i lied

i said i would share Roland's slippers, the black hole that is my Syrian shawl and the cast-on of such poor judgment that i deleted any evidence of its existence, but i lied.

the bound official copy of my dissertation just arrived (yes, i know it has been 14 months), so instead i am sharing something much, much more special to me. something i have kept secret these long 14 plus months pending official publication. without further ado, i bring you the Dedication Page of my dissertation in all its semi-eternal permanency...

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to sincerely thank:

Dr. Michael R. Lappin, for his inexhaustible support, friendship, and mentorship.

My colleagues Jennifer Steinberg, Nicole Bennett, Dennis Macy, and Kristy Dowers for their counsel on matters both scientific and real and for their friendship.

Jennifer Hawley, for always being there to say, “This time I just know it’s going to work,” and for being there when it didn’t to help me dust myself off and start again.

My dearest friends, Bill and Kelly Christie and Dave and Nancy Rocknich, for their support and good-natured harassment throughout the years.

My parents, Meredith and Lynda Ramp, and Roland Schneller for all the years of patience and humor.

My late grandmother, Marguerite (Mickey) D. Osburn, for always believing in my strength while worrying about my softness. Together we traveled many roads and collected many stories. I miss her every day and save my stories for our next meeting.

Finally and most specially, my mother, confidante and best friend, Pamela Jo Schneller, for teaching me that I can do whatever I want and be whomever I would like, if only I am willing to try.


The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the most discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' (I found it!), but 'That's funny...'
-Isaac Asimov

PIF to me!

things have been pretty crazy here in K-ville... after an unsettling but brief post-vacation lull (think stillness before a natural disaster), work came like a fierce tsunami to swamp me. as usual, i was burning both ends of the candle in anticipation of an externally imposed pause. in this case, Roland's hip replacement surgery on Thursday. [after a very rough patch, he safely arrived home today. Mom and i could both use a cookie - her more than me since i had to come home last night for work today. what a ROK star she is - not to mention Roland's amazing grit and good humor!! Roland has high level narcotics so he may not have the same cookie needs.]

amid all the rushing, a fabulous package arrived that has filled me with pleasure - in spite of my having no more than moments with it before flitting off to Nashville.

'what what?' i hear you query... why, my PIF package arrived, courtesy of Magnusmog!

a gorgeous card that i suspect will find its way to my work introduced me to the loveliest and most handy little notebook:

then there is this gorgeous felted brooch with which i can dazzle myself and others:


and finally the most lovely handdyed, handspun Scottish Wensleydale for which i already have plans! plans for joyous, undulating fuzzy drapey fabric.


too bad i have eight jillion several summer projects already cast on. hmm... perhaps it will be my bribe for enduring the long Tennessee summer...

oh, yeah - i don't know why i was so worried about Adrianne's ribs. i finished with almost 12 inches of yarn to spare!


stay tuned for the next episode in which Roland gets new slippers, my Syrian shawl gets torn back twice yet i still end up short of yarn for the edging, and i wake from a drunken high aneurysmal judgment blackout to frog an horrific sweater pattern that required US 17s to get gauge.

completathon

although it has taken a while to have much to show for it, i have actually been quite productive on the knitting front. as the objects kept accruing, leaving only dreaded finishwork and/or photos. this weekend, between various 'destroy the allergen' projects, i was able to focus on sewing seams, weaving ends and shiny happy photos (only moderately thwarted by gloomy skies).

Sunburst

this is a darling pattern from a vintage book (Columbia Baby Book, 1944) that i picked out for my neighbors' impending baby girl. the sacque knitting up quickly during the Florida trip, with only minimal seaming and crochet trim remaining once i got home. i used about 2 skeins Plymouth Dreambaby DK and US3s.

picking the right buttons was a titch more time-consuming and then there were all those photos! i only wish Travy had taken a picture of the backside of the hems - it really is some of my prettiest seaming. i think my neighbors are going to be thrilled!

Ballet-neck cardigan

a kicky little cardi designed by Annie Modesitt. needles as called for the in pattern but i substituted Gerifil Spaghetti for the yarn, ~7 skeins. it is an entertaining construction but got slightly dinged on my enthusiasm meter for the irritating reverse pattern demands (when adding stitches for the arms). this also pretty much finished itself in Florida, leaving only tedious trimwork for my return. the crunchiness of the Gerifil really makes the pattern pop and will hold the swing. can't wait to see it on Mom to ensure it is truly the 'right' fit (and to get some pictures in better light!).

Rockport sweater

finally, last but certainly not least is the Rockport sweater, by Martha Ann Hoffurann. it is from Columbia-Minerva #763, Hand Knits for Men 1969, Windemere Aran Denims yarn, US 6s and 8s.most of this was hospital knitting, but one sleeve languished quite awhile and then there was about a mile of seaming before the neck could be added. this one still needs to be blocked but i couldn't wait to share...

i was hoping rather strongly that i would have all the 'old' projects off the needles before leaving for my annual convention tomorrow. so i would really really like to say that Adrianne's rib socklets are also done, but alas it is not so. mainly because i am 80% sure i haven't enough yarn and refuse to redo the damn things again. if indeed i am short on yarn, i believe i will simply throw the completed sock and its offending mismate in the trash. a shame because the pattern is quite charming (thanks Adrianne!), but i haven't the patience to keep fiddling with leftover yarn when i have such a surfeit of 'whole' yarns in stash. the upside of throwing them away is that the second sock isn't pooling like the first so their mismatedness would persist even if the yarn holds out. grumble grumble.

tomorrow i fly to San Antonio Texas for 4 days of uber-learning, because Texas is really where i want to be in June. sheesh. at least next year it is in Montreal- watch i won't get to go...