White Squall

We're being hit with a major snowstorm here in the greater Montreal area, and that, combined with the fact that we put up our decorations yesterday (this is only a small sample), can only mean one thing: Christmas is indeed coming, and I'd better get a move on or else.

I've made good progress on the Boyfriend Socks I'm knitting for my Mom's husband. I love toe-up socks. This was my first time using the figure-eight cast-on, and I'm not crazy about it. I think if I were to do it again, I'd use the magic cast-on instead. I realize they're quite similar, but the magic cast-on doesn't leave such loose stitches in the middle of the toe that you then have to tighten up manually. I'm absolutely loving the Smooshy sock yarn (I'm making a note to myself to add some to my Christmas wish list), and the colourway (Dusky Aurora) is fabulous. All in all, I'm happy.

As you can see from this picture, I got my nails done this weekend. Back in June, my husband Phil got me a gift certificate to a local nail salon because he'd heard me musing (OK, it was more like grousing) about the fact that I missed having nice nails. I used to have them done regularly, but when we bought the house, I just couldn't rationalize the expense of having them redone every three weeks.

Anyway! I finally got my act together and made an appointment for Sunday morning. The place is incredible (I'm SO going for a pedicure before Christmas!), and despite some initial problems communicating what I actually wanted, I left happy. But here's the thing. When I sat down there was a man at the station to my right, getting a manicure. Now, I have no problem with this. In fact, I used to give Phil regular manicures (before it became an obligation to which I preferred jumping headfirst into a pool filled with my own vomit, but I digress). Granted, this wasn't the type of guy that you'd look at and automatically think: Metrosexual. He was this teeny, Rocky-wannabe man, with the bike chain necklace and bracelet and pinkie ring (OK, maybe that IS a metrosexual, and I'm out of the loop). Anyway, to each his own, right? Well, you know how these places always play the obligatory soft-rock/muzak to placate the customers? I wasn't really paying attention, when it dawns on me that the guy is humming along, quite contentedly, to every tune. Seriously, when he started mumbling the words to Enrique Iglesias' "Hero", I almost choked on my coffee. Too funny.

Have a great day everyone, and if you're currently being buried under 2 feet of snow like we are, just take the hint: Mother Nature wants you to get some Holiday knitting done. :)