FO Friday: Retro Stripe Socks

Pattern: Basic Sock Recipe
Yarn: Online Supersocke Circle Color, color #1053
Needle: US #1 and #2

Finished Size:  Fitted to my tiny feet!

I've gotten really fast at this whole sock-knitting thing. Go me!

WiP Wednesday: Two-Fer Edition

Currently working on two pairs of socks, one self-striping, and one patterned. The self-striping one uses the same pattern I used on previous models, and the patterned one, "Angee," is from Cookie A's Sock Innovation.

I'm using OnLine Supersocke 100 Emotion III - Color (#1276) for the self-striping, and Arucania Ranco Solid (but it's really more kettle dyed) in 106 for the patterned ones. So far, so good!

Saturday Hexapuffs~

I haven't had a lot of time to work on puffs lately. I've been cranking socks out like mad, though, so I've got plenty of ends to work with.

In a moment of sheer, unadulterated insanity, I decided to make two puff blankets: one puffy (using the puffs I showed y'all a few weeks ago) that will use handpainted and solid yarn, and one that isn't puffy that will use self-striping yarn. Hexaflats, as it were. This blanket will be lighter and a little less warm, ideal for cool-but-not-cold weather, which I see a lot more of living in the South.

Assuming I ever finish it.

WiP Wednesday: Now with even more socks!

I'm really liking the retro striping.

Though I really miss blogging about books.

Much like in undergrad, I have so much reading to do for my classes (I am also doing a metric ton of research papers this semester, which means even more reading omg) that by the time I've finished it all, the last thing I want to do is pick up another book. Hopefully, I'll be able to get some reading done over winter break. I get a month off, which is pretty great.

Reflecting.

When I haven't been at work, volunteering, in class, or snowed in under homework (so, the approximately ten minutes of free time I have before I fall asleep and when I wake up each day), I've been doing a lot of thinking about what my next move is going to be.

I graduate in May 2013. I will be twenty-eight years old (ye gods). I'm not sure whether or not I am going to stay in Asheville long-term.

I will have to stay in the state of North Carolina for a year or two in order to obtain professional licensure. Once you get an MSW, you have to complete a certain number of supervised hours before you can take the licensure exam, which you must pass in order to be fully accredited. It's generally considered a bad idea to get a degree in one state and then try to get initial licensure in another. While most states recognize reciprocity if you're already licensed, educational requirements that vary from state to state can make getting initial licensure in a state other than the one in which you got your degree very tricky, if not impossible outright. One of my friends has been in licensing limbo since he finished his master's in 2004 because of that. Not being licensed can really screw you over; without it, you're not eligible for student loan forgiveness and you get paid way less.

After that's dealt with, I can move somewhere else, if I wish. I know that's a long way off, but it's something I need to start considering now since it's going to affect a lot of the decisions I make post-graduation. For example, it's not worth the money for me to buy a house here if I wind up moving away after two years. I also have to consider how much of myself to invest in this city, and how long I'm going to avoid potential romantic entanglements (assuming I ever date again. Becoming a nun is looking pretty good right now). I don't want to get attached to the idea of being here forever if it's not going to work out.

One day, when I have some free time, I'll make a list of the pros and cons of staying where I am-- and moving to a bigger city. I'm 90% sure I'm not willing to move back to Tennessee, but there are plenty of other places I think I'd like to live.

FO Friday: Butterfly Socks

Pattern: Basic Sock Recipe
Yarn: Online Supersocke 100 Butterfly-Color in 1152
Needle: US #1 and #2

Finished Size:  Fitted to my tiny feet!

And yes, I do have clear chucks. That I bought for the express purpose of wearing with my hand-knitted socks.  I tell you, knitting is a sickness. 

WiP Wednesday: OH LOOK MORE SOCKS.

I may have a problem.

Online Supersocke 100
Circle - Color
Color #1053
Same pattern as the last two pairs.

Another week, done.

I'm amazed at how crazy busy I have been since school started back. This past week was especially eventful; I was so slammed, I didn't even have time to knit after Tuesday! Here's what I accomplished:

1. Going to class on Monday and Tuesday, which are all-day-long affairs involving a whole lot of driving.
2. Attending several group meetings for class projects.
3. Going to court for the current case in my volunteering gig which has eaten my life.
4. Running a bunch of errands all over town for said case. Wish I could talk about it more, but my org's confidentiality rules are pretty hardcore since I'm working with kids.
5. Writing a lengthy report and compiling documentation for said case. I really need to be more organized.
6. Doing a ton of reading. For class, sigh.
7. Working.
8. Working out! I'm thankful my dad has an elliptical machine since I'm pretty sure I lost my Y Family Membership in the breakup. Sadly, I have to do homework reading instead of fun reading on it. That's why I haven't finished a book in over a month. 
9. Going out with my co-workers after work Wednesday and yesterday. 
10. Pro-tip: Sake slushies are both a great and terrible idea. Sugar + booze + me + the following day = disaster no matter how much (or little!) I drink. But damn, they were tasty!
11. Pro-tip #2: If you're going to wear a dress that's cut up to your ass in a club that has blacklights, wear dark undies. Nobody wants to see just how far the dude you're dancing with is hiking it up. 
12. Having really awesome hair. I don't know what's up with that, but everyone has been liking it lately. 

So, yeah. I'm doing okay and things are going really well. Even though the workload is crushing me, I'm really enjoying school and am looking forward to finishing out this semester. From what the second-years have said, it's by far the hardest one, and once you make it through, it's smooth sailing.