Go Angels

3 entries in one day! Vacation ends tomorrow, and I did not want to miss the opportunity to show you the finished version of my dad's birthday slippers. He was kind enough to take some photos of the L.A. Angel's themed slippers on his feet, and here they are for your viewing pleasure:

Second Sock Syndrome

Casting on and finishing the first sock of a pair is always exciting - it is fun to see both the pattern progress and how the yarn will knit up as the first sock comes into being. However, with sock #2, all that is old news. So, second sock syndrome refers to the waning enthusiasm I feel when it comes time to knit up sock #2. I thought I might avoid the second sock blahs by knitting three different socks at once - well, not at once, really - but knitting sock #1 for three pairs in succession. This way, sufficient time will pass between the knitting of socks #1 and #2 for any given pair providing me with an opportunity to muster the enthusiasm and energy necessary to knit the same pattern again. Clear as mud?

Anyways - sock pair #1 was the Monkey sock mentioned in a previous entry.

Sock pair #2 is Breeze from the latest edition of Knitty.


Sock pair #3 is a Jaywalker from Grumperina.


The first sock of the pair is done for the Monkey socks and for Breeze. The first Jaywalker is about halfway done.

Am I insane? Yes, that is a definite possibility.

El Lago del Diablo

We're back! Wisconsin is beautiful, and we had a great time. Here are some pictures:

Raul getting ready to make spaghetti carbonara with our new camping stove (thank you HiK!) Excellente!


We went hiking with the dog on Saturday. Here's a trail map display.


If I could figure out how to mark our route on the picture, I would. But, alas, I have no gift for the manipulation of sophisticated computer software. So, I will simply tell you that we hiked a long, long ways. So long, in fact, that we all stopped and took a nap (nap spot locatable on above map as ice cream cone near boardwalk, and yes - I did have some ice cream before napping.) The trails were awesome, and the weather and scenery were gorgeous. And the dog was a brutal trail leader - he was relentless in his pace (hence the need for my aforementioned nap.)

Photo by the lake:


Me getting my knit on with head lamp by campfire. How luxurious!


Photo for Grandma - Evidence of my cribbage triumph. For Raul's benefit, I will not neglect to mention that he nearly skunked me a few days earlier.


We had a great trip - though we did learn one valuable lesson. Two medium to large humans + air mattress + one 70 lbs Labrador that likes to snuggle in a 2 person backpacking tent = way cramped quarters. Next time, we will get a bigger tent.

Currant Jelly

Be forewarned - post is full of gross and graphic details. It is not for the squeamish, but I had always hoped that I would one day get to use the word 'hematochezia' in a post.

Two posts in two days...life is good. Though today we did have some of the bad kind of excitement. Necessary background information - as mentioned previously, Raul and I traveled out of town to take Step 2 CS. And a friend was gracious enough to watch Flynn while we were away. While staying at our friend's house, Flynn ate half of his dog bed. We think he did this because there was a big storm passing through and he was frightened. And he seriously ate half the bed - the cloth cover, the protective lining and the filler cedar chips. It caused significant vomiting for a day or two, and then he was fine. Until yesterday - when he threw up more cedar chips and some other dog bed remnants. Worrisome, yes, and gross, but he was acting normal, so we decided not to be too concerned. While walking him this morning, I stood to watch him have a bowel movement as I normally do (evidence to support previous claims that I lead a very exciting life), and I was quite dismayed to see Flynn produce blood and cedar chips per rectum. And me without my cell phone. I had a small panic attack. And then being the diligent dog parent and medical student that I am, I sprang into action. I formulated a differential diagnosis whilst retrieving a sample of his stool. And then we ran home carrying the bag of aforementioned hematochezia. I eliminated the more serious diagnoses from my list when I had to stop to rest before the dog tired. Anyways, long story, we took Flynn to the vet - the x-ray looks normal, so we think he has a serious case of colitis (inflammation of the large intestine). He has some antibiotics and some special food, so all should be well soon. He does not seem to be in any discomfort - he is such a happy easy going guy. Our camping trip may be delayed by a day, but it is looking like we will all three still be making the trip.

And as promised - knitting!
First up, a Monkey sock in Cherry Tree Hill supersock. Sock #1 is down, and #2 is waiting to be cast on.


Slippers for a friend that just finished law school is studying for the bar (grumpy cat for scale):


Cute dog in my sun hat:

M3 no more

Say hello to a newly senior medical student. Hallelujah. And as a an added bonus, we have the next week off. Vacation! How luxurious. Sleeping in until 7am, forgetting my present station in life and generally being very lazy - this is how my weekend was spent, and really, it was bliss. And it doesn't end tomorrow! We have 7 more days of heaven! Later this week, we are off to Wisconsin for some camping and perhaps some scuba diving. Oh - and there has been knitting! Pictures to come tomorrow. Yes - you did not misread, the promise of two posts in one week. This is an exciting week in my life, friends.

Happy weekend to all!