Lost

Some days, when I'm feeling lost at work, I try to remember that it's not a big deal.
No fighter jets are being scrambled just because I'm having a bad day.

I Spy

Astérix

Asterix is 50, and to celebrate, El Pais has given access to four pages in PDF format for free!

I apologize to my friends who do not read enough Spanish to enjoy the sample from El Pais; look for something in English, I'm sure it's out there.

If you're not familiar with Asterix, take a look here, here or here for a little info in English.

Thanks

Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes and kind inquiries regarding Boy-child.

He's calmed down a lot in the past year and he likes his new school. In fact, when I was talking with him about it the other day, he said that one of his friends had mentioned it too. I believe he said that Peter told him, "You're still crazy, but you're happy crazy."

Thank god for small favors.

His new school, as it turns out, is better than we had understood. It has three National Merit Scholar finalists; out of a class of 30, that's probably the best percentage in the city. While we don't expect miracles, he does seem more likely to graduate now that he's there. He says it's not a school for potheads (what I used to call it) but rather a place for intellectual misanthropes.

If he's happy, so be it.

Good, Old-fashioned Laughs

Not totally random, folks, since Soupy Sales just died on the 22nd. I remember him from when I was a kid, and although I haven't seen him around for ages, he obviously never outgrew silly.

17

Dream Job

Well, I got passed up on (another) job today; glad I was home catching up on things when I heard the news.

Anyway, it got me to wondering what type of job I should be looking for, since I seem to be barking up the wrong tree.

So I took a little quiz.

It's wonderful how there's a quiz for everything and you can always find answers to important questions with online quizzes, isn't it?

Turns out that instead of listening to everyone whoosh past me, I should be looking into a profession that would enable me to whoosh past everyone else:

Your result for The Dream Job Test...

The Race Car Driver

You're 75% career-driven and 75% ambitious. In addition, you play 65% well with others, and you need a job that keeps you in the limelight 54% of the time!

You like the thought crossing the finish line alone, in front of the rest of the pack, but you also like the thought of other people watching. Sure, there's a pit crew, and sponsors, and a whole support team under you, but you're the one who gets all the glory.

It's lonely at the top, and it takes a lot of work to get there. You don't want a job with normal working hours... no, you'd devote your life to this if it pays off in the end.

Good luck with your future endeavors. Once you go forward, I suspect you're not the type to look back.

Prefer to observe the speed limits when you drive? Try one of these (slightly) more realistic options:

Television News Anchor, Massage Therapist, Dancer, Novelist, College Professor, Military Officer, Simultaneous translator (i.e. one who translates in person, at meetings and such).

Monday

I hope that all those people who have been crabby about the weather got over it this weekend; what a beautiful couple of days.

Of course, some people are often crabby - especially when their picture is taken:
That's Boy-child's latest hat. Actually, I think it's going to one of his buddies - a trade for the grey one that was recently finished and then disappeared. I was thinking about all the hats The Kat has been knitting for charity, and feeling rather selfish, and then it dawned on me that I have been knitting hats for all of Boy-child's friends, so what the heck.

Eventually I'll knit something for the homeless, but in the meantime I'm busy knitting hats for all those teenagers. Better than if they're out there with bare heads.

Glass Half Full

Keeping in mind that shorter days mean more opportunities for sunrises:

(and sunsets too, but I haven't captured any of those yet).

Some Movies

It occurred to me that I haven't written about any movies for a while; I'm not sure why, since we watch a lot of movies. Then I looked at our Netflix activity. Not too many good ones. Maybe that's why I don't mention them.

But they weren't all bad.

We saw Sunshine Cleaning, which was ok. Kind of cute. Entertaining enough. (Don't they wish they had me to endorse their film?). Actually, I love Alan Arkin. Especially since Little Miss Sunshine (ironic that he likes Sunshine movies but always plays the crank, eh?). Boy-child was unimpressed with the movie, but loves Emily Blunt.

And Death At a Funeral. Now that was funny. I don't like much in the line of funny, but this was hilarious.

We re-watched In Bruges and Ocean's Eleven, which were both good. In Bruges especially. Even if it was on the violent side.

We also saw - a while ago now - Vitus and Der Tunnel which were both excellent. Forgive me if I'm repeating myself.

The children got me to watch Firefly and Serenity not so long ago, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Especially Firefly. I expected John Wayne to show up in that spaceship at any moment.

And since I've digressed into T.V., I'd just like to mention that I love the show, Bones, which Girl-child got me hooked on. Pato watches it now too. And last week's was particularly good for a number of reasons, not least of which was that the sub-culture that was being examined was suburban USA. Loved that.

The Fun Continues

It was an enchanted walk up the hill this morning:




Once the snow melted there were still beautiful colors to enjoy:

On the Arrival of Winter

Just this week I was noticing how it's kind of dark when I'm on the way to the bus stop.
I love autumn. I believe I've mentioned that before.
This morning there was snow on the ground. It's gone now, but we're on our way to winter.
A lot of people dread the snow and the cold and the short days, but I like the change of seasons. I like snow. I find cold, sunny days invigorating as opposed to the hot, humid days of summer which make me lethargic.

Of course, knitting is a lot more fun in cooler weather, plus you get to use your hand knits. I've finished the Christmas Commission Socks. Well, technically I have to weave in the ends, but there's plenty of time to do that before they get packed up and mailed on Monday.
I am unable to accurately capture the color of this yarn. It is a beautiful lavender with greens. Oh well. Maybe I'll get in Franklin's Photographing Your Knitting class at Yarnover 2010 and then I won't have this problem any more...at least I think he's going to be teaching that class.

I knit like a madwoman all week to get to a point in the Circumnavigated Cardigan where I could use Jean's help in class. I achieved my goal and also did a Japanese short row before leaving the shop this morning. The color is a heathered purple.
I have named my Circumnavigated the RTW Cardigan, in honor of the Round the World itineraries we used to work up in the olden days, when I toiled at The Evil Airline That No Longer Exists' International Rate Desk. (Circumnavigation of a different sort, that was).

This is one of the pockets (you get the idea?):
I still have this little number waiting for me - I'll try to take breaks from the RTW so I have a new scarf to wear. I have nothing in this color so it will be a welcome addition; Rose the Gypsy sent it to me as payment for the (above) Christmas Commission Socks.
And the vanilla sock for the bus at the moment is Boy-child's next pair; purple. I'm thinking red for the reinforcing thread, although if I can find lime green I'll do that instead.
Oh, and Boy-child already gave away his gray hat, so I'm going to whip one up in blue with some stashed Araucania. I'm glad he and his friends like hand knit hats, but sometimes I wish he were less generous.

So much yarn, so little time.

After Thinking About it for a Bit

• The Nobel Committee has not done Obama any favors
• The Committee gave him the Peace prize to make it more difficult for him to bomb Iran (Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.)
• If Kissenger won the prize, anyone can win the prize
• They were trying to make him feel better after Chicago didn't get the Olympics
• W brought standards so low, all you have to do is NOT be W to win
• Bringing hope to the world is enough; you don't have to actually do anything
• Declining the prize would be diplomatic suicide
• Obama is the only one who could (did) accept it graciously and with humility
• The Committee is actually a very conservative organization and they're building support to overthrow Obama
• They think that by showing they love Obama the whole world will join in the love
• Comments? Opinions?

Obama Wins the Peace Prize

Much to ponder with this morning's surprise.

I could say a lot, but since it's all being discussed online already I'll refrain from comment (for the moment).

In the meantime, I may have found a use for Twitter - take a look at posts about the Nobel here.

NYC Cabbies Fight it Out

Thanks to Ironic for the splendid diversion this afternoon:

~sigh~
Believe it or not, it makes me want to go to NYC

In the Trenches

The University of Florida’s disaster manual includes what to do in a zombie outbreak - and here's a quiz that will determine what your role will be during the attack:

Your result for The Zombie Apocalypse Personality Test...

The Foot Soldier

64% Aggression and 48% Leadership!

You are the Foot Soldier. Solid, determined, and capable, you do what needs to be done. You don't go looking to start fights, but you don't have a problem with ending them. Preferring others to lead, you serve to protect the core of the group while others think the big thoughts.

Take The Zombie Apocalypse Personality Test at HelloQuizzy

Monday Morning Wires

Salon.com highlights five things that are top stories/current wire service stories at the top of the home page.

Here are this morning's five things:

1. Health reform legislation close to floor vote (NYT)
2. U.N. to inspect Iranian plant this month (CNN)
3. 8 U.S. troops dead in bold Afghanistan attack (WAPO)
4. Todd Palin quits his job (CNN)
5. Is Ahmadinejad secretly Jewish? (TELE)
   

Ok. I understand 1-3.

Todd Palin quits his job. And we care because...?

And Ahmadinejad is an anti-Semitic Jew. Ugh!

Which Ewe Are You?

Take the quiz here to find out.

Next Summer, A List

All summer long I knit socks, as is my custom:

Not all of them were knit for myself, of course, but when I went to dig up my winter socks, it was quite obvious that there is no shortage of socks in my drawer:

And yet, when I found my slippers, I discovered that perhaps I should have been making myself a new pair over the summer:

Today I start an Early Riser class with Jean, so I won't be making any slippers during the month of October.

I guess I'll have to wear socks with the slippers for now.