Ok, so first, a knitting update. I did not, in fact, manage to finish even the first sock of my dad's Christmas pair, in time for Christmas morning. I ended up popping the sock in progress, needles, ball of yarn, and all, into a gift bag. When he opened it, I told him I'd continue working on it, if he'd hand it back. The first sock is now finished, and I've got almost the entire cuff of the second sock done. Here's hoping I can finish the socks, over the next few days.