11 March 2008

A Little Progress

There's not been much to report around here over the past week. It's been my long week at work, so the majority of my time has been spent working and trying to sleep. I say trying because I've not been as successful as I'd like in the sleep category lately. Some of it may be late winter blues, though I've not particularly felt like SAD has been an issue this year and haven't been nearly as bothered as some by this winter's heavy snowfall.

There has been a bit of progress on the knitting front. The wedding vest is going slowly, but I'm nearly through one full vertical pattern repeat. I'll need to get through a bit more than two, increasing as I go, before I'll be ready to begin the armhole steeks, at which time I'll be starting to decrease for the armholes, followed by the V-neck, and then the back neck steek, all of which will hopefully speed things up nicely. This photo is of the center back panel, so that you can see how the main pattern is reversed on either side.

031108Vest

I can generally only manage two or three rounds at most before my hands start to cramp, which has slowed things down a bit, but I try to do at least one round a night, which I figure should make up for the slowness. I love the way this pattern is knitting up, and it seems to be coming out to gauge, or at least close enough that it won't look like a sack on me (I hope).

In Other News

The other big thing I've been up to of late is looking into graduate programs. After my last attempt fizzled out, I still wanted to pursue a degree in epidemiology, but I knew it would have to wait until I were in a better position to be able to complete my studies. As much as I enjoy emergency work, I don't think that I can keep doing this physically for the next 20+ years. Besides, disease at the population level fascinates me - why do things small?

So I've been doing a bit of investigation into distance learning programs that will allow me to pursue a degree on a part-time basis online while continuing to work. The University of North Carolina, which has a very well-respected School of Public Health, has an online certificate program in field epidemiology, the coursework for which I can then use towards their Master of Public Health in that area.

So over the next few weeks I plan on compiling application materials to start that in the fall, with a course that I actually took at UNC ten years ago during my first go-round in the graduate world. The refresher will be nice, and at a leisurely one class per term, it should be no sweat to fit into my current schedule. And then in a few years, who knows?

12 comments:

KSee said...

vest looks great. I really like the pattern. On the graduate programs all I can say is good for you. Taking the next step is always a good thing.

Anonymous said...

The vest looks fantastic Mel! Good luck with the graduate work; even at one class a semester, it'll keep you busy (hopefully not so busy that you won't visit us on Tuesday nights once in a while; we miss you).

Anonymous said...

No sweat to fit into your current schedule, huh? You're a better man than me, I'll tell ya.

Anonymous said...

I love the pattern on the vest! It is looking great.

Good luck with grad school. Though I go my masters at night, it was soon after I got my bachelors, so I was still in school mode. I am not so sure I could do it now, but I think that is mostly due to disinterest in the subject that I got my masters in....

Molly Bee said...

The vest is absolutely stunning! Good luck with the grad work. It's hard but obtaining great goals usually is! Did Tuck get Furminated?

Anonymous said...

The sweater is looking good. And the graduate school plans sound positive. Public health is an important area so if your interests lie there, it could be a really interesting direction to go. Hope the program at UNC works out for you.

WonderMike said...

The vest does look great. I'm sorry to hear about the cramping. My hands do that too. I wonder if it's something I'm doing wrong.

And bully for you going back to school. Are you not worried about Distance Learning and their credentials?

Good Luck with however you decide to make it happen!

Anonymous said...

Good luck on grad school. I think the University of Connecticut has a epidemiology/toxicology program. I know a few MD's who have commuted back and forth.

The vest looks great:-)

Sheepish Annie said...

I wish I had the energy to hit the books again. I still haven't finished up my clinical work for my license...maybe someday. Kudos for taking those first steps! I also wish I could knit up a vest as cool as that one. Very, very nice!!!

M-H said...

Good plan baout the higher degree. Shift work is not good for the ageing bod and it's sensible to be thinking about alternatives.

knitnzu said...

MASTER of public health...ooooh... (officious? on the edge?)... I talked to somebody this week about lyme disease (who was looking for data on invasive plants) who said it is the veterinarians that clue them in to areas of the state that have increasing deer tick pops (because you all pull them off of infested pets). The vest looks good. If it comes out a bit like a sack, put one of those waist cinch tabs in the back.

Christine said...

OH that vest is going to turn out gorgeous! Good for you on looking for grad school ideas. :)