Now don’t get me wrong. TV can be educational, entertaining, and basically…a very good thing. But it can also be a vast time sink. With huge chunks of our lives and brain cells being scoured away, never to be regained. For the short people there are built in limits. Parental controls. An hour a day. That’s only responsible right? But me?? What about me, when I’m up and sleepless at 2 and 3 am? Which I am, and often. When previously I would have read, or even plucked away at the book. Will I now just turn the tube on because it’s easier. I mean, I can still knit and watch Gordon Ramsay, right?!?

Much like a crack addict that has been clean for a couple of months, someone just dropped a vat o’ crack in my house, and I’m a bit aflutter. Maybe if I pull the blankets over my head…it won’t notice me.

Well really, if I’m honest, there’s an entire host of “why nots” I’m just choosing to be illogical and think that I might be able to crank out that YA (or some of it) when under an enforced, if fun deadline. Top that off and the last day lands on my Birthday. What a present to give myself, eh? A nearly completed second novel. Best self gift ever!

Ok…ok…so book one isn’t clean yet. I’m going to bust ass to try and have it done before the 1st. And if it’s not, well then…I work on both. Again….Why not?!?

So…Anyone out there want to join me? Anyone care to take up the crazy person gauntlet of attempting 50,000 completed words in 30 days??? C’mon! I could use compatriots in word deluge and hyper-caffeination!

In other, more crafty news… My stash, sadly, still resides in boxes in Florida. But I found a local yarn shop in Anacortes. Ana Cross Stitch. Lovely place. Friendly, helpful staff and a very pettable selection of yarns. M was sweet enough to let me drag him and the short people in there last weekend. I spent a good half hour wandering around drooling. Then finally settled on two skeins of Workhorse fave, Cascade 220. One in dark brown on in oatmeal. I’ve cast on a ribbed watch cap for M, going Dark, light dark wide stripes as he wanted “a halo” hat. Heh.

He might well deserve something of the sort since he’s gotten behind me on my yarn and fiber dyeing. I’m currently putting together a little business plan type thing. Costs etc. So we can look at me taking over part of the garage for a yarn dyeing business! I know…swoon!  More to come as the idea develops.

Got chapters 1-3 cleaned, and am halfway to having 4 under my belt.

Fixed the dreaded Latin that was bollocks due not least to a bad online translator. It is now not only grammatically correct (crosses fingers and toes), but is also bearing it’s companion statement in English…which, yes, I forgot to write down the first go round. The mind boggles.

So now it’s the rest of 4 through 21, then 25 and BAM! Done! And off to my very patient and kind volunteer readers. Yes. You people whom I love and adore, and who know who you are and all that.

Next check on the list.  Sleep.  And start afresh tomorrow.

Now that we’ve somewhat settled, I’ve been digging back into book one. Apparently, people are ready to read this damned thing for me! Who knew??? Heh. You lovely people know who you are …and it’s coming soon. Promise. Mostly because I’m ready to be done. Book two’s notes have started streaming..and holy hell I can’t wait to start writing that sucker. So really, It’s incredibly good motivation.

The only thing I can even think to kvetch about …I packed all my yarn…and my needles…and my WIP’s. ALLLLLLLL of it! What in the heck was I thinking. I moved to absolutely perfect knitting weather. And I’ve got squat to do. Oh well. Boxes are streaming in slowly but surely. The stash will arrive soon, and I figure it will be like Christmas as I’ve forgotten half of what’s in there. (and no for you Ravelry.com folks) I’ve been avoiding pining over my stash on the site. It’s too sad.

Yes, you read right. M has been successful in the westward-ho! job search. He’ll be working in Anacortes, and we’ll be looking in that area, or Skagit valley for a place to hang our hats.  I’m so happy to be past the “waiting intentionally” portion of the program. I really suck without answers, timelines, or at least some kind of clue. Nebulous – someday, kinds of time tables mess with my equilibrium.

I’ve come to several realizations while he’s been away. Paramount being, single parents deserve medals. Big ones. Shiny, brilliant, expensive damned medals. Who knew taking one person out of an equation would create so much….havoc? You did? Well hush it. I didn’t. I’ve not edited a single page since he’s been gone. Nor written a word. I start each day with good intentions of getting to it. By the time I’ve got them all abed, I’m the mental equal to a bowl of oatmeal. Sad, tired, day-old oatmeal, a wee bit congealed and hard about the edges.

Ahh well….this too shall pass. On to step one of the “40 step plan” as M has dubbed it.  That’s allright. Steps I can do.

M is gone. 9 days today, not that I’m counting or anything. I’ve spent a lot of time on ravelry.com . If you are a knitter, crocheter, spinner, weaver…hell nearly any kind of fiber artist, this is a place to visit. It’s an amazing resource for information, patterns, and community. I love it. If fiber floats your boat and you haven’t yet been there…Go. Now. Hurry.

I started a Knit Along project. My first sweater! Granted I’ve only made it to the first buttonhole, and became inexplicably stymied by the entire thing. I think I’ve just had a difficult few days. I’ll post pics as the thing progresses. I’m loving the yarn though, Cascade 220 Heathers in a gorgeous purple/black twist.

I’m also at the point of debating on the merits of a massive de-stash before moving. Keeping only those really precious yarns to move. Or just keeping it all. Its just yarn. Doesn’t weigh much right? RIGHT???

I find myself recalling the days of “blank page freeze” and “Gakk! Its a new chapter! block” longingly. I cant be sure how much of this is a function of fact. Is editing a piece youve written REALLY more difficult than writing it in the first place? Or complete delusion; Part of me believes that I am always wishing I was doing whatever Im NOT supposed to be doing. Grass…greener… you get the picture. Either way I need to get some kind of flow going lest the editing takes another 6 damned years.

Im sure that all the stress doesnt help. M is leaving Tuesday. At least that is the plan at this point. Too many things to dither and fret over.  Will the kids be able to handle his absence, or will they dissolve into puddle of misbehavior and angst? Will he find work before our funds run out? Will he find a place that we can all be comfortably and affordably (animal included)? Will I sleep – at all – while he is away?  Will I finish the editing, and if I do will anyone want to read, much less buy this thing? Yada yada yada??? Sounds like an awful lot of whining, doesnt it?

Thank you, dear reader, for indulging my Blahs. If I could figure out how to take the energy I spend in worry and whining, I could likely write another book by March.

Certainly, I will settle for getting this book out to my kindly volunteer readers before they forget they offered.