Elegantly Random

The off-season.

Since moving to the Emerald City in 2010, I've become a huge supporter of the Seattle Sounders FC, our resident professional (MLS) soccer team. Last fall, I suggested to my husband that we purchase season tickets to the Sounders. Due to the Parade of Visitors (the 12 sets of people who came to see us between April and September), we were making an effort to stick around over the summer and not do a lot of big travel. We figured soccer tickets would help pass the time. 

This investment turned out to be awesome. Going into the season, which began back in March, I liked soccer and understood it reasonably well. My brother was a soccer player growing up, and I went to a lot of his games, as well as following the World Cup here and there. I appreciated the sport. Over the course of the season, though, I've come to love the sport. It's surprised me to some degree, how big a fan I am at this point. There are lots of things I love about it - number one, our team is really good (finishing the season #2 in the MLS, if all goes accordingly). Number two, Seattle has a lot of pride in the Sounders, and we have the biggest following in the MLS, with more tickets sold and higher attendance per game (by a LOT) than any other team. It's pretty cool to walk around town on game day and see tons and tons of people wearing green and blue, and know that our following is as big as basketball or football or any other pro sport in most cities. It's fun to feel part of that community of people who love their team and love Seattle. And number three, the players are ridiculously attractive. Let's not underestimate the power of number three.

Saturday night is our last regular season home game, and we'll be honoring our amazing goalkeeper, Kasey Keller, who is retiring after this season. I fully expect a little sports-crying, even though I'll get to watch him in both the CONCACAF and the MLS cup playoffs in the weeks to come. Kasey is a huge asset to our team, arguably our most valuable player, and he's going to be really hard to replace. But also, I'm sad that the season is coming to an end. I know, it's a long season, and my wait for the start of the next is pretty short - friendlies start in February. But still - it'll be a long, dark off-season.

I was thinking about all of this the other day as I made my commute to work, which involves a short bus ride and then a 15-20 minute walk. I realized that I kind of feel, in my personal life, like I've just come out of an "off-season" of my own. When I moved to Seattle, it was with great excitement. I supported my husband in his career move, I was honestly thrilled at the chance to move to the Pacific Northwest, a place I'd heard so many amazing things about and had already come to love after just a couple short trips. I was even ready to leave my old job behind, even though I really loved it and I still miss many of my coworkers eighteen months after the fact. I knew this would be a challenge, moving across country and being so far away from our friends and family, having to start over entirely - but I felt up for it.

When we got here, it took me a while to find a job - not a surprise, given the economy and the fact that I feel pretty strongly about working for non-profit organizations and preferably colleges or universities. But I thought, I'm not going to let being in the off-season stop me. I started a little business spinning yarn, which has been a lot of fun and a source of much-needed and appreciated side income. I eventually found a temporary job at the University of Washington, and though the job wasn't quite what I'd been looking for, I met some really lovely people, some of whom have now become real friends. I continued doing freelance graphic design work. I traveled a TON. It wasn't a bad time. In fact, it was pretty fun!

But I was antsy. I really felt like all the pieces were there - I was making friends, I was putting a toe in the pond of the professional community - but things just weren't quite coming together. I wrestled a bit with what I wanted to do professionally and personally, from jobs to raising a family to going back to school - you name it, I considered it and asked myself what the next step should be. As our old pal Dickens said, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" - because even as I was questioning what was next for me, I fell head-over-heels in love with Seattle. I feel more at home here than I have ever felt in any place I've lived - and this is my 8th city of residence, so I feel like I have plenty of experiences to compare. It was like, in my off-season, everything I needed for bliss was right there in front of me, if only I could figure out how to put it all together.

This fall, I feel like that really happened. I found a new job that I'm enjoying. Like any job, I'm sure it'll have its ups and downs, but I'm busy and I feel useful. These are good things. And I'm surrounded by really, REALLY nice people here, both professionally and personally. Jay and I have made some great friends here already, and I'm encouraged by the number of people who want to visit us here too. It's sort of amazing. Some other questions have started to be answered, things that have been on my mind for ages - I don't want to say too much yet, but I feel whole again. It's like I can finally see a path for myself. It's not a set-in-stone path, it's more like a meandering country road, but still...there are some nifty things along that path, and I'm really excited to walk down it. 

I'm a big believer in the magic of seasons - that as much as we need times of revelry, we need times of quiet and solitude, times to consider, reflect, evaluate. Just like the world needs winter to sleep and rejuvenate, just like the Sounders need a couple months of downtime - so did I. So do we all. The cool thing is, when the season starts up again, it's so easy to put on that green and blue jersey again and dive in. 

 

The theater of sports.

Recently, someone who has known me a very long time said to me, "I don't associate you with sports." This followed him telling me that I had become his most European sports fan friend, what with my love of tennis and soccer and the like. I thought about this for quite a bit, and it's true - I don't think most of my friends or family would think of me as an athletic person, or someone who cares much about sports. Yet here I am, in my new Seattle life, a season ticket holder for the Seattle Sounders (MLS), something of a regular at Safeco Field (Mariners), and a from-afar Yankees fan who knows the names and basic stats of most of the players on the team (as well as the intimate curves of their...baseball gloves). So it would seem that I'm somehow a sports fan now.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I've really always liked sports. While it's true that I've never been good at team sports (I played baseball one summer as a kid and was simply wretched at it), I have always enjoyed supporting my friends and family members and cheering on a good team. In junior high and high school, I went to most of the home varsity AND JV hockey games to support my friends (and boyfriends) who played on the teams. I also took in the occasional football or basketball game for the same reason. Growing up in a college town, my dad and I went to just about every home football game together. One of my best friends in high school had a dad who coached that college football team. When he moved to another school nearby, I kept up with his team on the radio. I used to go to my college boyfriend's intramural games just to cheer. My brother and sister were both good athletes, and I went to many of their swim meets, tennis matches and soccer games. I once got in trouble at my sister's tennis match because I kept cheering. I also famously burst into tears the first time I saw my brother win at a swim meet. When I met my husband, an avid Yankees fan, he took me to a few games and before you knew it, I was into it too.

So I guess it's unfair and inaccurate to say that I'm not into sports, because apparently I have always enjoyed them. I just suck, suck, SUCK at playing them. Except badminton. I freaking RULE at badminton. Also, I think it's important to make a distinction here: just because I'm bad at team sports doesn't mean I'm not an athlete. Several years ago, I began working out (cardio and weightlifting) diligently and for the past 6 years, exercise has been a constant and daily part of my life. I also danced for years. As it turns out, I'm QUITE athletic. Who knew?!?!

Growing up, I didn't mind the whole "not into sports" label because it sort of went along with being a "theater and music kid" - and when it came to the arts, I did excel. So I had my thing, and I did it. And I'll always be active in the arts. But as it turns out, a girl can like theater AND soccer. And I do.

The same friend who mentioned that he didn't think of me as a sports person also said...hold on while I grab the quote, which Facebook so kindly saved in my messages (creepy! creepy! Facebook, you're creepy!)...

"I kinda feel like you're more interested in compelling drama than, say, your team just flat out squashing all who oppose them."

I had to think about this for a while, too. I think my friend was partially right. Part of the reason I find myself enjoying sports IS the drama. I mean, come on - my favorite sports movie is Rudy, people. But seriously - sports ARE dramatic. You have a team of players, or an individual player, whatever, and you get to know all these characters - their strengths and weaknesses, their personalities, etcetera - and you follow them through a season, or over the years, much like you might follow a character on your favorite TV show. And you root for them to succeed. And along the way there are all kinds of obstacles, like crappy refs, bad weather, injuries, performance-enhancing drugs, you name it, that get in the way of our heroes winning the day. It's EXCITING. So yes, it may be true that I'm still pretty novice when it comes to knowing all the ins and outs of the game or the way various stats effect the outcome, or whatever all technical stuff lots of people know about sports. I suck at that still. But in the end, I guess I am in it for the drama to some extent. But isn't everyone? I went to a college with one of the winningest football teams in college history. And you know what? It was boring. Why? There was absolutely no drama. They won all the time, period, by huge margins, and it was a snoozer. So yes, I like the drama of sports.

And much like any drama on tv or the stage, over time I become passionate about certain characters and I want them to succeed and win. So while my friend was right that the drama is a huge part of it for me, he was wrong about the whole not caring about the squashing of the opponents. I CARE ABOUT THE SQUASHING. The more I love Osvaldo Alonso, Steve Zakuani, Mauro Rosales, Fredy Montero and the other Sounders, the more I want to see them squash the ever-loving piss out of any and all enemies. So, in a sense, the drama is unfolding on the "stage" - be it a soccer pitch or a tennis court - and I am cheering my heroes onward and hoping they crush the bad guys and win the day. I am totally caught up in the drama of the sports teams I follow, and I love every second of it! I was listening on the radio when Steve Zakuani was so grievously injured, and I shed a tear at the April game when 36,000 people held up signs bearing his number in support for his recovery, and I will shed more tears when he finally returns to the pitch. It's high drama, and I'm hooked.

I think, in the end, being an expert in something doesn't really matter too much. Who cares if you know anything about art? If you stand in a room with a painting and it makes you feel something, that's good enough. And the same is true with my sports fandom. It may be years before I really understand the offsides rule - if ever - but it doesn't matter. Because I'm having a good time, man. Plus, those soccer players are HOT.

Yankee-hatin' dandies!

My husband is a Yankees fan.

It's not a secret to most of you that I'm not much of a sports fan. Growing up, we didn't watch a lot of sports at home, aside from Wimbledon and the Olympics and the Super Bowl. Neither of my parents were much into sports, and nor was I - although my brother and sister proved far more athletic than I ever did. (I was a dancer, which is basically only because it was artistic - without art, there wasn't much to hook me). So I was pretty ambivalent about sports. I enjoy a good college football game, I like hockey, and I enjoy tennis and other "mental" sports - as a spectator, of course. But for the most part, I find sports and following them rather tiresome.

Except the Yankees. I like them. I understand the game of baseball, thanks to spending the summer of 1999 playing it. On an actual team. I know. I also understand football pretty well, I will admit. But I do, I like the Yankees, and not just because my husband does - because I could care less about most of the teams he's into. The reasons why I like the Yankees are probably pretty superficial. I like their uniforms, and their logo, and the fact that you get to hear Frank Sinatra if they win. I like the players (and admittedly, I enjoy the players' bodies - raaar!) and appreciate that, with a few exceptions, I don't have to read a lot of stuff about them being total jerks. Yes, yes, I know, A-Rod had a steroids scandal and he and Derek Jeter have slept with almost every woman. If you're a woman, and you're reading this, it's possible YOU have slept with Derek Jeter**. But so many of the players are so classy and cool, and I like that. (I miss you, Matsui!)

So whatever, I like the Yankees and it's something we can enjoy together. We both like going to baseball games, especially in New York or here in Seattle where we've got a just-average team but a gorgeous stadium and an adorable mascot.  I have to say I was pretty proud of myself for learning to like a sport and a team that my husband loves, so we can share that.

But little did I know how many people hated the Yankees. I'm still realizing it now. I was floored in July when they played in Seattle - the level of hatred for A-Rod was absolutely staggering. I'd never heard anything like the booing coming out of the stands when A-Rod came up to bat. I'd never seen a Yankees game anywhere but in New York, and I was unprepared.

I've been talking to some of my friends about the Yankees and doing some reading, and it appears that the main reason everyone hates the Yankees is that it is thought the team's business end is too successful - i.e. they have too much money, and therefore they buy all the best players and they win too often. And it's unfair to other teams in the majors, who don't have enough money to fill their roster with a lineup like A-Rod, Jeter, Mo, Texiera, Swisher, etc.

Now, I promise you - my loyalty to the Yankees is only a few years old, and I can look at this relatively objectively, and I have to say - that's kind of stupid. I mean, why do people hate the team for being successful?

I went to a D3 university with an incredible football team - the Mount Union Purple Raiders, to be exact. Our team holds the all-division record of 55 consecutive victories. We also had a 110-game regular season winning streak between 1994 and 2005, 14 undefeated seasons, and have won a record 9 D3 championships since 1993. I understand why people hate a team that wins too much. Everyone hates Mount Union except for the Mount Union people.

But here's the thing - the Yankees are very good, but it's not like they have some crazy winning streak and no one can beat them. I was discussing this with my husband, who is NOT a rational, non-biased fan like me, and he pointed me toward this article, which has some interesting facts about parity:

• Only 3 teams among the top 10 in league payroll (Yankees, Phillies and Red Sox) are in the playoffs this year.
• For the first time since the Wildcard was added in 1995, there are four teams from the bottom half of the payroll (Braves, Reds, Rays, Rangers).
• Baseball has the most parity of any sport - 19 different teams have won the World Series in the past 30 years. In the past 30 years in the NBA, only 8 teams have won the title.
• Over the past 10 years, stats showed that teams in the top 10 payrolls had only a 46% chance of making it to the playoffs.

I find this a fascinating topic. I'm really curious - why do you hate the Yankees? (Like how I'm assuming most of my readership hates them?) Have you seen these stats on parity? What are your thoughts? Do you care? Are you just in it for the hot guys, like me?

From where I'm sitting, it seems like good old-fashioned hating the other team just because they're better. Just sayin'. 

Plus, if they don't have all that money, how can they afford to pay A-Rod his overblown salary, and then how can A-Rod afford to commission paintings of himself as a CENTAUR?!?! HOW, I ASK YOU?

  

That just does NOT get old for me. Ever.

Next time, we'll discuss what you'd do if you found yourself at A-Rod's house, gettin' on towards sexy time, and you entered his room and found the centaur paintings. Would you still make sweet love to him? Or pee your pants laughing?

**If you have slept with Derek Jeter, I feel sorry for you...because Derek Jeter doesn't have paintings of himself AS A CENTAUR!

Name of the Year

I am not a basketball fan. Wait, strike that - I actually sort of hate basketball. It's a relief to no longer be subjected to the state of North Carolina during basketball season, particularly March Madness. Can I just offer up Tarheels fans as the #1 most obnoxious sports fan in the entire history of the world? 

So every year, when it comes time for basketball season, I let out a long, loud groan. So many games. So many teams, both college and professional. So many squeaking shoes. I haaaate iiiiiit. I'm so glad it's over with for this year, because I seriously hate life during basketball season, and thank GOD my husband isn't even overly attentive to it.

Fortunately, my husband made me aware of this fantastic annual thing - the Name of the Year Blog. Have you seen it? It. Is. Magic. Every year they round up the best factual names in the country - certified American citizens - and there's a big voting showdown. This year, some of my favorites have been Hannukkah Wallace, Lolita Respectnothing and Spontaneous Gordon, none of which are going to win. They're on regionals right now so you can totally log in and vote. Jay's favorite is the absurdly popular Nohjay Nimpson.

Part of the reason this amuses me so much is that, in addition to the amazingness of there being real, actual names like these in the world, there are so many people I have known or heard first-degree accounts of with equally stupid names. Like Candy Sprinkles - or was it Sprenkles? - a girl in my high school. Or perhaps the lovely couple Tim and Em Burr I once wrote about. Or maybe Su Mi, a lovely woman I once spoke with. Or how about William Williams, Jr.? All real.

So - while you enjoy this year's Name of the Year contest, tell me - who have you known with a ridiculous name?

Start spreadin' the news...

I am not a sports fan, but right now I feel compelled to write a bunch of sports-related posts. Probably because we're smack-dab in the middle of football season and heading into the World Series.

My husband is a big sports fan, although the least annoying one I've ever encountered (which I'll write about some other time). He's a pretty devoted follower of the Steelers, Penguins, Penn State and, last but not at all least, the New York Yankees. Over the years, despite my lifelong nonchalance about pro sports, I've kinda grown to love the Yankees. I know that's a really polarizing thing to say - and my apologies to the Phillies fans out there (I'll deal with YOU all in another post, on another day! Look at me making all these promises for other posts!) - but they're a pretty classy team (aside from all the man-whores filling their roster - we'll get back to them) with savvy management, and my low-key sports-loving husband adores them. They sort of come with the package.

Last night during game six of the Yankees/Angels series, I found myself getting totally into it. And it dawned on me that the Yankees are brilliant. They have all kinds of gimmicks to make women like them. Classy, intelligent, attractive ladies like myself.

First and foremost, of all the sports teams I can think of, the Yankees have the best colors/uniforms/logo. I love the crisp white and blue striped outfits they wear at home and the modest gray and blue they wear on the road. Very classy.

I'm sorry, but the Browns, Steelers and Dolphins all come to mind as having some of the ugliest uniforms on the planet. Brown plus orange equals ugly, and it means that all of the die-hard Browns fans out there, God love 'em, are constantly garbed in some of the most heinous tee shirts, jerseys and hats in the world. And Steelers fashions aren't much better. I'm SO glad they have the Terrible Towel, so my husband can join in the team spirit without wearing the ugly fashions.

But the YANKEES! The Yankees have NICE-LOOKING tee shirts and jerseys that any lady would be proud to wear! And don't forget the awesome logo designed by Tiffany's - that right there is a sure-fire way to get a lady to like your team.

Also? Frank Sinatra. Complete and total genius - every time the Yankees win at home, Frank starts crooning "New York, New York" and every pair of panties in the stadium moistens - or at least gets a little sweaty. Seriously, who doesn't love Frank? All the men and women of America love Frank Sinatra. Period. Way to cap off a victory. Makes me want an Old Fashioned every time.

And, last but not least, the Yankees are a GOOD LOOKING TEAM. Lots of the baseball teams out there are, how can I put it...fugly? Unkempt? Fat? I'm at a loss for words, because I'm too busy fantasizing about the hot, hot specimens in the Yankees' lineup.

Oh, A-Rod...you hunky man-whore, you...

 

...not to be confused with this other hunky man-whore. Hey, Derek Jeter - you're not playing up to snuff, pal, so get with the program.

 

And I personally have a crush on Rivera as well.

And, as if all of that weren't reason enough to love the Yankees, when your man drags you to the game, he's not dragging you to Dallas, or Cincinnati, or New Jersey. He's dragging you to New-fuckin'-YORK! You ever meet anyone who didn't like New York? Didn't think so.

So! Let's tally: we've got hot guys wearing good-looking uniforms all set to the tunes of Frank Sinatra in the greatest city in the country. Yep. I'm sold. The Yankees are the best damn team on the planet. Look out, Philly - we've got a bunch of hot, well-dressed sluts headed to kill you!

Now let's all have a happy, peaceful and non-inflammatory World Series, shall we?

Hoops confession.

I can't believe I'm about to admit this, for a number of reasons, but here it is. I hope Carolina loses tonight. There. I said it.

I know, I know. Sacreligious! Blasphemy! But let me explain. I don't have anything against the University of North Carolina or the Tarheels. It's true I don't much care for basketball, although I will go to a Bobcats game now and then and enjoy myself, but really that doesn't have anything to do with it either.

Truth be told, it's the fans. Tarheels fans are the most obnoxious group of people in the country, as far as I can tell, even surpassing Sarah Palin fans in some regards. And when it comes to obnoxious fans, I know what I'm talking about. My boss is a Red Sox fan. My husband and father-in-law are Yankees fans (although much better behaved than most Yankees fans). I have also lived in the vicinity of Cleveland and Pittsburgh and spent the majority of my life dealing with uber-obnoxious Browns and Steelers fans and their exceptionally annoying rivalry. I KNOW what I'm talking about when I say that none of these fan bases compare to Tarheel fans, who are the whiniest, most stubborn and irritatingly selfish group of fans I have ever encountered.

I feel like there aren't enough metaphors for "irritating" - help me out, Webster!

So, I admit it, despite the fact that MANY of my friends will be cheering for the Heels in tonight's game, and while I will allow that many of those people are NOT annoying, I would much rather see a Spartan win. Because after having to listen to endless gripes throughout the highs and lows of the season and boo-hooing each time the Heels lost a game, not to mention all the Tweets and Facebook updates and what have you, a nasty little part of me would just love to see all those people have to eat it for a day or so. I'm sorry, but you people have been driving me BANANAS for months! I'm over it!

And I will say this - right now, Michigan needs this kind of a morale-boosting win far more than North Carolina. Things here are sunshine and roses compared to things in Michigan and particularly Detroit. That city needs something to get excited about, and while it's true the Heels will likely win tonight, I don't think their fans should discount the power of a city mired in hardships.

And that's the most I've said about sports in about a year, so I'm done for now. Wake me up when it's over.

Friday randomness.

TGI-freakin'-F, people! I am so tired! I have been nearly killing myself staying up late every night to watch the Olympics (and for what, really? Michael Phelps wins everything, it's suuch a yawner! I jest, I jest). Monday & Tuesday I'll thankfully be out of the office - I'm using my last two vacation days, and Dog and I are hitting the road. We're going to Georgia to see my auntie in St. Simons Island - BEACH! Thank you, beach!

Now that we're a week into the Olympics, a few thoughts:

• Do you think the Chinese have a firing squad waiting outside each event to dispose of the useless team members who can't seem to win medals? Or do those people just eliminate themselves after failing their team and country?
• Eastern European men = terrifying.
• Beach volleyball seems to serve no purpose aside from nudity - and I don't really have a problem with that, per se...
• The coolest sports are still the original Olympic events - more on this in another blog...
• Does it really matter if the Chinese gymnasts are 12? Or 9? Or 5? Because it could be worse - they could be making a penny a day in a sweatshop somewhere. At least this way they have makeup.

Okay, I might be going to hell for that statement.

To update any of you who care - The Ravelympics are going well! I knitted all last weekend, it was awesome. No, really, it was. And I'm about 20% done with my scarf (I don't know if I'm gonna be able to finish that one by the end of the Olympics, but I'm trying), halfway through my camisole, and almost done with my first sock. I love socks! I have also purchased an incredible amount of yarn this week, because I realized that I need to start working on Christmas gifts. Seriously. Art takes time, people. And I have more babies to make things for...*sigh*

For your Friday pleasure, please enjoy the following awesome blog. It will make you giggle. It's about cakes. Trust me. And then you can check out Fail Blog - if you haven't already, then FAIL!

The Chinese are badass. And terrifying.

Last night's Olympic Opening Ceremony in Beijing was long, long, long - but completely awesome. China may have some serious issues but they absolutely know how to put on an incredible performance. The coolest part was definitely the opening, with literally thousands of men drumming a countdown on light-up drums and then performing an awesome, terrifying drum routine that completely set the tone for the evening and the games. Wish I had been able to see it in person, like this person did when she shot this video:

It's long but it's well worth watching. Perhaps at some point someone will put a video of the actual broadcast out - let's hope. But it's still really cool to watch. Also, Boston.com put an incredible set of photos today - definitely check them out.

Let the games begin!

I am not that into sports. But I absolutely love the Olympic games.

I look forward to them every two years and was thrilled when they stopped doing both winter & summer in the same year, every four years - that's way too long to wait! I love the drama of it all - especially the way each country comes together to display their pride and patriotism in an atmosphere of peace and unity (well, sometimes...) The stories of athletes from impoverished nations, overcoming adversity to achieve their life goal of competing in the Olympics get me sobbing every time. The tears! The cheers! The heartaches! The triumphs! It's also a life-long goal of mine to attend the Olympic games (preferably winter) in my lifetime - and I'm really hounding Jay to take me to Vancouver in 2010. What an awesome excuse to go kill two birds with one stone, as Vancouver is apparently a kick-ass place worthy of a visit.

This year, I won't just be watching from the sidelines as the athletes take all the glory. My favorite site for all things yarn, Ravelry, is hosting the first-ever Ravelympics! *drumroll please*

I'm participating as part of Team Charlotte Yarn, and I couldn't be more excited! The rules are simple - create as many objects as possible during the Olympic Games. You can't start till the Opening Ceremonies begin on Friday the 8th, and you have to be finished by the time the flame goes out during the Closing Ceremonies on August 24. You enter in various categories and compete for your team. Go ahead, laugh it up - but this has been a great way to meet people because we connect online via Ravelry and our shared interest of knitting and crochet, but then have the opportunity to meet in person easily at the yarn shop. I am meeting all kinds of neat people who share my interest!

I'm participating in three events. First, I'll try and finish a couple of things I have currently underway as part of WIPs (Work in Progress) Wrestling. One is a crocheted baby gift (which I can't picture right now, sorry! Don't want to give the mom a sneak peek!) and the other is a camisole I'm about 1/4 finished with. When completed, it'll look like this - only red. Progress photos are up on Flickr.

Razor Cami

For one of my new projects, I'm competing in the Scarf Stroke, planning to make this beautiful scarf from start to finish during the games...I'm so excited to cast on for this project! I'm using Sublime Soya Cotton yarn, which I've been dying to work with, in a dark blue - a little darker than in this example.

Lace Ribbon Scarf

I'm also competing in Sockput - even if I just finish one sock, that will be a huge accomplishment. Maybe I'm exaggerating the difficulty of sock making in my mind, but the fact that you need anywhere from three to five double-pointed needles to get the job done is really daunting to me. However, homemade socks greatly appeal to me and I desperately want to learn how to make them. So I'm making it my business to learn during Ravelympics. I'm going to do a pattern/tutorial that should give me an end result something like this, only dark blue...

Silver's Sock Class

You can follow along with my progress by watching my Flickr site for photos and of course checking back here for updates! If you're a crafter, you should think about participating, even if you're not signed up with Ravelry - heck, no matter what your hobby, just pick a project to complete during the Olympics and play along! Maybe you have a scrapbook you've been meaning to make, or you could set a photography challenge. Maybe you really just want to finish planting that herb garden or painting your bedroom. MAYBE you really want to defeat that evil overlord and advance to the next realm in Warcraft (shut up, I don't know the terminology, but I tried!)

The sky's the limit, so let the games begin!