Christmas is when?

Monday?

ugh. My high hopes are sufficiently dashed. I am going to do something I have NEVER done before. I am not going to be able to finish a Christmas gift. I know, I know... the ultimate shame. But, before I get admonished back to the days of garter stitch scarves with novelty yarn, let me give you the context:

1) PC and I decided to have my parents to Christmas dinner at our place. this involves cleaning my house. a lot.
2) #1 also means I need to grocery shop, bake cookies and make a pie.
3) Saturday we have our last pre-Christmas Christmas party.
4) I still have to go wait in line for gift cards at Barnes and Noble. yeah, start laughing... anyone around Boston knows this means I will be waiting in line to get into the parking lot first!
5) I have started a new job. A great job. A job I love. A job that is mentally taxing and doesn't let me out of work until 5:30 -6pm. ( I used to get home at 4;30pm)--- by the time I get home, make dinner... eat... I don't want to do anything else.
6) I feel like crap. I have felt like crap for 2 weeks. I am done with feeling like crap.

So, the present i am NOT finishing? My dad's sweater. I have the front (mostly) done, the back done, and I need to knit the sleeves. And no, my dad would not LOVE LOVE LOVE a sweater vest ( I tried that, PC vetoed anything that will make my dad look like a "tool"). So, now I am without present for Dad... what to do?

Double thick hat in superwash wool ( thank you wild and woolly for being open today!)--- knit on US 8 and knit top down to the brim, row of purl, then knit bottom up from the purl row--- then simply insert one hat inside the other! this will be a fun project for Friday night. Of course, the note with the hat will be:

"I didn't make my deadline,

I am so so very sad....

At Thanksgiving, I made a beeline

to the chosen wool I had!

Best intentions were announced

and onto the wool balls,

Pumpkin did roll and pounce;

me, thinking, I could do it all.

Along the way,

something went awry.

I knit and knit, and never make headway

Each row is a new try...

but, give me a little extra time,

and you will surely say

"this sweater is great and mine, all mine!

I'm glad you took an extra day!"

So, here's a hat for you to wear,

I know that it really can't compare...

but, by New Year's Night

your sweater'll be done... if that's all right?"

So, think Dad'll forgive me?

:) Mini