I still knit!

Yes, I do. It's just that most of the projects I'm knitting on are long-term sorts of projects and are not at photogenic stages.

I finished the back of the Central Park Hoodie last weekend, mainly so I could cast on for one of the front halves and have some "simple" knitting for invigilating the exam I gave on Monday. I'm a couple inches into the left front now.

I'm also almost done with the front of the Basketweave pullover....it seems like it's continually "two more rows" until it is long enough to do the binding-off for the neck and shoulders. But then the sleeves are next, and then it's done - I guess it's time to start considering zippers for the front. (I briefly contemplated redoing it to make it a Henley-style front with buttons, but unless I alter the collar I don't think that would look right).

And I'm picking away at the various socks.

***
I broke one of the skis on my Nordic Track this morning. The part that holds your foot in place snapped in two and there's no way to repair it. (I got out the duct tape and tried). Apparently (I think?) Nordic Track is no longer making the skiiers - they have one on their website (the model I own), but it's listed as "out of stock" which makes me suspicious.

Which is sad, because the older-model Nordic Tracks were really, really good exercisers. (The current model, like so many things, is not nearly as well made). I found a "parts depot" type of place and took a gamble on ordering a set of used skis for my machine (no new ones were available, which also makes me wonder if Nordic Track is no longer going to make the product that their company name was actually BASED on).

Of course I will have to wait at least a week to get them. I'm a little unsure what to do, and also unsure what to do when the current machine wears out (which it will eventually; this will be the third one I've burned through in the 20-odd years I've been working out). I need to replace it with SOMETHING - I can't not exercise, and jogging won't work for numerous reasons (no time available at times of day when it's safe to be running alone outside, half the year it's too hot/too much pollen, I have knee problems that don't work well with high impact exercise). I don't want a treadmill. I don't know about ellipticals - I think they're probably the next best thing. But wharrrgarrrbl, this is hard.

For now, I'm going to do the "free" (part of my cable package, but compared to buying some dvd, it's free) workouts that Discovery Fit and Health runs in the early morning (5 to 5:30 and a different episode from 5:30 to 6). It's two different series but with the same guy - he goes by Gilad and I caught his last name in the credits and I can see why he just goes by Gilad (his last name is hard to spell). I did part of one this morning to make up for the time I missed when the ski broke.  They seem fairly reasonable and will be an acceptable replacement for the nonce.

But, gah, this is just HARD. I can't just go to the gym because my "free time" for exercise can only be guaranteed very early in the morning - and working out over what passes for my lunch "hour" (some days it's 15 minutes) won't work.

So, I don't know. Maybe an elliptical would be a decent replacement. Or maybe the new-used skis will allow me to eke a few more years out of the current machine, and then I can figure something out. It's just, it seems like stuff breaks right at a busy time or a time when I'm low on resources (either financial, emotional, or both. And yes, it does require a certain level of emotional resources to deal with making a decision that might involve spending $500-$1000 on something, and having to try to choose something that will work, and do it ALL ON MY OWN.)


ETA: They do still make the machines, according to the live-chat guy. (He also thought I could buy skis directly from them: oh well, too late, the parts depot guy e-mailed me to say he'd be shipping them out this morning). I do hope the replacement skis (which cost $100 with shipping: a $100 I can't really afford to spend now, with my tax bill coming up, but I figure in the long run, I might be out more than $100 in health problems if I don't keep up exercising....). Though I guess if the whole machine goes kaput this summer or later, I can still replace it. (And that will make three machines I've burned through in my life.). They do also make an elliptical-machine sort of thing, which might be as good or better, but most of them are more expensive....