I've mainly been knitting on the blue-green Cascade 220 scarf. (That's the one in the pattern called Stanfield #27. Kind of a numerative knitting situation).

Working on scarves is something I find soothing, because there's no shaping. I no longer have the patience with garter stitch to do all-garter-stitch scarves, but there are so many interesting knit-purl patterns out there - some reversible - that there are lots of neat things one can do to make a scarf.

I don't think, alas, I'll have time to finish a scarf for this year's Red Scarf Deadline (the one I'm working on now, is for me. Sorry.). October 15 is the deadline, and that's coming up fast. But I still might knit up a bunch of scarves this winter in fun stitch patterns (and unisex colors) and send them off if there's a 2009 Red Scarf. Or send them to Pine Ridge. Or somewhere else that there's a need. I do have quite a bit of Paton's Classic Wool on hand that it would be nice to use up.

I've decided - after the spending on the Hot Water Heater - to work down the stash as much as possible. (At least until Mid-Fall Break, maybe longer. Or maybe "except for Mid Fall Break, until after Christmas." Because then I could put all the lovely things I see and want on my Christmas list and give people lots of options). Still not sure what I'm doing on Mid-Fall Break: if I'm going to make the typical Longview pilgrimage, or if I might see about going up to Guthrie - which I thought about doing last year- or going somewhere else. It would be fun to go somewhere overnight again, like when I went to Hot Springs; I'm just not sure where. [Isn't there a place - Siloam Springs or something - in Northwest Arkansas - that's kind of an artist's colony type place that has lots of interesting stores where people sell their craft? That might be an option.]). But working down the stash will be good. I have lots of single balls or 2-ball lots of things that would work up nicely into scarves and hats - and it would be good to make some space in the stash.

***

Barring any kind of bizarre horrible accident, like the earth opening up and swallowing him, or an alien abduction, my hot water heater should be installed in less than 12 hours. (It was this afternoon the plumber was supposed to come - he could have come yesterday, I suppose, but I was unwilling to flake out on Youth Group).

You cannot imagine how much I am looking forward to taking a real shower and washing my hair the 'real' way (instead of in the sink, which is OK, except when you have long hair it's really tough to get all the conditioner out).

AND I am going to do a big load of laundry. (I think I need to buy more underthings; by my count I'm four days away from either having to wash stuff out in the sink, or go "Paris-style" (Hilton, that is). And that second, commando*, option isn't one I'd try.)

(*Or, as I've been told, "Regimental," if you're on the "other" side of the Atlantic.)

***

I think this weekend I am going to designate as "totally getting rid of the cold buggies time by allowing my immune system maximum potential to work unfettered" (meaning: relaxation time). I think I'm going to rent a couple of dvds and knit.

Lydia's been talking about Gilbert and Sullivan; that reminded me that I've been wanting to see "Topsy Turvy." That is, if the local video-rental places have it.

It's funny, but I don't often think of renting movies. I don't think it's just a matter of "my parents didn't have a VCR until I was almost out of high school" or "I didn't own a VCR until I was 30" or "I didn't own a dvd player until last year," I just think it's something I don't THINK of for some reason.

But, once in a while I'll remember it, and I'll go to the rental place, and I'll be all, "Why don't I do this all the time?"

I AM definitely feeling better; it seemed the change happened over night. I'm still coughing, but it's not one of those horrible, desperate, La Traviata-heroine type coughs where I get started and don't think I'm going to be able to stop, or where I'm afraid I'm going to burst a blood vessel somewhere. And I can breathe through my nose again, which, trust me, is a huge improvement.

(That is, I think, the thing I hate most about colds: being congested. I can tolerate having to blow my nose every five minutes, I can put up with the tickle in the throat or the coughing or the body aches. But I really, really hate the congestion.)