This is copied straight from She Shoots Sheep Shots. You can see the original here.

As of today, the OFA has just barely 1300 scarves. They need 3000 for the Red Scarf Project, to send in care packages to college students formerly in foster care, who are going it on their own.

I’ve been lucky enough to meet some of these kids. This isn’t just some nutty knitters feeling good idea. The students truly appreciate what you are doing, knitting something by hand for them. Not only is it likely to be the only handknit they receive, it will likely be the only care package.

Here’s the plan:

1. Cast on for a red scarf and work on it as much as you can this week, and if you’re in the US, especially over Thanksgiving. Pick a simple pattern and you’ll maybe finish it by Sunday. Or next.
2. Be thankful for whoever supported you with a care package when you were a student. Think what it would have been like without them. And if there wasn’t anyone? Then you really know how it matters.
3. Tell another knitter about it . There’s info on the Red Scarf blog. And patterns.
4. STEAL THE POSTER above and put it on your blog. Really! If you click on it, it’ll go to my Flickr page, just steal it from there.
5. Call your local yarn store and tell them about this. If they need a poster to print out, there’s one of this one, print sized, linked to the Red Scarf blog. Offer to print it out for them & hang it in the store. Maybe they want to offer a discount on any red yarn for one day to perk things up?
6. Knit! I’m determined to finish the one I’m on now, and crank one more by the December 15th deadline. It is do-able. Join me?

My last pep talk on the subject is here, it has additional suggestions for helping out.

I almost missed reminding you that today is Steak and Blowjob Day.

Don’t forget to show your love for your honey by celebrating. You can learn more about it here.

It feels as if I spent the past eleven days on a bit of vacation from life. It was definitely a vacation from work and without a schedule to follow I sort of floundered as I am wont to do. I did have grand ideas of things I could get done with so much time off work but without any actual plans I got nothing done. The only thing I swore I would do – bake – didn’t even get done. Yes, a holiday season without baking. A travesty if there ever was one!

I did however take the children skiing more than once. I rented skis for the season, I suited them up and spent a day reading in the lodge with breaks to hand out money, food and hot chocolate. I also bought a snowboard for one of them and last night… Last night I skied for the first time in five years. My planning skills really need work. Not only do I have to adjust to being back at work, I had to figure out how to get to my second floor office without going up the stairs. Also, the screams every time I rise from my chair are upsetting my office mates. I don’t think they appreciate it on this first day back to work.

As for holidays and new years and resolutions…

The holidays were good. Much Rock Band 2 was played on the Wii. During said play it was discovered my 12 y/o’s voice is changing and now I have to pay him to not sing. A nasty head cold made the rounds but overall it was a healthy holiday. The new year was celebrated by bowling. And we were witness to another holiday miracle…

My 14 y/o was invited to a New Year’s party and did not even ASK if he could go. He told his friend he would be bowling with his family. Yes, a 14 y/o boy willingly spent time with his family over the break. He played games with us, bowled, and did not sulk. I’m trying to soak up and enjoy each and every moment before the wind changes direction. I know this will not last but for now I even have photographic PROOF of this miracle. Of course I can’t post it because it would require me to actually take the photos off my camera. That has not happened. I’m thinking I need to put more photos on Flickr so maybe I’ll start with these.

As for resolutions, I’m not a fan. Some years I make them, most years I don’t. I think this is a don’t year. They just make me feel bad when I don’t accomplish them. 2009 seems to be the year of let’s see what happens. Of course, I just realized I mentioned I must work on my planning skills. That without plans I get nothing done… hmmm. Still, right now feels like a take life where it leads you time.

Things I learned over the break:

1. I can not drink 10 cups of coffee in one day unless I want to be up until 3am.
2. I need a plan or I will get nothing done but watch Gilmore Girls.
3. I think I’m in love with Gilmore Girls. I’m on season 6. I don’t want it to end.
4. Your arms can be sore from skiing. No, I don’t know how that happens. It just does.
5. It is possible for teenage boys to play Rock Band for 7 hours straight with only one break for food.
6. If not playing video games they eat approximately every 23 minutes. (Okay, I already knew this.)
7. Sometimes your kids will want to play a board game with you.
8. A cool uncle present will up the time your teen will want to spend in your company.
9. If you need to laugh until you cry, hang out with a sibling.
10. Mondays are harder than you remember when you have to go back to work after a vacation.

It is Christmas Eve morning and I’m at work. It’s not that I have any actual work to do, it’s more that I’m required to be here. It should be noted however that they are only making us work a half day. Now for the facts of this particular Christmas Eve:

• My brain is swirling, swirling, swirling. It will not stop. I keep trying to grab things and write them down before I forget them but I still feel things I’ve forgotten waiting at the edges of my consciousness waiting until it’s too late to pounce.
• The lights are still not on the tree.
• The house has not been cleaned.
• The baking has not been done.
• The food shopping for tomorrow is not done. I was suppose to do it yesterday but instead spent the evening at the doctor’s with the 10 year old. Earache and possible strep. Every year one of them is sick. It seems he is the chosen one this year.
• I only have a couple of gifts left to wrap.
• A Hanukkah miracle has occurred. The older two received Cranium WOW for the first night of Hanukkah. We have all played it twice since then. The miracle? My FOURTEEN year old played and had fun and was animated and excited to play a board game with his family. Trying to hold on to that memory. Who knows when it will happen again.
• I have a late-breaking gift for one of the children which has thrown off the whole fairly even, fairly fair gift piles. Now I’m trying to figure out how to work it into the rotation. What I’m not willing to do is buy 3 more gifts. What to do? What to do?
• I really need to relax and approach my shopping without a frantic edge. It’s all about state of mind now. I always make sure to not have to go to the store on Christmas eve. I hate the kind of crowds out there and yet here I am making lists of food for tomorrow, last minute needs and last minute chores. I’m afraid there isn’t enough time left to get it all done.

Have a Happy Holiday! Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! May it be fun and stress-free.