Sad news about Liquigas rider Manuel Beltran (formerly of US Postal); I’ve heard conflicting reports about the lab that processed his results. If it’s the same one that handled Floyd Landis’s lab work I have serious doubts. But for the moment, I don’t know enough to make any sort of judgment.

I’m also sad about the riders who have had to drop out due to injuries (poor Lilian Jegou!) and other reasons, like Magnus Backstedt, who didn’t make the time cut the other day. And I’m still waiting to see Robbie McEwen come charging to the front!

On the home front, good progress is being made on my Simple Knitted Bodice, although my photos aren’t anything to write home about — it’s really hard to photograph black yarn properly, especially when you’re in a hurry! I’ve also had to take it off the needles two or three times and try it on; and it seems that every time I do I end up ripping back 2 or 3 inches, trying to take out the extraneous stitches so that the fit is just what I want. It’s a slow process; I take it completely off the needles, rip back carefully, and then painstakingly pick up every stitch and make sure it’s correctly oriented before I can get back to work. But it’s worth it!

And now, having completed the purl ridges on the body, I’m ready to begin my lace panel, and I’m trying to figure out the best way to approach it so that I don’t lose track of where I am while watching the race — that’s been my biggest fear thus far.

This hastily taken picture is the most up to date; yes, the color is wonky — just imagine it as extremely black.

Well, tomorrow is my sister’s b-day, but we’re going to be celebrating today, so I’ve got to hurry up and get ready and drive over to my mom’s house. I’m looking forward to giving her the socks I knitted, and I really hope she likes them!