Isn't that a great name for a U.K. travel brochure? I think it's a great name for a novel too - a mystery novel - involving a drunk knitter.... no wait.... a knitter who falls in love with a handsome Highland shepherd....no....not a shepherd....the wealthy but lonely owner of a distillery who wishes he could be a farmer like his da.... OK, so Harlequin isn't breaking down my door, but I still think it's a great title even if it has nothing to do with anything.
The condensed version of "Gina's Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Week" (with acknowledgments to Judith Viorst, I love her book). Skip to the end for knitting pics and news.
Monday was Glorious! The sun was shining, the breeze was pleasant and with just enough chill to make the wearing of a handknit Peace Fleece cardigan pleasant. I met my friend JM for coffee and a walk in the park. It was lovely. Good coffee, pleasant company, lots of laughter. I cling to the memory.
Tuesday was the day I met with Asshole and the mediator. I managed to impress myself with my own abilities in self-delusion. I actually thought I might be able to express myself. WRONG. The best and only possible resolution is to avoid all contact. Fortunately we work at opposite ends of a very large building. The story will continue I'm sure. After all, what's an Asshole to do if not make life as difficult as possible for his chosen target? Whatever.
Wednesday. Ah, Wednesday. Let me start by telling you that Hubby Darling does not see any resemblance between my gynecologist and Liam Neeson. I do. Maybe it was just wishful thinking to have Liam Neeson ..... never mind. I went in for a colposcopy. This is a relatively minor follow up procedure when you have a PAP smear that reveals "abnormal" cells. I walked out 90 minutes later having had a LEEP procedure. It would appear that there was quite a sizable area of abnormal cells - it covered approximately 1/4 of my cervix. The doctor very quickly and efficiently removed a giant chunk of my cervix - about the size of the end of your thumb - not the tip mind you, more like from the knuckle. Feel free to experience a cramp now. This hurts. Yes, they freeze the cervix - and that hurts. When they lop off the end of your frozen cervix it still hurts. There is adrenalin in the freezing so almost as soon as they finish, you get the wicked shakes. Remember how you shook shortly after your babies were born? Like that. The freezing doesn't last very long. Then your poor amputated cervix wakes up and says " W.T.F!!!" And you hurt all night long.
Thursday. I took the day off work to recover from the previous two days. Anybody blame me? Here's the thing about the whole Pap smear - colposcopy thing ladies. Cervical Cancer sucks. You don't know you have anything wrong with you until it has migrated to your bladder and/or bowels. By then, you have big problems - treatable to be sure - but now we're talking surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Make sure you have an annual pap smear and this is very unlikely to happen to you. The pap smear is a screening tool that identifies women who might be at risk. Like all screening tools, it isn't perfect. Colposcopy is the follow up to check on the results. It's quick and relatively painless. LEEP is different. LEEP is so much more invasive. LEEP - or whatever - is so much better than cervical cancer. The thing is ladies, cervical cancer is 100% preventable. It's caused by any of the HPV family of viruses. If you are sexually active, you have been exposed to HPV. Catch the cellular changes quickly with an annual pap smear like I did, and you don't have to worry about cervical cancer.
Today is also the twentieth anniversary of my mother's death. She had breast cancer. My mom taught me everything she could in the short time she had. Twenty-two is young to be motherless and I wish so much that I had had the chance to get to know her as a friend. She could knit and she taught me, but Mom was a functional knitter. She didn't love it. I wonder what she would think of my obsession? I remember the day she gave me all of her collected needles (still have and use them). She told me that I was such a good knitter now that she didn't feel the need to knit at all any more and if I would just keep her in slippers she'd be happy. I did knit many pairs of slippers for my mom. All were made from this nasty unspun polypropylene stuff that built up the static on the carpet something fierce. I still think she used to build up the charge on purpose just so she could get me with that giant blue spark. If Mom were still here, I'd keep her in felted clogs with suede bottoms, and handknit socks made from alpaca or merino or silk. I miss you Mom.
Friday?? Well, given the week I've had, I'm not expecting anything. I will wish my friend good fortune in her new position. I will hope that the sun shines, and that I have the time to allow some of those healing rays fall onto my face. Darling Hubby promises to take me out for a bit Friday evening. Perhaps there will be Scotch whiskey after all?
Now for knitting. Yes there has been some. Not a lot to show for it, but some.
This is how much sock I could knit while waiting for 4 1/2 hours in the "Urgent Care" waiting room last Friday when #2's school called to say he had a HORRIBLE rash and needed to GO NOW. The doctor said "It could be an allergy or it could be a virus. I don't know. Keep using the benadryl and go see a doctor if it doesn't get better in another 3 or 4 days." #2 was fine the next day.
This is the completed gift scarf - My So Called Scarf. Nice scarf pattern, very cool texture, works very well with thick/thin yarns or with evenly spun yarns. Would be very nice with that erratic first handspun if there was enough of it. I made this one with 2 skeins of Manos del Uruguay in "Flame" (colour 115) and knit it on size 15 (10mm) needles. The Manos is nice in the skein but softened and fluffed after a eucalan bath into something that will be soft, warm, and cozy to wear.
Here's a close up of the texture on both sides. Scrummy!
And I save the best for last today. That way you get a reward for having stuck with me this long.
My Spin Rove Swap partner was Kirsten, from Wales. I can't tell you how stoked I was to have an overseas swap partner. Kristen sent me a beautiful handpainted spindle which twirls easily and long. She also included 2 colours of silk roving. The one on the left is natural / earthy. It's spinning up into a lovely neutral taupe colour. The other is a stunning, gorgeous, amazing shade of cobalt blue. It's like looking at a handful of the Caribbean Sea. I must become a much better spindler before I touch this stuff! There was also some chocolate (yum!), some sweets for the kids, and a cute little sheep purse which #3 adopted immediately and permanently. It was a great package. I keep showing strangers my handful of silk and pretty blue spindle and trying to impress upon them just how cool it is that they CAME FROM WALES!!! Thanks Kirsten! Thank you so much.