More pink yarn!

I finished the scarf (hooray!) and I'm working on a super fast hat (this represents about an hour of knitting) to match. I'll definitely be wearing these soon.

In these pictures you can also see my new knitting library acquisition - there are quite a few lovely things to make in this book, so I'll let you know what's up on my to-knit list once I've sorted through yarn and projects and my crazy schedule.

You might also notice my excellent Spongebob Squarepants stitch marker. It's my favorite.

Twos-day

Two things really occupy my mind on Tuesdays now. This is the day when my mom goes in for chemo treatments, so I spend most of the day preoccupied thinking about her. The rest of my brain is filled up with making plans for Wednesday, my "free afternoon" during each week when I get to relax after class instead of going to work. This week my Wednesday is all filled up already (with both productive and unproductive activities, of course ;)), so I'm feeling like I'm heading into a whole day when I'm going to be stuck worrying and anxious.
I'm trying to think of a Tuesday blogging activity that will help me concentrate on the good, something I can look forward to on Tuesdays of each week. I don't know if this will involve posting photos or talking about a new project or writing about books or something else, but I'd like it to be something positive that gets me outside my own head and thinking about the rest of the world, to keep everything in perspective.
I'd love to hear your suggestions, and hopefully I'll be able to get started next week. For now, I'll be spending the evening knitting and hanging out with friends. Hope you have a happy knitting Tuesday!

Necking

No, not really. But here are the latest scarves. My friend Nicole and I stumbled onto a giant close-out sale at a JoAnn's here in Chicago, so I bought a ton of novelty yarns that I wouldn't normally use, and I've been zooming through scarves. I think I'll keep the pink, but the other two will probably go in my Etsy shop soon.

Coming Up

I joined Runagogo! and I will be running at least 100 miles before April 1, no joke. The huge number of participants wanting to improve their health in such a fun way is a great inspiration.
I also have a secret weapon - I just got an iPod shuffle, the little clip-on kind, and it's hooked up to my computer, charging right now for today's trip to the gym. It's so tiny and cute and its name is Jimmy. :)

I finished a hat yesterday out of pretty pastel wool (Lion Brand Landscapes); it's just a basic, improvised pattern of 48 stitches on size 8 circulars.
Right now it's time for me to finish a paper that's hanging over my head so that I can get to the gym and run my socks off.

Project in the works: tea cozy! Details soon...

New(s)

It's 2007!
There are new things I am feeling inspired to try for the new year, and 15 days in seems like as good a time as any to get started...

Taking a half hour each day for my journal. I started keeping one again back in November, and it's been unbelievably helpful for keeping down my stress level and helping me gather my thoughts.

Getting back into the gym with a vengeance - Christmas break was a (not surprisingly) lazy three weeks, so getting myself back into running and starting up some swimming time will be a fun challenge for the rest of January.

Growing some plants. I'm going by the store after I finish this post to get myself a potted plant. I think my room needs a little bit of greenery.

Always having a scarf on the needles. Right now it's a fuzzy, sparkly purple intended for a friend who has already told me she loves the yarn.

Handsewing adventures - in lieu of ever getting my machine shipped out to Chicago, I'm going to work on small handsewn projects.

I don't have many pictures of my recent knitting, but I will soon. Can't wait to be back in the blogging habit!