By the Way: I Do Have a Favorite Side of My Face

So I was walking my loop today and instead of walking up the right side of the nasty hill that kills me every time, I walked on the left side. And then I had this feeling that it was somehow easier on the left-hand side instead of the right-hand side. How could it be? Problem is, I can't offer one iota of a hypothesis since I never got past bonehead algebra and consequently never studied physics or a subject that could come within two hundred miles of a reasonable explanation.

Seriously, it wasn't as tough to walk up that side of the street while going up the hill. How could that be? I mean, I might have one leg that is longer than the other so maybe it "feels" like I'm walking a steeper hill while on the right. But then again, Rocko has real short legs and bolts up the hill like crazy while on the right. Maybe it's because he's lower to the ground and doesn't feel gravity the way we do--or that he has four legs and I have two. All I know is that it surprised me that I could walk up the left-hand side of the hill with ease and yet if I walk up the right-hand side it kills me. Every. Single. Time.

Call me the Barbra Streisand of walking up hills.

Or maybe let's just forget about it.

Which brings me to this: I am not a natural designer. Heck, I'm practically not even a knitter. I had the goal of writing a new pattern for the next book (Yeah! Third book!) today, or rather, getting started on it, and I tell you what: I didn't figure out how many stitches to cast on until after two o'clock.  There are people out there who whip out patterns and other things without a single thought and here I am, sitting in my pj's all day and barely getting by.

This thing that I do isn't as easy as it looks. I don't like getting funny looks when I tell people I write books about and for knitting. The funny looks aren't because it's a tough gig, either, and I guess that is part of the problem. These schmucks think it's sorta dumb.They think it is sorta dumb. Yes, I had to say it twice: They think it is sorta dumb (third time is a charm).

I guess you have to be in one big room with Other Crafters to not get a funny look.

Truth is, I feel like I'm trudging through mud, I tell you. Mud. Mud mixed with caramel and extra floor magnets thrown in for extra trudge. I think I need a day off. This knitting-book writing gig is kicking my butt.

And no, I'm not quitting.

Here was the answer I was looking for all day: If you want something to be about 19 inches and you have a gauge of 5 stitches to the inch and the stitch pattern requires a multiple of 6 sts plus another 3 plus another 2 then you can, by all means, cast on 95 stitches.

Ugh. I have plans to go to the yarn store with a friend tomorrow, but after that, I think I'll go to the quilt shop and get another few half-yards of fabric and quilt my eyeballs out the next couple of days. I know, I know, I should be working on the book. It's due in May, after all. Thing is, I figure that all my quilting will make the yarn jealous and therefore a little "easier," you know, like the girls get when the boys don't pay enough attention to them.