For the Love of Socks

For the love of socks and all that is holy I cannot stop knitting socks!!! I am on my 5th pair with 4 pairs in progress...doesn't sound too crazy until you take into account that I have only been knitting socks for a month and a half. That's over 13 socks!! Good god how do I find time to feed myself inbetween all the sock knitting! And it is not as if the only thing I have knit in the past month and a half has been socks! I knit scarves, mittens and hats too! Only to invariably return to socks...like that illicit lover that you just can't get enough of, not that I know what that's like (the illicit part) but I imagine it would be like an insatiable need to knit socks. Maybe I should tell my husband he is just like hand knit socks...
Right now I am learning how to knit 2 toe-up socks at once. I do not labour under the misconception that it is faster (despite what everyone who knits that way says) but it is interesting and fun to learn new methods. The messing around with the cables slows me down, but I like that I won't have any leftover yarn when I am done, and that my socks will be the maximum length for the amount of yarn I have. I don't plan on using this method too often, except for perhaps when I am unsure of having sufficient yarn...
Did I mention I love socks? I love watching variations in yarn. I love turning the heel and watching my knitting become three dimensional. I love putting them on my feet and wiggling my toes. When I knit on DPN's I often stop knitting the second sock to admire and stroke the first one...I feel a bit like Gollum...we loves the preciouses...
I find that I get irritated when I have to go to work because it cuts into my knitting time...I wonder if I could conceivably think of a way to drive and knit at the same time. I think I could do it, I just don't think I could do it safely...maybe if I moved to the prairies and all the roads were straight...I have completely mastered knitting while watching movies, reading blogs (I can spin and read blogs too) and reading books (as long as the spine is not too stiff) I also take sock with me to the pub when I go to play pool or sing karaoke.
One of my socks in progress (SIP) is made from Opal self patterning yarn, it's plain old boring stocking stitch but I am charmed and intrigued by the patterning and striping. I thought the repetetive pattern would become boring, especially with the straight forward knitting, but it doesn't! I just think "Oh look, it's the little white bit with blue bits between the grey and green stripe..." and I start thinking that I am incredibly clever because now it is repeating so I can go "Ok, I just knit a green stripe, grey stripe, white stripe, another grey and green stripe so next must be a white stripe with blue dots..." so I keep knitting away and guess what? I was right! HAHA!! I am the smartest person ALIVE!!!
I am designing a sock while I am knitting it and I am pretty thrilled. I am going to write the pattern up (maybe chart it if I get adventurous) and post it on Ravelry...apparently knitting socks is not enough, now I have to become a sock designer.
Man...do I ever love socks...