Here's the latest progress on the wrap that I'm making. See it rolling up at the bottom there? I thought I was so clever to knit the last few rows on smaller needles, but it seems not to have had the amazing flattening effect that I was going for. Even with blocking, this might be tricky. Anyone have a crochet edge to suggest? I'd like to try something like that on this project since it is already lacey and a little girlier than the things I usually make, but I have no idea where to start. This idea is totally contingent on how much time is left after I finish the rest of the sweater.

This has been moving very slowly but surely over the past few days. The deadline, a Valentine's ball on the 11th, is approaching at a quickening pace (is quickening a word?) but sadly this sleeve cannot keep up. What's taking me so long? I guess I am just too busy to knit lately. But does anyone really have as much time to knit as they really want? Here's a closeup of the sleeve, in case you didn't get enough of the bobble pattern the first time I showed it.

I am still enjoying this pattern and think that even with the odd bobbles on the sleeves, it will look ok. At least it will be one-of-a-kind! I'm not so crazy about the lilac part of the variegation, but I've got my fingers crossed that in the general scheme of things this one stripe will not throw off the whole look that I'm going for.

I had what could have been an awful day at work today. There was a very serious meeting with the English club where the Japanese teacher in charge had to practically yell at the kids for being so passive and unresponsive when we speak English. Then the president was forced to explain something simple to the two native speakers in English and she cried. Just the kind of enthusiasm we like to see in the students who have chosen our club. It seems like a lose-lose situation, but hopefully the Japanese teacher has some cultural understanding that we don't and things will start to improve. Said Japanese teacher (who has been my only real problem at the school) also felt the need to scold me like a child in front of other teachers totally unprovoked, which is just not fun either. Maybe it's the memory of winter vacation still cursing through my veins or just a successfully morepositive attitude (I hope!), but I think I handled it much better than I have in the past. I was almost glad that other people were there to witness the ridiculousness.

I thought about leaving Japan after two years instead of three because of my problem with this person, but I have recently come to the decision that I'm not going to change my plans because of someone else's defective personality. So it is even more encouraging to me that I didn't totally lose it today. When I got home, I was rewarded with two awesome surprises that are part of what is becoming the birthday celebration that will never end.

Two awesome presents that really make me smile--one from a new friend who lives next door, and another from an old high school friend who I haven't been in such close touch with recently. I taught my high school pal to knit a few years ago, and although she didn't totally take to it, she didn't become a yarn-hater either, and has always been interested and encouraging about my habit-turned-obsession. So as if getting my hands on the Yarn Harlot's book wasn't exciting enough, it was really nice to get it from her.

I think this is a good sign for the rest of the year. Things are going to start happening to me now!!*

*Name that movie... I bet no one knows it.