Eyes open, barely.

So I have this coffee mug I got as a promotion from the shipping people at work.  I like it.  I think the design aesthetic is pleasing and it is a good size and insulated.   But it has a round bottom.  Which I used to find pleasingly organic to contemplate and cradle.

But when it sits on the desk in front of me, and I lean forward to answer the phone, and it is only 8:30 and I am not awake yet, I shove it with my breasts and it wobbles like a Weeble - almost exactly like a Weeble in fact, dumping a mug full of tea onto my keyboard and then popping upright again.

It is just going to be that kind of morning, I can tell.

Unexpectedly the keyboard, which is wireless, has failed to short out.  That's a good sign.   

I have been on a cleaning jag recently - my house had passed the point of being untidy and gone over into a little too dusty for mental health, so I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned and cleaned.  And I must say, I like it this way.   Which isn't even that immaculate except as a less seedy contrast to what came before.  I am now at the point that I could start over again and do a really fantastic job in a comparatively short time frame.  Which I will think about but almost certainly not do.  I wonder how long I can maintain this - the signs are poor, as yesterday's dishes are all over the kitchen.  Note to self, go to whole foods for the green dish powder, the box is empty. 

I had really a very nice weekend though, I just sound crabby because I had a 10 pm dinner of ...OK, I had to Google "goat, California, cheese, ash" to come up with the name, I am a definitely a little blurry on my outlines this day - Humbolt Fog and Cahill's Irish Porter Cheese and crackers.   And I'm feeling a bit unsound because of it.
Come to think of it, I do not recall any vegetables yesterday, which may explain many things. 
The cheese was very good, but I am not sure I can recommend that particular pairing.  Most certainly not at that particular hour.

While I mull my next major project I have been trying to continue the theme of finishing and dragged this thing out into the light:

You can't tell what it is?  Blizzard Wrap from Scarf Style, which I cast on solely to have an excuse to use Blizzard - which is far to bulky for me to wear, but seriously cozy.  This was three years ago, or something. 

I only know three crochet stitches, which I learned for the purpose of making this wrap and had subsequently forgotten.   I have retaught them to myself, using a crochet book I bought, also three years ago, Crochet Basics.  I find it to be excellent.  (Also, I lied, I learned crochet for another project.  Had forgotten until I checked the archives.)

I find it slow going really - the yarn is very heavy and the hook is like, a size one million.  Also, and this is the real problem, every time I pick it up I have to pry the cat off it.  She LOVES this thing.  Apparently, she's an alpaca kind of girl.  Also, a pain in my ass. 

Variations on this theme have played out over the past week or so.  Every 56 stitches I have to relocate the beast from where she has settled and really, sometimes it isn't worth the dirty look.  I'm making about a row and a half a night, max. 

If I have a skein left I'll make her a little mat or something, which she will of course ignore completely.

More tea.  Must. Make. More. Tea.  And not spill it.

 

Comments

[Gina]

Kitty has excellent taste. She's mommy's girl. Those rounded-bottom coffee mugs scare me for the very reason you mentioned -- an accident waiting (impatiently) to happen.

[Michele from MN]

We have a 3.5 month old kitten that loves alpaca. I can be knitting with anything else and all he wants to attack is the moving yarn. But when I am working with alpaca he wants to steal it. I mean the whole thing on the needles. It is kind of funny to watch but makes your heart beat a little faster until you recover the item from the jaws of death. I then have to either lock the cat away or lock myself away from the cat when I knit on that particular item. Aint life grand.

[Rabbitch]

I love that little cat. I also love that wrap.

You know, it might be a good idea just to give it to her, seeing it's too heavy for you.

[Lizbon]

What is it about cats getting all bossy and difficult when their people are off having fun?

[Anne]

Clever cat. Clever Marcy!

[Marcy]

You know, if you just give in and give it to the cat now, you won't have to finish it. I promise you, she will not care.

[Rose]

Smart cat; alpaca is the best. Good luck with the tea/keyboard!

[kmkat]

Truly, I thought the thing you dragged out into the light was the cat, and I wondered what revenge the feline would wreak upon you for that comment. Glad to know you were referred to the wrap. Which is lovely, by the way.

[Megan]

I'd be careful W/ that keyboard, if it's not too late, try to dry it upside down! And order a backup (I'm a cynical idealist.)

[lanea]

I see Moxie has taste. Good, good. Yarrow loves the blanket, but only fitfully, so I'm allowed to work on it. And Speedwell just loves me, irrationally, and is scared of most things that move at all.

[Laurie]

It really is a very good sign when a cat approves of a project like that. They are certified experts in comfort. Mine always did seem to prefer the crochet to the knitting. Maybe because of the thicker fabric?

[Kim]

Cat looks very comfortable. Sounds like you had a dairy overload with the cheese. Gotta love that Humboldt Fog. I'd recommend their cheddar (Midnight Moon). I fear crochet.

[Linda]

I totally GET it re the "look" ...the kids would never get away with what the cat does: For example, I don't vacuum when the cat would be inconvenienced.

The cat completely commandeered one of my sweaters. Every time she sees it, she gets REALLY happy and falls in love all over again. The sweater lies on the floor now, and she sleeps on it every day. I'm such a sucker!

[Riin]

I think it belongs to the cat. Can't you tell just by looking at her?

[BigAlice]

I'm sorry that your Monday is going as poorly, as mine is. I could use a bit more weekend.
Your cat looks very comfortable on that wrap, it seems to get the feline seal of approval. If you wear it, will she sit on you?

[Jessica]

You obviously have a cat with exceedingly good taste! :) And a very dedicated "staff". ;)

[Marin]

I'm going to come down on the side of not giving the little dictator her way. Partly because I like to be different and partly because I believe in an arbitrary sort of cat discipline that says, "Yes, you can lay in the sunbeam on the kitchen table, yes you can sleep on my head, yes you can have some chicken from my dinner, no, no you can't have the alpaca wrap. You'll get spoiled."

She does look... entitled, though.

[RobinH]

Boy, that is a contented looking cat! Except for the first picture, which looks kind of reproachful. I see she has the plurality of the commenters on her side, too...!

Mine doesn't know what to make of alpaca- she sniffs it thoroughly every time she sees me using it. Wool, she's cool with (fortunately my brother-in-law has no problem with socks covered in cat drool).

[Sue]

Wow! Could that cat look any more comfortable?!?

[k]

It's a wonderful wrap. I can see why the cat has taken to it. Think - anytime you want her, just throw the wrap on your lap.
Looking at the link and reading the words "wrist surgery" makes me very, very uncomfortable - nearly as bad as my wrist feels right now. Darn you, cotton!

[Michelle]

Props to Moxie's fashion sense, because the wrap does coordinate very nicely with her coloring.

[Rosemary]

You can always make another scarf for yourself. Give this one to kitty--she looks so comforatable and content.

I hope you managed to get enough tea inside you this morning without spilling any more on your desk, keyboard, or lap.

[claudia]

Dude, that is the kitty's scarf. Stop fighting.

[Laurie]

Agree with Danielle. You have found the someone who will love it.

Vicious cycle: need tea, spill tea, make more tea, try again without having enough internal tea. Soldier on!

[Spinning Fishwife]

Oh, give the cat the wrap as a blankie. No-one will ever love it better, after all. And in a couple of weeks she'll have deserted it for another cosy spot anyway, and you can finish it then.