DEFYING FEBRUARY

I don’t have a good track record with February. February is when I gain weight. February is when I fall on the ice. February is when I get the flu, and then a cold, and then I’m tired for weeks on end after February. February is when any tendency I have toward Seasonal Affective Disorder displays its seasonally affective disorderly conduct.

Longtime readers know that I have a rich fantasy life in which I escape Michigan for the entire month of February, and go somewhere warm and sunny. Two years ago, I made it to Sedona for a week in mid-March. It was paradise. Last year, I managed 10 days in the Yucatan. It was delightful. This year, I’m not going anywhere.

Instead, I am declaring war on February. I will not let February have its way with me. February cannot win.

• I will not fall on the ice this month.
• I will not gain weight this month.
• I will not get sick this month.
• I will not make room for gloom this month.

So far, I have a few strategies devised to keep myself healthy, and wise during February. (Ain’t nobody getting wealthy this month!)

Strategy #1: Fresh flowers in my eyesight every single day in February. Here’s the first bouquet:

Strategy #2 I don’t want to abandon any of my current projects, but I’m close to finishing two of them, so it’s time to think about something new to cast on. I’ve been wanting a yellow something for spring, so I took my little yellow Color Me Beautiful swatch and I wandered around the shop trying to match it. And I did. See….

Louisa Harding Kashmir DK
I don’t know exactly what this will become yet. I have several possibilities in mind, but I need to swatch a bit and see which one works best. Won’t it be nice to finish a spring top in time for spring, for a change?

Strategy #3: I’ve been low-carbing all week to get my out-of-control chocolate/sugar cravings back into control. It is working, with the added bonus of a quick three pound weight loss to boost my spirits. I will continue to avoid chocolate and sugar for the entire month of February. I’m not focusing on anything beyond that. For now, it will be enough to just put healthy food into me. Should you happen to notice me looking longingly at your cookie/brownie/donut/muffin/york peppermint patty or any other appealing confection, do not take pity on me and offer me any.

Strategy #4: I bought a pair of YakTrax a few years ago, and then never used them. I am now using them. There is simply no let-up in the snow and ice this year. So there is no let-up in my preventive strategy.

Strategy #5: Pamper thyself. In honor of this recession/depression/whatever you call it it’s bad, I have been economizing here and there. But for February, I’m allowing for certain luxuries. Like a massage. Maybe more than one. So there.

Strategy #6: Keep on knitting, of course. I mentioned that I was close to a few Fos. One of them is the Noro Striped Scarf that is so popular this year. I’m loving how this one is turning out, and I think it’s going to be stashed away to become a Hanukah/Christmas present for some lucky soul, if some lucky soul would like it.

This particular project has turned out to be extremely enjoyable to knit. I was not looking forward to a K1P1 rib for miles and miles, so I decided it was time to finally perfect my Continental purling. It has worked. I’ve built up comfort, speed, and control of gauge as I’ve worked. I find that I want to work on this scarf more than almost anything else. In fact, I’ve stockpiled about a dozen more skeins of Silk Garden, in order to make more of these. There may be more than one lucky soul come the 2009 Holiday season.

The other project that has absorbed my interest entirely is the lace shawl I started. I am now only 12 rows from finishing. 12 rows times 370 stitches a row equals 4440 stitches. Piffle! This is nothing. A few good movie nights, and I’ll be binding off.

I have learned more lace knitting lessons with this shawl. The most important lesson is: Count now or cry later. This pattern has 30 stitch repeats. At first I had to force myself to count each segment during the pattern row. But pretty soon, like everything about lace knitting, the repetitive counting simply became part of the rhythmic process. I’ve used a lifeline faithfully, but thankfully, I haven’t needed it. I attribute that in large part to faithful counting.

I can’t wait to get this shawl blocking. I think it will go a long way toward helping me defy February.

More strategies as I think of them. How about all of you? What are you doing to defy February?

Comments

[Laura]

Wonderful list of Blah Busters Sharon!! Your shawl is just beautiful - I'm anxiously awaiting the bind-off because I dread making a shawl like that for fear I'll bind off too tightly! Though I have made two shawls of exactly that sort and I had no trouble. I'm weird. :)

Happy Almost-February! XOXOX

[LynnH]

Last February I was so sick for 10 days I didn't leave my house, and too sick to stand up longer than a few minutes for the entire 4 weeks. I'm with you on changing that history.

The good thing is that last year I was sick in December and January, too... and so far those first 2 months have been different this year.

I'm renewing my commitment to at least 10 minutes a day of dancing or walking, to strengthen my bones which are not good enough for someone my age.

I'm also planning to do taxes earlier than in previous years, and to otherwise resist worry as much as possible. I like my new system of using MS Outlook's to-do list, which comes up with reminders if I go past a deadline. Maybe I'll remember more stuff before it becomes a worry/hassle now.

And with that, I'm signing off to do something on my to-do list.

[Jane]

Coincidence: I was rummaging around last evening amongst the bags of UFOs and came across the Ocean Waves Shawl, which I had put aside for some forgotten reason. I love the pattern, I love the fiber (Cherrytree Hill DK weight, I think, in a lovely colorway called Peacock), so I don't know why it's been sitting lonely and unfinished.
So I spent a couple hours happily knitting away on it. I was surprised and delighted to find that I had put it away with the starting point clearly identified! How's that for a miracle?

[blogdog]

Thanks for this, Sharon. It cheers me just knowing that someone else goes through the same thing at this time of year.

[Susan]

I'm not taking action on February because January is my month of horrors...and it's over! But I will definitely be defying January 2010. (Of course, I have such big plans for 2009 that I'll probably have to carry them through to the next year...)

[Amanda Grieshop]

What am I doing to defy February, you ask? I am sitting on my ass trying NOT to have a premature baby! And I am knitting a baby blanket I was excited about, but am now getting a little bored with.
I am also feeling stupid that I missed Franklin Habit at Threadbear last weekend. And I am wanting to be knitting with friends while sitting on my ass trying NOT to have a premature baby.
Sorry for the not-so-light-hearted comment. You asked!

[Cyndi]

You certainly have a wonderful game plan! And when I saw your shawl on Facebook, I just had to link to your blog immediately and read-up!

I know I'm in the minority when I say that I've been really enjoying this winter and all of the lovely snow and cold. So, I tend to celebrate November to March (and if we're lucky, clear into April). I also tend to get headaches and become lethargic when the temperature climbs above 75.

But, just for you, may I point out that February is the shortest month?

[Ewe-niss]

I love your shawl! Good for you on getting plans down to combat February head on.

I don't know why, but this year - winter isn't bothering me. I am okay with it. I think it is because I am so far behind in everything - my February blahs will arrive in March. Rest assured March will be just as cold and snowy. :-)

[monica]

Your list is so inspiring! And the shawl is so lovely. I can't wait to see the yellow yarn turn into something beautiful for spring.

[Vicki]

You are one smart lady!! I might have to stop and buy flowers on my way home tonight.
; )

[Kristi]

And actually, with your #5 strategy for luxury, the word is massage can also help boost your immune system. So luxuriate away!

And take zicam. I am loving it. The fast dissolve tabs. Knock wood, no sicky so far. :)

I've discovered that I have picked far too bland of colors for February knitting.

[Caroline]

I'm late to the party but my recipe is inviting friends over for dinner. We do a lot of potlucks out here because for most of the winter no restaurants are open. It's fun and cheap. A good hike from time to time keeps my spirits up, too. And the anti-sick? I wash my hands a lot. sounds lame but maybe it's working. Enjoy the flowers and yarn goodness!