Socks and Olympic Knitting

Due to a mess here at the house yesterday, I didn't have a chance to blog, so today you're actually going to get essentially two blog entries. Twice the insanity! Woo Hoo.

As you can see above, I've made it past the dreaded, time sucking heel turn and gusset thingy on my Latvian Lace Socks (from Folk Socks with Knit Picks Essential). I hope to finish this first sock today. I've enjoyed knitting this sock. The lace is pretty but it's easy to do without really paying too much attention - great TV knitting. I'm having so much fun knitting socks lately that while last year was the year of lace (this was true for many knitters - at least the knitbloggers out there), I think this year might be the year of socks - at least for me personally. Part of me wants to go pull out my sock drawer right now and get rid of all of my commercial socks. Nothing like not having socks to really force you to knit them. But I think if I did this, since I would then HAVE to knit socks, I would rebel and refuse to knit another sock. Yes, my mind, it is a crazy place...

Something else that I've been batting around in my head (actually I realized that I needed to start thinking about it this weekend so it hasn't been in my head for long) is that the Olympics are coming up. Opening ceremonies are one month from yesterday. Now, I realize that there are people who get their Olympic fix by checking the paper or the Internet each morning, seeing the medal count, and then they go on their merry way, content with this tiny dose of athletic glory. I am not that kind of person. I am the kind of person who watches every night, keeping up with the intimate dramas of the athletes and their sports. I weep for the athlete who dedicates his performance at the Olympics to his dog who was attacked by radioactive squirrels just a week before opening ceremonies. I cheer for the longshot (I just love the various bobsled teams that come from places where you're more likely to find frozen drinks than freezing temperatures). And of course, who doesn't enjoy watching the antics of those wacky French judges? Needless to say, if there is an Olympics, there must be Olympic Knitting. Like every other aspect of the event, there are rules.

1. Olympic knitting must last for the duration of the entire Olympic games.
2. Olympic knitting must be simple patterning, easily memorized, and not chain me to a chart.
3. Olympic knitting must be easy to put down and pick up again. (I have to be able to wipe my eyes when I tear up the National Anthem)

I'm off to sort through my stash to see what I've got and I'll report back (there might be a blog poll later). In the meantime, let me know in the comments what your suggestions are for Olympic knitting and if you haven't already, go learn all the words to your national anthem. We really can tell when you're faking it on the medal stand.