You may remember a certain kitty was scheduled for his annual check up. A certain kitty keeps getting reprieves. Last appointment we had, we were postponed (again) due to an accident involving a poor little Doberman (who did do fine). For once, Atticus was all for the dog.

"I'm what? "For" the what? Why? I mean, good news that the dog came through fine, but what does that have to do with me? "

Still clueless.

We try again next week.

Next week marks a special milestone for me. Now, normally I don't get too nostalgic when it comes to milestone dates (apart from birthdays and anniversaries), but this one is a special one for me. It'll be 10 years that I took my life back into my hands, and struck out on my own. With the support of friends, very little money and a whole lot of courage, I decided that life on my own terms was better than a life on my then husband's. I packed my bags, and never looked back. It was the most difficult, and the single best thing I could have ever done for myself. You never truly realize what life is all about until you take a good hard look into your potential future and remind yourself that you are worth more, and what are you going to do about it?

So, I moved into this apartment (I had so little that it took me an hour to "unpack"), and made a truly wonderful life for myself on my own terms. There have been ups, and downs, but I've learned so much about myself and my place in this world, it's been worth it all. I wouldn't change anything about it, despite the hard times.

I've gone from eating out of old Tupperware containers and borrowed cutlery to having a home, my freedom, my 3 bestest buddies, and life that is entirely my responsibility. Not to mention a killer stash...!

And the knowledge that sometimes you need a bit of pain and hardship in order to truly appreciate yourself, and your time here.

My 3 Bestest Buddies

On to something else!

Hey! Did I ever tell you how much I can't get my fingers around socks? I try! And, unlike lace, I have a stack of perfectly do-able patterns that I could possibly manage. Remember this?

My enthusiastic attempt at a top-down sock? Yeah, that didn't work out all that well. So, I figured, stick to what you've done in the past! So I unravelled my messy top-down, and am trying...again. When it comes to socks, I really have to STICK TO WHAT I KNOW. Sheesh. So they're plain stocking (which is probably why I always use variegated yarn) stitch. I do have a few nice toe-up patterns, but one sock at a time! It does after all take me months to knit a pair. I need to get a few more under my belt before I can attempt anything but the odd slip-stitch pattern.

Don't ask me how it is I can to a Fair Isle sleeve in the round on DPN's, and yet totally mess up a simple stocking stitched top-down sock. No clue. It's a me thing.

I mention the sock thing because I've spent a fair bit of time this past week trying to find a suitable sock pattern, ripping it out, crying, looking again for a suitable sock pattern, again ripping it out, crying, and then deciding that plain is best. This is the time of year when my hands become easily irritated by yarn, so I wasn't able to work on Columbia (back is done and front has been started), or even Endless Summer for that matter. Socks were therefore the project of choice for delicate hands.

Oh, and the other good thing about this upcoming week?

The First Day of Spring. Aaaaaah.....