Peace and quiet

Well, it's cooled down a bit, and should stay that way for the next few days. There was actually a marine layer this morning, and I wished for a light jacket while walking the dogs this morning. What a change from the past few days. All of this is making me think that maybe it's our year for solar panels and air conditioning, but there's a part of me that balks. I live eight miles from the ocean for goodness' sake. I shouldn't need air conditioning -- that's what the Pacific is for! However, it would appear that the climate, she is a-changin'.

I was very amused by the enthusiasm that everyone showed for watching me knit a sweater at 9 sts/in. I note that almost no-one else is willing to jump on that bandwagon with me, but watching me do it seems like a very good idea. (Ellen, you're off the hook on this one!) Of course, I'm a fine one to talk, as I'm all for enabling people to go out there and do the things that I'm not quite willing to take on myself (like dyeing, for example). I'm really leaning towards Aberlady in spite of the gauge. I just love the subtlety of the textures in that sweater. I figure I can always do Cromarty as a next sweater, right? The one thing that's giving me pause is the fact that Aberlady is a pullover with a relatively high neck. I'm not a fitted-sweater person, usually; I always feel constricted somehow, like I can't move freely. So I need to consider whether I'll wear it, and if I think I won't, whether there's some way to turn it into a cardigan, or whether that would ruin the lines.

Meanwhile, I've also got to find the right yarn. I think this must mean that I have to visit my LYS, right? Darn. We all know how horrible it is to have to go yarn shopping. (Not.)

Today is looking to be a quiet day. Yesterday I got the word that our faculty meeting was cancelled. I know that it is unbecoming to a professional to cheer when getting such news, but I will confess here that that is just what I did. I then promptly cancelled all other obligations for the day (I even said that I wasn't going to my knitting group, which should be some indication of how desperately I need time all by myself), packed up the huge pile of grading that needs to be done (it's about eight inches high; that may not sound like much, but think of all the paper in those eight inches), and said I'd be at home today if anyone needs me. A whole day, alone in my house. Wow.

So I've taken the dogs for a walk, and I've had my cup of coffee, and I'm about to start on the first assignment. I figure if I reward myself with a couple of rows of lace for every assignment graded, that should keep me motivated, right? Not to mention the joy of knowing that the grading will no longer be waiting for me on my desk, a little smirk on its crumpled up pages, taunting me with its undoneness. I am the boss of my grading. (Why do I hear little bitty titters coming from my bookbag?)