puttering along

Life seems so crazy these days.  On the one hand the news I hear on the radio, I don’t watch tv news too graphic, is grim, from domestic to international, from violence against women to climate change.  It makes me cry and then it makes me mad and then I feel guilty about my comfortable life with all the excess stuff we have. 

And then I remember that my daughter has a birthday this week and that really none of my family members are going to want to get a piece of paper as a holiday gift telling them that I gave to Doctors without Borders in their name:(

Did I mention that I had to finally get progressive lenses this month and that the insurance company feels that a pair of glasses, lenses and frames included shouldn’t cost more than $150?  After you stop rolling on the floor laughing I’ll let you know that the lenses alone, I am still wearing the frames that I bought in 1998, cost more than 3 times what the insurance paid. 

I had decided at some misguided point this fall that I would make felted potholders for both of my older sons as they don’t live here.  I do have one made for son #1 but then I realized that son #2 probably wouldn’t use anything handmade that I gave him and he also doesn’t believe in owning anything that can’t go in th dryer as well as the washer. 

I haven’t had a chance to look for more yarn to try and make a pair of fingerless gloves for son #2’s girlfriend.  Those fingerless mitts turned into one of those cursed projects that should be easy and quick but isn’t and is loaded because it is for somebody with whom you have a tentative but important relationship?
I also wanted to get a set of stitch markers for my mother but all I kind find locally is either tiny and made far away or absurdly expensive.  I can’t quite decide if I want to bother to make a set for her.

i continue to knit away slowly on a hat, don’t seem to get a lot of knitting time these days, and we won’t talk about the fact that the dog got a hold of the ball of yarn that I am knitting from.  I have lots of ideas and projects that I would like to undertake, maybe in 2008 eh?

To end this grumbling post on a more cheerful note, my #1 son is coming home for the holidays even though he won’t be here long and won’t be staying here, he will be here and I will be able to hug him.  It’s been 6 months since we have seen him.  He leaves winterpeg on the train today:)  It will take 3 days for him to get here, I can’t wait.