When Knitting Was a Manly Art

Day off yesterday and once again, a bike ride around Portland. This time specifcally looking for the plastic horses. I had 4 locations I was going to try for. None found at two of those locations, but I didn’t search really hard and two standing proudly.

First one near the corner of NW 14th and Hoyt. Rearing and ready to go.

And second near the corner of NW 10th and Couch (pronounced ‘Cooch’). This one had a little note explaining the horse and the URL to the Horse Project and a spot of melted icecream.

On the knitting front. Somehow I managed to *truly screw up* the Feather and Fan Shawl on Saturday and haven’t had time or inclination to sit down and figure how many *hundreds* of stitches I need to tink back. Sigh… I really need to only work on it when I can give it my undivided attention. Twice I’ve tried to work on it in environments that have been too busy to really concentrate. I’ll fix it, just not right now.

I’ve decided it’s time for some mindless knitting, so I’ll probably be working on scarves for a while. First project is a Multi-Directional worked in the ‘Socks That Rock’ yarn I picked up on Saturday. I think I’ve got enough socks on needles and this is turning out kind of interesting.

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FIrst.. Sorry I missed talking to Judy and Sarah. Actually saw Sarah in her booth, but she was busy and I never was able to get back.

It’s been many years since I’ve been to the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival. Many changes, good and bad. Many more vendors. It seems that the number of animals were down from the times we were showing.

My only purchases were a skein of ‘Socks That Rock’ yarn in ‘Christmas Rock’ colorway and a pair of Addi Turbo 24 inch US#1 for socks. Not that I need to start another sock.

Finished out the day at a pub in Northwest Portland and managed to get a picture of one the of plastic ponies tied to a curb horse ring. Still bizarre.

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I am and will be facing many challenges in the coming months. Challenges I never imagined I would have to face. Probably having to find a new home, moving all my stuff out of here and probably back into storage somewhere, adjusting to a new life.

Right now my biggest challenge is loneliness. It’s amazing how lonely it can be in a world so full of people. After so many years of having someone nearly constantly around, I’m mostly doing things by myself.

The Flock and Fiber Festival today is an example. It will be fun to see friends and acquaintances again and pet the animals and wander through the vendor area, but in the end, it’s going to be a lonely day. No one to share the experience with, no one to go to dinner with afterwards, no one to talk to about the day on the way home. Just me and my thoughts.

Of course, just like the blues and depression I faced in the past months, this too will pass. I know things will get better, it’s just not easy right now.

Ok, enough… Off to feed the animals and get myself cleaned up and head down to Canby. I’ll post a trip report later in the day.

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Attended the Knitting Meetup at Knit Purl last night. Nice bunch of ladies, plus one other guy who’s an employee at the store. Took Feather and Fan along, but too much going on to concentrate and ended up screwing it up a couple of times and really didn’t get it completely fixed until this morning. These are actually weekly events and while I probably won’t be able to attend each one, I’ll probably drop in again from time to time.

Once I got Feather and Fan straightened out this morning, finished 1/2 round (which is nearly 600 stitches).

4 hours of work in the nursery this morning and 6 1/2 hours in the restaurant tonight and then off to OFFF tomorrow.

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Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival is happening this coming weekend and I intend on showing up for the first time in years. One of our plant sales happens the same weekend and with prep, sale and after sale inventory, there never was time free to head to Canby. This year the boyfriend is around and he *should* be helping. I have Saturday off and Sunday work doesn’t start until 3pm, so I’ll be down for one for at least part of a day. And.. the Feather and Fan shawl will be accompanying me, so if you’re around, look for the pony-tailed old fart with a John Deere cap wandering the grounds …

UPDATE: Boyfriend will be helping on Saturday and so I’ll be down in Canby for most of the day that day.

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Everybody says I should start taking time for myself and yesterday was one of those.

The day didn’t look all that great when I started, but by the time I got into Portland, the weather had cleared a bit and the sun appeared between the clouds and it turned into a good day to bicycle around the city. Only made about 11-12 miles, but I covered a bit more territory I haven’t visited yet.

I didn’t take a camera along this time, and as usual I ran across stuff I wish I could have taken a picture of. Including plastic horses tied to old horse curb rings. Kind of a bizarre sight.

Finished the day at the Lucky Labrador Beer Hall for a couple of beers and a delicious chicken ceasar salad and the company of my friends (Hi Dave and Lisa…).

Back to work today. I’ll be working in the nursery for most of the morning and closing the restaurant tonight.

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is officially restarted this morning. Fixed up my screwup and added a round of plain stitch. Onward and outward.

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Still here. Nothing much going on.

One of the results of my visit to the new doctor on Monday is that I learned my blood pressure is through the ceiling. My normal pressure has hovered around 120/60 forever. It’s currently pushing about 170/80. Bad. Certainly due to the stress of the past 3 months. For all my brave talk about sticking around, I’m beginning to wonder if it isn’t best for my health to make a change.

I’ve managed to get next Thursday off and I *will* be attending the next Portland Knitting Meetup. Want to bet I’m the only guy there? Now that could be good, but my experience has been these get togethers are all too young or too married. Still, I’m going to take along the Feather and Fan Shawl (hopefully with problems fixed) and probably the Big Black Sock.

Day off tomorrow and the weather looks pretty good, so the bicycle and I will probably hit the Springwater Bike Trail in Portland and vicinity. I’ve biked a couple of miles of this, but hope to cover a few more tomorrow. Then dinner with a couple of very good and supportive friends (Hi Lisa… ).

A busy night at the restaurant tonight. Busiest of the week so far. Sitting here with a nice cold bottle of beer (which I probably shouldn’t be drinking, as it aggravates gout) and just about ready for a bath and bed. Goodnight all.

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Ok, let’s not talk about boyfriends or knitting or my lack of a love life. Let’s talk about doctors.

I had an appointment with a new doctor this morning about my hands and knees. Big swollen hands and knees. Female doctor. My first female doctor.

Now, it’s been at least 14 *years* since I’ve seen a doctor. No health insurance and no real need. But, I’m pushing 60 and I have no primary care physician and it’s about time I acquired one.

Now I expected — well I don’t know what I expected — but, certainly not what I got. The doctor’s assistant took me back to the examination rooms, weighed me, took my blood pressure and handed me a gown and told me to strip. Huh?… I’m just in for my hands and knees.

Turns out this doctor expects to do a full examination for new patients and I got a *full* examination. I was probed and fingered and squeezed in places one shouldn’t be probed, fingered or squeezed. With a decent amount of humor and plenty of explanation of what she was doing and why she was doing it. I like her. I was competely at ease within minutes of talking to her. Hands and knees examined, along with heart and various internal organs. Xrays taken of both hands (three apiece) and I return on Friday so I can have blood drawn (I had breakfast this morning and they needed at least a 12 hour fast before drawing blood). Doctor seems to be happy with my general health. I eat well, get plenty of exercise and have no real complaints except for the joints of hands and knees.

My hand problems appear to be the result of gout. She’ll have a final diagnoses when all the results are back. Knees are probably plain old arthritis.

It’s going to expensive, but I’ll be glad to finally know what’s going on with my aging body and it’s nice to know that I now have a physician I can call on when I need to.

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Sometimes I think I’m pathetic.

The boyfriend had his sawmill red-tagged day before yesterday (Clackamas County shut him down – $200+ fine/day if he continues to run). He showed up on our doorstep yesterday morning saying he’s abandoned the mill and his wife and wants to move in.

And here I sit wondering what I’m going to do. Crap.. I should move out, but I can’t afford it. I could live in my truck, but I’m not much interested in being homeless. I don’t trust the boyfriend as far as I could throw him (and that ain’t far). Eileen doesn’t seem to see the problem.

So for the time being, I going to rein in my emotions, move myself to an upstairs bedroom, and see where life is going to lead me. Wish me luck.

On the good side, Eileen’s recovery from her knee surgery is coming along at an amazing pace. She’s able to put weight on the knee and is able to get around with only one crutch for support.

On the other side, my knees have been killing me. I’ve got a doctor’s appointment on Mondy (first in more than 14 years) to talk about the knees and hands, but I’ve been pretty miserable the past couple of days and I’m hoping I’ll at least have an idea about what’s going on.

Knitting — nothing since Tuesday.

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