I have a slightly weird habit.

Actually, that's not true. I have many weird habits, ranging from just the tiniest bit off-kilter to... nevermind, where was I? Today I thought of one in particular.

I count stitches. I don't mean that I count stitches to make sure i've got the right number. I sit down and do the math to figure out how many stitches make up the thing I'm knitting. I'm usually not too concerned with having more than a ballpark figure. I expect my margin of error is within about 10% or so. Even if it isn't, it's really not important since it's a meaningless and arbitrary number anyway.

To be honest, I'm not sure why I even do it, but I think it's because I like to amaze myself sometimes. I started a pair of Ice Age Boots on last week's (no-)snow day, figuring that would be enough to keep me busy without distracting me from my movie marathon. The rough total for the size I'm making (with adjustments) is 35,838 stitches.

Isn't that just a mind-boggling number? And it's not just because I'm making double-layered, ridiculously large boots. Even a chunky hat on big needles adds up to hundreds of stitches. If someone told me when I first learned to knit, "hey, that thing that seems tricky to you now? In a little while, you'll be able to do this thousands of times without even breaking a sweat," I would have been pretty incredulous. Now, I just like to marvel at the everyday awesomeness that we crafters are capable of.

Robots may break your heart.

So far the epic winter that our meteorologists threatened us with throughout the fall has proven, depending on one's perspective, disappointing. We are experiencing only our second snowfall of the season, and by most predictions it will all be over and melting by tomorrow afternoon. As a person who grew up in tropical climates until late adolescence/early teens, I seem to have retained a child-like fascination with snow. I've even gotten to the point where I don't mind driving in it, though other drivers still scare the bejeezus out of me.

Hell, I have a love of snow that even a winter-related car accident two years ago and a week without heat at our old apartment hasn't diminished.

So in the interest of winter wishful thinking, I'm declaring tomorrow a SNOW DAY. As it stands, I'm a little in need of a recovery day anyway. A flare-up of a chronic knee injury combined with continuing to push myself too hard has left me sore and hobbling. Most of the pressing things have been taken care of, so tomorrow is going to consist of icing my knee, making Baked Potato Soup, and finishing about six projects that are in the "99% done" stage.

Finishing is my least favorite part of knitting. The knitting portion is done, but there are still yarn ends to weave in, buttons to sew on, or one little seam before it can be worn or used. In my mind, once I've bound off on something, it's done. Everything afterwards is just an irritating chore. Luckily, if I can get myself to sew on just one button, it's usually smooth sailing from there.

For now, though, I'm just going to watch the snow fall, and start knitting something else.

My January list of...things.

I don't really believe in New Year's Resolutions. I'm sure for some people they are a good idea. However, for folks like me-- the enthusiastic but easily distracted-- it just feels like setting oneself up for disappointment. Sure, I can tell myself that I'm going to stop eating fast food, take a picture everyday, or some other very grand endeavor, but inevitably I will slip up one day and be forced to face the giant letdown of ruining a year-long goal.

I also recently saw this TED video that explained why it's better to keep one's goals to oneself, so the life goal list I have in my head is going to stay there for the time being. My last "11 in 2011" is admittedly a goal of sorts, but since it's more of a nice idea that's subject to change at any moment, it doesn't really count in my book. If anything, I wanted to write it down so I could see exactly how it differed later, because again-- enthusiastic but easily distracted.

In the meantime, I've found yet another cool thing to add to my distraction: Iron Craft -- A weekly crafting challenge using different themes and materials each week. Complete commitment isn't required, but it seems like a fun idea that I could definetely get behind.

Edited to add: I did remember my one major New Year's Resolution-- to stop watching Lonely Island videos so much. It's time to let "I'm On A Boat" go.