Looking at the most recent posts on this blog, I've been absent for a bit. Fear not, though—I really haven't been doing anything. Not doing anything here translating to "sitting in the corner chair with my lap being crushed by my afghan as, for no good reason at all, I obsessively try to finish it within a reasonable amount of time." The good news is that the blanket actually does give me a sense of purpose, even if that purpose is creating new stripes on a blanket which will probably never leave the confines of the house. Another piece of good news is that I'm getting quicker and more fluid with my knitting. Whereas before my stitch was tight to the point of worry, today it is reasonably loose.
Yet another piece of good news? I am not getting bored of the blanket, even though the yarn is neither shiny nor anywhere close to new and costs a good deal less than a small car.
I have, however, gotten very bored of my frame, which is shiny, only six weeks old and costs about as much as a small car.
Most of my boredom comes form the fact that the frame limits my ability to move around. I can walk, yes, but I'm slower than everybody else around me. I still don't feel comfortable standing up for a long time. I'm still suspicious of being outside in the Minnesota winter cold for any stretch of time, mostly because I have metal pins sticking through my bones. The walker has yet to leave my side at school. The elevator remains slow beyond belief, though at least with familiarity I've gotten less scared of it (at some point I need to write up a more detailed account of my ability to access school with the wheelchair, but for now, I've got a blanket to knit). Even worse, I'm not entirely sure I want to get the frame off now, mostly because I have been reassured that after the noninvasive ten minute procedure to remove the thing my knee will be outfitted with a soft cast to limit my mobility even more. Granted, the soft cast will be in place so I don't break the pin-weakened bones in my lower leg post-frame. But still…
At my last appointment with Dr. Sundberg, my parents were commenting that this blog's purpose of talking about day-to-day existence with a Taylor Spatial Frame has been slightly undermined by my not experiencing any pain. I agree with this point. I haven't had any problems with pain. None of my pin sites has become infected.
But I can say for certain that if you're getting one of these things, find an easy-to-do activity which can take your mind off the boredom, off the lack of mobility, off the fact that you've got $20,000 worth of shiny metal poking out of your leg and through the bone.
Initially, I thought I'd take my quality couch and chair time and convert that into writing a book. I did not anticipate feeling this tired and drained. Which is, of course, where the knitting comes in. It is a simple repetitive motion that requires no energy and no thought. Plus, with proper color choice you get the fun and exciting experience of having bright colors draping over your lap and pooling onto the floor.
Needless to say, I've had lots of time to knit on my blanket. It should be done this weekend. And then I'll be moving on to another project, such as perhaps keeping this blog up to date.
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