A Blarg of Ravelympic Proportions!

It was my day. My warm-up had gone perfectly. I was flying down the mountain, the wind in my hair, the snow on my face. I was invincible. I was rounding the last purl, my ends were woven in. All I had to do was pose for the victory photo as I crossed the line. I could smell the podium, taste the gold! I pull the first sock on.....SNAP! Disaster strikes. The bind off was too tight and the yarn broke in 3 different places and was unraveling before my eyes. My Ravelympic hopes lay dashed beside me amongst the little tufts of broken yarn.

I called my coach, hoping for some advice before I had to complete the second run. She had spent too much time at the "Mitchell Mansion" soaking up the rockstar status given to Ravelympic medalists. I utter a small prayer that no incriminating photos surface tomorrow forcing her to be sent home early and retake the seminar on how to behave like an ambassador for Mitchell Nation.

I was on my own.

I open my Knitting Answer Book to find a looser bind off that is sturdy enough for socks. It recommends the yarn over bind off. I undo the bind off from the intact sock and meticulously slide the loops back onto my needles. I complete the new bind off. I carefully test the stretchitude- it seems sound. I cautiously slide the sock onto my foot....Success! It fits perfectly and no breakage!

My spirits lift. I can do this. I can pick myself up and come back from this fall. I can complete the Ravelympic dream!

I carefully look over the damaged sock. Only 1 of the breaks occurred in the bind off, the other 2 were in the ribbing. I painstakingly remove the bind off from the break around to the first break in the ribbing, sliding the stitches onto my needles as I go. I reach the first break. As gingerly as if I was disarming a bomb, I slowly release the broken thread and wind a new piece through. I gently use my crochet hook to bring this new thread up vertically to the top.

Whew, 1 down, 1 to go.

Again, I work my away around to the next break undoing the bind off and slipping the stitches onto my needles. I reach the second break. Warily, I remove the broken yarn and replace it with fresh piece making sure to secure the loose ends. Up to the top I go and I'm home free! I use the yarn over bind off and it's time for the moment of truth!

Nervously, I remove the store-bought monstrosity currently adorning my foot. I slide the repaired sock over my toes. I am rapidly approaching the site of my previous fall from grace. With a deep breath I crest the heel and VICTORY! I have lived the true Ravelympic story, overcoming massive odds to snatch glory and another medal for the Mitchell Nation.

Recorded from an earlier broadcast

It's Olympics time! I love the Olympics. It's one of my favorite things. I love it when they show the people who don't get a medal, they are just so stoked to be there and do their best that they can barely contain themselves. How many times in our lives are we that happy to have just made it through even though we only get the experience as a reward? Incredible.

I have to say I absolutely hate that NBC is running the coverage of the 2010 games from Vancouver, BC, Canada on tape delay. I know, their goal is to make money and running the games delayed to primetime means more advertising dollars. But I hate getting a breaking news email from CNN that Lindsey Vonn won gold in Women's Downhill. I hate having an iGoogle page news posting spoil Shawn White's victory in half-pipe. It's happening live, in my time zone, and I have to stay up until 2am to watch. Nevermind that I'm watching it all on my dvr because I'm lame and in bed by 9pm most nights.

Ok, rant over. My mom and I are participating in Ravelympics2010. I have 2 projects in WIPs Dancing and 1 in 'platter lift' (home decor). I finished a shawl that just needed the fringe added but was sitting neglected for almost a year.

It won a medal and I got a nice participation award as well:



I have to say I have been supremely impressed with the level of detail they have been able to put into this event while keeping track of 8963 unique participants and 20383 individual projects. If you are a member of Ravelry, I highly recommend participating. If you aren't a member of Ravelry, you should be! I'll post more pictures of my other projects in another post. It's so much fun to see everyone's projects and use it as an excuse to finish up some things lying around. I didn't put the space invaders scarf in so it is hanging out in my knitting drawer until the games are over or I finish all my Ravelympics projects whichever comes first!

Swans are known for their maneuverability

I should open this by saying, I am a nerd and I study Neurobiology. This blog will be about the nerdy things I knit and the nerdy comments made while I'm knitting them. I tend to knit in the living room while the nerds I live with play Xbox.

I am currently knitting a Space Invaders scarf.

This project is double knit, so the back side is actually the inverse of the front. Pretty cool.

The boys are currently playing through Lego Batman. Therein lies the title of trying to drive a swan. It's part of the game. It also leads to such gems as "You are probably immune to fire." Welcome to my life.

Anyway, I hope this blog is a little bit helpful, a whole lot nerdy and even more fun!