We mailed off the galoot-a-clause gift today.  UPS told us it would cost $205 (usd) to mail it.  Two Hundred and Five dollars to mail a package that weighed less than 10 pounds and whose contents were worth less than 25 dollars!  We said, no thanks, and came home and looked up the US postal service.  They "only" wanted 65 dollars.  Since Pk was committed to this, we sucked it up and mailed the box.  Like ravelry, the galoots keep track of those who wimp out and don't send their boxes.  Next year, he'll sign up for a domestic exchange, or send something way lighter than wood.....

Oh, and I mentioned the chocolate.  You know, every good gift box contains some chocolate.  He just looked at me and said, NO.  I guess manly men don't need/want chocolate.  More for us!

Sock Wars starts next week.  The dossiers on our "victims" will be emailed on the 9/10th and the knitting begins on the 15th.  Kate and I are excited even though we are pretty sure we'll get taken out in the first round.  There are 181 knitters in the group (and 4 of them are from New Jersey).  I am entered as Grizzlyknitter (once I took a spirit guide test and it said I was a grizzly bear, a fact my family has had no end of fun with) and Kate is the Paduanknitter.  I warned Pk that once the competition starts, I will be frantically working on my 'death socks' and his sweater will go on the back burner.  I figure with my luck, my assassin will be someone who is not working and can spend all day knitting her weapon.  But I won't give up easily.  I'll go down knitting....

Here's a detail from the recently finished Wildflower shawl.  It's made of fingering weight yarn hand dyed by the lys.  It's called Smokey Sunset.  These colors are fairly true.  (their 'house brand' sock yarn is called Dancing Toes-I love it.  alpaca/merino/nylon blend).  I think I'll make something similar for my Aunt Joan who was feeling cold when we saw her last weekend.  Just a little something to throw over her shoulders.  But probably not something that will need to be handwashed and blocked.  I don't think there's anyone in her household that would take that much care.  I'll have to see if I can find something bulky and warm that will knit up fairly quickly. 

I've only been back to work for 2 days and I'm finding it terribly difficult to stay awake at my desk.  I have three more days of antibiotics and I think they're part of the reason I'm so tired.  (and the reason for the intestinal distress and excessive thirst and the metallic taste in my mouth).  I think I fell asleep this morning.  I woke with a start and a half an hour had gone by.....Thank goodness the office door was closed.  Tomorrow, I'm bringing coffee with caffeine.

I just finished listening to a book that was so enjoyable, I thought I'd share.  It's called The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe.  It's one of those semi-historical novels where the action is taking place in the distant past as well as the present.  It was a great 'listen'.  The central theme is witchcraft and women in the 1600's and women's place in society.  It was compelling and I enjoyed every minute of it (even the parts where spells were being cast).  The audio version was fun but I imagine the book itself would be a good read.

I finished Under the Dome (S. King) and the ending was not unexpected.  I did like his explanation for the Dome even if it was a bit far fetched.  It is, after all, fantasy.  I read Charlaine Harris' new Harper and Toliver book, Grave Surprise.  I loved it and now I'm working on Sookie Stackhouse's newest adventure.  Sookie is one of my all time favorite characters.  She's so down to earth and just plain real, even if her life is filled with fairies, werewolves and vampires. 

And because Light a Candle is my inner compass for this year, here's a verse from the song Light One Candle (P. Yarrow)

Light one candle for the strength that we need

To never become our own foe
And light one candle for those who are suffering
Pain we learned so long ago
Light one candle for all we believe in
That anger not tear us apart
And light one candle to find us together
With peace as the song in our hearts

Here's Peter, Paul and Mary singing Light One Candle.

I may be a sap, but it brings tears to my eyes every time.

Have a peaceful day.