I think I might break out the Lenten Thomas Merton journal I bought a few years ago. I took it to Hawaii on my ill-fated trip and have had a hard time opening it since. But Lent is penitential, no?
And besides, of course, meat on Fridays, I'm giving up bread for Lent. This will be the hardest thing. Not pasta, but breads, rolls, crackers, tortillas. We'll see how that goes. Will I make it to the Triduum with my mind mostly intact?!
I also just made a monthly commitment to Food for the Poor -- not as much as I should, but more than I was. I'm going to keep doing it after Lent, as long as I'm employed (!). I was thinking about how I'm too shy to go out and help the impoverished (or anyone) personally, but setting up EFT shouldn't be that hard. I felt ashamed of myself and my cashmere-yarn first-world ways. So.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Knittin'
I'm having lighting problems, but:
It's a much brighter and cooler color. This yarn -- cotton and silk -- is absolutely delectable.
My thrummed socks (Fleece Artist). They are going to be bed socks -- will be too warm and thick to put into shoes. I'm at the heel, and I've decided to skip the thrums for that part.
This is also a much clearer, brighter orange. It's cashmere and merino, a birthday gift for a friend. I've never knit with such luxurious yarn, and I am madly in love with the KnitPicks Harmony needles I bought to knit it with -- they're beautifully painted, they are slippery and yet warm, and they have fantabulously sharp tips!
I'm working on the scarf and cowl while listening to podcasts on this rainy Sunday.
It's a much brighter and cooler color. This yarn -- cotton and silk -- is absolutely delectable.
My thrummed socks (Fleece Artist). They are going to be bed socks -- will be too warm and thick to put into shoes. I'm at the heel, and I've decided to skip the thrums for that part.
This is also a much clearer, brighter orange. It's cashmere and merino, a birthday gift for a friend. I've never knit with such luxurious yarn, and I am madly in love with the KnitPicks Harmony needles I bought to knit it with -- they're beautifully painted, they are slippery and yet warm, and they have fantabulously sharp tips!
I'm working on the scarf and cowl while listening to podcasts on this rainy Sunday.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Catching More Flies with Honey
I decided that rather than openly being the crabby anti-modern-music crank that I am secretly, I would try a more positive tack. A couple of weeks ago the Vigil Mass musician used one of the few Haugen/Hass/Schutte songs I like (it's a Haas). He played it beautifully, too. So I sent him a note and said that while I do come to Mass hoping that we won't have the Haugen/Haas/Schutte triumvirate (I described myself as a "big fan of more traditional music") I did like "You Are Mine" and his playing of it reminded me of why I wished I could play the piano.
It was true, and I also figured that maybe if I phrased it that way, he'd throw me a bone at some future Mass.
And he totally did!! Tonight we had organ for both the processional and the recessional and only one modern piece in the middle!!
Unfortunately, he's lost his day job and may move away and quit. Sigh.
And I was too shy to introduce myself after Mass to compliment him on tonight's music. I think I have only ever introduced myself out of the blue to maybe four people in my entire life. I did email Norah to tell her. Actually I was a reader and as we were going in and the organ started, and I was still in the vestibule, I pumped my arm (down low) and said, "YES!" so I think they gathered my reaction.
It was true, and I also figured that maybe if I phrased it that way, he'd throw me a bone at some future Mass.
And he totally did!! Tonight we had organ for both the processional and the recessional and only one modern piece in the middle!!
Unfortunately, he's lost his day job and may move away and quit. Sigh.
And I was too shy to introduce myself after Mass to compliment him on tonight's music. I think I have only ever introduced myself out of the blue to maybe four people in my entire life. I did email Norah to tell her. Actually I was a reader and as we were going in and the organ started, and I was still in the vestibule, I pumped my arm (down low) and said, "YES!" so I think they gathered my reaction.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Is It Just Me?
I have had several experiences lately -- some with same person, some not; some personal and some professional -- where I write an email, and I get a response that is:
a) not a response to anything I've actually written or asked
b) noddingly refers to what I've written or asked but then morphs into A
c) is a question, the answer of which is in the original email
d) takes offense at something I didn't write or ask in the slightest
I am wondering if I just know a lot of people who are not careful readers, are utterly spacy, or who are passive-aggressive. I can tell you it's extraordinarily frustrating.
a) not a response to anything I've actually written or asked
b) noddingly refers to what I've written or asked but then morphs into A
c) is a question, the answer of which is in the original email
d) takes offense at something I didn't write or ask in the slightest
I am wondering if I just know a lot of people who are not careful readers, are utterly spacy, or who are passive-aggressive. I can tell you it's extraordinarily frustrating.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Valentine Epiphany
Actually, I didn't really have the epiphany today. It was sneaking up on me, and it became apparent the other day.
I had a dream where someone had fallen in love with me. He was a bit odd, but I tend to like odd people. And I was pleased, in the dream, but not over the moon, and at some dream point I was alone and thinking, "I don't want to get entangled in all this again. Things are easier without it."
Also, someone I once adored has called me a few times this last ten days or so and I have gotten to the point where I don't want to talk to him. For awhile I was sort of "eh" about it, and now I'm really wishing he wouldn't call. I feel somewhat neutral about him, don't wish him any harm or anything, and I'd never tell him not to call, but I'm perfectly pleased when he doesn't.
It's Valentine's Day, and I am absolutely perfectly happy being home, baking bread, having made a salmon-and-rice dinner off the top of my head, reading and plotting my next knitting project. (Not the Sipalu bag. That's under my bed with herbal spicy moth repellent for now.)
Most of my life I felt there was no point to things if you didn't have someone special with which to share them. And it's not that I'd necessarily mind being married again, or having a relationship, but it would have to be something much more amazing and wonderful than what I've had in the last seven or so years. And I'm not even feeling like looking. Maybe I'm in a selfish phase, but I am much happier in it than I've been in my "life sucks when you're alone" phases.
(I do still wish all my chores and all my bills weren't mine, but c'est la vie!)
I had a dream where someone had fallen in love with me. He was a bit odd, but I tend to like odd people. And I was pleased, in the dream, but not over the moon, and at some dream point I was alone and thinking, "I don't want to get entangled in all this again. Things are easier without it."
Also, someone I once adored has called me a few times this last ten days or so and I have gotten to the point where I don't want to talk to him. For awhile I was sort of "eh" about it, and now I'm really wishing he wouldn't call. I feel somewhat neutral about him, don't wish him any harm or anything, and I'd never tell him not to call, but I'm perfectly pleased when he doesn't.
It's Valentine's Day, and I am absolutely perfectly happy being home, baking bread, having made a salmon-and-rice dinner off the top of my head, reading and plotting my next knitting project. (Not the Sipalu bag. That's under my bed with herbal spicy moth repellent for now.)
Most of my life I felt there was no point to things if you didn't have someone special with which to share them. And it's not that I'd necessarily mind being married again, or having a relationship, but it would have to be something much more amazing and wonderful than what I've had in the last seven or so years. And I'm not even feeling like looking. Maybe I'm in a selfish phase, but I am much happier in it than I've been in my "life sucks when you're alone" phases.
(I do still wish all my chores and all my bills weren't mine, but c'est la vie!)
Mmm, rice
So the rice cooker is working; made a large batch of my beloved brown basmati the other day and have one in now. The place smells like popcorn. Love it.
Just finished my big IKEA cup of Trader Joe's mango black tea, and am beginning to see why people do actually get up and go to Mass on Sunday mornings instead of Saturday evenings, because if I weren't going to go tonight, then I could make some jam or some bread, but a 75-minute absence from 5 to 6:15 would make that a little tricky. But maybe I'll have a second wind when I get home. I know if I got to live on my own body clock, I'd be in the kitchen at midnight.
Oh, living on your own body clock!! Those morning people have no idea how lucky they are to live in a morning-people world...
Just finished my big IKEA cup of Trader Joe's mango black tea, and am beginning to see why people do actually get up and go to Mass on Sunday mornings instead of Saturday evenings, because if I weren't going to go tonight, then I could make some jam or some bread, but a 75-minute absence from 5 to 6:15 would make that a little tricky. But maybe I'll have a second wind when I get home. I know if I got to live on my own body clock, I'd be in the kitchen at midnight.
Oh, living on your own body clock!! Those morning people have no idea how lucky they are to live in a morning-people world...
Friday, February 13, 2009
Sexist Vitamin Commercials!
The One-A-Day for Men's commercial asks, "Should a man over 50 take the same vitamin as a woman?" Then it cuts to a man who says firmly, "I don't think so!"
The same commerical in gender reverse cuts to a woman asking, "There's a choice?"
He has an opinion. She sounds daffy. Bleagh.
The same commerical in gender reverse cuts to a woman asking, "There's a choice?"
He has an opinion. She sounds daffy. Bleagh.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
And the Debit Card...
...I am not sure why it got refused by the Australian Red Cross, but apparently the fact that I tried to donate to them made the fraud unit put a hold on my card.
WTF???
Also, they said they tried to call me at the number I haven't had for almost three years, and they did not call my cell phone number, which my online profile says IS the number they will call to contact me regarding my account. And which you think they'd have used if they couldn't get me on the other number.
The bank got a tensely polite email summary of all this this evening (including a "what about donating to an international charity in a country undergoing a tragedy set off a fraud alert?!"), after I'd gotten off the phone with the human being I finally contacted by first selecting the "lost or stolen card" option, since that was the only one that got me a CSR. That CSR connected me to the fraud unit. I agree, I hate talking on the phone and would rather conduct any and all business whatsoever via email, but in this case I had to talk to someone. Could they have made it any harder?
OK, rant over!
WTF???
Also, they said they tried to call me at the number I haven't had for almost three years, and they did not call my cell phone number, which my online profile says IS the number they will call to contact me regarding my account. And which you think they'd have used if they couldn't get me on the other number.
The bank got a tensely polite email summary of all this this evening (including a "what about donating to an international charity in a country undergoing a tragedy set off a fraud alert?!"), after I'd gotten off the phone with the human being I finally contacted by first selecting the "lost or stolen card" option, since that was the only one that got me a CSR. That CSR connected me to the fraud unit. I agree, I hate talking on the phone and would rather conduct any and all business whatsoever via email, but in this case I had to talk to someone. Could they have made it any harder?
OK, rant over!
Operator Error (Sort of)
So I couldn't get the shiny new rice cooker to work tonight. Nothing I pushed did anything.
Later, I futzed again with the cord, which is detachable. I don't like detachable cords and here's a new reason why -- it's hard to keep this one plugged into the back of the cooker. Once I'd gotten it just right, I could work the controls. Everything else about it seems as wonderful as it was advertised, but I'm thinking I may need to figure out some way to secure the cord. I wouldn't want it to fall out of the back of the machine mid-cooking.
I have gotten to the heel of the first thrummed sock.
I don't know if I'm up to trying to figure out how to "keep the thrum pattern" when the whole setup is different. I always have trouble with gussets as it is... So I'm mulling: Sit down and write out how to keep the thrum pattern? Skip the thrum pattern on the heel? Make them into tube socks?
Yeah, I know. Sit down and write it out already!
Tomorrow!
Later, I futzed again with the cord, which is detachable. I don't like detachable cords and here's a new reason why -- it's hard to keep this one plugged into the back of the cooker. Once I'd gotten it just right, I could work the controls. Everything else about it seems as wonderful as it was advertised, but I'm thinking I may need to figure out some way to secure the cord. I wouldn't want it to fall out of the back of the machine mid-cooking.
I have gotten to the heel of the first thrummed sock.
I don't know if I'm up to trying to figure out how to "keep the thrum pattern" when the whole setup is different. I always have trouble with gussets as it is... So I'm mulling: Sit down and write out how to keep the thrum pattern? Skip the thrum pattern on the heel? Make them into tube socks?
Yeah, I know. Sit down and write it out already!
Tomorrow!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Is Cold
... by our standards, anyway. My stupid nose never warms up!
My fancypants rice cooker is here! It is sitting cutely on the countertop, knowing what time it is without me telling it. I had to go to a parish council meeting and I'm huddled in my room for warmth (and will soon go to bed), so I will have to play with it tomorrow.
I tried to give money to the Australian Red Cross but it wouldn't take my debit card, and then neither would Starbucks. I came home and called the bank, but there was no option to talk to a person. I sent a stressed email... I know from personal experience that the recipient of messages that suggest that said recipient is stupid, or that the recipient had better straighten up, fly right, and immediately cater to the writer regardless of the justness of their demands, simply irritate the bejeesus out of people. So I tried not to be demanding and arrogant and nasty -- but insistent that I needed some kind of communication ASAP. We shall see.
Granted, I hate talking to people on the phone and vastly prefer email, but in this case I really would like to resolve things immediately.
The one thing I can resolve is my freezing nose. Bath time.
My fancypants rice cooker is here! It is sitting cutely on the countertop, knowing what time it is without me telling it. I had to go to a parish council meeting and I'm huddled in my room for warmth (and will soon go to bed), so I will have to play with it tomorrow.
I tried to give money to the Australian Red Cross but it wouldn't take my debit card, and then neither would Starbucks. I came home and called the bank, but there was no option to talk to a person. I sent a stressed email... I know from personal experience that the recipient of messages that suggest that said recipient is stupid, or that the recipient had better straighten up, fly right, and immediately cater to the writer regardless of the justness of their demands, simply irritate the bejeesus out of people. So I tried not to be demanding and arrogant and nasty -- but insistent that I needed some kind of communication ASAP. We shall see.
Granted, I hate talking to people on the phone and vastly prefer email, but in this case I really would like to resolve things immediately.
The one thing I can resolve is my freezing nose. Bath time.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Really Sick of These Dreams
You know the list I made recently of my recurring dreams? I had a cool-apartment one the other night/morning. It was, as it has been before, an eccentric version of my previous Victorian apartment. I'm really tired of these dreams. They always have some anxiety about them, as if I know on some level it's just a dream and I am going to wake up in the 1969 box I live in now, and that in fact the likelihood of my ever living someplace truly cool is almost nil.
Yes, I know I am lucky to have as much space and amenities as I do. Much of the world would give their right arm for the chance. This doesn't help the bad feeling I have about these dreams.
Anyway. I sat and knit on my thrummed socks, watched some TLC (which really has very little to do with learning anymore and mostly focuses on babies, it seems) and had some Trader Joe's blueberry green tea in my new IKEA cup. I need strong tea, so for a cup this size, next time it's two teabags. It rained down pretty hard and is now just sprinkling. Bummer. I don't like to drive in the rain, but I love being inside while it crashes down. Actually I don't mind being outside in it either, just not driving. But it would make a Sunday night, my bete noir, much more pleasant.
My fancy-schmancy rice cooker comes tomorrow, but I also have to go to a meeting, which means I will pick up said fancy-schmancy rice cooker, come home, and pretty much have to leave again. Who ever thought Monday nights would be the best time for any kind of meeting? Thursday night, that would be better... only one more day to get through! Anyway, I'm definitely stopping at Starbucks and getting a massive vanilla latte to keep myself going. One must have small delights.
Yes, I know I am lucky to have as much space and amenities as I do. Much of the world would give their right arm for the chance. This doesn't help the bad feeling I have about these dreams.
Anyway. I sat and knit on my thrummed socks, watched some TLC (which really has very little to do with learning anymore and mostly focuses on babies, it seems) and had some Trader Joe's blueberry green tea in my new IKEA cup. I need strong tea, so for a cup this size, next time it's two teabags. It rained down pretty hard and is now just sprinkling. Bummer. I don't like to drive in the rain, but I love being inside while it crashes down. Actually I don't mind being outside in it either, just not driving. But it would make a Sunday night, my bete noir, much more pleasant.
My fancy-schmancy rice cooker comes tomorrow, but I also have to go to a meeting, which means I will pick up said fancy-schmancy rice cooker, come home, and pretty much have to leave again. Who ever thought Monday nights would be the best time for any kind of meeting? Thursday night, that would be better... only one more day to get through! Anyway, I'm definitely stopping at Starbucks and getting a massive vanilla latte to keep myself going. One must have small delights.
Cozy Evening Coming Up
I went to IKEA with my sister this afternoon. Stocked up on napkins -- IKEA has the best paper napkins in all the world. :-) I buy the large white ones (sometimes large colored ones if I like the other colors on offer), and then bunches of smaller patterned ones. The large ones are excellent everyday napkins -- huge and heavy. I feel a bit dorky when I unload my napkin finds at the checkout, but oh well.
I also bought a big teacup with a saucer that can fit onto the lid to keep it warm. I've been drinking a pot of tea every night and I'd like a big cup to go with.
It looks like it's about to rain. I need to change the sheets, do the dishes, make some dinner, and hunker down in preparation for another tiring workweek. I am going to ask for Friday off to take my car in to get new tires. That would make for a four-day weekend, so I'd be pleased.
And, I've now set it so that when I get new mail, I get Rachel Maddow yelling, "PORN!" See story here (bottom of page, under Ringtones).
I also bought a big teacup with a saucer that can fit onto the lid to keep it warm. I've been drinking a pot of tea every night and I'd like a big cup to go with.
It looks like it's about to rain. I need to change the sheets, do the dishes, make some dinner, and hunker down in preparation for another tiring workweek. I am going to ask for Friday off to take my car in to get new tires. That would make for a four-day weekend, so I'd be pleased.
And, I've now set it so that when I get new mail, I get Rachel Maddow yelling, "PORN!" See story here (bottom of page, under Ringtones).
Friday, February 6, 2009
Knitting Pictures
The beginning of the Fleece Artist thrummed socks.
The finished Flirty Scarf I gave a friend for Christmas. It looks a lot like the next scarf in this picture, but it's in very bulky yarn (Araucania Limari, merino/alpaca/silk), is reversible and not cabled.
Irish Hiking Scarf, the "scarf of obligation" because I offered to knit it for someone and she bought the yarn. Cabling is definitely a "bang for your buck" technique because it looks harder than it is.
I missed one cable turn, so I made it a design feature -- it's the center back of the scarf.
Pajama Party of One
Back when I was married, one of the things my husband and I did that I really enjoyed was that some nights we'd come home, take our showers right away (we were night showerers -- I still am -- because I want to go to bed clean and with shaven legs, and I'd rather sleep than do anything in the morning), get into our sweats/jammies, and go to bed early. But not really bed, more like a slumber party. We'd sit on the bed, watch TV, have dinner there.
I'm kinda doing that tonight. I had a quick dinner, watched Rachel Maddow, and just got out of the shower (it's 8:30ish). I'm sitting on my bed and about to start a new knitting project -- finally going to tackle the thrummed sock kit my sister got me 18 months ago. Tomorrow I'm going to start the uber-intimidating Sipalu bag, now that I have found a provisional cast-on I think I can do, and I've finished the Scarf of Obligation (pictures once it's dried). I'm too tired to start it tonight!
My apartment is a bit of a mess, and I'm vacillating between minding it and wondering if I mind it just because I should mind it, and whether I should just relax and not worry and enjoy one of the perks of living alone! Eh, I'll think about it tomorrow...
I'm kinda doing that tonight. I had a quick dinner, watched Rachel Maddow, and just got out of the shower (it's 8:30ish). I'm sitting on my bed and about to start a new knitting project -- finally going to tackle the thrummed sock kit my sister got me 18 months ago. Tomorrow I'm going to start the uber-intimidating Sipalu bag, now that I have found a provisional cast-on I think I can do, and I've finished the Scarf of Obligation (pictures once it's dried). I'm too tired to start it tonight!
My apartment is a bit of a mess, and I'm vacillating between minding it and wondering if I mind it just because I should mind it, and whether I should just relax and not worry and enjoy one of the perks of living alone! Eh, I'll think about it tomorrow...
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Long Week....end??
It's funny that I'm almost glad the weekend is over!
Yesterday at Mass I was a lector; I thought I had the second reading, but I had the first, and had to sight-read. Then I went to dinner at the home of two of my very conservative anti-abortion friends. We are friends, but not uber-close, and they don't realize I am neither of those things, especially not ever the former. There was some uncomfortable political discussion, during which I was quiet. I feel a little cowardly, inasmuch as they're very comfortable being open about their deep conservatism even in a liberal area, whereas I won't even say, "Actually, I'm a Democrat." But I am much more laissez-faire toward others' political bents than I think they are, and it's easier not to make a tense situation for me a tense situation for everybody.
Today I had pizza with a friend I haven't seen in quite awhile. He doesn't drive and I find that stressful sometimes -- I feel obligated to offer a ride, and yet I must admit to a subtle resentment at that. We live in an area where almost everyone drives and public transportation ain't great. I think I was soured by a woman I worked with who didn't drive, regularly bummed rides back to our neighborhood, and then once proudly proclaimed, "I've never needed to drive!" My thought was, "Then you don't need a ride from me, right?" Which of course I didn't say.
I don't mind if someone is physically unable to drive or absolutely unable to afford a car (neither was the case of my coworker). The latter is the case of the friend today, so that was OK, but I still feel awkward about it, a little. (Sometimes it's bad when I've reached my socialbility limit but still have to drive someone home. Not the case here.) Overall, though, lunch was nice and who doesn't like pizza? (If you don't, I don't want to know.)
I made some sugared lemons when I got home, to slip into tea. You take lemons and pour boiling water over, then slice very thin. Layer each slice with sugar in a jam jar and stick in the fridge. In short order you will have sugary lemons and lemon-flavored simple syrup in the jar. I will try some tomorrow.
The Scarf of Obligation: 2/3 done!
Yesterday at Mass I was a lector; I thought I had the second reading, but I had the first, and had to sight-read. Then I went to dinner at the home of two of my very conservative anti-abortion friends. We are friends, but not uber-close, and they don't realize I am neither of those things, especially not ever the former. There was some uncomfortable political discussion, during which I was quiet. I feel a little cowardly, inasmuch as they're very comfortable being open about their deep conservatism even in a liberal area, whereas I won't even say, "Actually, I'm a Democrat." But I am much more laissez-faire toward others' political bents than I think they are, and it's easier not to make a tense situation for me a tense situation for everybody.
Today I had pizza with a friend I haven't seen in quite awhile. He doesn't drive and I find that stressful sometimes -- I feel obligated to offer a ride, and yet I must admit to a subtle resentment at that. We live in an area where almost everyone drives and public transportation ain't great. I think I was soured by a woman I worked with who didn't drive, regularly bummed rides back to our neighborhood, and then once proudly proclaimed, "I've never needed to drive!" My thought was, "Then you don't need a ride from me, right?" Which of course I didn't say.
I don't mind if someone is physically unable to drive or absolutely unable to afford a car (neither was the case of my coworker). The latter is the case of the friend today, so that was OK, but I still feel awkward about it, a little. (Sometimes it's bad when I've reached my socialbility limit but still have to drive someone home. Not the case here.) Overall, though, lunch was nice and who doesn't like pizza? (If you don't, I don't want to know.)
I made some sugared lemons when I got home, to slip into tea. You take lemons and pour boiling water over, then slice very thin. Layer each slice with sugar in a jam jar and stick in the fridge. In short order you will have sugary lemons and lemon-flavored simple syrup in the jar. I will try some tomorrow.
The Scarf of Obligation: 2/3 done!
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