Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Finally Friday
So CBS is working on a new baking show and just had open calls for amateur bakers. They only had 5 cities available and only one of them was in a place where I knew people who were willing to help me out with transportation and board, so Dallas it was. Actually, it was Austin, but that was close enough. I was going to update everyone while I was on the road, but I have a limited amount of patience for typing long entries on the smartphone, so that didn't pan out.
Now that I am back home and have a computer at my disposal, here's how the past weekend went down. I left a bit later than I wanted because the kids weren't feeling great and needed extra cuddles, but I got out the door at a reasonable time. Traffic was a bit heavier than usual for that time of day, but I made it to the airport, got checked in and headed for security. The line was really backed up and moving slow. Odd since they have 6 stations to check IDs, but not so odd when I realized they were only using 1 person for each side. As my plane was starting to board, they added a couple more people and the pace picked up.
When I got through security (thank goodness I didn't get pulled for a random bag check) I had to wait for the train to get me to my gate. I'm so glad they did away with the mobile lounge that used to take forever. As was to be expected, my gate was on the far end and the clock was ticking. If you were puzzled by a blur racing through the concourse and swearing softly, that was me. I didn't dare swear loudly, I'm too out of shape and needed the oxygen. I got to the gate as they were starting to wrap things up and slid through just under the wire. Turned out I was not the last person to board which made me feel a bit better. They really did not want to be delayed leaving, so the attendant stuck me in the closest aisle seat instead of the middle seat I had reserved.
As it turned out, this was not a bad option. We flew out of town, leveled off and they served us our drinks. I had been too nervous to eat a proper breakfast, so I opted for the tomato juice and a water. So there we were, enjoying our beverage and the view of the clear blue sky when we hit a speed-bump. At the first bounce, I picked up my juice. I had my hand poised to lift my water off the tray when we started bouncing like a puppy at a kitten-fest and there went my ice water onto the floor. When things settled back down, I cleaned the ice out of the aisle and waited for a replacement. I could see our attendant carrying on an animated conversation with the lead attendant and it didn't look good. When he came back our way, he explained that he would bring replacement drinks shortly, but that at the moment they were helping the folks back by my original seat. Those folks had gotten the worst of the turbulence and were covered in sodas and juices.
The rest of the flights were pretty uneventful and I got picked up at the airport in Austin in time to grab lunch. My friends always do Torchy's on Fridays, so I had Torchy's Tacos for lunch. I don't know about the rest of the menu, but I can vouch for the carnitas tacos. Mine were so heaped with meat that I couldn't fold it up. I dug in with a fork instead and thoroughly enjoyed it. Afterwards, it was off to another friend's house to bake my goodies for the baking contest. I made my Tunnel of Fudge cake that has become the go-to favorite for birthdays at work and I cranked out a batch of buttermilk scones with homemade lemon curd. In between, I was treated to some amazing baked ziti which was absolutely wonderful. Some of the most wonderful people call Austin "home" and I was fortunate enough to get to spend time with them.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Happiness Is As Happiness Does
I was talking to a friend who is working on a degree. For one of her classes, she had to write a paper about happiness and needed to interview a certain number of people. I don't know how many interviews she had to do, but I was honored when she added me to her list. I love interviews. Not the camera in your face while you clutch the microphone in white-knuckled terror and paste a brittle smile on your face as you try to remember how to form human speech. I hate those. I can't stand those. Those interviews are always simultaneously interminable and too brief. They are just long enough for me to feel like I tripped over my words with my foot shoved in my mouth and not long enough to try to repair the damage done by my awkwardness.
This interview was the other kind. This was the kind of interview I have done a few times for other friends also working on their degrees. The kind of interview that feels like what it is, a conversation about an interesting topic with a good friend. A couple doughnuts and coffee could easily replace the clipboard between us as they ask questions and conversation, and sometime discussion, ensue. I love that sort of interview. It's so relaxed and frequently my friend and I discover a new bond we otherwise might never have known we shared.
When my friend asked if I could answer a couple questions for her class, I quickly agreed. When she said they were about happiness, I thought, "Cool, never been asked that before." She asked me about times that I had been happy, times from childhood, my teen years and adulthood. Now I hadn't really thought much about it, but all-in-all I think I'm generally a happy sort of person.
Not that you can necessarily be happy all the time. Somehow the thought of that feels a little creepy to me. If you are always happy all the time, do you truly appreciate it? It seems like it might be easy to take it for granted if it's always there. I think there are ups and downs and that you do not have to be permanently happy to be a generally happy person. As I was telling my friend some of my happiest times, she commented, "It seems like you are happiest when you are accomplishing things or sharing times with other people." I think she's right. I fondly recall the first time I was on a horse, riding tandem with my mom, getting silly with my grandmother having late-night crossword marathons (not such happy memories for my aunt who had to get to sleep in spite of our giggles), managing to letter in tow foreign languages simultaneously, holding my children for the first time, mastering a new skill, combing my grandfather's hair and so many other experiences that left me with a warm feeling and pleasant memories.
As I said earlier, I don't know how many interviews were done before mine, but as we talked, my friend commented with a smile, "You're the first person I've interviewed who didn't list a bunch of things that made them happy. The perfect kitchen, a new car, that sort of thing. It's about actions and people with you." I hadn't really thought about it until she mentioned it, but I guess she's got something there. When she mentioned using things to find happiness, my immediate response was, "But they're just things! Things can't make you happy, they're just stuff, they don't do anything. They're tools, it's what you do with them that matters."
Maybe it's the by-product of being raised in a rural setting by a close-knit family that came of age during the Depression, but "stuff" was never our focal point. Our focus was on the people and how we helped each other. If there was a wreck, the first question was, "Is everyone OK?" followed closely by "How can we help?" Your house burned down? "First, is everyone OK, was anyone hurt?" and then again, "How can we help? You can stay with this aunt first while this one gets her guest room cleaned up for you and we'll make it through together." That's where happiness came from. Knowing that whatever you may have lost, you hadn't lost the people you cared about, those were willing to gather you into their arms and help make everything right again.
I think happiness is transitory. It is not permanent, it is not fixed, it's changeable. It likes to hide, to play peek-a-boo from time to time, that's what makes it worthwhile, but it's never far away. It's like the small child that wanders just far enough away to peek around a tree trunk, challenging you to come swoop it into your arms and whirl it in a gleeful circle. If you truly desire happiness, I believe you look for it. You can find pretty much anything you are determined to find. You want to find promise, it's there, you want to find gloom, not a problem. You want to find happiness, search it out. For me, it comes from finding the humor that's all around. If you look for the positive in things, it's difficult to remain unhappy for long. So that, I've decided is my new project. I think I can find something positive to jot down every single day and that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to try to share a little bit of the happiness that's playing tag just around the corner.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
Monday- Irish dance classes started up and while I think the median age of our group this time may have dropped below the voting age, I got to reconnect with some classmates from last year, meet some lovely new students and most of all, got the chance to dance, dance, dance. I love it when my feet find the music and I can just go with it. I always wind up wishing the class could last a bit longer, but I'm not sure the class that comes in after us would be thrilled with that plan.
Tuesday- It sounds odd, but I'm really glad I got sent home from work sick. It started out as a little tickle, but it didn't improve, so my boss sent me home at lunch time. I love the fact that I work in a place that tries to keep germs from running rampant. If I had felt poorly before I got there, my boss would have told me to stay home in the first place. The timing meant I got a half day's pay before we threw in the towel, and I have the knowledge that I work with folks who respect and care about each other. This made me especially happy after I had to swing by the gas station where I witnessed an employee who they thought might have pneumonia. She sounded terrible, hacking away in the corner, but I doubt she could afford to take the day off. It made me so appreciative of my work environment.
Wednesday- I got to read a new book by one of our favorite authors. The kids loved his first book and the second one is rapidly approaching the same status. Even the teenager came in to listen and that doesn't happen very often. It made for some really nice together time.
This interview was the other kind. This was the kind of interview I have done a few times for other friends also working on their degrees. The kind of interview that feels like what it is, a conversation about an interesting topic with a good friend. A couple doughnuts and coffee could easily replace the clipboard between us as they ask questions and conversation, and sometime discussion, ensue. I love that sort of interview. It's so relaxed and frequently my friend and I discover a new bond we otherwise might never have known we shared.
When my friend asked if I could answer a couple questions for her class, I quickly agreed. When she said they were about happiness, I thought, "Cool, never been asked that before." She asked me about times that I had been happy, times from childhood, my teen years and adulthood. Now I hadn't really thought much about it, but all-in-all I think I'm generally a happy sort of person.
Not that you can necessarily be happy all the time. Somehow the thought of that feels a little creepy to me. If you are always happy all the time, do you truly appreciate it? It seems like it might be easy to take it for granted if it's always there. I think there are ups and downs and that you do not have to be permanently happy to be a generally happy person. As I was telling my friend some of my happiest times, she commented, "It seems like you are happiest when you are accomplishing things or sharing times with other people." I think she's right. I fondly recall the first time I was on a horse, riding tandem with my mom, getting silly with my grandmother having late-night crossword marathons (not such happy memories for my aunt who had to get to sleep in spite of our giggles), managing to letter in tow foreign languages simultaneously, holding my children for the first time, mastering a new skill, combing my grandfather's hair and so many other experiences that left me with a warm feeling and pleasant memories.
As I said earlier, I don't know how many interviews were done before mine, but as we talked, my friend commented with a smile, "You're the first person I've interviewed who didn't list a bunch of things that made them happy. The perfect kitchen, a new car, that sort of thing. It's about actions and people with you." I hadn't really thought about it until she mentioned it, but I guess she's got something there. When she mentioned using things to find happiness, my immediate response was, "But they're just things! Things can't make you happy, they're just stuff, they don't do anything. They're tools, it's what you do with them that matters."
Maybe it's the by-product of being raised in a rural setting by a close-knit family that came of age during the Depression, but "stuff" was never our focal point. Our focus was on the people and how we helped each other. If there was a wreck, the first question was, "Is everyone OK?" followed closely by "How can we help?" Your house burned down? "First, is everyone OK, was anyone hurt?" and then again, "How can we help? You can stay with this aunt first while this one gets her guest room cleaned up for you and we'll make it through together." That's where happiness came from. Knowing that whatever you may have lost, you hadn't lost the people you cared about, those were willing to gather you into their arms and help make everything right again.
I think happiness is transitory. It is not permanent, it is not fixed, it's changeable. It likes to hide, to play peek-a-boo from time to time, that's what makes it worthwhile, but it's never far away. It's like the small child that wanders just far enough away to peek around a tree trunk, challenging you to come swoop it into your arms and whirl it in a gleeful circle. If you truly desire happiness, I believe you look for it. You can find pretty much anything you are determined to find. You want to find promise, it's there, you want to find gloom, not a problem. You want to find happiness, search it out. For me, it comes from finding the humor that's all around. If you look for the positive in things, it's difficult to remain unhappy for long. So that, I've decided is my new project. I think I can find something positive to jot down every single day and that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to try to share a little bit of the happiness that's playing tag just around the corner.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
Monday- Irish dance classes started up and while I think the median age of our group this time may have dropped below the voting age, I got to reconnect with some classmates from last year, meet some lovely new students and most of all, got the chance to dance, dance, dance. I love it when my feet find the music and I can just go with it. I always wind up wishing the class could last a bit longer, but I'm not sure the class that comes in after us would be thrilled with that plan.
Tuesday- It sounds odd, but I'm really glad I got sent home from work sick. It started out as a little tickle, but it didn't improve, so my boss sent me home at lunch time. I love the fact that I work in a place that tries to keep germs from running rampant. If I had felt poorly before I got there, my boss would have told me to stay home in the first place. The timing meant I got a half day's pay before we threw in the towel, and I have the knowledge that I work with folks who respect and care about each other. This made me especially happy after I had to swing by the gas station where I witnessed an employee who they thought might have pneumonia. She sounded terrible, hacking away in the corner, but I doubt she could afford to take the day off. It made me so appreciative of my work environment.
Wednesday- I got to read a new book by one of our favorite authors. The kids loved his first book and the second one is rapidly approaching the same status. Even the teenager came in to listen and that doesn't happen very often. It made for some really nice together time.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Non-knitting Fun
Lately I've been baking. Something happens this time of year. The kids scatter to various camps and to Grandmother's and the house quiets. It's also the season for many of my favorite fruits, so I go picking. One day I will have my own fruits to harvest, but until then, I go to the local farms and orchards and pick. This year I picked strawberries, blueberries, black raspberries and sour cherries. And as soon as they were picked, but not pitted or otherwise prepared, the kids scattered, leaving me with 12 pints of blueberries and 5 pounds of cherries to do something with.
I started by making a blueberry pound cake that I took to work. It was wonderful. I got the recipe from All Cakes Considered (yes, related to All Things Considered on NPR) and it worked beautifully. I love this cookbook enough that if it does not turn up as a belated birthday gift, I will be giving it to myself. The berries were on the big side, so they tended to sink to the top of the cake despite being tossed in flour first. (Yes, the top, it was baked in a Bundt pan.) Next time I will either add a bit more than the 1 cup called for or I will pick through to find smaller berries.
The local kitchen gadget shop missed the boat on placing a timely order for cherry pitters, so it looks like I may be back to using either my DPNs or a new hairpin to pit them again this year. It worked well last time, but I had my short help assisting me. We'll just have to see how that works out this time. The cherries are destined for possibly some sort of pie or maybe just preserves. Both options worked pretty well in the past. The blueberries will be preserves, sauce, pies and/or frozen. I love having them available when the weather has cooled and I crave fruit that is neither imported nor an apple. There are plenty of possibilities to choose from. I think I'll contemplate them in the orchard as I pick some more summer days to sustain us through the winter.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Life runs the show. You come up with ideas, you make plans and life says, "That's a nice thought, here's what I'm thinking" and before you know it, things have shifted. That's pretty much what's gone on around here. I intended to keep up with the blog on a more regular basis, but obviously that didn't work out as planned.
What did work out however was a spur of the moment job interview that landed me a part-time position in a job I enjoy, doing what I like, around people I would have chosen as friends. The kids are growing like weeds and I now have a pre-schooler, a first-grader and a very nearly teen.
They have argued and fought the way only siblings can, and every night when I go to check on them, they have huddled up like puppies, curled up together with an arm over another's neck or sometimes a foot in someone's ear. They fall asleep whispering to each other and wake each other with hugs and giggles in the morning. As much as they can get on each others' nerves, they don't like being separated for long periods and they watch out for each other. If being able to watch them share this close bond means I'm not writing quite as much as I hoped, I'm OK with life's altered plan.
Monday, November 9, 2009
It was a dark and stormy night
I'm doing the NaNoWriMo challenge and having a blast with it so far. For some reason, my best time to write seems to be after the kids go to bed, naps don't seem to count for whatever reason. Anyway, I'm way behind where I should be in order to be done in time, but I hit my personal goal for today which is cool. When I get stuck I go to Write or Die to push myself and seem to do far better than I do otherwise. I'm not quite sure what that says about my psyche, but there you have it. So far this is my personal best. I gave myself 48 minutes to hit 700 words and this was the result...
I'm so excited. Well, back to my nameless novel...
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Summer Vacation Brain
How sad is this? I've been so inactive lately that I completely forgot my sign-in info. In all fairness, life's been pretty busy around here. DH went to Scout camp for a week and a half while the 10, 5 &2 yo's went nuts. Actually we had a pretty good time when we weren't cleaning. We picked sour cherries (note to self- when they say you might want to bring a small ladder, they're not joking, especially if you're only 5 ft 4 in.) We wound up with about 7 pounds of cherries of which the kids pitted over 4 pounds and I made into cherry preserves. It was supposed to be jam, but didn't gel quite enough. Judging by the two year-old's sticky face and hands, I'd say it passed her taste test.
We went back over the next couple days and picked both blueberries and black raspberries. So far I've made one blueberry buckle and lots of plans for other things. It looks like I'll be pitting the rest of the cherries myself (never underestimate the versatility of an old-fashioned hairpin) and baking a pie for the boys. I'm undecided about the blueberries, perhaps a Lemon Blueberry Poundcake, another buckle, a Blueberry Grunt (a kind of dumpling), some jam, or maybe just a trip to the freezer. I'm pretty sure the black raspberries are destined to become a cobbler when Mom comes back. Either way, the kids have had a fun time and we've all enjoyed being out in the fields and orchards during some really nice weather. Not a bad way to kick off our summer vacation. :)
We went back over the next couple days and picked both blueberries and black raspberries. So far I've made one blueberry buckle and lots of plans for other things. It looks like I'll be pitting the rest of the cherries myself (never underestimate the versatility of an old-fashioned hairpin) and baking a pie for the boys. I'm undecided about the blueberries, perhaps a Lemon Blueberry Poundcake, another buckle, a Blueberry Grunt (a kind of dumpling), some jam, or maybe just a trip to the freezer. I'm pretty sure the black raspberries are destined to become a cobbler when Mom comes back. Either way, the kids have had a fun time and we've all enjoyed being out in the fields and orchards during some really nice weather. Not a bad way to kick off our summer vacation. :)
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
There were rats and cats and elephants...
O.K. perhaps that's not entirely accurate, but I do feel like our house has become Wildlife Central. For a while now we have been dealing with squirrels in our attic. Part of the charm of having an old house. I love the tin roof, but apparently when it was built, they didn't make the roof come all the way down. There is a slight gap around the attic perimeter. (I haven't actually braved the Ladder of Death, Doom and Certain Peril to see it firsthand, but I have it on good, corroborated authority.) I'm sure this is great for ventilation, but it stinks for squirrel control. We didn't realize the extent of the problem until we cleaned out the old nests, so until we can get the whole thing fixed, we have Squirrel Nutkin's Home for Wayward Rodents upstairs.
We also discovered earlier in the summer that the pretty little stray who had her kittens under our house and then disappeared when they grew up, has decided we have a wonderful environment for raising her young. She showed up again looking as if she were going to deliver any day. Sure enough, we were eating dinner one evening when we heard this strange sound each time the air conditioner came on. After a few times, I figured out that we were hearing wee kitten voices. Momma Kitty had made her nest under the house right next to the ductwork and the noise startled the babies, so marshmallow that I am, I turned off the unit. I figured we could handle a little more heat better than those poor babies could handle the extra stress. They relocated before the oppressive heat moved in, so everything was good.
I had just come to grips with the squirrels in the attic and the cats under the house when our trashcan got broken into. It was a lovely, pungent aroma that greeted us when we opened the front door and found the top bags delicatley ripped open and the contents lovingly strewn about the walkway. They must have been the kitchen bags that were tossed in when I cleaned out the fridge. My husband was quick to blame the aforementioned cats, but I pointed out that it looked more like raccoon damage to me. Our trashcan is the basic, town-issued garbage bin with wheels and a lid that flips closed, not exactly your toughest challenge for the local fauna. Dear Man came up with an inspired solution to the problem.
Now bear in mind that we live in the mountains. We are at the top of the Parkway and regularly have to wait for deer, raccoons, groundhogs, beavers, skunks and the occasional bear to clear the road, even in town. Every year my friend who lives a block away has to wage war with a bear over the contents of her own trashcan. The deer decimate her flowerbed while waiting for the twin fawns to finish napping. Her cats no longer have food and a litter box on the screened porch because the raccoons inevietably win that wrestling match. As a matter of fact, I have frequently seen a pair of raccoons scurry into the storm drain just around the corner from our own house. Raccoons are known for their problem-solving skills. They are clever and are able to use their front paws almost like opposable thumbs. Our next step to shut down the midnight buffet in our front yard? A half a brick on top of the garbage lid. I'm pretty sure I heard chuckling under the porch as we went back inside. Amazingly enough, when they were again desperate, they re-opened the snack bar.
A few nights later, one of the stray cats got back on the porch and were rummaging around, knocking stuff over. I startled him when I opened to door to retrieve something from the car. He headed for cover in the far corner and I saw just the tip of his fluffy tail as he scurried off. I said, "Oh, it must be offspring of the long-hair that I've seen around. I'll get a better look," and shone the flashlight in the corner to see. I found the fluffy tip of his tail and followed it up thinking, "Hmm... that's a little fluffier than I thought. It must be one of the black and white cats... ummm.... that doesn't look so cat-shaped... oh goody, stripes. OK, Pepe, you just enjoy that corner of the porch. See me? See how I'm easing down the farthest side of the steps in an extremely non-threatening way? You just take your time..." Great. Add one more to the local wildlife tally.
We also discovered earlier in the summer that the pretty little stray who had her kittens under our house and then disappeared when they grew up, has decided we have a wonderful environment for raising her young. She showed up again looking as if she were going to deliver any day. Sure enough, we were eating dinner one evening when we heard this strange sound each time the air conditioner came on. After a few times, I figured out that we were hearing wee kitten voices. Momma Kitty had made her nest under the house right next to the ductwork and the noise startled the babies, so marshmallow that I am, I turned off the unit. I figured we could handle a little more heat better than those poor babies could handle the extra stress. They relocated before the oppressive heat moved in, so everything was good.
I had just come to grips with the squirrels in the attic and the cats under the house when our trashcan got broken into. It was a lovely, pungent aroma that greeted us when we opened the front door and found the top bags delicatley ripped open and the contents lovingly strewn about the walkway. They must have been the kitchen bags that were tossed in when I cleaned out the fridge. My husband was quick to blame the aforementioned cats, but I pointed out that it looked more like raccoon damage to me. Our trashcan is the basic, town-issued garbage bin with wheels and a lid that flips closed, not exactly your toughest challenge for the local fauna. Dear Man came up with an inspired solution to the problem.
Now bear in mind that we live in the mountains. We are at the top of the Parkway and regularly have to wait for deer, raccoons, groundhogs, beavers, skunks and the occasional bear to clear the road, even in town. Every year my friend who lives a block away has to wage war with a bear over the contents of her own trashcan. The deer decimate her flowerbed while waiting for the twin fawns to finish napping. Her cats no longer have food and a litter box on the screened porch because the raccoons inevietably win that wrestling match. As a matter of fact, I have frequently seen a pair of raccoons scurry into the storm drain just around the corner from our own house. Raccoons are known for their problem-solving skills. They are clever and are able to use their front paws almost like opposable thumbs. Our next step to shut down the midnight buffet in our front yard? A half a brick on top of the garbage lid. I'm pretty sure I heard chuckling under the porch as we went back inside. Amazingly enough, when they were again desperate, they re-opened the snack bar.
A few nights later, one of the stray cats got back on the porch and were rummaging around, knocking stuff over. I startled him when I opened to door to retrieve something from the car. He headed for cover in the far corner and I saw just the tip of his fluffy tail as he scurried off. I said, "Oh, it must be offspring of the long-hair that I've seen around. I'll get a better look," and shone the flashlight in the corner to see. I found the fluffy tip of his tail and followed it up thinking, "Hmm... that's a little fluffier than I thought. It must be one of the black and white cats... ummm.... that doesn't look so cat-shaped... oh goody, stripes. OK, Pepe, you just enjoy that corner of the porch. See me? See how I'm easing down the farthest side of the steps in an extremely non-threatening way? You just take your time..." Great. Add one more to the local wildlife tally.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Odds and Ends
I finally found a meme that I felt like doing. It was originally labeled as "50 things..." but a couple numbers were skipped so it's more like 48 things. Anyway, here you go.
4 dozen odd things about me
- Do you like bleu cheese? Sometimes, especially with hot wings.
- Have you ever smoked? Nope.
- Do you own a gun? Just Nerfs and Super Soakers
- What flavor do you add to your drinks from Sonic? Cherry, once in a while.
- Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Not usually.
- What do you think of hot dogs? They're OK if I have sauerkraut or chili.
- Favorite Christmas movie? Toss up between original Grinch and Christmas Story.
- What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Chocolate milk
- Can you do push-ups? The frozen treats? Absolutely. Oh you mean the excercise. Plural? Ha ha ha hah. Wait a sec. Let me catch my breath; I'm winded now.
- Do you know the secret of a happy life? Not exactly, but I think it involves letting a lot of stuff go.
- What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My love-knot necklace
- Favorite hobby? knitting, crocheting, reading, cooking
- Song you're listening to right now? One from Dr. Horrible, "Laundry day/ See you there./ Underthings/ tumbling..." Curse you, Joss Wheedon!
- Do you have ADD? I don't think so...
- What's one trait you don't like about yourself? When I get stressed, I get snippy. (I try to nip it in the bud, though.)
- Middle name? Annette
- Name three thoughts at this exact moment: Acckkk! why do I always find buggish formatting issues?!?... I wonder what I should fix for dinner... I hope I can get this Special Olympics scarf done in a timely fashion.
- Name three things you bought yesterday. Nothing, the day before, however, I picked up school supplies and two skeins of yarn (for the aforementioned S.O. Scarf.)
- Name three drinks you usually drink. milk, tea, soda
- Current worry? I want our Cub Scout Fall Roundup to go well.
- Current hate right now? I haven't figured out how to be in multiple places at once.
- Favorite place to be? Library or in the park if it's nice out.
- How did you bring in the New Year? Quietly with family and friends
- Where would you like to go? England, Ireland and Canada
- Do you own slippers? Yes, a few pairs. Now can I find any two that match? Well that's a different matter altogether.
- Last magazine you read? Boy's Life (what can I say, we're a scouting family.)
- Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No. I get too warm.
- Can you whistle? Yes
- Favorite color? I have an affinity for purple
- Would you be a pirate? Perhaps.
- What songs do you sing in the shower? Currently songs from Dr. Horrible... Laundry Day, A Man's Gotta Do, Brand New Day... Curse you again Joss Wheedon! You and your nefarious Ear-worm soundtracks. It's curtains for you! Lacy, gently wafting curtains...
- Favorite girl's name? Ophelia
- Favorite boy's name? I'm not sure.
- What's in your pockets right now? ID, cell phone and the change my kids haven't discovered yet.
- Last thing that made you laugh? My toddler's "mean face".
- Best bed sheets as a child? Any of the ones fresh from the dryer.
- Worst injury you've had? Severly sprained ankle. I swear it was much more obnoxious than either of the times I broke my arm.
- Do you love where you live? All in all, I'm pretty happy with it.
- Cat lover or dog lover? Yes. What can I say? I grew up surrounded by both.
- Who is your loudest friend? I can't think of any... does that mean it's me?
- How many fish do you have? Nary a one.
- Does anyone have a crush on you? If they do, they're keeping mum about it.
- What is your favorite TV show? Firefly, (also House, Bones, Psych, In Plain Sight, Numbers, Medium, Eureka, Stargate:SG1 and Terminator:Sarah Connor Chronicles.)
- What is your favorite book? Any of Terry Pratchett's novels and the first four books in Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Trilogy
- What is your favorite candy? Hmmm.. Curly Wurly, Crunchee, Buttons, Malteasers (choc. and the white ones), Milky Bars
- Favorite sports team? My son's soccer team. Professionally, DC United.
- What song do you want played at your funeral? Right now I'd probably say "Brand New Day" because it's running through my brain. Otherwise I think it'd be cool to have "Finnegan's Wake".
- What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? What a strange dream...
I have returned
Wow! what a busy summer we've had. The kids start school next week, but it seems like they just got out. We had Cub Resident Camp at Camp Rock Enon, then we went to SC followed by a trip to Upstate New York. There was a brief hiatus and then it was off to WBC in Lancaster, PA. We had lots of fun meeting up with old friends and making some new ones. Now we're recovering from our hectic summer and getting ready for a slightly less busy Fall.
Back at the beginning of the year I signed up on Ravelry to make a square for the project that has become known as the Pratchgan (an afghan for Terry Pratchett, author of the Johnny Maxwell books and the Discworld series.) Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers and we wanted to show our support by giving him something warm and fuzzy. The result was the afghan below. The lady who organized it (and seamed it and backed it, bless her) had been in contact with Terry's agent who was thrilled about the whole thing. She wound up being able to attend an event in Scotland and give it to Terry in person. She said he particularly liked the Librarian square. I wonder what he'll say when he discovers the Luggage opens up and contains wee bits of clothing.
More pictures can be found here at Flickr. I actually got to do two squares, but didn't have my camera, so they're not in the individual photos. The first one is in the top row, fourth from the left. It is all white and is the bobble sheep I modified from a dishcloth pattern. The other square is the eighth row down, third square from the right. It's the apple from Equal Rites. The one that would allow only Esk to climb it and always had apples that went from green to wormy overnight. The odd thing leaning against the trunk is Esk's staff. It was a lot of fun to make and I actually stash-busted for it. You can just barely see the square near Terry's hip, below the "I Aten't Dead."
All in all, contributing to the project and following its progress has been loads of fun, but I'm glad it's been handed off. I hope it keeps Terry comfy and amused as he works on his newest novels. Now for my next project(s)...
Back at the beginning of the year I signed up on Ravelry to make a square for the project that has become known as the Pratchgan (an afghan for Terry Pratchett, author of the Johnny Maxwell books and the Discworld series.) Pratchett announced that he had been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers and we wanted to show our support by giving him something warm and fuzzy. The result was the afghan below. The lady who organized it (and seamed it and backed it, bless her) had been in contact with Terry's agent who was thrilled about the whole thing. She wound up being able to attend an event in Scotland and give it to Terry in person. She said he particularly liked the Librarian square. I wonder what he'll say when he discovers the Luggage opens up and contains wee bits of clothing.
More pictures can be found here at Flickr. I actually got to do two squares, but didn't have my camera, so they're not in the individual photos. The first one is in the top row, fourth from the left. It is all white and is the bobble sheep I modified from a dishcloth pattern. The other square is the eighth row down, third square from the right. It's the apple from Equal Rites. The one that would allow only Esk to climb it and always had apples that went from green to wormy overnight. The odd thing leaning against the trunk is Esk's staff. It was a lot of fun to make and I actually stash-busted for it. You can just barely see the square near Terry's hip, below the "I Aten't Dead."
All in all, contributing to the project and following its progress has been loads of fun, but I'm glad it's been handed off. I hope it keeps Terry comfy and amused as he works on his newest novels. Now for my next project(s)...
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
0404
Wow! It's been four years already. It doesn't seem like it's been that long, but on April Fools' Day in the year of the monkey, Edison decided to make his first appearance. He debuted at 7:35 in the evening and nothing has been the same since. For his first birthday, he had his very own chocolate cake made by Grandma. As you can see, it was nearly as big as he was. 
Needless to say, he was covered in chocolate by the time he was done. (No, he did not actually eat the whole thing.)
Last year he wanted to have a birthday in the park and the weather co-operated... mostly. It was a little chilly, but it was nice enough for the kids to run around and play.
This year, he wants to do the same thing. He wants to have a pirate ship cake and Spiderman favors. We even have a Spidey-head pinata that will be a surprise for him. Hopefully the weather will hold and all will go well. I still haven't found my camera, but I picked up some disposables and hope to post birthday party pictures this weekend.
Needless to say, he was covered in chocolate by the time he was done. (No, he did not actually eat the whole thing.)
Last year he wanted to have a birthday in the park and the weather co-operated... mostly. It was a little chilly, but it was nice enough for the kids to run around and play.
This year, he wants to do the same thing. He wants to have a pirate ship cake and Spiderman favors. We even have a Spidey-head pinata that will be a surprise for him. Hopefully the weather will hold and all will go well. I still haven't found my camera, but I picked up some disposables and hope to post birthday party pictures this weekend.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Busy, busy
I know I said I wanted to blog every day (or very nearly), but somehow that just isn't panning out right now. Hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things, but for right now, I refuse to stress out over it. As I'm typing, Annabelle is dancing around in her crib. I don't mean gentle swaying, I mean the child has turned her bed into a moon bounce, moving in circles the way her big brothers do at every street carnival we attend. I would be more concerned if she were taller, but she's still small enough to stay contained and slow enough to avoid any serious whacks to the head.
Just as I was trying to figure out why she won't settle down and take her overdue nap, I heard a rousing chorus of "A,B,C,D,E,F,B..." wafting up the stairs... along with the gleeful pronouncement that, "there's two B's in there," followed by hysterical giggling. Looks like Annabelle's not the only one overdue for a nap. The crooner will be four on Tuesday and is vehemently opposed to the very idea of napping... until he passes out right in the middle of playing.
Said nearly-four-year old has been wanting a pirate party for a couple months now complete with pirate ship cake. It's all he's talked about for the last couple weeks... until he had to get new shoes. The ones that were in his size and happened to be on sale were Spiderman. I'm sure you can guess what happened next. The last week and a half has been filled with excitement over all things Spiderman; videos, shoes, toys, puzzles, party favors... Looks like now we are going to have a Spiderman pirate party. He wants Spidey party favors and a Spidey pinata with a pirate ship cake. It's a cake I made for his brother's third and ninth birthdays, and now Edison wants one of his own. Hopefully his will turn out better than Iain's last one. It arrived at his party looking like it had been under attack. Oh well. I don't have to worry about it until Saturday.
For Tuesday, he has a couple April Fools' Day birthday surprises in store for his preschool friends and Iain's Cub Scout pack. For preschool he is taking in a Grilled Cheese Cake. He's excited about it and I'm hoping it will go over well with the Under-Four demographic. For Scouts he wants to take in little shamburgers. My boys love peppermint patties and are halfway hoping the others won't like them much so the leftovers can come home. I've got to have some way to take pictures by then, so I'm either going to get a couple disposable cameras and have the pics put on disc, or I'm going to have to pony up to send the pics via phone. I like my phone, but the camera is just not that great and it's a quarter a shot for so-so pictures. Oh well, I'm still searching for my digital camera, so perhaps it will surface in the next couple days. Looks like I have a little more shopping to do and then I can finish my chemo-cap (very,nearly done) and start on a couple other gifts.
Just as I was trying to figure out why she won't settle down and take her overdue nap, I heard a rousing chorus of "A,B,C,D,E,F,B..." wafting up the stairs... along with the gleeful pronouncement that, "there's two B's in there," followed by hysterical giggling. Looks like Annabelle's not the only one overdue for a nap. The crooner will be four on Tuesday and is vehemently opposed to the very idea of napping... until he passes out right in the middle of playing.
Said nearly-four-year old has been wanting a pirate party for a couple months now complete with pirate ship cake. It's all he's talked about for the last couple weeks... until he had to get new shoes. The ones that were in his size and happened to be on sale were Spiderman. I'm sure you can guess what happened next. The last week and a half has been filled with excitement over all things Spiderman; videos, shoes, toys, puzzles, party favors... Looks like now we are going to have a Spiderman pirate party. He wants Spidey party favors and a Spidey pinata with a pirate ship cake. It's a cake I made for his brother's third and ninth birthdays, and now Edison wants one of his own. Hopefully his will turn out better than Iain's last one. It arrived at his party looking like it had been under attack. Oh well. I don't have to worry about it until Saturday.
For Tuesday, he has a couple April Fools' Day birthday surprises in store for his preschool friends and Iain's Cub Scout pack. For preschool he is taking in a Grilled Cheese Cake. He's excited about it and I'm hoping it will go over well with the Under-Four demographic. For Scouts he wants to take in little shamburgers. My boys love peppermint patties and are halfway hoping the others won't like them much so the leftovers can come home. I've got to have some way to take pictures by then, so I'm either going to get a couple disposable cameras and have the pics put on disc, or I'm going to have to pony up to send the pics via phone. I like my phone, but the camera is just not that great and it's a quarter a shot for so-so pictures. Oh well, I'm still searching for my digital camera, so perhaps it will surface in the next couple days. Looks like I have a little more shopping to do and then I can finish my chemo-cap (very,nearly done) and start on a couple other gifts.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Warm Up Winchester
As I have mentioned before, I am becoming a bit more involved with some local charities. I think it's important to be involved in doing something for other people. I mean, doing things for those you love is certainly important, but doing your part to help out in the community at large, people you may or may not know, is different. I think it helps keep you connected to the larger group and helps pull you out of yourself. It makes you more aware of what's really going on around you.
I spend a little time most days on Ravelry. Today while on one of the local groups, I discovered Warm Up Winchester. They have a Yahoo group and the Ravelry group can be found here. I enjoy making hats and I'm wanting to learn mittens and gloves. It's nice to know that I can crank out as many as I want and there will be somewhere good for them to go. Well, I'm off to listen to Fibber McGee and Molly while I finish up the chemo cap and start on a gift for the babysitter and some projects for Warm Up Winchester.
I spend a little time most days on Ravelry. Today while on one of the local groups, I discovered Warm Up Winchester. They have a Yahoo group and the Ravelry group can be found here. I enjoy making hats and I'm wanting to learn mittens and gloves. It's nice to know that I can crank out as many as I want and there will be somewhere good for them to go. Well, I'm off to listen to Fibber McGee and Molly while I finish up the chemo cap and start on a gift for the babysitter and some projects for Warm Up Winchester.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
One birthday gift done... on time!
Well, the camera is still out in the Great Unknown somewhere, so I'm digging through pictures to see if anything strikes me. I was hoping the camera would turn up by now, though.
I finished Edison's birthday gift. He asked me to make him a blue dinosaur with a long neck. After much digging I settled on the Bronty pattern I found on Ravelry. I showed him the pattern and he gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up. I used slightly less than one skein of Plymouth Jelli Beenz in colorway 0133 (it's a deep royal blue plied with one strand of a rainbow variegated yarn.) The variegated strand looked really prominent when I was working, but it knits up as flecks of color, very nice.
I tweaked the pattern just a little, I changed the first decrease on the tail each time to look smoother and I moved the eyes a little further back on the head. The yarn I chose kind of hid the eyes, so at 3:30 in the morning, I was learning how to make a French Knot. If I had discovered this earlier, I could have had Mom teach me, but I didn't think she'd appreciate my waking her up in this case. Thank goodness for the internet. All in all, the pattern was very nice. It was easy to follow and the dino was simple to assemble, a little fiddly getting the legs on, but I think that was a user issue. I'm not a big fan of seaming and sewing up, but since I want to eventually make a sweater, I guess I'd better suck it up and deal with it. In the meantime, I have to figure out just how to wrap this little guy for my little guy...
I finished Edison's birthday gift. He asked me to make him a blue dinosaur with a long neck. After much digging I settled on the Bronty pattern I found on Ravelry. I showed him the pattern and he gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up. I used slightly less than one skein of Plymouth Jelli Beenz in colorway 0133 (it's a deep royal blue plied with one strand of a rainbow variegated yarn.) The variegated strand looked really prominent when I was working, but it knits up as flecks of color, very nice.
I tweaked the pattern just a little, I changed the first decrease on the tail each time to look smoother and I moved the eyes a little further back on the head. The yarn I chose kind of hid the eyes, so at 3:30 in the morning, I was learning how to make a French Knot. If I had discovered this earlier, I could have had Mom teach me, but I didn't think she'd appreciate my waking her up in this case. Thank goodness for the internet. All in all, the pattern was very nice. It was easy to follow and the dino was simple to assemble, a little fiddly getting the legs on, but I think that was a user issue. I'm not a big fan of seaming and sewing up, but since I want to eventually make a sweater, I guess I'd better suck it up and deal with it. In the meantime, I have to figure out just how to wrap this little guy for my little guy...
Monday, March 10, 2008
In Search of...
You know, I used to love watching that show, "In Search Of". It was so neat with Leonard Nimoy hosting (sorry, always Mr. Spock to me) as they searched for evidence of the mysteries of life, UFO's, poltergeists, Bigfoot. That show may have been singularly responsible for my closet light staying on all night on a regular basis! Anyway, I'm on a search of my own. I'm still in search of my camera. I've hunted through the cars and bags and am in the process of turning the house upside down. There is a slim chance it was lefet behind at the derby, so I'm putting a couple calls in tomorrow to see if anyone turned it in. I'm counting on the general goodness of folks and the Universe to help me out here. In the meantime, I can't stand having a photoless blog, so I'll just have to post about things for which I already have shots.
My eldest really enjoys knitting. He's currently working on a scarf, two inches down, twenty-eight more to go! We had gone out to dinner and everyone but the husband and the baby had knitting to keep us occupied. Turned out to be a good choice. We went to Outback and got there in the middle of the dinner rush.
As you can see, he is definitely my child. He carries his knitting everywhere. It gives him something to do on road trips and we never ask him to turn its volume down. Knitting- 2, Gameboy- 0.
My eldest really enjoys knitting. He's currently working on a scarf, two inches down, twenty-eight more to go! We had gone out to dinner and everyone but the husband and the baby had knitting to keep us occupied. Turned out to be a good choice. We went to Outback and got there in the middle of the dinner rush.
As you can see, he is definitely my child. He carries his knitting everywhere. It gives him something to do on road trips and we never ask him to turn its volume down. Knitting- 2, Gameboy- 0.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Location, location, location...
You know they really are right (whoever they are) location truly is the key. I have discovered location is much more important than I thought. Take, for example, the location of my digital camera. Doesn't seem like a huge thing, but I couldn't tell you where the heck the blooming thing is right now. I figured I would give myself a simple task before heading off to my next location; I would see if there was enough juice left in the camera batteries to download the most recent set of pictures. The battery capability was questionable because I previously was unsure of the location of the charger. I took approximately a gazillion shots of our Pinewood Derby on Saturday and the little warning light came on (the one in the camera, not the one in my brain. I've come to believe the cranial one has suffered a severe malfunction.)
I rose to the challenge of discovering the location of the USB cable and the location of the ever-wandering charger only to find that the present location of the camera itself eludes me. I have become an adult version of Nancy Drew or the favorite young sleuth of my childhood, Trixie Belden or perhaps more appropriately I have turned into a younger version of Dame Agatha's tricoteuse, Miss Marple. I have questioned all the usual suspects and of course, no-one claims any knowledge of the camera's whereabouts. For a split second, I thought I had found it in the diaper bag, then I recalled the bag had been nowhere near me at all the last time I took pictures. (Turns out that my Canon Elph feels remarkably similar to an Altoids mints tin when located in the bottom of a diaper bag pocket.)
Oh well, the game is afoot and the search will continue. As soon as I find it, I will post pictures of the chemo cap in progress. Until then it's back to p1, k2, p1, k2 ...
I rose to the challenge of discovering the location of the USB cable and the location of the ever-wandering charger only to find that the present location of the camera itself eludes me. I have become an adult version of Nancy Drew or the favorite young sleuth of my childhood, Trixie Belden or perhaps more appropriately I have turned into a younger version of Dame Agatha's tricoteuse, Miss Marple. I have questioned all the usual suspects and of course, no-one claims any knowledge of the camera's whereabouts. For a split second, I thought I had found it in the diaper bag, then I recalled the bag had been nowhere near me at all the last time I took pictures. (Turns out that my Canon Elph feels remarkably similar to an Altoids mints tin when located in the bottom of a diaper bag pocket.)
Oh well, the game is afoot and the search will continue. As soon as I find it, I will post pictures of the chemo cap in progress. Until then it's back to p1, k2, p1, k2 ...
Sunday, March 2, 2008
With love...
Ever have one of those times when things seem to really jump out at you? You know, when everything you see seems to be related? Maybe it's coincidence, perhaps serndipity, possibly something else entirely. Whatever it is, I've learned (finally) to pay attention. Too many time I've brushed these instances off only to smack myself later and wonder what in the world I was thinking. (much like the old V-8 juice commercials).
Most recently it's been charity knitting, more specifically chemo caps. The lady organising a local knitting group mentioned she wanted to do some knitting/crocheting for charity. That got me thinking. I had lots of fun making the Binary Cable Hat from Ravelry and had been wanting to make another one. I actually cast it on a few times, but it just wasn't right somehow. I couldn't get in the groove for some reason. I thought I might try a different hat or even a different project all together so I started to poke around on the site. I had a few ideas but on a whim I started to look for a group for chemo caps. I found one I really liked and through them discovered some neat blogs with nice patterns and plenty of info about chemo caps.
I decided to make a cap, but I had to find just the right yarn. The sites I had been checking out mentioned using a really soft acryllic for caps. I generally prefer knitting with wools, but there can be an issue with sensitivities and allergies from the chemo. I wasn't sure what I was going to use and them I remembered a scarf that I started quite a while back. I wasn't happy with it. It was a pattern I had heavily modified and it had issues. It was too wide. I always seem to forget when I am casting on that the item will grow exponentially once I get started knitting a few rows. It was my first attempt at holding three strands together. I was running a strand of worsted weight with two strands of eyelash yarn and in more than one place I dropped a strand. Due to the nature of the resulting fabric, I didn't notice the error until several rows later. Have you ever tried to frog eyelash and worsted fabric? I've had an easier time getting the 14 month-old to relinquish her blankie! Frankly it just wasn't worth the trouble... until now. I untangled the whole thing and started the cap.
Then I got an e-mail from the knit group commenting on knitting for charity. The organizer has set up a box at our library for afghan squares, which I think is a great idea. When I mentioned that I would be glad to assist once I finish the chemo-cap, she mentioned that she too had lost someone to cancer and wanted more info about the caps. A little while later I was on Ravelry again and a new thread popped up in an unrelated forum asking about... chemo caps. I recently posted about my friend Earl who passed away from liver cancer, but I had another friend slip away last year after battling cancer as well. She was born a year before I was and she and Earl have been on my mind a lot recently as has a cousin who died from a rare form of cancer a couple years ago. Maybe it's serndipity, perhaps it's coincidence, but I prefer to believe it's a message, a reminder to send out some comfort to other people who may be going through a dark time... some good vibes in memory of those who have been there. So I'm going to be sending out caps, with extra love from Earl, Kathleen and Craig.
Most recently it's been charity knitting, more specifically chemo caps. The lady organising a local knitting group mentioned she wanted to do some knitting/crocheting for charity. That got me thinking. I had lots of fun making the Binary Cable Hat from Ravelry and had been wanting to make another one. I actually cast it on a few times, but it just wasn't right somehow. I couldn't get in the groove for some reason. I thought I might try a different hat or even a different project all together so I started to poke around on the site. I had a few ideas but on a whim I started to look for a group for chemo caps. I found one I really liked and through them discovered some neat blogs with nice patterns and plenty of info about chemo caps.
I decided to make a cap, but I had to find just the right yarn. The sites I had been checking out mentioned using a really soft acryllic for caps. I generally prefer knitting with wools, but there can be an issue with sensitivities and allergies from the chemo. I wasn't sure what I was going to use and them I remembered a scarf that I started quite a while back. I wasn't happy with it. It was a pattern I had heavily modified and it had issues. It was too wide. I always seem to forget when I am casting on that the item will grow exponentially once I get started knitting a few rows. It was my first attempt at holding three strands together. I was running a strand of worsted weight with two strands of eyelash yarn and in more than one place I dropped a strand. Due to the nature of the resulting fabric, I didn't notice the error until several rows later. Have you ever tried to frog eyelash and worsted fabric? I've had an easier time getting the 14 month-old to relinquish her blankie! Frankly it just wasn't worth the trouble... until now. I untangled the whole thing and started the cap.
Then I got an e-mail from the knit group commenting on knitting for charity. The organizer has set up a box at our library for afghan squares, which I think is a great idea. When I mentioned that I would be glad to assist once I finish the chemo-cap, she mentioned that she too had lost someone to cancer and wanted more info about the caps. A little while later I was on Ravelry again and a new thread popped up in an unrelated forum asking about... chemo caps. I recently posted about my friend Earl who passed away from liver cancer, but I had another friend slip away last year after battling cancer as well. She was born a year before I was and she and Earl have been on my mind a lot recently as has a cousin who died from a rare form of cancer a couple years ago. Maybe it's serndipity, perhaps it's coincidence, but I prefer to believe it's a message, a reminder to send out some comfort to other people who may be going through a dark time... some good vibes in memory of those who have been there. So I'm going to be sending out caps, with extra love from Earl, Kathleen and Craig.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Thanks, Earl
My husband and I met over a gaming table. Actually it was a large, round table with a Robo Rally board on it. Every year I go to the World Boardgaming Championships. It's big, it's full of good competition and it's tons of fun. It's the one week we make sure to have off every year. You see, for years I worked in a game store. The guy I worked for had one night a week that he met up with his buddies and payed various boardgames. I'm not talking about Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit (although those are fine games.) I'm talking about Union Pacific, Successors, Up Front, Acquire and many more. Some of them are games published by the now defunct Avalon Hill (which has sort of been revived by Hasbro, but that's a post for a different day,) and some are newer games put out by German companies or independent American publishers.
My boss' group consisted of about half a dozen guys who had one week each year to go to WBC (née AvalonCon) by themselves and game non-stop. One year,one of the sweetest gamers in the group became terminally ill. He told his friends that he knew he wouldn't be able to attend, but as his spot was already paid for, they should send somebody else in his place. His one caveat was that they choose a person who would a.) really enjoy it and b.) otherwise be unable to afford to go. I had been playing games with them on Game Night for several months and they knew I could hold my own. The only concern was childcare for my two-year old. My mom stepped up and said she would be thrilled to take care of him, so I hopped the plane and took off toward a new adventure. I scheduled something for almost every waking moment and I had a blast. I played Robo Rally and thoroughly enjoyed myself... in spite of being blown to bits, driving off the board and being shoved into pits. (It was OK, the GM was pretty cute.) I had such a good time, I was invited to join the guys the next year. We found out on the way home that our friend had just passed away. I found out at Earl's funeral that he was glad to hear they had chosen me to take his place and his wife was thrilled that a female would be going along. She thought I might keep the guys out of too much trouble.
The next year I went back and played many of the same games, but I didn't try to schedule each moment. When I went to play Robo Rally, the same cute guy was running the show. He had the same cute friends hanging out with him and we seemed to show up at a lot of the same games. (turns out this is not uncommon. If you think about it, people who like one particular game tend to enjoy other similar games.) Over the course of the week, he and his friends dragged me to a lot of games that I had never played before. The good thing about being an active gamer is that it wasn't a problem picking up the rules just before the tourney. I had such a good time with these guys, that we kept in touch afterward and the GM and I began dating. Years later, I have not only the cute Robo Rally GM, but another son and a daughter to love.
Thanks Earl. Who could possibly have known what would come of your generous gesture?
My boss' group consisted of about half a dozen guys who had one week each year to go to WBC (née AvalonCon) by themselves and game non-stop. One year,one of the sweetest gamers in the group became terminally ill. He told his friends that he knew he wouldn't be able to attend, but as his spot was already paid for, they should send somebody else in his place. His one caveat was that they choose a person who would a.) really enjoy it and b.) otherwise be unable to afford to go. I had been playing games with them on Game Night for several months and they knew I could hold my own. The only concern was childcare for my two-year old. My mom stepped up and said she would be thrilled to take care of him, so I hopped the plane and took off toward a new adventure. I scheduled something for almost every waking moment and I had a blast. I played Robo Rally and thoroughly enjoyed myself... in spite of being blown to bits, driving off the board and being shoved into pits. (It was OK, the GM was pretty cute.) I had such a good time, I was invited to join the guys the next year. We found out on the way home that our friend had just passed away. I found out at Earl's funeral that he was glad to hear they had chosen me to take his place and his wife was thrilled that a female would be going along. She thought I might keep the guys out of too much trouble.
The next year I went back and played many of the same games, but I didn't try to schedule each moment. When I went to play Robo Rally, the same cute guy was running the show. He had the same cute friends hanging out with him and we seemed to show up at a lot of the same games. (turns out this is not uncommon. If you think about it, people who like one particular game tend to enjoy other similar games.) Over the course of the week, he and his friends dragged me to a lot of games that I had never played before. The good thing about being an active gamer is that it wasn't a problem picking up the rules just before the tourney. I had such a good time with these guys, that we kept in touch afterward and the GM and I began dating. Years later, I have not only the cute Robo Rally GM, but another son and a daughter to love.
Thanks Earl. Who could possibly have known what would come of your generous gesture?
Friday, February 8, 2008
Catching up...
I've been doing a fair amount of knitting lately. I finished my square for the Pratchgan, a bobble sheep for the Tiffany Aching series of books. I wanted to do Mabel the Mock Cable Cow, but I couldn't get it to fit in the parameters I needed, so I went with Plan B. I finished blocking it and sent it out Priority to Scotland. I hope it makes it in time. The lovely lady running the show is looking for it and said it would be OK if it's a couple days late.
I also very nearly finished my first Jayne hat. It was supposed to be for my husband, but when I drew in the last few stitches at the top, it seemed to really pull the top in. I'm not sure it will fit him anymore, but both the nine-year old and three year-old have voiced their willingness to "take one for the team" and claim ownership of the hat. (Of course they like it, it's a cunning hat, quite possibly the sweetest hat ever...)
[I just had my husband try it on and it fits fine, at least as well as Jayne's did. Of course, he may still have to fight the kiddos for it.]
I swatched for Hat Attack and came fairly close to gauge. Actually for the first swatch, I figured I could measure the Jayne hat I had just finished to get some idea of which way to go. I used US 10's and needed one more stitch per inch so I figured I would try 8's. I picked up a pair at Never Enough Yarn (a lovely store with a fantastic proprietor. I really just can't say enough about these folks.) and came home to try again... and again... and again. After three tries, I finally admitted that I just wasn't going to get gauge with my new needles. A bit disappointing since I could have used that money elsewhere. Then I remembered that I wasn't sure I liked the way the Jayne hat came out with the 10's, so I'm going to use the new Plymouth needles for the next attempt. I finally dug out a pair of metal needles that I've had for donkey's years. I think they are US 5's, but I'm not positive. I don't really care what size they are, they are the right size for me to get gauge. Woo Hoo!!! I swatched this yarn so many times, I was afraid it would rebel at the thought of knitting into anything other than stockinette. As it turns out, however, it wasn't a problem. I had to cast-on three times, but once I got underway, everything was fine. I even got my hat finished and mailed before my assassin's hat reached me. Woot! I took someone else down with me!
While I've been knitting, I've been catching up on Prairie Home Companion broadcasts. One of my favorites is the joke shows and I've been going through the archives. Of course there are lots of laughs to be had, but one that struck me as particularly funny was this boat rental one...
I also very nearly finished my first Jayne hat. It was supposed to be for my husband, but when I drew in the last few stitches at the top, it seemed to really pull the top in. I'm not sure it will fit him anymore, but both the nine-year old and three year-old have voiced their willingness to "take one for the team" and claim ownership of the hat. (Of course they like it, it's a cunning hat, quite possibly the sweetest hat ever...)
[I just had my husband try it on and it fits fine, at least as well as Jayne's did. Of course, he may still have to fight the kiddos for it.]
I swatched for Hat Attack and came fairly close to gauge. Actually for the first swatch, I figured I could measure the Jayne hat I had just finished to get some idea of which way to go. I used US 10's and needed one more stitch per inch so I figured I would try 8's. I picked up a pair at Never Enough Yarn (a lovely store with a fantastic proprietor. I really just can't say enough about these folks.) and came home to try again... and again... and again. After three tries, I finally admitted that I just wasn't going to get gauge with my new needles. A bit disappointing since I could have used that money elsewhere. Then I remembered that I wasn't sure I liked the way the Jayne hat came out with the 10's, so I'm going to use the new Plymouth needles for the next attempt. I finally dug out a pair of metal needles that I've had for donkey's years. I think they are US 5's, but I'm not positive. I don't really care what size they are, they are the right size for me to get gauge. Woo Hoo!!! I swatched this yarn so many times, I was afraid it would rebel at the thought of knitting into anything other than stockinette. As it turns out, however, it wasn't a problem. I had to cast-on three times, but once I got underway, everything was fine. I even got my hat finished and mailed before my assassin's hat reached me. Woot! I took someone else down with me!
While I've been knitting, I've been catching up on Prairie Home Companion broadcasts. One of my favorites is the joke shows and I've been going through the archives. Of course there are lots of laughs to be had, but one that struck me as particularly funny was this boat rental one...
"Boat 99, you'll have to return to the dock immediately or I'll have to charge you for overtime."
"Hey, Boss, there is no Boat 99. We only have 75 boats."
"Ummm... Boat 66, are you in trouble?"
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Boy, oh boy!
All I can say is , "Wow!" Actually that's not entirely accurate. If it were, this would be an incredibly short entry. My husband and I have had a busy couple months. In the Fall/Early-Winter, we dealt with a broken thumb (his), an appendectomy (his), a tonsillectomy (mine), pneumonia (daughter's), thumb pin-removal (his) and a trip back home (actually lots of fun). We figured January had to be better and in general it has been. Annabelle got over her pneumonia/ear infection wonderfully and is finally getting some teeth (at least, I think that's a positive. I'll let you know if I suddenlly break-out in bite marks.) She has also begun walking, I'm pretty sure this is a good thing too. It certainly means things have been moved to higher elevations.
On MLK Day, we got to go see some friends who we only see a couple times a year. This is always a fun get together for us. They open their house to friends to spend the entire weekend hanging out and playing games. As if that's not enough, they stuff us silly with homemade banana pancakes on Sunday morning. This year we had the added bonus of seeing their lovely daughter and adorable grandson as well. It's been way too long since we got to game with them. We had a pleasant, uneventful drive home with very little traffic and got plenty of sleep in our own beds. Mom went back home and we got back into our routine. Then, on Wednesday, I apparently decided to make the bottom stair optional. Turns out it wasn't. My foot immediately turned a lovely variegated shade of black, blue and purple. At least my eldest came down to make sure I was OK. (he's usually the one who skips the last step or two.) Fortunately nothing is broken, but it is badly sprained . Turns out there are three main ligaments that wrap around the ankle and keep everything in place. Most sprains are to the outside of the ankle, stretching one or both of the ligaments on that side. Not one to do things halfway, I managed to damage all three. The doctor asked if I heard a snap or pop when I went down. All I remember hearing was the colorful language when the step wasn't where I expected it and the thud of my butt hitting the floor.
All of this time off my foot has given me plenty of time to catch up on missed episodes of my favorite shows (House, Bones, Medium, Psych, Monk...) It has also given me way too much time to spend on Ravelry. I now belong to a bazillion groups and have a project queue that stretches around the block. The coolest thing though is that I bumped into Hat Attack. It is similar to Sock Wars, where you knit a predetermined pattern and send it to your target. When they receive it, they send their work in progress to you and you finish it a nd send it to their target and so on until you are eliminated. The pattern for the hat will be distributed on Saturday (while I am helping decorate for the Cub Scout Blue and Gold) along with the target assignment. I was kind of hoping my assassin would be a really slow knitter on the outer reaches of Mongolia, but it looks like there are a few folks in this area. They are matching people up by zip code, so my chances of someone of getting someone who lives in the middle of nowhere and relies on smoke signals and Pony Express are pretty slim. *sigh*
On the plus side, while I was heading out to look for supplies (my DPNs were too big and this time it's imperative I get gauge) I stumbled across a yarn shop I've been meaning to visit. Turns out the owner is super nice. He was getting things ready to move next door,so he had just inventoried and knew exactly what was in. He also carries Lamb's Pride which is the yarn used for the pattern and he even had some on sale. It's the last of a dye lot, but it's just what I need. I was hemming and hawing trying to decide what to get when he pointed out that this skein is a neutral color, should show off the cabling nicely and besides is on sale which makes it, in his words, a no-brainer. With customer service like that, I will certainly return to Never Enough Yarn!
On MLK Day, we got to go see some friends who we only see a couple times a year. This is always a fun get together for us. They open their house to friends to spend the entire weekend hanging out and playing games. As if that's not enough, they stuff us silly with homemade banana pancakes on Sunday morning. This year we had the added bonus of seeing their lovely daughter and adorable grandson as well. It's been way too long since we got to game with them. We had a pleasant, uneventful drive home with very little traffic and got plenty of sleep in our own beds. Mom went back home and we got back into our routine. Then, on Wednesday, I apparently decided to make the bottom stair optional. Turns out it wasn't. My foot immediately turned a lovely variegated shade of black, blue and purple. At least my eldest came down to make sure I was OK. (he's usually the one who skips the last step or two.) Fortunately nothing is broken, but it is badly sprained . Turns out there are three main ligaments that wrap around the ankle and keep everything in place. Most sprains are to the outside of the ankle, stretching one or both of the ligaments on that side. Not one to do things halfway, I managed to damage all three. The doctor asked if I heard a snap or pop when I went down. All I remember hearing was the colorful language when the step wasn't where I expected it and the thud of my butt hitting the floor.
All of this time off my foot has given me plenty of time to catch up on missed episodes of my favorite shows (House, Bones, Medium, Psych, Monk...) It has also given me way too much time to spend on Ravelry. I now belong to a bazillion groups and have a project queue that stretches around the block. The coolest thing though is that I bumped into Hat Attack. It is similar to Sock Wars, where you knit a predetermined pattern and send it to your target. When they receive it, they send their work in progress to you and you finish it a nd send it to their target and so on until you are eliminated. The pattern for the hat will be distributed on Saturday (while I am helping decorate for the Cub Scout Blue and Gold) along with the target assignment. I was kind of hoping my assassin would be a really slow knitter on the outer reaches of Mongolia, but it looks like there are a few folks in this area. They are matching people up by zip code, so my chances of someone of getting someone who lives in the middle of nowhere and relies on smoke signals and Pony Express are pretty slim. *sigh*
On the plus side, while I was heading out to look for supplies (my DPNs were too big and this time it's imperative I get gauge) I stumbled across a yarn shop I've been meaning to visit. Turns out the owner is super nice. He was getting things ready to move next door,so he had just inventoried and knew exactly what was in. He also carries Lamb's Pride which is the yarn used for the pattern and he even had some on sale. It's the last of a dye lot, but it's just what I need. I was hemming and hawing trying to decide what to get when he pointed out that this skein is a neutral color, should show off the cabling nicely and besides is on sale which makes it, in his words, a no-brainer. With customer service like that, I will certainly return to Never Enough Yarn!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Inching along
I'm still working on Gran's sock. I'm not as far along as I would prefer, but I'm farther along than I thought I would be. Playing Florence Nightingale doesn't leave as much time for knitting as I would like. Fortunately, my mom has come up to help shuttle everyone around and dispense medications, hugs and smooches. Everyone was feeling a bit better and Mom was here to help cover all the bases, so she encouraged my husband to take me out for a quick bite. Because my life's schedule and my knitting schedule are refusing to synch up, I had Gran's sock with me. (I am knitting like a mad fool.) I made up my mind to get over my fear of the dark, well really it's more of a fear of knitting in the dark. I just know I'm going to be moving right along making record time and then while showing off my amazing progress, discover that there is a huge error two inches back, (Don't ask how I know this can happen. This is not the season for such a tale of woe and despair,) but I digress.
I was working on the sock while we waited for our drinks. I was knitting while we waited for our appetizer. I was still working when the entree came out. It was too much for our server. He could contain himself no longer. He refilled our drinks (again... I love that!) and asked, "So what is that you're weaving?" I smiled and told him it was a sock I was knitting for Gran. (I feel compelled to gently correct the slightly mis-informed youth.) I waited for his non-committal, "oh, that's nice" reaction. He looked at me and with a big grin said, "That's so cool!! So is it going to be a sock with a heel in it, or just a tube? She's going to like those." We spoke for a bit about how difficult turning the heel would be (not terribly) and how close I was to the deadline (terribly). He assured me I could make it and I mentally adjusted his tip a bit higher.
In lieu of having actual pictures of the second sock, I'll recycle the shot of the first sock. I debated using the rest of the first skein and pulling to the right spot to make the stripes match. Then I thought about it a bit more. I have to use both skeins anyway, so why match stripes up twice. I popped open the new skein matched up starting points (very nearly) and went to work. The benefit of this is that I can reference the first sock to show you my progress.
The second sock is currently at the first bright blue band (I've actually knit two rows of the bright blue.) I had to estimate where to begin, so the green part of the toe is a smidgen bigger on the second sock, but at least it gives you an idea.
I was enjoying my meal and entertaining the prospect of actually ordering dessert when it hit me.... my eldest's class party was today. Some genius had volunteered me to bring not just cookies, but brownies as well. (Just call me Einstein.) That's OK though, cookie batter and brownie edges make a fine dessert and I subscribe to the theory that goodies which are broken or used for quality assurance, have no calories. Now if I could just figure out how to bake and knit at the same time...
I was working on the sock while we waited for our drinks. I was knitting while we waited for our appetizer. I was still working when the entree came out. It was too much for our server. He could contain himself no longer. He refilled our drinks (again... I love that!) and asked, "So what is that you're weaving?" I smiled and told him it was a sock I was knitting for Gran. (I feel compelled to gently correct the slightly mis-informed youth.) I waited for his non-committal, "oh, that's nice" reaction. He looked at me and with a big grin said, "That's so cool!! So is it going to be a sock with a heel in it, or just a tube? She's going to like those." We spoke for a bit about how difficult turning the heel would be (not terribly) and how close I was to the deadline (terribly). He assured me I could make it and I mentally adjusted his tip a bit higher.
In lieu of having actual pictures of the second sock, I'll recycle the shot of the first sock. I debated using the rest of the first skein and pulling to the right spot to make the stripes match. Then I thought about it a bit more. I have to use both skeins anyway, so why match stripes up twice. I popped open the new skein matched up starting points (very nearly) and went to work. The benefit of this is that I can reference the first sock to show you my progress.
The second sock is currently at the first bright blue band (I've actually knit two rows of the bright blue.) I had to estimate where to begin, so the green part of the toe is a smidgen bigger on the second sock, but at least it gives you an idea.
I was enjoying my meal and entertaining the prospect of actually ordering dessert when it hit me.... my eldest's class party was today. Some genius had volunteered me to bring not just cookies, but brownies as well. (Just call me Einstein.) That's OK though, cookie batter and brownie edges make a fine dessert and I subscribe to the theory that goodies which are broken or used for quality assurance, have no calories. Now if I could just figure out how to bake and knit at the same time...
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