Knitting and shameless self-promotion

I'm really starting to feel the pressure of the impending Christmas deadline. I still have 2 (or 3) projects to complete (and, you know, cast on - Ooopsee!), and while that may seem like small potatoes to most of you, it seems like a lot to me (I'm lucky if I can get six rows done during the day, despite the fact that I'm currently a stay-at-home mom). It's amazing to me how you can spend most of your waking (and sleeping, for that matter) hours thinking about something, yet get to actually DO it so little. I guess now I know how men must feel about sex. ;)

I've almost completed my first boyfriend sock (get the pattern free here). I usually display socks in progress on my nifty blockers, but this pattern really needs to be shown on the foot for it to be seen in all its glory. I started the 1x1 ribbing last night, but now I'm thinking I'm going to tink back (I only got 2 rows done) and go ahead and finish the pattern repeat (another 18 rows) before beginning the cuff. I've got more than enough yarn, and the pattern will just look more complete (at least, to my eyes). I think it's safe to say that completing the second sock by Sunday night would be a pipe dream at this point, but I'd really like to get one gift done a week, which does put the pressure on quite a bit.

And now, on to the shameless self-promotion. I've mentioned previously that I sing in a choir, the Ensemble Vocal Universalis. We've got a few concerts coming up, notably at the chapel of the Soeurs Missionnaires de L'Immaculée-Conception here next Thursday, December 13th, at 7:30 PM, and at the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours chapel here on Sunday, December 23rd, at 1:30 and 3:00 PM. Both concerts are free, and should be a lot of fun. Thursday's concert will feature a solo performance by yours truly (I'll be singing Schubert's Ave Maria), but on the downside, it'll be our first performance of the season. You may want to wait for the December 23rd concerts, by which point we should be like a well oiled machine (but no solo performance from this diva). So come on out and say Hey! It'd be neat to see a few knitters in the audience.

Finally, an update on my father's condition. First off, thanks so much for the kind wishes and prayers, especially from those of you who delurked to send them to me (Hi Draftnik!). It really meant a lot to me, and I know he'll benefit from all those good vibes. So thanks! His surgery didn't go very well, I'm afraid. They removed another 2 litres (!!!) of blood from his pleural cavity during the surgery (apparently, they knew there was still some blood there, but were surprised at how much there actually was), and despite their best efforts, the surgeons weren't able to determine where the bleeding was coming from. So as of yesterday afternoon, he's "under observation" while they figure out what to do next. Again, all your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated. Keep them coming!