Knitting stuff and Christmas -- EDITED -- see RED text

I am a failure. Okay, some of you have convinced me that I am not a failure. I guess failure is too strong a word. So what is the word for "biting off more than they could chew"? Oh, and a procrastinator too.

I started this season planning early. I made the two elf hats. I started LOTS OF STUFF and didn't finish a thing, except the elf hats. Bah humbug and all that stuff.

I have no excuse except that instead of sticking with one thing until it was done, I would start something then start something else and then something else and something else . . . and go back to one or the other and just didn't finish anything.

Zachariah's socks, both of them, are completed to the heel. I mean, seriously, how hard could this be!

I have one and a half gauntlets made in one yarn, started another pair in another yarn (need to tick this one back . . . way too small needles!).

I have the flower patch mitten done to the thumb gusset. Which is perfect if the person I am making these for only needed one mitten. Unfortunately, they need two and I am not sure I like it anyway. Way too dark, but warm.

I have the Lucy bag mostly done, more than half way through the Lucy bag's first strap.

Lindsey informed me that she didn't like her hat and wouldn't wear it anyway. At least I didn't get it done before this announcement. But, she would like a pair of knee high slippers, like these. She will be lucky if she gets these instead.

Zachariah asked me about his sweater. The sleeves are done. The body is done to where I have to attach the sleeves. Sigh.

Sigh.

Sigh.

Sigh.

And, I have to have cataract surgery probably before year end because, surprise, surprise, I cannot see anything out of my left eye. Do you suppose I could milk the cataract surgery for months of not having to do anything except knit and read?

So, the way I look at it, I can either really apply myself, and not sleep, and get some things done or figure that I am way ahead of schedule for next year.

Deadline, deadline

Hello there everyone!

If you are interested in a fun blog, go visit Donna (Knitinggal). She is having a contest but it ends at 6:00 p.m. TODAY, July 25. She started this contest because she has many visitors but not very many commenters, which in turn, reminded me how important it is in the virtual world to just not be a lurker. Hint, hint. LOL!

Even if you don't want to enter the contest, go visit her blog. She has some great stories and info on her blog . . . including reminding us that Christmas is right around the corner, which when considering the speed with which I knit, means I missed it! LOL!!

Christmas Photos

The traditional Christmas Eve reading of "Hurry Santa" and "Twas the Night Before Christmas."

Caitlin and Nicki. Caitlin turned 16 on 12/26 and Nicki turned 21 on 12/21. Nicki is a Junior at Unity College in Maine. She likes to entertain us with some of the non-traditional activities that happen at the college. One of the things she has to take back to school this semester is her cross-bow!

Jenny is in her second year of law school at CWRU. She graduated from NYU in 2005. She is Zachariah's godmother. Here she is thoroughly enjoying reading a Klutz book that Santa brought Zachariah. Jenny, Nicki and Caitlin are my younger brother's daughters.

Erich and Ryan. Erich is in the Marines and is based currently in North Carolina. Ryan has enlisted in the Air Force but doesn't start basic training until February. They are my younger sister's youngest sons. Her oldest son, Tommy, is in the Navy and is currently cruising somewhere . . . he does cryptology . . . very hush-hush.

Sarah and Caitlin did a great job at winning at Texas Hold'm. The guys were in shock!!

Zeke, Mary, MacKenzie and Sarah. Sarah and Mary are my younger sister, Jacquie's youngest children. Sarah is married to Zeke and MacKenzie is their daughter.
Hayden. Hayden was born on December 1. Sarah and Zeke are his parents. He is beautiful. He is being held by my sister, Jacquie. He is her youngest grandchild. Mary (the cute little blonde in the pics just above and below) is his aunt. She will be give in April.

And of course then there is Mary, Lindsey and Zachariah. My younger sister Jacquie and I (and, of course, our husbands), adopted siblings. Lindsey joined us when she was 22 months old. Zachariah joined us when he was four months old. Mary joined Jacquie and her family when she was six weeks old.


Lindsey does know the relationship between the three of them. When Jacquie and Mike adopted Mary, she was thrilled because she not only got another cousin but a sister too! When Zachariah and Mary are old enough to understand, we will share the entire relationship and circumstances with them.

Almost there, seriously

I cannot count it the holidays until I have finished my final, final for the Fall semester. We have a finance final and international business (IB or Idiot Broad) final on Saturday, December 16!!!!



Have I mentioned how much I despise my IB teacher. She makes me crazed. We have to prepare three case studies over the course. This is a 10 week course. Three case studies, a mid-term and final is a tad excessive. Worse yet is that IB complains about how BUSY SHE IS. Hello???? You teach TWO classes. Two identical classes. Do not complain because you find reading 63 various versions of the same papers boring, especially when you have to do this three times because you ASSIGNED them. Dolt!



But the best was that she returned our latest paper. I got a big old smiley face on mine. Oh, joy. So, when I got it home, I put it on the fridge.

The problem is that this class is such a waste of time. She has given us assigned seats by first name because she was going to give us credit for participation . . . oh, that is too hard so she is not doing that either.


Finance on the other hand is super fabulous!! Go ahead, ask me about NPV!!! This prof gives us a test every week . . . one or two problems. Of course, one of the problems this past Saturday took two pieces of paper. But I know NPV (in case you are wondering the NPV of an annuity is PMT[1-1/(1+r)n/r] . . . yeah and I didn't even look in the book for it . . . of course, I'm dreaming this stuff. It is so sad.

On the upside of things, it is all coming to an end. I've am getting to the finals . . . and not just the tests. This was the FINAL Fall semester I will register for. This will be the FINAL Christmas that I spend Sundays studying instead of making Christmas cookies.

It is amazing. After 32 years (with a major break), I am down to the final FINALS.