Wednesday 24 December 2008

Still alive

Just a quickie to let you all know that I am still alive, but my foot has sapped all my energy and, while I've been knitting, taking pictures of stuff and typing something coherent was a lot more than I can handled. Videogames were another matter :)

Anyway, I'm at my not-in-laws at the moment, I can walk with one crutch, and tomorrow I will get pressies. I still dislike the crap surrounding Xmas, but this particular instance of it has not been too dreadful for now.

I hope you are all well.

Thursday 11 December 2008

On the nature of sef-identification

As I was coming back from work today by taxi, my taxi driver had a "black" radio station on. This is not my judgement, the little radio jingle specifically said that it was black radio, made by black people, for black people.
This got me thinking about the way I identify myself. I never do it based on things that I was given, but things that I made for myself. That way, I am an engineer before I am a woman, and even now that I am in a foreign country, I am a geek before an expat, or a knitter before a Spanish-speaker. Maybe it's because I don't really belong to any minority (although being a woman in engineering might come close), but the labels I put on myself are those that I acquired, rather than the ones that came given at birth.
Just a though.

Wednesday 10 December 2008

Non-stretch fetings (FO)

Hurrah, I finally managed to get around taking pictures of my new pair of fetching! This should also come with a brief apology for the lack of content, but you have no idea (actually, you might) how tiring several hours of heavy weight-lifting (at least 65 kg) are.

Fetching cable detail


Technical details
Ravelry project page
Pattern: Fetching, by Cheryl Niamath
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Pure Cotton in red
Needles: 3.75mm dpns, plus a cable needle
Notes: This fetchings are, so far, resisting much better the stretching (which was the hope) and the crutches. I also like how they match my nail polish. I very rarely wear it, but I was house-bound yesterday, and wanted something to do. It was either bright red or pale, so I went for striking. And then I paired it with my fetchings, and was happy.
Incidentally, I love the first shot. The colour is more true in the second one, but I love the crispiness of the first one.

Fetching action shot
Look, an action shot!


PSA: Winter Knitty is up! At time of posting, the site is slow and ocasionally down due to the entire knitting world trying to access it, but hopefully the craze will subdue in a couple of hours.

Wednesday 3 December 2008

Robo-Cristina

Yesterday I went to the hospital and got my cast replaced for an orthopædic boot. I have an exoskeleton! My leg looks like a Terminator! This makes me happy.
I can also take it off to wash and can put a bit of weight on it, although not enough to walk yet. As time progresses, I'll be able to put weight on it, take it off to do ankle exercises and then, slowly, start walking without it. I can't wear work trousers with it, not easily, but at least I can put on tights without cutting them up. And standing up is so much easier!



Now time for a public service announcement.
Are you stressed about Xmas knitting? Wondering what to make for everybody?
Wonder no more! Embrace the selfish and check out this wonderful holiday knitting post by the Lumpy Sweater.

Monday 1 December 2008