antidote to belligerence

I guess I was asking for help from the Universe in my last blog, and as always, it provides.

Thursday, I went for a sushi lunch with co-workers. Nothing like raw fish and miso soup to perk up the brain. I've been less into the spicy tuna and more into the sashimi lately. Is it just me or is chirashi the same thing except the rice is under the fish rather than on the side?

Also on Thursday, I got home to find a big box of yarn on my doorstep and the latest issue of Crochet Today magazine in my mail box. Seeing the box made me instantly happy because there are at least two potential crochet projects in there. Instead of doing my grad school homework, I sorted the yarn for the two projects I have in mind.

I've got four other crochet projects and one knitting project going on right now. I used to feel guilty about having several projects going on at the same time, but now I find it's useful. One of the projects uses heavy, thick yarn, and after working on that for awhile, my hands get a little sore. Since I have other projects going that use lighter yarn, I can switch to one of those for a bit to give my hands a break.

I also decided to try out a pair of my grandmother's knitting needles, since I hadn't done any knitting in awhile. I usually use bamboo needles, but hers are the metal kind and a little more slippery. Still, I wanted to make a scarf for my uncle with them, since he gave them to me for my birthday. I thought it would be a nice family continuity thing - knit a scarf for him using the needles his mom used.

They're my only connection with her anyway. I was at her funeral a few years ago, but prior to that, I hadn't seen her for 20-some years (through no fault of my own, mind you - family drama of the older generations pretty much prevented it and left both her and me powerless). I can only imagine what it would have been like to have a stitch-n-bitch session with her and my mom. How fun that would have been. I can at least use her needles and hope that my stitches are not an embarrassment to the family name.

I'll post pictures of all of my WiPs (well, except for the ones I'm doing for Angel-the-soon-to-be-art-teacher and Emily since they read this blog) once I locate my camera in my very messy condo.

Yep, sushi and yarn therapy cure all ills.