Happy(?) New (FO) Year!!!

This promises to be a longie with a lot to say, so if you're in a rush...you better by pass this post.
First off, I was able to squeeze this in as my first FO for 2006...or is this a delayed 2005 FO? Be that as it may, I now present my first pair of Jaywalker socks!
Specs-pattern from Magknits
knit on size 1 circulars with LB Magic Stripes yarn (my color name-Key Lime West)
Alterations-I had to size them way down because Magic Stripes is a much thicker yarn, and I gotta say, I love the denseness of the fabric it creates. Will I make them again? You betcha! And I already got the yarn to do it with...Opal Sock yarn (a first at my LYS) in Flamingo! How appropriately named. As you may have guessed, pink is my Favorite color....think I'll cast on with a size 0 first...if not I'll move up to size 000. My LYS didn't have any 00's and said addi didn't make them in that size for circulars? Isn't that strange?


Now for the bad news....the day after Christmas, my dog started seizuring for no reason whatsoever. I have been in a panicked mode for a week. I rushed him to the vet where they did bloodwork, and as I suspected...it came back normal. Oh sure, if I want to know more, I can go to a specialist where they have the audacity to charge $500-$1000 for an mri. Frankly, I can't afford it. Trust me, I would do anything to help him...I have for other dogs that I have owned. But, the speculation is that my vet thinks it's a brain tumor. When you have had your pet since they were a baby, you get a feeling about them...I refuse to believe it's a brain tumor. In my heart of hearts, I think he had a mini stroke. Anyway, they did prescribe phenylbarbitol(sp?), but he seized again. I called the vet the next day and he said I could up the medication...well, as they say, knock on wood...no seizures since the last one Thursday. He IS different now....all those little behaviors that you have come to know and love are gone...But there is light -so far- at the end of this tunnel...last night I got him to play with his favorite toy. A bone. This my friends, is the ultimate in relief and delight for me. I thought I was going to have to make a decision that I didn't want to have to. Man, my eyes are tearing up as I write this. Please send him all your healthy vibes. I know he can make it through this. If there are any knitters who happen to be vets, I'd love to hear your take on this.

Ok, back to knitting stuff...this is something I had planned to write about for Dec. 31st, but due to circumstances beyond my control...it's a day late. These are the things that I have learned this year:
1. How to knit continental-although I can do it, it's not natural to me
2. I designed(copied) my first sweater.-dolman cardi in previous post
3. I learned how to do an attached I-cord
4. I made my first sweater on circulars-Soleil from knitty

Hmmm...I thought this list was longer..well, who knows what's in store for 2006? I want to try magic loop and of course, I want to design my own stuff.
I just looked back at my diary of FO's and I started 2005 with the skull socks from Hello Yarn.
Oh yes, and I actually completed 25 projects this year! Phew! No wonder I'm tired. Ha! It should have been more...I got a bunch of UFO's over here...maybe this will be their year. I know it will be mine! Happy New Knitting Year!