Wait - it's December already!?

Clearly, the Ladies Catnip & Sunbeam Society does not concern itself with the detritus of calendars and holidays. Then again, they have unlimited access to the fresh catnip that has moved inside due to a recent cold front: their concerns at this time are really limited to wondering how long the plant will hold out....

So, I've been a lazy blogger lately. Here's a little list of what's been happening lately:

Thanksgiving
All plans were thrown off by a family emergency that required us to hop in the car and drive north for about 26 hours. Don't worry, everything is back to normal now, but it wasn't the way we planned to spend the holiday (remember 26 hours away from home means 26 hours back again). All in all, we wound up having a good time - we saw some of our favorite friends along the way and Chris's family was happy to have us be part of the Thanksgiving festivities.

Writing
A week away from home threw off my writing schedule and, as it turns out, my thinking schedule. I received a generous extension on my deadline and I'm having a heck of a time getting my head back into this piece. Thankfully, classes are over and I can hole up and obsess a bit this week - I'm going to need it.

Knitting
70 some total hours in the car does provide one with a lot of time to knit - and knit I did. I finished, yes, finished the Forecast cardigan - knit on the button bands, sewed on the buttons, wove in the ends, hit it with a bit of steam - totally finished. And it looked. like. crap. All the non-knitters I modeled for said, "oh, so much work!" "can't you just take it in on the sides?" "maybe you could shrink it?" Thank you non-knitters, but no, no, and no. It's just too darn big. When I started the sweater, I got fussy about having roomy armholes and went a few extra rows before starting the body/arm split and (duh) on a top-down raglan that totally changes the entire garment's sizing. I ripped about 70% of the sweater out the other night and realized that I was probably knitting an extra extra large - I normally shoot for a small. Bigger was not better in this case.

Reading
Has anyone out there read "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova? It's excellent - and don't tell me what happens. We started reading it out loud to each other in the car and I'm seriously fighting the daily urge to just pick it up and tear through it without Chris.

Contemplating
Sirius Satellite Radio - any thoughts? The folks I know that have it really like it - let me know if you have any positive/negative thoughts on it (before our next marathon road trip, please!)

And thinking fondly of Betty

Our first family cat, Betty is sadly no longer with us. Here, she is with my Mom playing with a toy bird the Christmas before last. We got her in 1988 and she was the first cat that Erik and I had - she diligently taught us everything we needed to know to be the good cat lovers that we are today: how to toss the fuzzy mouse correctly, where to scratch for the best purring and kneading, that fresh catnip is always appreciated, that cats are mysterious and keep their secrets, and that a warm cat curled up in your lap is pure happiness. She was a sweet and beautiful cat and I'll miss her. Thanks for all the purrs Betty.

Comments

[Susan]

Aw, Betty made me sad! I'm sorry she's gone, but what grand dame, huh? 18 years? Impressive. I hope there's a big patch of catnip somewhere that she gets to roll around in for eternity.

I tried to start the Historian, but I'm not always so good with the long reading commitments sometimes- not that I can't pay attention, but everything I want to do in my life requires my eyes. I'm a big fan of the audio books.

P.S. Secret project? I'm ready to announce whenever you are!

[janna]

Betty sounds like she was a wonderful cat - I'm sure she's been rewarded with a field full of butterflies to chase and catnip to eat! And I love your family's cat names. I've always thought Sophie would be a great pet name, but Betty and Brenda crack me up - I even knew a mother-daughter pair with those names back home!

[Ashley]

Aw, Betty. Sad. My old dog was 19 when he died--you know they've had a good long life full of love, but still. Pets should live forever.

Also sad about Forecast, but if you're trading that karma for a family emergency that turns out ok...well, I'll take a too-big sweater any day.

[Mommy]

What sweet things you wrote about out Betty-girl. I'll never forget the first time you saw her wash her face and were amazed over it!