This post has sod all to do with knitting.

Just so we're clear from the forefront. I don't want to be blamed later.

Today, I got some of the most personally depressing news I've gotten in awhile. I was at work, and someone came in asking for Wood's Tea cds. For those of you not in the know, Wood's Tea Company is a folk band that started here in Vermont, and has been touring to an avid and rabid fan base for about half a million years. I first saw them in 1995 or so, with a boy I thought I loved. I've seen them three or four times since, hired them to play at Marlboro when I was Student Activities Director there. Robb fell in love with their music -- impressive for his 80s metal tastes -- and I always meant for us to go see them live, but it never worked out with his schedule or mine.

And then, today, a customer told me that Rusty, the co-founder of the band, had died of a heart attack at 56.

I've never had a personal conversation with Rusty, but I feel like my heart is breaking. I miss him, somehow, even though I only knew his music.

And I feel like someone is reminding to get my ass in gear and do what I want to do now, because maybe I don't have as long as I might think.

Much love.

I'm here, I'm alive, I'm sorry!

It's all okay, I promise! I've been hit by early exhaustion, heartburn, and uncontrollable emotions. That turns out to be the 1-2-3- punch that ko'd this kiddo into a brief retirement. But the ref only got to the two count, I kicked out of it, and I'm swaying a bit, but I'm back on my feet.

Sorry. Robb's been playing his WWE game a lot on the playstation lately.

Just about 24 weeks now, which means this crazy ride is almost halfway over. So far, being pregnant is rough on my system; by no means as bad as some of my friends have had it, but nothing as calm and easy as some other friends. Heartburn, back pain, swollen feet. At my doctor's appointment yesterday, there was some talk of limiting my hours if I don't recover some from being so damn tired.

Work is stressful and insane. Various situations have contrived to turn my boss into something of a lame duck president, which leaves me divided. I don't think he can salvage the situation he's created, which makes me feel a little bad for him, but he created the situation, so there's also an aspect of "Well, then, take your medicine." He's back from his little vacation on Thursday; I'm not looking forward to it. The only thing that makes me like him at all right now is that he acknowledged that I worked so insanely much overtime in the last three months that he's letting me take a week's vacation without pulling it from my vacation time, which means that I will still have vacation time to spend at the beginning of my maternity leave.

I've hardly been knitting. I seriously need to cast on for the last sleeve of the ladybug sweater, but all that stranding is daunting in my current state. I finished the pretty yellow-and-blue sweater but it's not quite as charming as I'd hoped. When I have a bit more of the financial resources, I'm going to go find adorable buttons, and that should cheer it up some as well. I might just cast on for the star sweater in navy and yellow and let that cheery color brighten me up as well. It's worth a shot, right?

Oh, and they took another look at the ultrasound yesterday (they couldn't get a clear view of the umbilical cord last time, and sometimes the abdominal wall doesn't seal properly, and you get bowel poking into the cord, wanted to make sure that wasn't happening) and the child was being less modest, so they took another look at the business end, and are pretty sure we're having a girl. I wrote that in white on white, so if you want to know, highlight the word. Otherwise, you can wait and be surprised at the end. :)

I'll try and actually start posting pictures and things and being interesting again. You'll know how it goes; perhaps you can let me know!

Much love.