the Akamai Knitter

Today I waited in suspense for my veterinarian to call me with the lab results for my cat Onyx. I took her in on Friday for her routine 6 month checkup. There really wasn’t anything specifically wrong with her, but she’s 19 years old, so I was worried that her labs would say that her kidneys might were starting to fail or that there was some other type of dire senior cat problem.

Luckily, there’s nothing wrong with her other then old age. But we are starting her on subcutaneous fluids three times a week as she was dehydrated when we took her in. At this point, I’m willing to do anything to improve her quality of life. I’ve had her since I was 16 and she’s a very important part of my life as well as my heart.

While I worried and waited for the news, I knitted away on my latest sock. I was able to finish the first sock and I decided to cal this pair the Opal Garden Socks.

The yarn is another Opal one of a kind colourway. I knitted this sock with more than a touch of regret as I really prefer the colours the yarn company came out with earlier in their career.

I’m using the Beaded Rib pattern from the book Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch. It’s a fun and relaxing knit, which was just what I needed today.

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Your lights are on, but you’re not home
Your mind is not your own
Your heart sweats, your body shakes
Another sock is what it takes

You can’t sleep, you can’t eat
Theres no doubt, you’re in deep
Your throat is tight, you cant breathe
Another sock is all you need

Whoa, you like to think that you’re immune to the stuff

Oh Yeah

Its closer to the truth to say you can’t get enough
You know you’re gonna have to face it
You’re addicted to socks

You see the signs, but you can’t read
You’re knittin’ at a different speed
You heart beats in double time
Another sock and you’ll be mine, a one track mind

You can’t be saved
Knitting is all you crave
If there’s some left for you
You don’t mind if you do

Whoa, you like to think that you’re immune to the stuff

Oh Yeah

Its closer to the truth to say you can’t get enough
You know you’re gonna have to face it
You’re addicted to socks

Might as well face it, you’re addicted to socks
Might as well face it, you’re addicted to socks
Might as well face it, you’re addicted to socks
Might as well face it, you’re addicted to socks
Might as well face it, you’re addicted to socks

(This was inspired by Neither Hip Nor Funky’s lumps. The song is Addicted To Love by Robert Palmer. Thanks to Lyrics Freak for the lyrics. The video to the song is here. Yay for the 80’s! Details on the sock soon to follow.)

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No matter how much I wanted to drag this project out, I just couldn’t stop knitting. So here we have the completed Black Rainbow Socks.

As you can see the stripes don’t exactly match, but I did try! The colour runs are uneven and while I was knitting them that really annoyed me. Once I got the finished socks on my feet I really didn’t mind, because they fit like a dream.

Pattern: Slipped Stitch Rib by Charlene Schurch in Sensational Knitted Socks

Needles: size 1US or 2.25mm (2 circulars)

Yarn: Opal sock yarn - one of a kind colourway

Started: June 4, 2007

Finished: June 13, 2007

The most daring thing I did with these socks was stop decreasing the toes at 16 stitches (32 stitches total). I’m really happy with the results, as my arthritic toes enjoy a roomier toe. I also added a few rows of plain stockinette after the decreases to add some length to the toe since the decrease rows weren’t as lengthy as they would have been had I decreased until only 18 total stitches were left.

In other news, I have decided to purchase a new Dell computer once I get the funds together. Well, I also need to decide on which model to get and what components to buy, etc. Being the indecisive careful deliberator that I am, it might take awhile before the actual purchase takes place. I do plan on calling them and begging asking them if they can install XP on a machine for me. If not, I’m prepared to give Vista a shot.

Finally, I caught Quincy in a contemplative mood. I wonder what he’s thinking up.

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It seems like the Black Rainbow Socks are just knitting themselves and I’m not too happy about that. This is one of those projects that I want to go on forever. I love the yarn. I love the stitch pattern. The only thing that has me off kilter is that the colour runs are uneven.

I’m not sure if you can tell in the photo, but the stripes aren’t the same length. I find this mildly annoying as I was using the colours to help me figure out when to stop for the heel flap. I thought that once I was done with the blue stripe, I’d stop for the heel flap. That was so not the case. There was about 3 inches too much leg and that’s 3 inches of work I had to rip out.

The problems didn’t end there. It took me about 3 or 4 tries to get the heel to turn properly because I just couldn’t parse the first row of the heel turn pattern. There was something wrong with my brain yesterday.

I also broke my desktop computer. What should have simply been a simple RAM upgrade turned into a complete disaster. I thought I did everything right, but now the computer won’t even boot up with the original stick of RAM. I really thought that I could do this since I was able to install my own Firewire card.

Since fixing the old computer would cost an arm and three legs and since I really only have two legs, it looks like I’ll have to buy a new computer. I shouldn’t complain too much, the old desktop I have has lasted me for about 4 or 5 years and that’s pretty damned good.

I’m extremely reluctant about purchasing a new computer though. Mainly because I’m wary of Windows Vista. I’ve heard a lot of Bad Things about this particular operating system and Macs are just too spendy for me. There really doesn’t seem to be too many other options though. Do any of you use Vista? How do you feel about it?

Thank goodness I still have the laptop. Otherwise Opal would be a giant crawly thing of massive Internet withdrawls. The DT’s would be loud and messy and anyone within a 5-mile radius would be running for cover while dialing 911.

On a happier note, here’s another belly shot I got of Quincy. He was really rockin’ the tummy poses the other day. And thank you for letting me vent, sometimes I just need to whine a bit. Anyone have some cheese?

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Okay so today isn’t really Monday, but it feels like it since we had a long weekend.* It was a busy three day that included much knitting, movie watching, house cleaning, and receiving of the mail swag.

As you all know, Saturday was World Wide Knit In Public Day and the Aloha Knitters celebrated at the Aloha Tower. There were about 10 knitters there and we had a great time.

It was really interesting to see the stares we received. Though there were a couple of young girls that actually glared at us, which I thought was odd. Were they glaring at us because we were knitting or because we were a loud raucous party?

After the official WWKIP meeting, the majority of us adjourned to Gordon Biersch for dinner. All I can say is the garlic fries were absolutely divine and they made up for the mediocre service we received.

Here we have Kai, Veronica, and Jen expressing their knitterly joy.

While at the meeting, I could not restrain myself from showing everyone I my new shoes. Okay, I didn’t show the people had met for the first time. I thought they might think it a bit strange. :-)

They are the Dansko Camilla and I have been wanting these shoes ever since I saw them on January One a few months ago. Only I waffled back and forth over having to purchase them online.

What finally swayed me was a couple of posts by Crazy Aunt Purl. Instead of Zappos, I went with shoes.com because Zappos did not have the Camillas, but shoes.com had them! They were also cheaper, plus they ship UPS to all 50 states and they have a 365 day return!

I’m really happy with the shoes and I would definitely buy online again. In fact I even have my eyes on some sandals.

The goodies didn’t end with the shoes though. I also received a shawl pin from Chris over at Scotts Mountain Crafts. I’ve been needing one of these for awhile now and this design really caught my eye because it reminds me of a spiderweb.

I’m really impressed with how sturdy this pin is. I think it will hold up well and it truly is a thing of beauty. I hope to get more pins like these in sterling silver.

There was knitting done, but since this post is so long I think I’ll save it for another time. I also had another package or two in the mail, but I’ll also save it for another time.

And since everyone else is doing it, I’ll leave you with a belly shot of Quincy in all his glory. As you can see, he’s settled in nicely.

*Monday was King Kamehameha Day, a state holiday.

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