Big News

My ex-husband is getting married.
He had the decency to e-mail me and let me know. I'm truly happy for him; I really do like his fiancee. (I know you can't see my face. I'm not smirking.)
The timing is just a bit awkward. I broke up with my on-again, off-again boyfriend on Sunday. He said he's just not "the marrying type."
The most important question in my mind is, will he move to Brooklyn (where she lives) or will she move out here? If they are in Brooklyn, the childcare arrangement will be altered. If they are the next town over, I may run into them more often. It will be odd to have The Stepmother of My Son living two miles away.
But on the bright side (as a second ex-boyfriend pointed out) if they live nearby, I can drive by the house and see her mowing the lawn. The ex was never much for yardwork.

Become a Millionaire in 17 Tears

What was a typo (meant to type years) might make sense, left as is.
Yesterday I met with a financial advisor, who assured me that it was possible to (a) get out of debt in three years, and (b) to build wealth to the point that I have a million dollars net worth by age 50.
I was incredulous, even though I've spent years studying how to do this. The question is, can I focus my energies over the long haul and make this happen?

New Years Resolutions 2009

Three different areas of improvement:

1. Personal

2. Financial

3. Creative

Personal.

1. Yoga. Often. 

2. Eat more vegetables.

Financial.

1. Max out my Roth IRA.
2. Aim to save $100/month for son's college expenses.

3. Consider buying a new computer (current laptop is 8 years old).

Creative.

1. Plan production so that I have a full product line for fall 2009. 

2. Try first serious craft show.

New Game Plan

Last Sunday I sat down with my planner and scheduled my knitting time for the week. Eight to ten Monday after monkey goes to bed. Ditto for Tuesday. Wednesday - no monkey; hence, three hours. Thursday - one hour, after teaching a crochet lesson. Friday, 8 - 10 p.m.

Well, it didn't quite work out that way - for example, I slept for twelve hours Wednesday night - but I managed to finish a black shrug for a client in Berkeley Heights. I based it on the Bell Sleeved Shrug and made it in Marisol T'ika.

By the way, the gorgeous model at above left is the cultural guru herself, Katie.

This week I MUST finish the Kaino vest for another client in Rhode Island. She has been patient with me for many weeks, and is also awaiting a cardigan. That will be next week's job.

The week of Nov 17 I will work with laser-like intensity on this awful pink cardigan for a woman in Texas. Awful because there is no end in sight to the amount of pink yarn that will pass through these fingers.

With any luck, the beginning of December I will make and finish the hat I promised a woman in Australia. And THEN I am knitting for myself! For my career!! For 2009 craft shows.

Promotion at my shop

The 50th person to purchase an item from my etsy shop will enjoy free shipping!

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The Egg and the Tomato

I had a particularly vivid dream this week. I was on a farm, looking at the ground near a picket-style fence, and I noticed a new sort of genetic hybrid: the egg-tomato. Eggomato? Tomegg? In my dream, in my own voice, I said, "Oh! What a lovely idea." After all, huevos rancheros is a delicious dish.

The eggs were balanced upright in the grass, that perfect, smooth, egg cream color with lovely rosy swirls of tomatoey orange. 

In 1988, at the age of ten, I kept track of my dreams in a journal. Twenty years later, I reinstated the practice and purchased a book of dream symbol interpretations. Guess what the egg represents? Untapped potential. The tomato - and here I'm stretching a little, because I'm calling it a vegetable - represents basic, everyday sustenance.

For years I have sought a balance between the two. A way to express the artistry and release my potential, and still be able to pay the bills. The eggomato is the answer.

Too Much Time on My Hands

My monkey is in Cape Cod for the week. It's amazing how much time he eats up, in a good way. I did all the laundry, finished the latest issue of BUST, solved a Sudoku puzzle, started the second sleeve of a long-languishing sweater, and gave myself a pedicure between last night at 7 p.m. and this morning at eight.

What am I going to do with myself this week? There is a principles-of-yoga discussion group tonight at 7:30. I could clean the refrigerator. Make some casseroles to feed my family for the upcoming school year. Burn CDs from my old computer's iTunes library.

I will take advantage of the empty time and ponder my dream, my goal: to work entirely for myself. How can I make this happen? I will research online, leave no stone unturned. I will plant seeds.