I am such a creature of habit

I have a pretty set morning routine here in the Middle of Nowhere, which includes writing an almost-daily Shrinking Knitter post. Sometimes, though, things go awry [I love that word!], like, for instance, when the power goes out, due to storms or ice or a house fire burning through the main line that supplies power to all 100 households in the Middle of Nowhere.

No one was injured, as far as I know, and since the Shrinking Knitter is a no-whine zone, I'll just get going with this morning's routine, just like nothing ever happened. Which, yesterday, is exactly what did happen! By the time the power was successfully restored, around noon, I was out of the mood to park my ass in front of the computer.

You'll be very proud of me for choosing to take it outside for an hour-long walk, something I also usually do in the morning. I wasn't sure when the power would come back on, and so wasn't sure when I would be able to take a shower. [No power means no water when you have a well.] I didn't particularly feel like sitting around in my own sweat all day.

Sometime in the late afternoon, after working out, showering and preparing a light, cold supper, I parked my ass in front of the Tiger Woods golf highlight show with my knitting, and finished both fronts of the Seville jacket. They have been joined to the back and are waiting for the sleeves, one of which has been started. This is going amazingly fast, especially considering it's on size 4 needles with sportweight yarn.

Thanks to those of you who commented about Dateline. Yes, that Stone Phillips really can throw a good softball, can't he? I, too, was snorting when the McDonald's nutritionist claimed that the high-fructose corn syrup caramel dipping sauce offered "food energy." Then again, most of television [in my not-so-humble opinion] plays to the lowest common denominator – certainly not the bright, intelligent readers of the Shrinking Knitter! And, seriously, it was Friday night – I'll leave it up to you to figure out where most McDonald's customers were. Only old married folks stay home on Friday watching television "news" magazines.

Greta, your mom must have been an amazing woman. My mother did all the things yours did except work full-time. And it took all her time to do all those chores. Did she teach you to iron by starting with handkerchiefs and pillowcases? If you did, I'm going to swear we are twin daughters of different mothers!

Welcome to Chris, whose profile photo makes him look like a high-school boy, even though he claims on his blog to be happily married. How young do they let you marry in Missouri, Chris? Thanks for your comment.

So it's Monday, which is weigh-in day for me. I'm amazed and surprised to report I've lost two pounds this week, for a total of 42. I haven't figured out the calories in/calories out/miles walked stats yet, which you probably don't care about anyway. Any little trip anywhere tends to throw a wrench into my weight-loss works. I finally feel like I've recovered from Vegas.

I'm also considering the possibility that I won't manage to make my goal by January 1, 2007. According to FitDay, I need to lose 1.37 pounds per week to make it happen. I'm only averaging losses of 1.27 pounds per week. I can hear someone out there shouting, "Eat less! Move more!" To you I say: Read the archives.

I can think of two areas which need more work. I wish I could love weight training like Mar!a does. And I already do love yoga, but haven't incorporated it into the weekly routine. Now that it's written down, I'll have to follow through.

Right?