Knitting: I have been working on the socks during my smoke breaks at work so the cuff is almost finished.

Crocheting: I'm working on finishing the Christmas afghan - I frogged the edging I put on there and I'm working on the designs that go between the panels. After that I'll add the braided fringe and I'll have another FO.

Reading: I finished reading: Breath, Eyes, Memory

- Very Good, Quick Read! This morning I started: Bitterroot Landing

Work Issues: I think I'm finally over the worst part. With us being so short handed, I was handed the responsibility of being supervisor over several groups - one of them being the night building monitors. The schedule for them to work is 6-11 during the week and 10 - 11 on the weekends. Here we have three grown women who are grad students - but you'd never know it by all the complaining I had to listen to. First blush on the situation for me was, "You want the job or not?" I didn't know how politically tied it was so I was careful about answering + I know zip about this area. They complained over:
1) Not liking the hours they were assigned - why do I have to work most of the weekend, why not someone else share this with me?
2) I have religious services that night - I can't work on Friday, Saturday, (fill in the blank).
3) I'm going out of town - she can't cover for me or she'd be working 14 hours in one day and the other person can't work on that day.
4) Get this - "the last bus leaves campus prior to my shift ending ----- can I leave 40 minutes early every night so I can catch my bus?"

Hello, let's go back to my first thought - you want the job or not? They get several thousand dollars to work 13 hours a week and they want to cry the whole time. I have a file thick as my head from all the printouts of e-mails they've sent me. After several shuffling of schedules, numerous times getting help from the Asst Chair, several meetings with them showing up at my office and huffing around about an issue....I wanted to hurt someone and myself. I had my boss send me an e-mail that I could forward to them that basically says what I first thought. I had him do this since he is big cheese + any concessions he made and is now backing out on, are covered and not by little peon me. Funny thing is, after forwarding his e-mail about "do it or be fired" ---- haven't heard a peep. This is exactly why I've always said "I've done the supervisor crap before and I don't want it." I told them here at this job, "keep the $, don't promote me, I don't want it." Some people just don't listen.

I hit the Foley's Red Apple sale again with my 15% off coupons. I got the coolest winter outfit by Ralph Lauren. The pants were $50.14/originally $119.99 and a matching shirt of about the same savings. I never jump out there and splurge on a pair of pants like that but these were just a had to have + I saved almost 60%. I love the RL style although it is not in my price range. I found a cute jacket-type shirt that was 50% off but hell, it was $200 originally so I was pleased that I had found a similar at a yard sale last Saturday. I love the colors and the patterns of the RL clothing - I know what I'm gonna be watching. The fit of there clothes are good for my body shape too. Too bad they're so expensive.

Last night I finished the top hat for DH. Together we watched the washer to keep an eye on its felting progress. He thought we wouldn't get there from here since our first attempt turned out to be the size of a small trash can and that is exactly what I'm doing with it - using it as a trash can. As you see, the hat turned out well. From here we can tweak the pattern if he decides he wants more than this one. I'd like for him to have one in brown - then again, I'm the color coordinating woman from hell.

I also finished off the shawl for DS. I need to do the final preps on it so that it can head to its new home.....another FO. I will post a picture of it soon ~ hopefully this week.

We have a big week ahead of us - short work week, DS's football game, get ready for Saturday's party + last night DH & I remembered how much DFIL begs for a slice of DH's birthday cake every year...so guess what I get to make? A three layer, german chocolate cake. He'll be thrilled it is just always such a juggle to get everything fit into your week. And...I don't feel good. My ears contain fluid and everything I hear is muffled and loud. It is hell driving to work. Well, it is when you drive 100 mph cuz wind noise hurts the ears.

What else did I finish off? The pink Trendsetter Aura scarf for DD. All it needed was the ends woven in and the fringe added.....

Plus I made this little bag for her to store it in - isn't it pretty? I have some of this yarn in a magnificent blue color - don't know who will get it but I have it in the stash.

Yesterday I cut out a bag/purse for me to sew up. It is made of contrasting fabric samples - it is made of toile so I think it will be pretty but we shall see. I was proud of myself for finishing up some projects and not touching the pink sock - I left it to work on while at work and I worked on it again this morning. I have to make time for the pumpkin hats and the socks for DS's FIL. I pulled out the yarn for these so they're sitting on go, just waiting on my attention.

I think the sweater is much happier being made into these two bags and credit card holders. I need to finish the cc holders - I want to roll down the one edge, add a button or two and then cut a button hole or two on the flap. I made one of these from a slit pocket in a coat and it hasn't left my purse in a year. I've needed something that will carry my cards, IDs, mirror, business cards, etc. without carrying a bulky wallet. I like carrying a small purse with my ccs, my lipstick, my phone and my cigs. What else could a woman need?

The reason the Monsters, Inc. blanket got made? Well, I'm still trying to clean up this office. It is closing in on me and this sheet was laying over some of the yarn stash. It was something I picked up at a thrift store and was for a toddler size mattress - pretty small + fitted. GB asked if I'd make him a pillow case from it but I was able to splice to make the pillow case and still get a blanket out of it. I think it turned out cute. I also got a chance to use up a remnant - I liked the blue leopard print cuz it kinda looked like "monstery" to me. Plus it was easy to get to since it is one of a thousand pieces that don't fit in the plastic containers.

What's next? Well, I need to finish the book 'Tis ---- then I'm moving on to a new one. I need to add fringe to the Trendsetter Aura scarf in pink so that I'll have another FO. Continue on the shawl. Boy, I messed up there on Friday. I know better (repeat to self: know better) than to knit when I'm tired. I grabbed it off the couch Friday and got to knitting for a few hours and when I looked at it, the cables were too tight. Hmmm. Oh yeah, cable every other row not every row. So, I had to rip out a couple inches. Then I started anew and got off by a stitch so had to back out of that. Yeah, I went to bed at that point. Well, I've progressed way past the frogged yarn so I'm caught back up and moving forward. I did the same thing on the cuff of the second beaded sock. I was working on it Friday at work and got off by a needle and had to frog back a row. Just disgusts me sometimes and I make myself go on or I give up on the project.

We attended DS's 2nd football game last night - they could do nothing wrong. They won 33-6 and I'm sure DS was on cloud nine. I like their big "Whoop, Whoop, Whoop" at the end when they win. I like watching their "boy" rituals.

Knitting/Crocheting: As you may notice, I updated the progress bars. Top Hat: I'm about 70% finished - working on the brim and then a dip in the washing machine. Pink Beaded Socks I finished the first sock and some of the next cuff. I worked on the cuff while at DS's game.

New project on the horizon

I pulled the yarn for this and today I have to order 16" #8 circulars and #5 dpns. I know I need to make at least three of these - Cousin Tracy's baby, Friend Jessica's baby and GB. No telling who else I'll think of ~ have yarn, will knit. We'll see if I can even accomplish knitting three of the same thing.

Mom's Fuzzy Feet were too small for her - I think it wasn't so much the length as it was her extremely high arch. I may buy the clog pattern so that all she has to do is slide in + I can order the leather soles and make them even nicer.

Not much happening in the knitting/crocheting world. I did get the sock down to the toe decrease section. I worked on it while having a desperately needed pedicure. The lady doing my toes, Judy, was amazed at my ability to make a sock. I attempted to show her that it is easy and does not demonstrate my intelligence in any way......like I said, attempted. Yeah, DH picked up GB so that I could go workout and then get my toes done. What a guy. He's going to pick him up M,W,F so fat girl can workout. Again, what a guy!

The second pic is the felted top hat I am designing for DH. This is the second attempt since the first one came out so large that I'm now using it as a trash can. I'm down to working on the brim so it should go swimming this week some time. Keep your fingers crossed for success.

I put some of the fabric samples up for sale. I went through them and sorted by fiber content - I have way more than one person will ever need so up for auction they go. Interested? My Auctions

Back at the grind today - I'm hoping that work is getting a cake for my birthday. Niki (coworker) said that she was going to get this "better than sex" cake and I hope she comes through for me cuz girlfriend needs some cake.