When all else fails,



Read



And knit.

I grabbed a bunch more journal articles from the "online links to .pdf files" (because, our perpetually cash-strapped library [shaking fist at administration and in particular one official who seems to think that the prices of journals and books are still at 1957 levels] is having to drop one of their article-finding/copyright-for-"fair use"-granting services at the end of this month).

And I worked more on the Kaffe Fassett "Mirage" sock. I'm almost up to the heel divide - I wanted to do 3 1/2" of ribbing and 4" of plain and I think I'm up to just over 3" of the plain knitting there.

I also realized that even with the slow-draining sink, I use little enough water when I brush my teeth (just enough to wet the brush and then just enough to rinse it/rinse my mouth at the end - I grew up with parents who, in addition to reminding us to turn lights off when we left a room, made us turn off the water when we were brushing our teeth) that the slow draining isn't an issue for that. (I can't quite manage washing my face, though, even being very careful about how much water I use).

But the guys are supposed to come out this afternoon and try option 2. If this fails, I think I'm going to tell them I need to think about what to do next, pay them for what they've done thus far, and contemplate if it's more tolerable to me to have a reaaaallly slow-draining sink or to have walls ripped out for pipe-replacement.

My mom also called for an update (I called them when the problem first arose, back when I thought it was a simple issue that a gasket replacement - which I could do myself - would fix). I told her about the problem and commented that I had been planning on going and doing something "fun" but now was thinking about not doing it.

She asked why and I kind of waved my hands around and bleated "but I spent so much money on repairs this fall." (They are going through the process of getting a new furnace.) She asked me if money was REALLY a problem for me, or if I was perceiving it as a problem because I am not used to spending that much. (Of course, she's right. I have money in my savings account but I HATE using it because I always say, "but what if a BIGGER problem comes along?" And I didn't, not for the hot water heater). And she reminded me that I never really take vacations, nor do I eat lavishly or dress lavishly.

So I guess she's right. I'm going to go anyway and not feel too bad if I happen to, for example, find yarn that's right for the Cobblestone Pullover. (Of course, I need to make sure the businesses I want to frequent are still in business. They all still have "online yellow pages" listings but I never trust those).

Because honestly, I am really close to losing my, ah, stuff (hah, keeping that G rating) and I do need a day out and away where I feel like I can put the stuff that's been bugging me to one side.

(And besides, SO VERY MANY of the other knitbloggers are at Stitches, or are heading to Rhinebeck, or other wonderful fun things that I never get to do because I can't take time off my job without really affecting my students. I'd love to go to a fiber festival, but the nearest one ("near" being very loosely defined) is, I think, Taos, and that's still pretty danged far. And yes, I am jealous of people who can either get people to cover for them at work, or who are retired, or who are in a flexible enough career so that they can take off a couple days and go pet sheep and ooh and aah over handpainted yarns and take classes and that kind of thing.)