August 1.
There are 69 days left, for me to finish the projects that still remain in the loom knitting part, of The Yarn Project.
My thoughts, at this point: On one hand, I look at the amount of time left, and I think to myself: HAH! 69 days to go! Please. This is going to be a FRIGGIN piece of cake. (Apparently, I still have not completely learned my lesson, about being smug.) On the other hand, I cannot help but feel a sense of fear. Sure, at first glance, 69 days seems like a long time. But, is it? Is it really? I mean, when I stop and think about it, it seems like only yesterday, that I had the idea to start my little Project. And, that was way more than 69 days ago.
Then, I look at the projects that still remain. One more pair of socks. The completion of the (HORRIBLE) Bliss Baby Blanket. The Felted Laptop Cozy. And, lastly, the project that I will work, which is submitted by a reader. (Keep them coming guys. Email me some projects.) Ok. The socks are a small project. That is the good news. The bad news: After having made two pairs of socks, and one supposed to be sock, I am officially TIRED, of the whole sock-making process. One more pair to go. Oh, how fun! NOT! This is the ONLY project, that I can say, with no doubt, is small. Sure, the project submitted by a reader may be small. But, it could turn out to be large, as well. I really have no idea. The Bliss Baby Blanket. Well, we all know how much I love this. I mean, I have postponed working on it, how many times now? As it is, right now, I have the center panel complete. I am currently working on one outside panel. And, I still have one more, to do. (This blanket, I am sure, will be the cause of many tears.) I personally think that the word BLISS, should be substituted with another 'B' word...BEASTLY! Then, there is The Felted Laptop Cozy. Having not started this project yet, I really cannot form an opinion. All I can say is this...I really wish that I had knocked out all of the bigger projects, earlier in the game. As it is, I have two good sized projects, that I know of.
And, there are outside influences, that I must take into consideration. School. Walking. And, of course, a family (that I am sure, is TRYING in every way, to see to it that I fail to meet my deadline.).
(When I was unable to get on my blog a few days back, I was completely FREAKING out, as you can well imagine. I had no idea why I could not access my blog. And, as I told  my sweetie that I could not get to my blog, and expressed my worry: "What if I cannot access my blog, from this point on?", I was made fully aware, of just how little my Project actually means. "Oh," my sweetie said, in a completely unsympathetic tone. "Well, think of it this way. At least you've had a good run. You couldn't expect it to last forever. Now, you can move on." Yup. What a kind, supportive thing to say. Butt-head!)
Anyway...
Yesterday, after writing my post, I went to my student portal, and did each and every assignment, that was left for me to do. Of course my mother, fully aware that I am doing schoolwork, decided that it was time to rant, and rave, and laugh like a HIGH-VOLUME maniac. Her and my aunt sat in the living room, right next to the office, and spoke, in a volume that would even be too loud, at a baseball game.
"Shhh!" I must have asked for silence about 100 times. But, it did no good. Out of all the places they could go, and SCREAM, they had to do it, right where I was working. Finally, I looked away from the computer, and stared my mother, directly in the eyes. It was time, to stand up, for my education. "Could you PLEASE be quiet! If you have to scream, do it elsewhere. And, let me just say this, right now. If you continue to show such a strong lack of support, and I am forced to drop out because of it, YOU will be the one to pay the bills." Yup! That worked. Absolute silence. Of course, I got a stare, which basically said it clearly. "You ass!" But, not a single word was muttered.
I then went to take a quiz. And, I am happy to say, that I scored a 90%. How FRIGGIN cool is that? And, it was last quiz, for this class. One more week to go, and then I move on, to my third course. YAY! (Hopefully, I will be able to get a laptop soon. Then, I can go to my room, and study in peace.)
After my schoolwork was done, I put on my shoes, and went outside, for a bit of walking. Even though I was tired, and my legs hurt, I realized that I had to get at least some exercise in. After walking around for a bit, my sweetie and I played catch. I am actually getting pretty good, and balancing myself, without assistance. We threw a ball back and forth, for about 8 minutes. I did not fall once. Hell, I didn't even lose my balance. And, on top of it all, I caught the ball, each and every time it was thrown to me. Yay! Talk about feeling awesome.
(About the boring cane...I've decided to spruce it up, just a bit. No, I am not going to do a full cane cozy, though I did think about it, quite a bit. Rather, I am going to make a little dangle thingie, that hangs, from the back of the handle. Probably a ghost, a witch, or some other Halloween themed goodie.)
Then, it was time to come inside, take my place, on the blue recliner, and get to work.
The shawl.
My aunt went to take a nap, and so I had the opportunity to work on the shawl. I have decided to work a tan half-granny square (a granny triangle?), until it reaches the desired size. Then, I will spruce it up, with some chocolate brown yarn.
Then it was time to work on the sock.
Let me tell you about the stress, that comes with working a second sock. It is just plain AWFUL!!!
I have said this before, and now I will say it again. I cannot get appropriate measurements, when working with a loom. It is just friggin impossible, to measure something, when you have bulky plastic, at one end of it. So, it was all guess work. Every ten minutes, or so, I would hold the first sock, up to the one hanging from the loom, to try to eye it.
Then, there is taking the sock, off of the loom. (I swear, I am going to go and purchase double ended knitting needles, before I start my next pair of socks.) For whatever reason, I always will put the first stitch to be grafted, on the back of the knitting needles. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? So, when it comes time to take the stitches off of the needles, I have to stretch them, over the round tip, at the back. This creates loosened stitches, which are a complete bitch, to work with.
All I can say is this. Socks should not be this stressful.
Eventually, I was able to finish the second sock.
Here they are.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theyarnproject/5998496072/in/photostream
Now, even I will admit they look a bit weird. The feet look FRIGGIN huge! And yet, they fit my mother PERFECTLY. This means they will fit my sister, as her and my mother have the same foot size. My mother just went on and on, about how comfortable they are. And, as she did so, the only thing I could think, was: Thank GOD they are comfortable, because they are ugly, as all get out! (Though, to be fair, they look fine, once on a foot. It is just when they are not on feet, that  they look completely DEFORMED!)
I was totally stoked, this morning. The whole time I was drinking my morning coffee, I kept thinking that, when I came to my blog, I would be able to check off another project. It is always such a wonderful feeling, to be able to mark off another one.
So, here we are. I met my July deadline (just barely). Time to set a deadline, for August.
In this month, I will wipe out at the following two projects, at least:
The Bliss (Beastly) Baby Blanket. It is time for me to buckle down, and just get this thing finished. Even now, my inner voice is whining, like a child. "I don't wanna! This blanket isn't fun. It sucks. Sucks, sucks, sucks!" Of course, I know that, since I have come to loathe the very idea of this project, it will be a complete victory, when I finally do finish it. This thought process will, no doubt, be very useful, as I work this project.
Then, I will start the third (and final) pair of socks.
That will leave me with two more projects, as we approach September.
Get ready, boys and girls. I predict a fair amount of bitching, as I work on the blanket.
Well, that is it, for today. Time for me to pop on some shoes, and go for a walk, around the property.
Until tomorrow...
Happy looming, and crocheting!