Although it is quite close to the end of the day, I am filled with gratitude. The two-day migraine is finally subsiding enough to allow me time at the computer without wanting to gouge out my eyes or tear out my hair.

I cannot say for certain, but I believe Anna's Spring Surprise package may have started the healing process. Even if the migraine had not begun to ease slightly, the package would have cheered me mightily.

The knitted kitty looks on as the miniature kitty statue poses atop a bar of Anna's handmade soap. That scarf is my newly-designated walking scarf. Now that Spring is in the air -- until tomorrow night when snow and/or sleet will be in the air -- I am committed to a daily walk. In spite of the increasingly pleasant temperatures, the air is still sharp enough to require some neck protection.

Joe is understandably bewildered by these gifts from "people you don't know", I just put the crazy right out there to halt the conversation.
Joe: What's that?
Me: A gift.
Joe: From whom?
Me: My imaginary friend.

The Spring knitting patterns are slowly filtering through my consciousness. There are a number of appealing patterns in the Berocco Nora Gaughan Vol 2 book. Currer, Ellis, and Porthos are lovely, and each of them would suit my style and my figure.

In spite of a tepid response to an online preview of Rowan 43, Tanya assures me that I will love the magazine. Noted.

Magknits' Josephine is so well-shaped that I am nearly convinced that the shaping could mitigate the inherent bulk of Rowan Big Wool. Almost. Marjorie and Speckles very much recall the vintage-inspired work of Sarah Dallas that I so loved.

The Vogue Knitting Spring/Summmer 2008 preview did not stir me, mostly because the trends and silhouettes are a bad fit with my style and figure. The Mirabelle Cardigan from Interweave Knits is still on my radar.

Scarves have always appealed to me as an accessory item, however, many of the printed squares are too "mature" or "ladies who lunch" for my taste. Yet there are times when I require a touch of warmth around the neck but desire a touch of fashion with that warmth. The textural quality of Jyri is so seductive that I will make it in a multi-season-friendly yarn. And I should mention that I have already set aside two hanks of Alpaca Sox for my Lace Ribbon Scarf.

The musical destined to make Delysia LaFosse a star has become a particularly poignant phrase for me. However, my star is not rising.

Pile on the pepper!
Literally. Last night, the shaker lid of the coarse-ground black pepper stuck to the screw-on lid as I was seasoning my dinner.

Pile on the pepper!
Last month, I spent a frightening amount of money on my car. 81% of my monthly net to be exact. The pain is compounded by the fact that I repeatedly forgo beneficial things -- a gym membership, a 10-week Yoga & Weight Loss Program -- because it is impossible to justify non-essential spending on my annual salary.

Pile on the pepper!
My service engine soon light came on -- again! -- today. Something is amiss with the gears shifting during acceleration. I am not a mechanic, but that sounds expensive.

Pile on the pepper!
I did not get either of the internal jobs for which I applied, but I was the #2 candidate for both positions. Oddly, I am flattered, but it still leaves me struggling cover the costs of gasoline and car repairs.

Pile on the pepper!
There have been no resume nibbles from outside firms. Apparently, moving to Poughkeepsie and taking an Administrative Assistant position is a career-killer. I honestly believe a stint in rehab would be more understandable to the corporate-types than re-evaluating my life.

Pile on the pepper!
My laptop has been acting funky lately -- shutting down without warning. Today, it refused to turn on until I spent 15 minutes trying every outlet in the apartment. Even now, I know this is merely borrowed time.

With so much pepper piling on, I was struck by this line of dialogue from Stephanie's dream: "She's got a sad story, but she hasn't gone sad." Wonderful, no?

Once I had a friend who refused to make proclamations on New Year's Eve, as she felt this would jinx her for the coming year. While others were toasting in hopes of good health, happiness, a better job and finding love in the new year, this woman was staying silent. Worse, she would state her desires in reverse -- I will not find a better job this year, I will not find a great guy -- so as to reverse jinx herself.

I do not know if how much credence I give the reverse jinx, but I give the standard jinx it's due. Shortly before casting on for the Diagonal Lace Scarf, I made a joke about me bungling the simple lace pattern.

And bungle I did. I printed the pattern and committed the four-row repeat to memory in order to knit while watching television. What a surprise when I returned to the printer to discover a second page to the pattern and that the lace pattern was actually a six-row repeat!

Cue music: wah-wah-wah-wahhhhhh.

I have no intention of ripping. It is perfectly pretty as is.

Interviewing. I dread it more than the dentist. More than nearly anything. It feels terrible to be judged on some piece of paper that is a snapshot of a sliver of yourself.

As of late, I have been asked a few tough questions, a few trite HR questions, and two stellar laugh-out-loud questions. In a roomful of New Yorkers, one interviewer asked, "Yankees or Mets?". I smiled broadly, shook my fists in supreme fandom and chirped "Pittsburgh Pirates!". My diplomacy was duly noted. Will it get me the job? Who knows? If offered the job will I still be interested? Who knows?

I am like that. Mutable. Changeable. To some it is a bad trait, while others see it as a sign of an adaptable person. I see it as a large component of me. A component which has me California dreaming, pondering a buon natale in Italia, and ripping out the Valentine Sequin Scarf rather than ripping out my hair.

The SWTC Bamboo will now become the Diagonal Lace Scarf. The pattern is varied enough to keep my interest and simple enough to bungle somehow. It is always the simple pattern that get me... My version will be more open, more lacey, which is perfect. This is meant to be a fashionable, not entirely functional, scarf.

After finishing the neck warmer for Sunny, I decided I need one more small project to get me through my knitting doldrums. I wanted something simple, but something outside of my usual.

The color is definitely a walk on the wild side for me of the banana yellows and mossy greens.

At first flush, the Valentine Sequin Scarf seemed a good match for the SWTC Bamboo, but I'm not keen on the result so far. The variegated yarn and the small edge cables seem to complete with, rather than compliment, each other.

After further pondering, I may settle on a simple lace pattern. Both Yarn Closet's Leaf Scarf and Midnight Purls' Diagonal Lace Scarf are strong contenders.

Out With The Old

March is one of those strange months that makes me feel completely out of sorts. While the masses are anticipating the arrival of spring, typically, I am caught in a dark net of ennui that is suffocating.

Part of this is a bit of restlessness for a new season and the need to make changes. There is some tinkering that must be done in life and work, but the easiest and quickest route is to start the process of "spring cleaning" in anticipation of its arrival.

During the month of March, I will work daily to reduce my possessions. I suppose it would be more quantifiable if I set a concrete number by which, or to which, I reduce. However, that seems like a recipe for stress and/or failure.

Quite simply, I will devote 30 minutes daily to ridding myself of stuff either at home or at work. The 30 minutes can be gathering items to sell/donate, throwing out old papers, or neatening my desk.

This weekend, I zeroed in on that last bit of unsatisfying yarn stash that needs to go, but is too precious for the donation bin.

The Details
All costs included shipping (within the US only, sorry). My home is smoke-free. I prefer cash-funded PayPal. If you are interested, please contact me via my gmail account (lumay1996) with the subject of MARCH YARN PURGE.

Diakeito Diacouture Silklame, #909, lot O
8 balls for $65

Rowan Calmer #485, lot 7L5
6 balls, 1 swatched slightly (shown) for $50

Jakobsdals Bahamas #4146, lot 887
Worsted weight (20-4") 100% mercerized cotton, 50g/100m
6 frogged balls + 9 intact balls for

Filatura Di Crosa Elena #17, lot 0020
2 boxes $50/box or $90 for both