Reality Check

The election is over, vacation is over, nothing has really changed in spite of all that relaxation beside the pool ... the elation over the fact that the W era is almost over is waning ... the economy is still a shambles, the country is still at war.

I think that walking out into this in the morning instead of seeing a jacaranda tree may have something to do with the depression that has set in:

And although I've cleaned up a lot, there's still plenty of stuff piled up that has to be dealt with at the office:
Yes, it's a blurry picture. I think maybe I hadn't had enough coffee yet when I snapped the shot.

So what should we do to brighten our day? Make the winter shorter?


Make resolutions, of course! By the time we realize there's no hope of achieving the resolutions, the weather will be good and we won't care any more!


Thanks to Cursing Mama for the link:

You Should Make 6 Resolutions

Lose Weight Save Money Get a Better Job Get Fit Drink Less Alcohol Reduce Stress Overall

What Should You Resolve to Change Next Year?

(ok, maybe I exaggerate a little...)

News and Views

Minneapolis (and I'm assuming St.Paul can be included since the Twin Cities are really one metro area) has made the top of the Most Literate Cities list.

I love this kind of news.

In the Minnesota Senate race Norm Coleman has now decided that speed is not the first objective - remember on Nov. 6th when AP reported Coleman as saying (regarding the cost of a recount),

It's up to him whether such a step is worth the tax dollars it will take to conduct," Coleman said, telling reporters he would "step back" if he were in Franken's position.

Right

And if you want to read somethig REALLY depressing, take a look at this article in Salon regarding the W Legacy.

On a brighter note, I've finished Boy-child's glittens (he wears them every day!), I've started working on the second sock of a pair for P (I put them away last month 'cause he wouldn't be needing them but suddenly he may need them rather soon), and I started a new pair for a secret, seditious gift with a yummy yarn...

And from Harlot's page-a-day calendar today, one of my favorite words explained:

The term "Luddite" is used to describe a person who is opposed to new technology, mechanization, or industrialization, as in "he doesn't even use e-mail - he's such a Luddite." It's named after Ned Ludd, an English knitter who lost his cool in 1779 and smashed two knitting machines that he felt threatened his livelihood. He was so opposed to knitting becoming a mechanical process that his name is now synonymous with resistance to progress.

Who knew? I use the term luddite in a most unfriendly fashion in the library and now it turns out Mr. Ludd was a knitter...

A Sad Tale from 32,000 Feet

I'd been cruising along on the knitting during my vacation ... I finished a pair of socks which are to be a late Christmas gift and the glittens were in need of the mitteny hoods only - easy peasy for bus/airport/inflight work ...

Never become smug or complacent. Disaster is bound to strike.

So there I was working on the final bits of the second glitten at 32,000 feet, oh so happy that I was going to have a second FO from my trip when suddenly, a needle broke.

No problem, right? I can finish with four needles ... Boy-child was asleep next to me and the movie was bad so the glittens would prevail!

Then another needle broke. Really. Granted, I was using cheap plastic needles, but who knew? Was I especially tense due to travel? Taking out the frustrations of my vacation being over on the needles? Are the cheap plasic variety weakened by a pressurized cabin?

So this is how far I got: How sad was that? Luckily, I had tucked away a skein of chunky Lamb's Pride in my carry-on just in case I had time to make a hat for Boy-child, which I did: And I did have the finished socks, even though they were going to live with someone else. I thought the wool socks looked particularly nice pool-side:
Needless to say, the first stop I made when I left the house yesterday to grocery shop was The Yarnery for a replacement set of needles - bamboo this time.

The mail gets delivered today and I imagine it will take me all week to get through it, but I hope to finish the glittens anyway. After all, I'll need a break from the mail.

Parting Shots

Happy New Year

I think I mentioned that we went to the coast for New Year's Eve. It's a different world on the coast, and of course, New Year's Eve comes with its own issues. I've never been big on celebrating this particular holiday, but we enjoyed the change in scenery.

There's a long walk and lots of beach between La Serena and Coquimbo with tons of restaurants, condos and hotels.
They have tsunami evacuation route signs which I don't believe I'd ever seen before; I haven't been here since the 2004 tsunami.
Sunsets are quite spectacular on the Pacific coast:
My pictures are not very good, but the fireworks were ... we could see three sets of fireworks from our hotel balcony.
Next morning always looks very different. There were lots of young people still out and about when we went down for breakfast; their day was just finishing up and ours just starting.

The beach in the morning can be a very cloudy. This year's start was no exception. It gives you time to think.