I think I may have a case of Jaywalker rebellion.  I wonder if anyone else has experienced this in their relationship with their Jaywalkers?  The first sock knit up nearly without incident.  It was a good little sock -- except for a few problems getting the right gauge and needle size at the beginning it proved to be compliant, obedient, a rule follower. This second sock was the same.  We had a few coughs in the beginning finding the right spot in the color sequence in the yarn for a starting point but once we got that we flew right along, turned the heel, knit the gusset, knit the foot.  We worked togother well.  There was harmony in sockville.  Until four days ago when it was time to begin shaping the toe.  Yes, four days. 

For four days, I have knit and ripped and knit and ripped and knit and ripped.  First, I began knitting the toe and discovered when I did the decreases that I had made a mistake somewhere and now had two extra sitches in the pattern area.  I figured it was an error a couple rows back and ripped back to find it.  Not there.  Oh it must be back just a little further.  Well, maybe a little further.  Damn, even further?  The next thing I knew I had ripped out at least three inches and it was begining to look like the mistake must have occurred way back near the gusset.  I drew the line there.  I was NOT going all the way back to the gusset.  So I did what I should have three inches of ripping earlier and skipped a couple increases.  Voila.  Right number of stitches. 

So I thought to myself, ok, now we'll finish up this toe right quick and have a lovely paid of finished socks.  I started the toe shaping and was knitting merrily along and suddenly, I have the wrong stitch count AGAIN!  and AGAIN and AGAIN.    The first time, the problem seems to have arisen at the very beginning of the toe shaping!  So drum roll please.  AND THE PROBLEM IS:  I did an increase instead of slipping the first stitch on needle number 4 about an inch before the toe shaping begins.   (Later, on another journal backward, I found I had stopped drinking juice whatessoeverthis sweater again is very clearly a labels of love but

I had a talk with myself and told myself to just go back to the beginning of needle number 4 at the beginning of the toe shaping and K2tog.  The knitting police in my head must have been listening, as usual, because my response was, "Oh, it's just an inch.  It won't take long to knit it again.  I'll just rip back so it's perfect."  I look at the sock.  I know the k2tog won't show [-- much -- , the knitting police interject] and the improper increase an inch below doesn't show [ -- much -- they interject again].  I blame these imaginery people in my head (are you worried about me yet?) but I have to admit that the perfectionist in me (oh another person in your head -- that makes the psych nurses reading this feel much better).  OK, my perfecionist tendencies just will not allow me to let this go.  Let's just say this attention to [read as "obsession with"] detail is what makes me a great lace knitter and forget the psychoanalysis.  Mmm.  Good rationale.  Works for me.  Back to the one inch plus of knitting before we begin the toe shaping.  Perhaps in another year or so I'll be able to present you with a photo of the finished socks!