My Perfect Monkey

Before I get to the good stuff, I must apologize for being absent for so long. I can't believe it's been two weeks of no blogging, emailing or anything. Too much has been going on here for the last 2 weeks, and unfortunately I chose my computer time as the thing that had to stop for a bit. So in case you're wondering what has had me MIA for the last 2 weeks, it's mainly been just too much going on coupled with severe exhaustion, since my health problems have not improved (see note at the bottom of this post). I do promise to catch up on all my emails and blog reading by this weekend, so please be patient with me. I've missed so much so this will be fun to catch up on what you've all been up to for the last 2 weeks.

I have been doing a tiny bit of knitting in between all the things that have been going on, so first up, here's My Perfect Monkey Socks!

Pattern: Monkey by Cookie A.
Pattern Source: Knitty.com Winter 2006
Yarn: Koigu KPPPM, P43835
Needles: Knit Picks 2.5mm (2 - 24" circulars)

This is my 2nd pair of Monkeys but my first time knitting with the Koigu. Although I think my first pair of Monkeys flopped, I definitely LOVE this pair. Then again, how can you go wrong when you pair up the perfect pattern, yarn and needles?

Of course I knit these from the toe-up using Judy's Magic Cast-On and utilized instructions from past correspondence with Judy to do the toe and heel modifications to make the pattern work. Thank you! Without Judy's guidance in teaching me how to convert patterns, I'd still be stuck knitting everything from the cuff down. ...not that there's anything wrong with that.

If you've never knit with Koigu KPPPM, I most definitely recommend that you either get to your LYS or find some online and order it immediately. If I had any idea how utterly fabulous this yarn is, I would have bought more than 2 skeins. Sadly, I have no more Koigu in my stash, but it is at the top of my priority list when my wallet recovers from the purchase of DH's birthday gift.

Since I've received a few requests, I'm considering writing up my version of the Monkey pattern written toe-up. Of course I think I'll need to contact the designer first for her permission, so when that happens (or not), I'll post that information here.

A final note totally off topic. For those of you who have inquired, I finally have news regarding my health problems. There has been much drama surrounding everything and I blame it on switching to a HMO doctor, but suffice it to say, I do not have diabetes. YEAH! Big party at my house right now! What I DO have is a sub clinical hypothyroidism, which means my body is not producing enough of the thyroid hormone. My doctor has chose NOT to treat this condition with medication. Obviously ... he's an arsehole. If he had my symptoms (severe fatigue, muscle pain,weight gain, and messed up menstrual cycles), he'd be medicating himself in a heartbeat. What's especially frustrating is that the medication has NO side effects unless your dose is too high, and those side effects are actual very mild. Needless to say, I'm going to be picking up my medical records and finding a new doctor.