k is for krista

That Time I Had An STD.

Queer Joe, one of my regular reads, had a post that New Hampshire is offering the HPV vaccine for free to girls aged 11-18.  I think that is fantastic.  It got me thinking about that one time I tested positive for HPV.  I'm gonna tell the story, because it's important.  I'm gonna throw in some disclaimers here and there because they will color the story with irony, and please do not think for a second that I am criticizing anyone who has made different choices than I.

When I was 17, my mother asked me if I was sexually active.  This is because I was really grumpy one afternoon and when she asked me why I was irritable, I said, "I have finals this week and I'm three weeks late."  Well.  That was enough for my (very liberated for her generation) mother to get me to a GYN.  I had been dating one guy for about a year and about four months earlier we had started to have sex.  Always with a condom, always.

We couldn't get in with Mom's doctor, but his associate could see me right away.  After about a week, the office called that we needed to come in right away for a meeting with the doctor because the test was abnormal.  Mom said I could talk to the doctor privately if I wanted to, but I was like, "Are you kidding me?  I need you here!"

The doctor let me know that I had clusters of atypia cells on my cervix.  He stated that millions of women have HPV and that is what "Promiscuous teenage girls" can expect.  He went on to say that 99% of cases like this were HPV and only 1% were actually cervical cancer.  I asked if the cervical cancer without the HPV was possible.  He said it was, but only under hereditary conditions.  That was when I asked him to read his file on me again and to make sure he read the part about my great-grandmother dying of cervical cancer extra close.  Considering she started having children with my great-grandfather at 16 and continued until 45, I doubt she was a sexually promiscuous teen.  (Insert sarcasm and irony here)

I had to have a triple biopsy done, and the results came back with nothing at the time to worry about, but I had to have a pap every 4 months until I had a year with no incident.  That didn't happen.  After 2 years, the atypia cells grew and latched onto my cervix, causing me to undergo another triple biopsy and a LEEP procedure.  That's a wire charged with electricity that cuts your cervix right off.  Since then, I have been without incident.  I have never been treated for genital warts, and I have never had a breakout.  My current GYN, a female in another part of the country, has tested me for HPV every single time.  Guess what?  NOT THERE.

In my whole life I have slept with three men.  The only one that hasn't used a condom is my husband, and that is for obvious reasons.  I should not have to explain that to my doctor who is there to care for me and my health, not make assumptions on my sexual activity.

Assumptions Kill.

Ladies, please pressure your GYN to take the appropriate tests.  Demand that they use the thin-prep test to make sure they are getting accurate readings.  Put pressure on the government and insurance agencies that these tests are imperative and must be covered.  If the vaccine is available to you or your daughters, do it.  It's not a license to sleep around (as opponents of the vaccine claim), it's a license to live your days to the longest and fullest.

Can It Be True?

Is it really possible?  YES!  I bought batteries for my camera!  I have pictures!  I have knitting!  I have pictures of knitting! 

It's really late.

First, my Knit Unto Others project.  Three hats for Dulaan and a pair of socks.  Well, the socks were already done.  They have been sitting in my yarn room waiting for a home.

Second, this is totally my first skein of Socks that Rock.  Socks that Rock?  They do indeed.  Thank you, Kerry, for an awesome prize!  The color is Olivenite and it is so Seventies that I am in love!  I can't wait to find some rockin' pattern that captures the whole feel of the color.  I am in bliss.

I cannot believe that it is after midnight and I am taking pictures and posting and watching Conan the Barbarian.  Ya know, I do have a job to go to, but I know my millions of readers are desperately surfing the web waiting for me to post.  Okay, my five readers.  And they probably have better sense than I do and are tucked away in bed getting rested for their Monday.  Love Y'all!  Have a great week!

An Update Of Sorts

Finished: One (1) hat for the Dulaan Project.

Hello!  How's your day?  Are you ready for Thanksgiving?  My mother-in-law refuses to relinquish the title as chief turkey cooker, so we will once again be having The Big Eat at her house.  I am (once again) in charge of sweet potatoes.  Every year I make candied sweet potatoes with brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon.  YUM!  Hello fat ass!  How are ya?  You just keep getting bigger and bigger, dontcha?  Anyway, I decided this year I will be making something a little healthier.  I found a great recipe for a baked sweet potato and veggie casserole.  Hope springs eternal. 

I am thankful for:

1.  My family's patience with my craziness.

2.  My husband, who is as crazy as I.

3.  Improvement in my life in all aspects.

4.  America.

5.  Knitting.

6.  Yarn. 

7.  Sheep.

It's really that simple for me.  What are you thankful for?  Even if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, take some time to reflect on all that is good, bad, and ugly in your life.  Post it.  Share it with the world.  Start a trend.

Into the Swing of Things

Still no pictures.  I'm really, really sorry about that.

While roaming around in blog-land, I came upon the Simple Trekking Socks being work on by Margene, and I thought, "How absolutely, utterly perfect for my mother!"  Actually, I thought, "I can totally get this done by December 25th and maybe have time to make that scarf my father wants!  Sweet!"  So I went to my LYS, picked up some Trekking, and cast on that very night.  LOVE IT!  It's perfect. 

I began the socks the evening of the 16th.   Throughout Thursday and Friday I made incredible progress on them and kept thinking that if I had not signed up for Knit Unto Others I probably would have them done in a week.  You see, I made up my mind that during KUO I would only work on that.  I wanted it to be a knitting Lent.  A time to separate myself from my personal projects and focus on others that are less fortunate.  As progress on the sock continued, and I found myself rising out of my knitting slump that I posted about last week, I began to get angry, nay, furious with myself for this looming commitment.  How could I have signed on to this?  I have so many Christmas presents to do and I will only be leaving myself 3 weeks to get them all done!  What was I thinking?!?

Now, being the stubborn person that I am, I find myself stuck with my promise to focus the next 14 days to charity knitting alone.  After all, I have signed up for the Dulaan Project, so this will be an excellent chance to complete that promise.  As I began the first hat I began reflecting on how fortunate I am instead of thinking about the less fortunate.  There was a time all I could afford was cheap acrylic yarn and discount needles.  Now I am knitting my charity knitting on spare balls of pure wool that happen to be lying around.  I have the luxury of buying Christmas presents for the people I do not have time to knit for.  I have options and choices that I did not have 3 years ago.  My life has improved in so many ways.  I am fortunate and blessed to have the time and quality materials to knit unto others.  With this new train of thought, I find myself looking forward to Christmas rather than the dread of holiday hassle.  I am going to continue my charity knitting for the prescribed 14 days in an effort to carry my goodwill throughout the holidays.  I encourage you to do the same.

One Word Meme.

The only rule?  Only one word.

1. Yourself: hi-LAR-ious

2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend (spouse): patient

3. Your hair: independent

4. Your mother: best

5. Your father: kindest

6. Your Favorite Item: sofa

7. Your dream last night: nothing

8. Your Favorite drink: Coke

9. Your Dream Car: Rover

10. The room you are in: living

11. Your Ex: yikes

12. Your fear: dark

13. What you want to be in 10 years? mother

14. Who you hung out with last night? Steve

15. What You’re Not? exhibitionist

16. Muffins: indeed

17. One of Your Wish List Items: house

18. Time: NOT

19. The Last Thing You Did: work

20. What You Are Wearing: pj's

21. Your Favorite Weather: winter

22. Your Favorite Book: mystery

23. The Last Thing You Ate: biscuits

24. Your Life: constant

25. Your Mood: worn

26. Your best friend: support

27. What are you thinking about right now? Barb

28. Your car: tough

29. What are you doing at the moment? concentrating

30. Your summer: interruption

31. Your relationship status: fine

32. What is on your TV? E!

33. What is the weather like? weird

34. When is the last time you laughed? now!

TAG!  You're it!

Knitting Blahs.

It's a fear that I dare not speak aloud.  What do you do when you have all the latest publications, all the trendiest books, enough yarn to clothe the neigborhood-and you don't want to touch your knitting needles?  I just feel, well, blah about the whole thing.  I'd really rather read a book.  I suspect there are a couple of reasons for this and they are all directly related to existing knitting projects.

1.) Hunting Mittens.  I did not finish them in time for Steve to take hunting.  There now sits one mitten with ends waiting to be woven in, and one mitten stuck at the gusset.  I can't even look at them.  (This is a problem because now I have no motivation except the fact that Steve may go hunting in January for a couple of days.  Otherwise, they are not needed until next year.)

2.) Thrummed Mittens.  I can't figure the thumb gusset out.  Increasing 2 stitches every 4 rounds would be a total of 24 rounds until the gusset is done and that seems like too many rounds.  I do not want to forge ahead until I have mentally figured it out because there are thrums involved.

3.) Leaf Lace Shawl.  Not bad, actually.  I don't want to pick it up unless I can do a right and wrong side in one sitting-just to save my own sanity.  I can see myself now setting it down and a couple days later gaily knitting away with the entire thing backwards. 

4.) Rhinebeck Sweater.  I made a mistake in the cables.  It's only by 2 rows but I have started decreasing and I am worried that I will screw up the entire shaping by ripping.  I really don't trust myself with this.

5.) Socks for Mom.  My mother has NEVER asked me for anything.  She has never had a particular Christmas or birthday wish in her entire life.  At Rhinebeck this year I had her try on one of my Trekking socks.  She agreed only because it was fresh off the needles and hadn't touched anyone else's feet.  (I get it honest, I swear.)  Then she asked for a pair of socks for Christmas.  I have the yarn, I have the goodwill, I just can't figure out a pattern to save my life.

There you have it.  Does it make sense to you?  It does to me!  With the exception of the hunting mittens, I can't seem to work through the hard parts of my knitting, and now I have run out of living room space to run away to another project.  I know I can work through the problems (I've worked through far worse), I just don't want to.  This has never happened to me before.  I've never looked at my knitting and thought, "Eh.  Take it or leave it."  What do I do?????

edited to add:  I cannot believe I have won two prizes!  I really don't win this kind of thing!  Thank you all for voting for me!  It has definately turned my blah day into a shiny one!

I'm Going to Watch My Step Here.

I am a little concerned about this piece of celebrity gossip from MSNBC.com:

Techno musician Moby says that if he ever has children, he hopes they’re gay. “They are less likely to get into a fight and less likely to date rape people,” the musician says, reports WENN. “I’m straight but I’ve grown up around gay people and gay clubs. They are superior to straight people. If you have a gay child you’re more inclined to be a prouder parent.”

Now if that isn't parental pressure on an astronomical level, I don't know what is.  Just hear me out.  I grew up in Rehoboth Beach, DE, which is one of the most popular gay resort cities in the United States.  Many of my dearest friends are gay.  Many of my best customers are gay.  One thing I have to say about them is they have opinions.  They tend to fight for their beliefs.  They are NOT docile, happy-go-lucky, "I'm gay so I'm harmless," kind of people.  Furthermore, there were numerous articles written in the gay advocacy news for the city warning against gay rape.  It does not get the same kind of publicity that date rape does, but it happens.  There are dangers for all people, no matter what their sexual orientation may be, and Moby needs to realize this.  There are screaming queens and loudmouth rednecks.  Who you have sex with does not determine if you are a good person.  If Moby wants a child that he can be proud of, he needs to raise that child to be kind, strong, forceful but thoughtful, honest, and loving.  That is his responsibility, and he can not pawn that responsibility off by saying, "Well, my kid's gay, so they're going to be a great person!  My job here is done!"

C'mon folks, let's end the stereotypes for once and for all.

Happy Thursday to All!

It is officially the weekend for me and I am pleased!  Of course, the problem with working a compressed week is that you have to take your first day off and do all the stuff you couldn't do during the week.  Things like laundry, dishes, shaving your legs...you get the picture.  Those four days are completely absorbed by work.  Thank goodness I have a husband who doesn't freak out at the first sign of stubble(and the next couple of days after that).

So, Steve is away for his annual hunting trip.  Yes, I have the apartment to myself this whole weekend.  Well, me and my ghosts.  Yup, we're haunted.  The other night Steve heard a girl whisper in his ear at the exact same time a man said "hey" to my back.  We were in different rooms when it happened, and we were both sufficiently freaked out.  I don't think they like fighting, because we were having a "discussion" at the time.  I came home tonight and said, "I am kind of scared by this so if you could lay low that would be great."  Hope that works!

Anyway...how to spend my weekend off?  I know the house has to be cleaned, but the place is small and that should only take tomorrow morning.  Groceries are easy.  Steve refuses to eat Hamburger Helper and I love the stuff, so that is going to be my menu.  It's the only time of the year when I get to eat it.  Mmmm-mmm!

Hopefully there will be lots of knitting involved.  Kerry sent me my SP9 prize and it is so cool!  It is Adirondack Yarns Thrummed Mitten Kit.  I think that will be my weekend project.  (Sorry, no pictures, my camera has run out of juice and I cannot seem to make the blinky-button-thingy blink in order to recharge.  I may possibly need a great deal of rest this weekend, too.)

I May Be A Genius...

...or at least a savant.

I thought it would be a nice gesture to make fingerless gloves for Steve's hunting season.  I started with this pattern, but Steve is 6'8" and the pattern did not fit him well.  I also was not happy with the holes that the prescribed Make 1 method created along the thumb gusset.  So I chucked it.  I kept the same yarn and needles, and went on to make the wrist bigger, the thumb gusset more secure with a different Make 1, then made an index finger and the rest into a mitten.  I can't believe I basically designed my own pattern.  I used Elizabeth Zimmermann's advice that the basics of shaping are no different no matter what size you make.  As long as your increases are even, you just have to do more...it won't actually change the shaping of the garment.  This is critical advice, especially for someone who's husband has a hand the size of the knitter's HEAD!

Hopefully I will have a pattern for the mitts soon.  I am knitting the second one based solely on my notes to see if it makes any sense at all(not likely), then if you want one, just leave me a comment and I will email it to you!

SP9 Wacky Fact

I have to use the same pen until it has run out of ink, and then I can move on to the next one.  I keep at least 10 Bic Crystals Blue Ink in my desk drawer at work at any given time, and always lock up the one in progress so no one will steal it.  Hmmm, compulsive much?

Thank you to everyone for your compliments on my shawl!  Now I'm working on the Leaf Lace Shawl with emerald green Jaggerspun Zehyr.  So exciting!