Pros and Cons

So I start work tomorrow. No, I didn't get a "real" job. I'm subbing. And I'm really not excited about it, can't you tell?

So I've decided I need a pro and con list to make this better.

Pros:
1. No planning/prep work. This is a big one, as I would be spending hours prepping after school if I was teaching. This leads to
2. More knitting time. See #1.
3. The opportunity to see "how things work" in different schools.
4. Getting to meet a variety of principals/teachers
5. Getting a feel for what school I'd like to be at
6. Finding out about jobs first for next year.

Cons:
1. Going to a different school every day
2. Being a glorified babysitter every day
3. Having no real control over what goes on in the classroom
4. Driving all over town
5. Having that "first day of work" feeling every day
6. Still not having a "real" job three years after starting on this path

I really can't decide which one wins.

Sorry for the "blah"-ness lately. I've really been dreading this new path, and I'm really pissed off that I didn't get a job after all my professors told me "You won't have any trouble finding a job." Ha. Bite me.

I've also been feeling a bit directionless in my knitting. After all that gift knitting, it's been hard to decide what to knit next. And, frankly, it is hard to knit for myeslf when others request items! And these 70-80 degree temperatures don't allow for the wearing of handknits, so why make them? I've been trying to tell myself that I'm saving them for when we move to Colorado in 10 1/2 years, but that only works for so long. So why not knit things for people who live where it is cold enough to wear this stuff? Better than it sitting in my hall closet/dresser drawers, right?

But there has been knitting. Gift knitting at that. I know, Christmas is over, but I've got more knits to finish.


This is Anouk. It is for a dear friend's baby girl. She is due sometime in February, and her first baby was early, so I'm trying to finish this up ASAP. This is the back. I really like the "pucker" at the waist. I have to say though, that I had a bit of trouble with the pattern. For the 0-3 month pattern it tells you to do one row of decreases and then to "Knit dec row EOR 4 times (35 stitches remain). I asked for help on the knitty board, and only got one response. I took it to mean to knit the decrease row every other row four times until I had 35 stitches left. However, after only one more decrease row I was at 34 stitches. I called that good enough, but I'm still confused by the pattern. I'll make the front to match, but I'm confused as to why this is not clearer. And "EOR" is not a standard knitty abbreviation, nor is it explained anywhere on the pattern itself.

All that said, I think this is really cute and cannot wait to finish the front and do the pockets. I'll probably duplicate stitch the flowers on the pockets as I don't want my first intarsia attempt to be a gift!


This is the first completed sockpal sock. I really like the way this Trekking knits up - it is soft but seems durable. I knit a good portion of the leg while watching "Walk the Line" (again) with the 'rents and sis. When we got to the theater and sat down, during the previews dad asked me if I had my knitting out. I did have it in my bag, but wasn't going to work on it, as I didn't want to be rude. But after he said that, and since I had already seen the movie (though it is great and I cannot wait for the dvd so I can watch it all the time!), I whipped out the sock and knit away. My sockpal thanks you dad!

I've really been wanting to cast on for my jaywalkers, but I feel like I should finish the sockpal socks first. And then there's the Whitby sock for The Husband. And the hat for sis. I think I have knitting ADD.