Knitting

Well, I took some pictures in spite of the fact that it's impossible to get the colors right ... why? Well, because it is cloudy AGAIN. That may explain the somber tone of the previous post ... anyway, I started a tank with this yarn last year, didn't like it, ripped it out and started another. Maybe I'll be done before summer is over? (If summer ever comes?)

I finished these socks a week or two ago using one of the skeins I purchased in Guthrie, OK on our spring road trip:

And I finished these last night:

So I had to start something new:

That last bit is a beautiful merino bamboo purchased with my Mothers Day gift certificate at The Yarnery. No, the colors are not accurate. It's a wonderful yarn though, super soft and I'm using the Reversi pattern by MeanGirl.

On Politics and Such

Well, I know I'm behind on things, but I'd like to start by expressing my sympathy for POTUS. It must be so hard giving up golf.

Did you know army suicide rates are at an all time high? (You've probably guessed that that's where my sympathy is really going).

On a brighter note, I'm feeling rather giddy about the new McClellan book. By all means, go out and purchase one today!

This is too depressing. And lunch is over. I'll try to be my cheerful, charming self when I return.

Before and After

We now have a skinhead in our midst ... behold before:

and after:

(I do wish he would smile more!)

Short Long Weekend

Quick kid-pic post since I didn't have time to post over the weekend ... girl-child reading The Wind in the Willows and boy-child dressed up for ? school on Tuesday morning.

TTT - This and That Thursday

Well, I'm not sure this Thursday report is going to work - don't feel like I have much to say, really, but here we go ...

Tonight is Quick and Easy Curry cooking class at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. That will give me something to post about later, I hope.

Last night was senior party planning - we're doing an all night party the night of graduation. It never ceases to amaze me that the same people have been volunteering for school stuff for the past thirteen years. I took a break while I was in grad school, but sheesh, d'ya think somebody else could carry the ball for a while? (I guess not)

Tuesday I was at EQS - Enhancing Quality Staff. An annual event, this should have been my third, but it was my first. Resistant though I may be to these things, I enjoyed it.

I especiall enjoyed the woman I sat next to at lunch: a 78 year old who spoke of job security (?!) issues. She also happens to be a neighbor, her grandson goes to school with my children and I know her boss. Small world.

I also enjoyed the talk on election year politics. My favorites are the Truth-O-Meter and the Factcheck sites. Thanks Kirsten.

Monday I was at a cataloging class - Subject Heading Analysis. I know you're all jealous you couldn't be there with me. Rosemary was there too. It's nice to have a friend I can be so nerdy with so we can attend such things together.

Lara of book club is, it turns out, a "famous" photographer. Nice work! Too bad girl-child has already done the graduation thing - better luck with the next child ...

And my naughty, ridiculously silly activity of late: watching Dark Shadows on DVD. I'm on disc 2.

What I Did This Weekend

Actually, girl child helped with the impatiens while I dug up dandelions and planted a trumpet vine. We have yet to get the forget-me-nots into the ground:

Drunken Knitting Night

Wow! 23 people showed up at Merlin's Rest on Lake Street for Drunken Knitters Night on Friday ... We even called in for the Open Mic Night on Ravelry, but you can see from the transcript that we didn't translate very well (under Flanknits).


This is the best I could do for pics after two pints...

I should have tipped that poor waitress more!

Finally Spring

Spring is a very special time in Minnesota - especially this year as we have had a hard time of it with lots of cold temperatures, rain, sleet, etc. (Ask Harlot and Franklin who were here in April snow/sleet showers).

The campus where I work is especially pretty and it's hard to remember that you're in the middle of a city on a major university campus when you're walking through this: Ok, well, the color didn't come out quite right and I'm not very good at fixing it, but I think you get the idea :-)

This and That

Well, I wouldn't want to outright copy Sheepish Annie's Wednesday Night Bullet Post, but I haven't thought of anything else to call it yet ... I'll work on that.

Fun blog of the week would be this one, regularly posting about things that are younger than presidential hopeful John McCain. Not coincidentally, last summer when I was waiting in line at airport security, the woman ahead of me (talking on the phone) said, "Oh my god, John McCain is in line ahead of me. Wow, he's really old!"

Interesting books that people are reading on the bus this week would be The Omnivore's Dilemma and Eat, Pray, Love both of which I have heard (from reliable sources) are good.

Epiphany: I could call it Thursday's This and That (TTT) for my mid-week ramblings? What do you think, Sue and Susan?

I worked a split shift the other day and somehow found myself at Depth of Field on my way to the train station. Ok, it's true I don't usually take the train home, but on Tuesday it seemed like a good idea. Remember that electric blue bag I saw at Shepherds Harvest last weekend? Well, I found some electric blue sock yarn to satisfy that newfound need. It was a cloudy/rainy day and I needed something to brighten it.

I'm not sure why I find the need to justify that.

I finished The Book of Air and Shadows which I liked a lot, and started Smile When You're Lying. It's quite enjoyable, really, if a bit self indulgent. Perhaps travel writing is always self indulgent.

And last night we watched Goya's Ghosts which was very good. Natalie Portman and Javier Bardem made for a good combo. I'll have to read a bit more on the Napoleonic occupation of Spain and what happened after Pepe Botellas left - I seem to have missed that bit of history class.

That's it for the first TTT. Lunch break is over.

Mothers' Day?

I usually plant flowerboxes on this day - not this year, however, as the temperature when I got up was 39 outside (62 in the house!).



Today we have the unlikely May vision of wool socks drying in the laundry room:

It used to be my policy to wear socks only from October to April, but this year it's stretched into May...

I tried to take a picture of girl-child's shoe project outside, but I'm afraid it looks dreary:

The shoes spiral up the tree trunk, and now the overflow is going to the garage ... I suppose I could concentrate on the peonies coming up, but it's hard to focus when you're just trying to take the damn picture so you can get back inside...

I volunteered at the Sheep and Wool Festival at the Washington County fairgrounds yesterday - just sitting at the Knitters' Guild table - which was fun. I was uninspired, however, when my shift was over and bought nothing. If I were going to take the plunge into dying or spinning I'm sure I could have dropped a bundle, but the bags and yarn I saw can be purchased any time, and for now I'm trying to concentrate on finishing a few things so that I have a manageable number of WIPs (like less than six). I have no pics as I forgot my camera :-(

Some of my favorite yarns were out at the Glitter Knitter's booth, and he had an unbelievable electric blue bag too ... may have to go to the Yarn Garage one of these days for some fiber therapy.

Prom

So girl-child turns out to be a true Pearson, since she is always on time .... even when her date is not dressed, she's ready to go. I wish I had been ready with the camera when he opened the door in his boxers. (He should be happy I was there or she may have killed him on the spot).











They did end up smiling - perhaps they were laughing - as I told them of how my mother never could take pictures and cut off my date in my prom pictures...anyway, they had a good time and long naps were taken today.