Virus 1 - Stacie 0

Been down so low, I might never get up again!

Well, not quite. But right in the midst of proctoring finals, grading essays and exams, writing comments and turning all this stuff in, I come down with . . . dun dun duh . . . the virus from hell. I woke up thinking something had gone down the wrong pipe (raw, sore, needing lots of clearing) and as the day progressed, I found that, no, it wasn't that, unless you count viruses. Where would I come in contact with those? pray tell.

I might be Monk-like in certain ways (that's coming up) but one of them is not germophobia. It probably should be, as my students touch my stapler, my whiteboard markers, my printer, my pens (they're not supposed to, but they do), my door knob, blah blah blah. And then inevitably, I touch the same items at the wrong time, like right now when a bunch of kids are snuffling, sneezing, coughing, as usual, since it is January. Their gift to me, well, a hellaciously sore throat, stuffy nose, clogged larynx and nasty cough (which really hurts the throat), fever, you get the idea. I sound like an advertisement for Nyquil.

So yesterday, I begged for mercy and was let out of my last finals commitment, drove straight home and got into my jammies. Fortunately, oh so fortunately, my mumsley had JUST sent me a b-day present (I'm a prime number this year, and it's not the size of the number but the darned primeness of it that really bugs me. Give me an age divisible by more than one and itself, please. Now that's Monk-like!) . THANK YOU, MOM! This quilt has become my constant companion. It's my very own for snuggling up in a chair or taking a nap on the bed. It is exactly what I need right now. I, and the cat du heure. Did I mention it's backed with polarfleece? No wonder the cats love me/it.


Knitting? Not so much. I have put it all away in the room I avoid right now, so that I can stay focused on the mountain I must climb before next Tuesday. Blogging is my only solace, oh, that and Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love, loaned to me by my friend Pat. Recommended to me by everyone. So I am either sleeping, or grading, or reading when I can't really think straight enough to grade (like at 4 a.m. last night).

BUT when I get time again, I have three new acquisitions. Two skeins of Malabrigo worsted (a hunter green and a dark purple) for scarf gifties, and a skein of Woolwitch's gorgeous periwinkle-to-lilac colored wool. Don't yet know what I'll do with that loveliness.







And here was the progress on the M-D Baby Kimono for another teacher's impending baby boy, as of last week. The color is so pale, but it is lovely and sheen-ful in real life. Guess I'd better get cracking on this one as the shower is next Friday!









Then there is the twin rib scarf I'm working on in the O-Wool from a fall purchase.










One more fo-toe. I got myself a b-day present (I am known for this little tendency) , this lovely, fun, cheerful zippered pouch for my purse, from Lusitania of Madreed, Spain (via Etsy). Check it out!

And check out Lusitania's other offerings. She is way cool. I am determined to learn to needle felt this year.

Time for some more meds, a glass of water, and sleep.