Another brief update...
Sunday evening. I just turned "Echoes" on. It's a cool and quiet-ish Sunday night in the city and a late autumn has finally set in. Though we had 50s today, it's cool and cooling down - and with rain tomorrow, I expect to be feeling the balmy cold tomorrow morning, enveloped by the Autumn/early winter uncertainty. On the train ride to Thanksgiving, up through Maryland-then-Delaware-then-Pennsylvania, the autumn foliage was surprisingly radiant. There were moments, while typing away at my laptop, I leaned forward to get a better view through the window as oranges, brilliant reds, and the last of the verdant greens zoomed by.
So, yes, the months have flown by since the starts of my recap of Europe. It has been a busy and quick September-October-November. Work has been insane - I have this "boss" who likes to set deadlines without consulting anyone's schedules - then telling us things like, "Well, I'm sorry your $3.1 million grant is ending and you have reading to do - that's not my problem." The more I work where I work, the more it feels like I'm working for a private sector agency, getting paid for working in a non-profit world. The benefits and salary don't measure up, but with all that said, my only choice right now is to get up every morning, do the best I can, and then, well, high tail it on home to do knit - work --- which is the other major project I'm on right now.
But, before I go onto that, I entreat you to go check out the cover of the current issue of Psychology Today. Believe it or not, I'm actually not a subscriber - but, this morning, after my first trip to the Farmer's Market in months - I happened to glance at the cover, and that was the only kick in the butt I needed. Well, now I just need the kick in the butt to read it.
Onward - I'm till tech editing with Knit n Style, which, so far is going really well. The editor there continues to be wonderful to work with (and wonderfully understanding) and continues to be a help in what I hope will be an eventual transition to working more full-time in the knit, and less full-time in the, uh, not-knit. Keep your eyes on newsstands - my first article is coming out in a months or so. And, others are on the way.
Truthfully, between the two, I'm finally just entering a time where I'm able to schedule work more effectively - that is to say, not leaving work to the last moment, or getting work, and running to the finish line as fast as possible. But still, a standard day for me is hearing the alarm clock at 645, snoozing until 730 (or ahem, later), getting to work around 8 (or, ahem, later), and working non-stop until about 5 or so (*sigh*, or, often, later). Then coming home, sitting down to watch an hour of TV and to make some dinner, and work until 11 or 12 - then off to sleep and the cycle repeats. I admit - writing this, and living it, is a lot. It means having to make some difficult choices about having a social life and going to yoga - and, further, about having time to knit and design. You know it is what it is - I'm not saying I don't want what I have - I just wish there were more hours in the day...!
But, Thanksgiving in Connecticut was wonderful and a nice release from the craziness of the past three months. Being there, I remembered a distinctly different time where I couldn't deal with being at home and living in DC. I mean, those first months when I'd left home and then returned a few months later were really disorienting - just couldn't figure it all out - who I was and how who I'd always been, fit into the whole crazy mess. I went to college with ever intention of living as an openly "out" person - and, with all that going on, I think it was hard. In fact, I repeatedly made myself physically ill while I was home - the stress was crazy for me. But, being home this time was very different - we had a great meal, some excellent time together, and I loved being with my mom and dad so much.
Being back in DC, I feel well primed to enjoy a few weeks enjoying the build up to Christmas. All the craziness at work has melted away a bit - and with one tech editing contract on hold until the next batch of work comes, I have some easier time to do some design and prep for the next big thing in the works, to catch up on missed episodes of "Private Practice", and to do some well needed finishing of projects - like the Ab Fab throw I started as a wedding gift back in, uh, well, a long time ago (and since decided that the recipient, to be married in the next year, isn't worthy of a $200 kit, which, I did get on deep discount, but still want to finish and stock pile away for a worthy friend) and the Rams Head Cardigan from MS Knitting - which has sleeves that are being put on (man, that applied I-Cord thing takes an age) and needs to be blocked before I can start on borders and hems. I have high hopes of knitting hats for a hundred people before Christmas too - but I'm sure these won't result!
So, that's what I've been up to - doesn't seem all that exciting eh? Knitting content to come (yes, Ted, and pictures)...
Oh, and I did go to Minneapolis two weeks ago - don't want to forget about that. Met Sean. I can officially say - well as much as I can say knowing him and having met him - he looks really good - and despite his desires to be more buff - he looks really good. Hell, if he weren't married and I hadn't been so incredibly busy with work, maybe we would've hit it off. He did however see the inside of my hotel room.
Oh, and I want to give a huge-a$$ shout out to Micah for his Antler's Scarf in the new Stitch n Bitch book - I'm so freakin proud of him!
Alright - onwards - I need to do a bit of editing tonight - and I think I might watch the Simpsons. Hope all y'all are well. Happy Thanksgiving American Friends, and uh, Happy last week of November everyone else.
