Wishing you a wonderful 2008!

Today I went back to work after the holiday break.  2008 got off to a great start in the library -- my first in-person reference question of the year was

I'm looking for some 17th century bawdy songs in English.  Do you know of any?

My patron left with 4 scores of catches, glees, and rounds that I pulled for him less than 5 seconds after he asked me the question.  Yes, that's five seconds. 

Next question?

My place of employment was closed 22 December - 1 January.  I look forward to this forced break and this year was no exception.  I had lots of plans involving cleaning, reorganizing, knitting, baking, piano practicing, maybe even sewing.  This year's plans were thwarted.  The sinus CT I mentioned in my last post was negative, meaning no sinus infection.  Thank goodness.  The allergist called in cough meds for me.  I've loaded up on generic mucinex (with a decongestant) as well as the cough meds.  I've still coughed, sneezed, blown my nose, etc.  Ugh.   I've coughed so hard that my ribs hurt as well as the muscles around my ribs.  I've downed gallons of water to move the gunkus out of my body.  I finally got to sleep in my own bed the past two nights, but apparently I coughed too much last night and Joel got up and slept on the couch.  Guess where I'm sleeping tonight?

I went in to work today for about 5 hours or so.  I got there a little late and left early -- I was pretty pooped and my voice was gone.   When I talked with Joel today he said he wasn't feeling good.  We made dinner plans (homemade potato soup) and then when he got home he didn't want soup, didn't want anything and went to bed.  Now I'm wondering if I had some allergy or sinus thing and then caught a cold or other bug -- and now Joel has it?  ERRRGH!  Poor guy! 

And he took good care of me while I was sick!  He made curried carrot soup, hot tea, rubbed my back, and did other wonderful things to keep me comforted.  Guess it's my turn to give now.

Knitting.  I didn't get as much knitting done because it's not fun to have yarn and needles covered in ... well, mucus.  But I did get the body of Joel's Aran sweater done.  I need to have him try it on to verify that the chest length is correct (the part between the armhole openings and the shoulders) before I join the shoulders and start on the sleeves.  I won't wake him up for that!

I also blocked a wrap I made for myself.  It's based on a Feather and Fan or Old Shale pattern and made out of Colinette's Prism yarn.  I think mine is in the color "Dusk."  Photos to come!

Last night I cast on and started knitting That Little Scarf by Anne Hanson.  I'm making it in Handmaiden Sea Silk, color Nova Scotia (and often available at The Loopy Ewe). 

And I need to cast on for a pair of fingertipless gloves for a friend.  I did wind the yarn this evening (Louet Gems "pearl" wool in Charcoal, also at the Loopy Ewe) and now I'm contemplating gauge.  Have the pattern -- Ann Budd's The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns is a wonderful resource.  If you knit items for friends and family who are a wide variety of sizes AND you have the imagination to add some texture and design elements of your own, I HIGHLY recommend this book.

Stay warm and stay well, dear readers!
 

Comments

[Rustee]

Glad you are feeling better. Poor Joel! Hope he is better soon.

[Carl V.]

Ha! That is indeed a great start to the year. Much better than going to work and spending the day praying for the next long vacation to come around!