A Most Difficult Time of the Year

I got hit by the Depression Truck. There's no other way to describe it. I haven't wanted to write, I haven't wanted to spin (!!), I haven't wanted to knit (!!!!)... I just haven't wanted much. It's hardly surprising since we've been ever increasingly coming up on the one year anniversary of my father's death and that was nothing anyone around here wanted to deal with, especially me.

But we did deal with it. We had Easter the day before the anniversary and we got through that with a lot of knitting and a general sense of malaise (though my lamb and potato pancakes did not go unappreciated. Even in the midst of existential crisis the Fam knows better than to starve itself). I spent a few hours of the 17th with Mom and we went out to a somewhat uncomfortable lunch (if truth be told) and we all did a lot of crying in our safe places but not in front of each other and we got through it. The first year is over.

What that means, I have no idea. I don't think it means too terribly much except that everything keeps on keeping on and we don't have to go through "first year without" again. How much good that will do is still sort of up in the air. We'll see.

I did get last week off for spring break and (gods be praised) it hardly rained. We got a deluge on Easter morning and then things cleared and stayed dry until the next Sunday - which was just overcast. I think the fact that it didn't rain for most of the break contributed to my general decent mood and the mild uplifting of my spirits. I just felt better after Easter. So much so that I cleaned the hell out of the kitchen, did some laundry and, while the house isn't ready for the Queen or anything, it's in better shape than it's been and there appears to be hope for this place after all.

Dave and I celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary on the 22nd. With finances as they are we obviously couldn't go crazy but since we did exactly nothing last year on our anniversary we decided we should get away this time around. We decided to drive down to Hearst Castle and spend a long weekend on the coast. Thus last Friday we drove down, listening to old time radio on the iPod (always a favorite pastime for us - we're nothing if not appreciative of storytelling, good, bad or otherwise). We stayed at the least frilly motel in Cambria, which while short on room service and long on a tendency toward stuffiness was, in fact, walking distance to downtown and quiet and boasted the sweetest, friendliest, flea-free cats around. One actually walked right into our motel room, jumped on the bed and commenced immediate cuddling. It was pretty perfect.

We had an amazing dinner at a restaurant called The Sow's Ear (if you get a chance, GO! Have the pork loin with ollalieberry chutney. If you think pork loin is always dry and so you never order it, you NEED to order this pork loin. Incredible. Also, have the cinnamon bread pudding for dessert. I didn't and Dave ate all his after he only gave me one bite and I think that's very poor anniversary skills. If you ask me.) We took the evening tour of Hearst Castle, which was romatic and not raining and if you've been in Northern California this year you know that any evening without rain automatically means romantic. We had the fluffiest pancakes ever and the most amazing bar-b-qued ribs in a very long time (not at the same meal. I mean, puh-leese). We were chatted up by a magician, saw hand painted needlepoint patterns, ate the Best Salad In The World (that might be because I was dizzy with hunger but I wouldn't put it past the Thousand Island dressing... that stuff might have had drugs in it), and, as a special anniversary present to me, Dave left me all alone in the only yarn store in Cambria, where I was tempted by many things but only purchased a skein of Noro in a colorway I hadn't seen before, a skein of Schaeffer's sock yarn in a colorway I DEFY you to pass up (You wouldn't be able to unless you were Dave, who said (and I quote) "That's nice..."), and a pair of Skacel size 8 14" straight needles that were The Buy Of The Century Because You A) Cannot FIND Them In Stores Around Here and B) They Were Only Eight Bucks.

Did I mention I love me the size 8 needles? They seem to be the most commonly required, for me. The Dorm Boots need size 8's, Clapotis calls for 8's... many many things are needing the size 8 needles. An extra pair can't hurt.

So the anniversary was good. Despite my not being around for the blog, I have done some knitting - I couldn't just stop after all. Though I've swatched for a few projects, nothing has panned out to my liking. I finished a pair of Opal self-patterning socks (the miracle of self-patterning will never wear thin) and am about 2/3 of the way though a pair of Koigu socks for Dave. These socks are almost painful to give up. The main body is varigated greens and purples that make me think of Provence (in fact, I call them the Provence Socks) but the heel and toe are a deep olive solid that I ordered when I was certain that a single skein of Koigu would be insufficient for a single sock (I was right). I wouldn't give them up at all but for the fact that there's more Koigu in the stash. I want some Koigu socks for my ownself!!!

Soon.

However, before Koigu Socks For Me can commence, I MUST finish the Olympic booties (TERRIBLE second sock syndrome on those...), knit at least another 4 pair of baby socks from leftovers (that should take a week or so), knit two sets of Ugg bootie and hat combos (for Sage, who is bearing twin boys Batman and Willie Wonka in her belly) and start on the Pomatomus-along (new button in sidebar).

Am I overextended? Not really. Just planning for a very busy spring.

Posted by GoddessKristin on 04/25/06 at 06:36 PM [link]