Apologies

I'm sorry, I've been a bit of a blogslacker lately. For the past month and a half or so, I've been dealing with a herniated disc (not fun) which has ended up putting pressure on my sciatic nerve (even more not fun).

For those of you who've had sciatic nerve problems, you can commiserate.. for those who haven't.. I think it's one of the most horrible pains in the world! Yeah, maybe childbirth is worse, but hell, at least that doesn't last 24-7 for 90 days... yeah, yeah, yeah, there's the whole pain of raisng them after they are born.. but for the most part that's a choice.. I didn't choose to have an angry sciatic nerve... but I'm drifting... my point is, one of the main things that helps my condition is doing anything but sitting. Seems easy enough, except when you have a job that consists of five hours sitting in front of a computer everyday (I think this is the only time this year I've been thankful I don't work full time). My chiropracter said no sitting for more than 10 minutes at a time... ha! So, anyway, it's resulted in a lot less time spent on the computer at home.

I have been knitting away when not doped up on pain killers, and making some good progress on Christmas knitting (though I think there are a couple of projects that aren't going to get done and I'll have to suck it up and go shopping)

The front and back of Dad's Christmas sweater is done, and I've started on the first sleeve. After I'm done here, I'm going to pop Elf in the DVD player and see how much I can get done before the Tylenol 3s really kick in and I pass out.

The sweater I'm knitting is a nice easy one, It's done on 6mm needles with Patons Shetland Chunky. This is a popular sweater in my family.

(This is an old pic.. I'm too lazy to go get my camera for a new one - the colour also isn't a good representation.. the green isn't quite that grey or dark, it's more of a light sage)

It's a simple raglan sweater. My mom picked up the pattern up years ago (I think at Lens Mills?) and ended up making two for my brother when we were in highschool (mid 90s). Everybody wanted one. She ended up making one for Dave a few years ago for Christmas. He wears it everywhere in the winter. He loves it because he doesn't need to wear a coat with it. I would still wear a coat with it, but he's one of those freaks who doesn't feel the cold (but whines like a woman in the summer). I am thinking of making one for myself, but ... gaaa... too many projects not enough time!

I decided it would be the perfect sweater for my dad because

a) it knits up quick -that being said you actually have to work on it for that to happen... it doesn't just magically grow sitting in the knitting basket (unlike the leftovers in my fridge) I started this in August.

b) it's simple, no complicated cables, or colourwork (not that I do colourwork). My dad is one of those lumberjack kind of dads - nothing fancy - though he's not as picky as Dave.

c) it's washable

d) it's pretty damn durable. My father hunts, works on cars, builds things etc, and is pretty hard on clothes. Of course now that he quit smoking it may last a little longer (he burned holes in a couple mom made years ago). He is also known for wearing clothes until they can't be worn any more. He had a blue sweater with little red pine trees on it (mom made of course) and he wore it until it was literally strings.

Of course, mom is going to be in a bit of trouble when he opens it up on Christmas morning. She's been promising to make him a sweater for... how many years mom....? She has the wool and the pattern, just no time (blame Julie!)

Okay that's all from me for now.... back to the couch to stretch out