I’m long overdue for a finished knit item!  Somehow I stretched these socks into multiple trips and two months of knitting. They make me so happy that I may have gone a little overboard with the pictures. They are my first Wollmeise knit item.  I was never able to purchase Wollmeise at any of the updates.  If you’ve tried before, you know they sell out in like -250 nanoseconds.  I finally decided to go with one of their grab bags which are easier to get due to the cost (5 skeins at once).  I figured any I didn’t like would be easy to sell, but I needn’t have worried.  All of the colors are gorgeous, for which Wollmeise is best known.1  The yarn itself is nice, but really nothing special.  It is a little unusual though with 8 plys.  I think it might make it wear better than other sock yarns.  I’ll be sure to report on that after I’ve had a chance to test that theory.

Thanks again for all the support and concern over my knee situation.  Obviously, I’m no longer training for the Phoenix Marathon.  I toyed with the idea of still walking the 1/2 marathon, but Jim threatened divorce.  On a positive note, my father’s training is still on track so it looks like at least one Schnellenberger will be running on January 17th, possibly with a Boston qualifier time!  I’m looking forward to still being able to check out the expo and experience the marathon vicariously through my Dad.

On a daily basis I don’t have any pain as long as I’m taking the diclofenac.  I went off of it for a few days as an experiment and that was NOT good.  I’ve been trying to keep up some kind of workout routine by going to the gym, but I HATE the elliptical machine.  It’s not so much the fault of the elliptical, but I really just don’t like being inside.  My gym does have televisions and corresponding audio to plug into on each machine but it doesn’t take away the boredom.  The Kindle didn’t work either.  I’m looking forward to my time in Arizona so I can hike or bike every day.  I figure giving my knees a rest by not going to the gym will allow me to take full advantage of my time there (nice excuse for not working out, bah).

The weight loss has stalled in part I think from not running and in part from depression over the situation.  I’m holding steady though and that is fine for now until the holidays are over.  That said, I’ve lost a total of 15 pounds since beginning my “diet” 9/13/09.  Some have asked why I’m losing weight, I already look good, etc…which by the way is great for my ego and very sweet.  Just to reiterate, I was never overweight for my height and I realize I’m not “fat”.  However, I was 20 lbs heavier than I had ever been.  My weight prior to the surgery February 2007 was very steady for years and resulted in a nice wardrobe I’d still like to use!  Plus, now that I know I have osteoarthritis is is more important than ever to maintain a weight as low as possible to take as much pressure off my knees as I can.  I’d like to lose another 10-15 pounds but that will be more difficult with my new workout restrictions.  I still have some hope that after a rest, strengthening and weight loss I can return to a some low mileage running.

In case I don’t get to post again before next Friday, Merry Christmas!  I hope your holiday is safe, happy and filled with love and fibery goodness!

ETA:  Whoops!  I can’t believe I didn’t give the particulars!  One WHOLE skein (about 32″ left) Wollmeise merino superwash (weighed into two equal balls prior to start), toe up, Monkey lace, magic loop, two at a time. Cast on 24 for each sock. Short row heels with 10 left in center.

1. Notice how I totally avoided the preposition at the end of the sentence there? :P [↩]