I'm packed.

I'm trying to grade some papers so I will not have to take them with me. (I will still have to do my taxes and read two large-ish books, and review and rewrite and submit an abstract for some summer meetings).

But oh, how I need this break.

I have several unfinished projects I'd like to "clear out" - the Sweet Tooth socks (turned the heel for the second sock last night!). And the Snicket socks (working on the cuff of the second one). And the blue "Child's French Sock" (heel of first sock has been turned).

I also would like to finish the current Clapotis; I'm close to the "last" section, so it may get done. And for good measure, I threw the long-stalled "Cozy" in my bag, thinking I might be motivated to finish it.

I also took a couple potential new projects (which I might never start, but whatever. I'm not known for packing light and I tend to take far more books and far more projects than I can complete on vacation, but part of the pleasure of anticipating vacation is thinking of ALL the free time you will have).

I want to do the "undulating ribs socks" in that "Favorite Socks Book" (from my beloved Interweave) using some Shibui Sock! in a colorway called "Pebble" (soft browns and a pale grey-blue; I think it will be ideal for that pattern). I also tossed a skein of Austermann Step (Colorway "Coffee" - dark brown, red-brown, and black stripes) for a second pair of "retro-rib socks" (Also from that Favorite Socks Book, which I will reiterate is an excellent book to own if you like making socks, lots of interesting patterns in there).

And I'm taking the humpback whale amigurumi pattern. I will probably break down and make this one over break because it just makes me happy to make toys.

As for books, I have some book I'd never heard of before on women naturalists (I don't remember the exact title) that one of my students chose for Directed Readings, and Finding Darwin's God (which I approved as being "scientific....enough" sort of grudgingly after a skim through, but I wanted to read it myself, so maybe that's justification enough for saying it's OK. And heck, it probably does contain enough science and not too much opinion). And I have a couple of Hamish MacBeth mysteries (a series my mom's talked about enjoying but which I haven't read yet). And Pickwick Papers, which I'm still slowly working on.