flew to San Diego. I'd been up since about 3:30 or 4:00AM, so when at 7:30pm I couldn't keep my eyes open, I wasn't too surprised.

The next night, in Mexico, I crashed at about 8ish. Each night was a similar story; tho I wasn't working too hard physically I was totally exhausted. I slept through the night over and over again. It was so great.

Was it because I was sleeping alone (and dog free) in a single bunk? Because I wasn't compulsively thinking about work? Because I was getting more exercise?

I just don't know. I expect it's a combination of everything.. all I know is that it was very, very wonderful, and I have to figure out a way to make it work at home.

Regarding dental hygiene... I had my teeth cleaned and polished, and had a checkup while I was in Mexico; all for the princely sum of $25.00 US. Can you believe that one? I.am.so.happy.

Prior to leaving for Mexico, I had been finishing off the upside down Haiku on the Near Solstice shawl... beautiful! Save for one misplaced yarn-over on a letter E. Just enough to blur the letter, and make the entire word illegible. These last two nights I've been sitting on the couch struggling with it. I have no desire to frog 20'ish rows of approximately 600 stitches each and start the haiku afresh. Nor can I leave it as is... So I initially tried to tink the E, and re-knit. Fail.

I'm telling you, it took some serious deep breathing before I had the nerve to start tinking that mess.... I had no idea if the correction was possible, or if I was causing myself a massive trip to the frog pond. Anyway....

Next I tinked approximately 1/2 of the word 'secret' and re-knit that. More-fail.

Tension was a problem, so I thought that a set of smaller metal DPN's would help, and I tinked for a 3rd time... this time, the entire word. I spent all of tonight re-knitting a section of 51 stitches, and for the most part, the problem seems cured. At the last possible moment, I neglected to turn the work, so I have to tink 4 stinking rows AGAIN. I'm not complaining, but damn.. it was a huge amount of time and energy to resolve a single yarn over.

Tomorrow is another day..

Something interesting for your entertainment

Here's something fun for you to look at.

A few Mexico pictures

Thousands upon thousands were taken; here are a few of Jim's. Please note that there are several disturbing photos of dogs in this collection.

On images 4403 and 4404 you can see a collection of plywood and black plastic to the left (and you can also see Brenda, a little neighbor girl who is recovering from an unfortunate head shaving incident.. try to imagine her with pigtails). That is the back wall of the house that our family was sharing with relatives. The relatives will remain in the old house.

And the little girl in the picture? The one with clear brown eyes, rosy skin and golden hair; the soccer whiz who is doing great at school? She's sleeping in a house with 4 walls. Also, for the first time in her life, she has a real bed, with a real mattress. She's 11.

You were part of that.

It went so fast

The house has been built, and now inhabited by Rachel, Alfonso and their 4 children. Handing over the keys to them was such an intense experience that I cannot put it into words.

I have the flu, and I will be so very glad to get home tomorrow. Soon I'll have pictures and stories to share.

Knitting? One lone monkey sock. Nice though...

Off I go, into the wild blue yonder

In a few hours I'll be on the plane and heading for Vancouver, then San Diego. I'm hoping that all goes well, and that I do a good job on the project. I hope that the family cherishes their new home; they'll never know how many people chipped in and helped out on this project. Hundreds.. including a lot of fiber addicts that I have the pleasure of knowing.

I am taking a single skein of STR Mill ends (medium weight), and 50 grams of Claudia's fingering weight, plus one lone sock pattern. (I'm already rethinking that). If I keep to the plan I'll actually have a pair of monkeys instead of one. Imagine that.

I also have a book and one Wild Fibers magazine. By Monday night my arms will be too sore to hold the book upright.

See you all again soon.... and thank you.

Lisa Hannigan

Here is something special for you to watch. She somehow reminds me of Joce.

Aunty Mary

My Aunt Mary was quite an amazing woman. When she was in her 80's she traveled to PEI to become the gold medalist in Woman's Golfing at the Senior Olympics. It wasn't her last time in the Senior Olympics, nor her last win.

She lead a very, very active life; bowling all winter, and golfing every other moment.

The golfing thing came up because when she married my great-uncle, he told her that if she didn't learn to golf, that she'd never see him. It ended up that she became the superior golfer, and I don't think he saw much of her!

Last Saturday Aunt Mary suffered a massive heart attack; after which she rallied (we weren't surprised). On Tuesday, she passed quietly in her sleep.

I'm quite sure that heaven has a golf course. And I know she's there right now... so golf in peace, Aunt Mary. We'll miss you here on earth.

Grampa? He didn't take the Lieutenant seriously, and he's still trying to get out of the GD hospital to go to his GD house and eat a decent GD meal. Apparently they don't let 93 year old men go home when they can't walk, and can't see, and have feeding tube. Imagine that?