“It’ll have to come out.”
(Extra points awarded if you know the source of that quote.)
I spent a good part of today rassling a 25.2 Mb pdf file. A text-based pdf file that is 25.2 Mb in size. No wonder my brain hurts. It’s like dealing with a tap-dancing elephant that in a shoebox. Or something.
Yeah, fun times.
But that was then and this is now, so I’m not thinking about it anymore. I’ll think about it tomorrow. When I have to.
I promised you something silly today, right?
You may have noticed that my web guru recently installed a doo-hickey that puts the number of total comments a commenter has left on my blog in parentheses after said commenter’s name when said commenter leaves a comment. (I think I just invented a new tongue-twister with that sentence.)
Anyhow, a friend of mine (who shall remain anonymous unless she wants to “out” herself) recently told me that she hesitates to leave comments now because she’s afraid that her total number of comments on my blog would put her in the stalker category. I responded “Don’t worry about it. Heck, you have to have 500 comments before you get your Junior Stalker Pin.”
So naturally she responded that she wanted a Junior Stalker Pin. Then L-B (who has left more than 500 comments) got in on it and asked why she had not yet received her Junior Stalker Pin.
You know where this is leading, right?
Do you qualify for a Junior Stalker Pin? Leave me a comment to see how many comments you’ve left total. (I believe it’s tracked by the email address of the commenter.) If you have left 500 comments or more, email me (using the “contact me” form accessible via the tab at the top of the page) your snail mail addy and I’ll gladly send you your very own junior stalker pin. Should you want one. While supplies last. 
And I’ll take under advisement other stalker-ish behavior that might qualify you for a pin.
(You do realize that this is a ploy to get more comments, right?)
Okay, was that silly enough for you?
So that this blog post is not utter frivolity, a question from the comments:
WendyT asks:
My question to you is (because I ripped back several times before I was satisfied) is after your turn the heel and knit the heel flap, how do you prevent those pesky holes when you pick up those extra stitches where the top of the heel joins the instep? I had to do it several times before I was satisfied, and I’m not even sure how I managed finally. What are your tricks?
That’s a toughie, because I think the answer is “experience.” For my first umpty-ump pairs of socks knitted I was not satisfied with my picking up of the extra stitch to prevent a pesky hole. I’ve gotten pretty good at it, but it’s hard to say exactly how I do it. I did successfully do it on my stealth sock this morning:
And here is one of the Costa socks:
After the heel is done, you always have a little gap, because working back and forth on just the heel stitches, you stretch the junction between front and back, and also, I think there is an extra row worked on the back so you’ve got a tiny bit of an edge on the sides of the heel. I always pick up an extra stitch from the middle of the edge stitch on the side of the heel so it looks a bit neater. It I’m anywhere near a camera next time I’m completing a heel (and unfortunately, I’m usually not), I’ll try to document it.
Lucy was not cooperating with the photographer today . . .
Oh see, here I thought it was a bad thing to be a stalker, but you are rewarding it, hmm…
Maybe there could be a blog button for the other categories.
heather ts last blog post..Not Feeling It
Those pins are kind of scary!
Jodys last blog post..I’m crazy for lace!
I’m nowhere near Junior Stalker status. I read your blog regularly and rarely comment, clearly I am a Stealthy Stalker!
Looking at the comment I just left I have a total of 423. So, you might want to check the counter’s functionality because I am way too lazy to have left 423 comments on your blog.
Ah–so that’s what those numbers were about. I need to work on my stalking, I guess.
caths last blog post..Sweater Procrastination
Ha. I know I’m not even close. I always mean to quit lurking and comment more, and I do so good for a few days, and then….
Imbriums last blog post..Weekly Spinning: Week 2
I don’t consider this stalking – I consider it appreciation
Karens last blog post..
I don’t comment but I *am* a faithful reader. I think I like to see what Lucy’s up to in addition to knitting goodies. I have a Main Coon Cat named Rocky who’d like to meet her.
I wanna be a J-R Stalker! =)
Happy Holiday weekending!
DRATS! I’m only at 242 comments! OK, I will see if this counts for 243. Heh heh heh…
Love the pin! I agree with one of the other comments – I may not comment a lot but I am a Junior Lurker.
Carols last blog post..Pay no attention to that Man Behind the Curtain*
What number am I?
I can’t explain how I don’t get that hole either. The latest pair ended up WITH a hole so hopefully I can get back to my non-holey ways soon.
No pin for me. Nope – not for a very long time.
Kelleys last blog post..Hail, Fire, & Dangnation
Great pin! I’m just a stalker-in-training though.
Marys last blog post..On the (Bumpy) Road Again
Is it the dentist in Little Shop of Horrors? All I can think of is the big, “Now SPIT!”
I aspire to Wendy’s Junior Stalker status and will wear my badge of honor proudly when I’ve finally earned it!
Zhenyas last blog post..Humble Pie
Well, it worked! Lots of comments! ‘PDF wrangler’ – I like it!
Hell’s bells! I guess I have to comment a LOT more. How’s about giving out a button for the first or last commenter? Lucy is lovely no matter how she poses Luv.m.
Does cajoling you into joining a crazy sock knitalong two years in a row give me Junior Stalker status??
Jessicas last blog post..I made it!
I’m not sure how many it’ll count for me, and I’m way behind in reading posts, so I’m late on this one. But wouldn’t it be cool to have one of those pins!
I hope your brain hurts a lot less today (Friday)!
(((Hugs)))
Knitnanas last blog post..A Special Request…
Wow. This is cool. I a great lurker, so I’ll be interested to see if I have any hits here.
I always think I’ll comment, but I share this computer and the time to read is crunched. The time to comment- yeah, that is a figment of the imagination. Yay for days off!
What a ploy, Wendy! I’m a fairly constant reader of your blog, but only post a comment occasionally. I’m always interested in which sock you’re knitting.
Joan
Nifty feature! I have been reading your ever blog since i discovered knitting blogs a year ago or so, but I don’t think I have ever made a comment. It’s hard,I always think that I have nothing to say that is interesting and that no one else have said before! But, away with all those pessimistic thoughts and let me thank you for a very interesting blog with clever writing, wonderful knits and cute cat pictures! There, the first step to junior lurker
OK, let’s see…how many do I have?
Dang! I have a long way to go! What is my total? I think 3, but I read every day!
beckys last blog post..And They’re Socks!
Ohh funny! I wonder if maybe it keeps track of our little … whatever that ping number is that ID’s our computer? I’m on a new computer now since my last post so I wonder what it’ll have to say? My last comment said I had left over 400 and I was like WHAT? I know there is no possible way that I’ve left that many comments for you. As much as I do love you Wendy, I’m thinking 400+ is slightly inflated for me.
Lauras last blog post..A Spinner Is Born
After reading that the comment counter may be compiling all the comments left by the name typed in, I wondered how many comments have been left by Rebecca’s. I did a quick Find, and alas there were no Rebecca’s, so I’m just going to have to leave a comment to find out!
Rebeccas last blog post..Living on the edge
You want stalkerish behavior?
I have MEMORIZED your book.
I am counting down the days ’till the next one comes out…
My sketchbook is filled with drawings of Lucy.
I read your blog every day (and sometimes check more than once a day)…
I once sat down and read every blog post you ever wrote, in order, in one sitting.
I ride the Metro some days in hopes of seeing you. If I do, I hope to get your autograph.
I have dubbed toe-up socks as knit using “the Wendy method.”
So I know I don’t have 500 comments, but I think I deserve a pin. It would make me very proud…
Now
I’m
posting
more
comments
just
to
up
my
number…
Did I mention I’ve favorited your page?
And that my cat would like to marry Lucy?
And that I’ve left many, many more comments under various false names?
Yay! I’m halfway there…
I love Monty Python.
And your blog..but I agree with others..I’m a stalking reader!
KnittyLynns last blog post..Nope, didn’t fall into a hole..
I know I FAR from qualify for the pin, but I just wanted you to know that I LOVE it. It cracked me up.
Searching sock patterns…
Ocean, Shell Lace, Pebbled Sand –
Summer beach knitting!