Check, please.

Oh, was this supposed to be my KNITTING blog? I think John Lennon said it best: Life is what happens while you’re busy making plans. It's all good, but - sheesh! – I've hardly even been able to knit, let alone blog about it. I'll get the personal stuff out of the way here. Tomorrow it's all knitting - I promise.

If you've been looking me up lately you'll know that I kicked up my get off the couch plan. That's really a whole lifestyle adjustment with it's own baggage and emotional repercussions and it has taken a lot of my focus even while not actively on the hoof. So I’m back digging in the personal stables for my pony and much of the work is rough and raw. I have to take more responsibility for my emotional well-being as well as my physical well-being, as the latter is a consequence and symptom of the former. And probably vice versa. I really can't fix one without the other.

Meanwhile, I declared another intention for 2007, to cast a wider net professionally in my performing career, and I blithely sent that off into the ethereal universe. Yee Har!!! Yeah. Sure. Careful what you wish for. Now, of course, I’m receiving all kinds of (usually last minute) info about audition calls for musical theatre and commercials (and some opera too), and I’m scrambling to get my act together for them. It’s all good, I suppose, but with the aforementioned not-so-little personal reclamation project I haven't been singing all that much and even if I do get the pipes working I am just not in the mood to put on my best Ethel Merman persona. Yeah. I know. Cry me a river. I should never complain about being able to do what I love for a living, so please bear with me, but it can very hard to shake the emotional manure off in the middle of mucking out the personal stables in order to go out and *Be a Star*.

Well enough about me. (typical self-involved diva: "but enough about me - how did YOU like my last show?") Never let it be said the universe does not provide reminders to stop bemoaning our own disappointments and count our blessings. I was trolling some of my favourite knitblogs during a bout of insomnia last night and I came across this reality check while visiting Not-so-Mean girl Jen and Crazy-like-a-fox Aunt Purl:

Allison is a self-employed craft-supplier Mom with a gorgeous three month old baby, Evan. As if there wasn't enough going on, what with her online store and the new baby and all: Evan was diagnosed with a brain tumor and will soon be travelling to Phoenix for baby brain surgery. Those last three words should never have to appear in the same sentence, and hopefully someday they never will. But since they do, I have the urge to do something - anything - to help.

If you've been hankering to upgrade your fibre intake or need a Very Good Reason to cheat on your 2007 yarn diet (we get one day off a month, don't we?) please come visit Allison at SuperCrafty - her online yarn and needle and pattern and notion shop. Her prices are good, she's very fast with response to queries and usually ships orders in 24 hours or even the same day.

You can also go to Allison's blog and make a donation to the brain surgery fund. The LAST thing they need to be worrying about right now is medical expenses! With your help we can defray at least that part of their concern. If we can chip in to help someone buy a spinning wheel or a loom, just imagine the mojo we have to support these brave parents determined to make a healthy and happy future for their son. Thank God the medical intervention exists that will hopefully help them do that.

Evan has the first review of his MRI and medical records next week at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, so they should know more about the treatment options soon and Allison will post updates on her blog. Meanwhile, let's send them some love from the fibre and knit-blogging community. Keep them in your prayers.

All my best wishes for Evan, his mommy Allison and his daddy Jeff. Evan's already blessed to have you for parents and that's a great way to start. Have faith!