Watching the Olympics and Knitting...

I've been enjoying the Olympics, watching Archery and Fencing, Equestrian Dressage, individual Artistic Gymnastics (the regulation team events with set routines get boring fast), and occasional other events.
I saw the beach volleyball in Beijing and I was bewildered by the clothing mis-standards (odd word, but bear with me). The men get to wear beach shorts and long baggy vests. The women wear a heavy tan and a tight bikini. Why? If it's a matter of comfort, why aren't the men topless? If the IOC are concerned with equality, why don't the women get to wear long vest tops (with built in brassiere) and beach shorts? In many other sports the women dress similarly to the men (I'm not including gymnastics - it's irrelevant, but, I would like to see the option of the women using track-suit bottoms during competition). Ok, I'm done. I had to say something. It's been bothering me.

I've been knitting and sewing during the Olympics. I signed up for the ravelympics (bad, bad USOC)  ravellenic games. I entered a shawl (Growing Leaves #1) and a wrap-sweater (Yoga Cardigan) into WIPS wrestling. They're both unfinished projects I hadn't worked on since last year, and they needed to be finished. I've finished the shawl, and have put in the entries and form for a "medal" (yes, that I thought I wouldn't get) and am still trying to finish the sweater. It needs seaming and the other half of the front edging/tie to be done. I'm still struggling with the seaming. It's not difficult, but it's tedious. After it's finished, I'm debating on whether I'm giving both items away.
I knitted the sweater for me, but it's way too small (I have to be realistic, I'm not going to lose the required weight this year or the next *sigh*), and I'm not in love with the shawl. The problem is that I know they need a bit of special care (blocking after every wash) and the average person won't know how/won't want to do that.
It annoys me - not because the items won't be cared for - but the fact I'm caring quite so much. Once they're out of my hands, and I send them off with appropriate labelling (which they'll get) it's not my concern anymore. But I do care, and that's just me.
We'll see what happens.

Since the last entry, I've bought all the yarn talked about, with a couple changes. There's enough for three mistake shawls. I bought two lots of dark purple yarn from Deramores: 12 balls of Wendy (Merino (chunky)) and 10 balls of  King Cole (Merino Blend (chunky)), and then took myself (and my Dad) off by train to Texere Yarns and bought 7 100g balls of their own Chunky wool in claret (dark red). I'm not sure which set I'll use, but I'll be happy with the colour no matter what.
Whilst at Texere, I also bought yarn for another project (funchal mobius cowl, by Kate Davies), and  I finally caved and bought a ball winder, as the thought of winding up another 100g skein of lace yarn by hand makes my shoulders scream.
I'm planning on going to either John Lewis in the Trafford Centre (by Tram and bus, because I can), or, Up Country near Wakefield (by car, because it's really the only option), to check out some Rowan Creative Linen yarn. It's to make a sweater (Sorrel, from The Knitter Magazine, Issue 44). I do like using the required yarn if possible. I have the chance to buy the yarn online for a 10% discount, but, I'm picky about texture and colours and I don't want to buy yarn I'm possibly going to hate. Yes, it seems like a lot of work for 8 balls of yarn, but that's the way I float.
Unfortunately, right now I'm delaying (it does seem like a lot of work for 8 balls of yarn), but all will be resolved eventually (at least before the end of the month).

Anyway. I'm still without my netbook, though it's hard drive is out and being copied (very slowly) and we'll see what happens - my Dad is under the delusion that the extended warranty is still in effect, even though I told him it wouldn't be, I now just have to persuade him that it will be cost effective to get it fixed (if it can be).
Let's see what happens. . .

Later