This morning the phone rang at 8:30, which in my opinion is too early for anyone to call on a Sunday. More disturbing than this was that I was already awake. I am blaming this entirely on the cat. Maestro had been trying for at least ten minutes to find the perfect spot on top of me but under the blanket before finally giving up and leaving. I didn't get out of bed until 9 on principle alone and was shocked, (once I finished rubbing the sleep out of my eyes), to find it was snowing. I know it's December, but I very loudly cursed the weather anyway. [Insert favorite expletive here]! After checking emails and having some caffeine, I was able to look out the window and begin to see that it actually does look pretty out there!
Mesmerized by the constant falling and swirling of tiny flakes, I drifted into thoughts about all the gifts still to be knit before Christmas, digging the fiber-optic tree out of the attic (shown above), the vast quantities of crap I have accrued over the years that I really should get rid of because they're in the attic taking up space and never get used, the sweaters still in storage up there that need dry-cleaning, the laundry I have to do, the job I interviewed for last week, the guy that never called yesterday, the guy I should have called two days ago, the holiday decorating still to do at the bar, the huge pimple on my cheek I knew I was going to get from eating too much American cheese... it began to get overwhelming, and I started to feel like I should just go back to bed and stay there until the sun came out. I decided that these things were really not that bad individually, and that it was just PMS compounding them all together like that into a big, steaming pile of emotional poop. Trying to place a positive spin on the day, (it's only 11am, after all), I got out the mental pooper-scooper and started planning my day rationally instead of emotionally. This mode of thinking produced a couple of lists, as it usually does. There is Today's To-Do, Holiday Decorating To-Do, Holiday Gift Making, Work Related To-Do, and Personal To-Do. Looking at them makes it all seem more manageable, and writing everything down made me feel better. One problem - I hardly ever refer back to my lists and keep myself as organized as intended.
After looking at them all a few times, I decided that I really would feel a lot better if laundry was out of the way. I have mentioned before how much I despise laundry, and I really do hate it more than almost anything. Usually, I will wait until I'm in my last pair of underwear before I do it, but since I am soon to be busy at work, having everything clean to start the week with would stress me out less in the long run. Unfortunately for me, I have let a bag of pantyhose, tights, and knee-highs sit in the corner for too long now, and today's laundry task involves a lot of hand washing. YUCK!! The process also involves a big time purge of summer and fall clothes that [don't fit anymore/aren't worn ever/out of style/etc] to make room for those sweaters in the attic. I have obviously been putting this off for months. Damn bulky sweaters. I am tempted to get rid of a lot of them since they're acrylic and make me sweat even when it's freezing out, but that will have to wait until I can afford a complete sweater over-haul.
I have done a good job of keeping on top of knitting commissioned Christmas gifts, since they're actually paying me, but I have totally put off things for my friends and family. Like my dad's birthday in 3 days, or two people having babies in early December, two birthdays in mid-December, and finally, Christmas. Ack! In September, I got the idea that I would make knitted lace ornaments. I found a pattern online, (pattern can be found here) and loved it - only the sample I knitted came out HUGE and is better suited as a decorative hot air balloon. I knew this would happen, since I used a larger needle and yarn, but it was just for practice before I want crazy making them ornament size. Imagine it turned upside down from the way it is hanging with a small basket attached to the bottom...
As much as I think this woman is a genius for coming up with the pattern, I do not like the seam in the back. I purposely took the picture from an angle where it was not visible, since I feel it ruins the ball. I decided back then that I would write my own pattern, using size 1 double-pointed needles, and make it seamless. Ha! I got as far as buying the needles and a handful of yarns to play with. It's been in the back of my mind ever since, kindof like the neckties I have had all year to line and still haven't. Today is the day for ornament experimentation! In between loads of laundry and waiting for my sweaters to dry, I will be planted on the couch watching romantic old movies, trying to figure out how to make a perfect three dimensional lace ball on four very small needles.
At the very least, I would like to give 2-4 to a friend whose birthday is Dec. 13. She usually has a tree-trimming party at her apartment around that time, and every year for the past 5 or so years, I have given her either a set of ornaments or one special one to add to her collection. Some people would not like this as they have a particular theme or way they want their tree to look, and maybe she really doesn't want outside ornaments, but I honestly think she does. All in all, she has incredibly good taste and owns mostly high-end things, but she and I seem to have the same general feeling about Christmas tree decorating, which is that aside from proper light stringing, putting up ornaments brings back memories. Well, not every single generic ball that came in a box of 12, but the special ones. I have gotten to know her special ornaments over the years, and am flattered that she remembers every single one I have given her, even when I don't recognize them!
I decorate at the bar, and have done so pretty much every year for the past 7 or 8 years, and as much fun as it is to get people to hang stuff up and get everyone "in the holiday spirit" there, it's very generic decorating. Drunk people are worse than children in wanting to touch things, and sometimes they break or steal things so for that venue, fancier decorations are limited and have to be placed out of reach. My parents do not get a real tree anymore, and although we put up the fiber-optic tabletop tree, I feel like something is missing unless I get to help her with her tree. Toasting with eggnog or champagne, plopping down on the couch, and admiring a beautiful tree once you've finished... there's nothing like it. I will forever be grateful to have a friend who has invited me to share her holiday tradition for so many years!
Okay, lost focus there for a minute, and now the computer's going to run out of battery. I guess it's a sign that I should stop procrastinating and get on with the laundry after all. I will post pics of my progress - the good, the bad and the ugly - of the circular lace ornaments as they come together!
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