Challenge. It's there for the taking. Or, it's there to vex. I'm dealing with both types and trying not to pull out the small amount of hair I have.
My voluntary challenge is knitting a "simple" lace scarf. This thing has literally been on the needles for over a year. The challenge, to me, with knitting lace is the counting. When it's quiet in the house, I get the rhythm of the knitting and counting: knit one, yarn over, knit one, yarn over, knit three, slip one, knit two together, pass the slipped stitch over. (In knitting patterns that's: k1 yo twice k3 sl1 k2tog psso). Initially this was quite difficult for me which is why it sat on the needles with no attention for so long. However, I want to do something for myself. I am not a quick knitter and often work on pieces for others for gifts. I enjoy knitting for others, but I needed a change and a little something for myself. Also, after a trip to the local yarn shop last week, I bought a new pattern for a pretty shawl.
Oh the joys of arriving home with a new pattern. I have a large yarn stash and was wondering how to pair the new pattern with the yarn in the stash. My eagerness was squashed, however, when I took a very close look at the pattern. It's not a lace pattern but it's an odd pattern calling for stitches to be knitted out of order (but not using a cable needle) or grabbing a stitch from the row below. I really did not believe I was up for the challenge so I picked up my old lace scarf. Funny how now I am moving right along with no worries or difficulty. Either it's my attitude or the quiet of the house, but I am making good progress and enjoying the process. In fact, one I finish this project, I am considering knitting another for a Christmas gift for my step mother.
The vexing challenge? Job hunting. I have thought for a while that the online application system for teachers is a crock of crap. Hundreds if not thousands of people can apply for the same job at the same job. The challenge then is for the school to weed through the pile. In the old days one needed to print the resume and letter on good paper and make it look good. Those days are gone. Last night on the PBS NewsHour a story about this was on. The bottom line: people are not finding jobs using these online job sites. So, Jobungo and Monster.com are not doing what they advertise to do. And, the gem of wisdom handed out: make connections and network. Then they recommended making connections at job fairs (have you been to one? It's a meat market). I'll just hope something comes up (or my husband gets a higher paying job).
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