Reading The Son, by Phillip Meyer. It's okay in parts; mostly it holds my interest.

We get a raise from the State this month, but I'm not sure how much it's going to be because our 'raises' never result in an actual increase in my salary. The thing is, any raise the State gives us is immediately offset by a commensurate increase in the cost of benefits, and in my case is always wiped out by an increase in my Blue Cross premium. This is something the legislators do to make themselves feel better.  So. Raise. Bah.

Planning proceeds apace for the household weekend in January over MLK weekend.  Jerusha's planning a garb workshop for Saturday, and I'm hoping to get the guys to teach a class or two in their specialties.  As students go, we're pretty non-threatening. I do expect much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth from the self-conscious.  Well, to be honest, that includes me.

I'm feeling the urge to cook lately, but the condition of the kitchen has stopped me. I'd have to clean it first and it's a daunting task.  Lots of stuff to be thrown out. And in my room, as well.  *sigh* I've been putting it all off too long.  Lazy, lazy.

OMG, it's World Smurf Day!  They're celebrating in Belgium.  Hold me back!

I've got a black and white cross pattern as an experiment on the inkle loom and now that I have the turning sequence figured out, it looks okay. I think it'll look better when I use #10 crochet cotton; the # 5 is spun so loosely I can't really get a decent beat and can't get the pattern to square.