Strange and Irrelevant

And now for something completely strange and irrelevant.
Can you tell what it is?

It's the lights on my washing machine.
I think there are more lights on that then there were on the spaceship in Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Okay, well, almost.
I guess my washer isn't going to take us on any intergalactic travel, but it is kind of strange to see all these lights at night.
Almost looks like the lights on a car's control panel too, or perhaps a new constellation of stars.
Modern technology.
We've come a long way since this:

Although for the record, if things do go badly for the world, come on over because I do have an old washboard and some tubs.
Anyone else?

Driveway Rodeo

Oh yea!
It's driveway rodeo time!
The DPW - Department of Public Works - is tearing up our street and repaving it.
My neighbor told me that they had told her (she works from home, so is available to talk to these men who take their time with things) that they had an aggressive May 20 deadline.
Yeah.
That was last week.
In the manner of only allowing themselves one work activity per day, yesterday was the day they put out the sawhorses and blocked our driveways.
Last week, on Friday, they spray painted the ground - apparently where each sawhorse was going to be placed.
And that was it.
Let me add that the street was torn up two weeks ago.
Alas, what can you do except bitch, or find something positive.
So here's what I'm positive about:
I'm positive that I'm going to hit one of these suckers on the way out of my driveway this morning.

If they'd asked me I could have told them about my total lack of depth perception, my inability to effectively drive (or park) a huge Dodge Ram 1500 truck (can I show you the side where I scraped against the shopping cart corral?), and the fact that I'll be backing out not going forward.
Pulling through them was hard enough!
So I suppose we could put the sawhorses out and have some kind of street rodeo. There are plenty of them.
Here's the street view looking east:

And west.

And now I'm across the street looking east. Why yes, that is a van coming down the street while I stand in the middle of said street in my bare feet and wearing an apron. This is such a high class neighborhood, and yet I continue to bring it down.

I'm going back inside so I can knit.
Or go to bed.
Or both.

Weekend Morning

Those who wake up late like to ease into their day...

...but those who wake up early usually ease back into a nap.

Endurance

A long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away....wait, wrong story.

Here's the right story.

Back in the day (it was a Tuesday, perhaps?), the Marine Corps used to have fitness reports - which are really performance evaluations - that graded us (as Marines) on many different character traits.
There were three sections to the old fitness reports - Section A was meant for your personal information, Section C was a written narrative of your behavior/accomplishments/leadership abilities, and Section B contained a series of small boxes where you were rated from Outstanding to Unsatisfactory, or Not Observed if it did not apply, on several traits and characteristics.

One of these traits was endurance.
Now the school of thought always held that this block for marking your "endurance" was really meant to be about how you endured in combat. For most of my career we were never in combat, save for a few small conflicts/skirmishes, most notably in 1990-91 and 2003. I was a peace-time/Reagan-era Marine.
Which is not a bad thing.
It's just that for well over 20 years the block marking our "endurance" was never really about true endurance. It was just a block to be checked.
But we talked about endurance - that mental toughness to keep on going, the physical ability to consistently maintain even when you were close to breaking down.
And I've met people in my life who have their own coping mechanisms, their own way of enduring through difficult times.
So while the fitness report was changed in the late '90s, the idea of "endurance" never has left my mind, and neither have all the conversations we used to have about it.
What it means to endure.
Well the past few months have been pretty ridiculously tough, and the past few weeks have been unbelievably stressful, but I have endured.
And now I'm on the other side.
What has helped? Lots of things, but also the knowledge that no matter what, I must and will endure.
I mean they do teach you that as a Marine, and wearing that title for the rest of my life means that I have a legacy to uphold.
And I did.
I endured the difficult time.
And that's also why I fell asleep at 7:00 pm last night and slept straight through until morning.
Because everyone who comes out on the other side certainly deserves a well-earned rest, don't you think?
Probably some yarn too. I'm gonna get right on that.

Stay Gold

It's Wednesday night and we're watching The Outsiders.
What a great film.
Surely one of the best from the 1980s.
So well-written, and well-acted, and just a pure classic.
Quite a few quotable lines too (such as, "Do it for Johnny!"), but none more memorable than, "Stay gold."
I often forget the poem from which this reference comes, and then I have to look it up.
Here it is so I/we can always remember to stay gold.

Nothing Gold Can Stay
by Robert Frost
Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. But only so an hour. The Her early leaf's a flower ;n leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay.

Two Men

We lost two men today who had an impact on my life.
I've never met either of them, but they are ever-present in my memory.
Earlier today I saw that Jonathan Frid, the actor who played Barnabas Collins in "Dark Shadows" passed away.
When I was in kindergarten (back in the day, way, way back), I used to get home and off the bus just in time to catch the 4:00 airtime of Dark Shadows.
I don't know that I necessarily understood the show, and I mostly remember the scarabs as well as Barnabas, but it is a firm memory.
Here's a very funny annotation made to the moment Barnabas shows up at Collinwood.



Oh that ring, how I remember that ring!
For those uninitiated, this is a very "raw" show, and by raw I mean live and not altogether polished.
But good stuff for teenagers (and kindergarteners) in the 60s.
This was shown again on TV when I was in 7th grade or thereabouts, so I would rush home (but not as quickly as the 5 year old me did) and watch the show then too.
Great stuff.
Nostalgic camp.
RIP Jonathan/Barnabas.

Even sadder is the passing of Levon Helm.
You may know him from The Band, you may know him as Loretta Lynn's father in Coal Miner's Daughter. You may also know him as an amazing drummer and singer.
RIP Levon.
Here's a couple of songs we can listen to and glory at your talent.

Blinded by Science

Yesterday our campus observed Scholars' Day, a day when over 300 students, faculty and staff present papers, works of art, posters, and dance routines.
No classes on this day, just an opportunity to see what others are pursuing with regards to scholarly work.
When I go to presentations, I usually head to ones from the English or History Department, or to support a student I know.
This year I just went over for the free lunch.
I'm not all that interested in science, so I usually skip those presentations, but mostly because I'm intimidated by the topic.
Some of the titles even scare me.
Check this one out:
"Examination of the Relationship Between the Quasi-biennial Oscillation, the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, the Southern Oscillation, and the Accumulated Cyclone Energy in the Atlantic Basin."
Wow.
Or this one:
"Characterization of Melanin-concentrating Hormone 1 Receptor Expression in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells: A Potential Role for Receptor Clustering in the Regulation of MCH Signaling."
Yeah.
These are some smart students.
I'm just not much of a scientist.
I wish that I were, but I'm not.
This picture represents the extent of my interest in scientific pursuits:

So, yeah, I can haz string?

So Where Have You Been?

Me, you ask?
I've been working.
Going crazy.
Stressing out.
Knitting too much, cleaning too little.
Same old, same old.
The semester is winding down, and we're gearing up for Commencement, amongst other end-of-year activities, so it's been very busy.
Which is an understatement.
I went to A.C. Moore and bought more yarn.
Why?
I am not sure, and I was asking myself that question even as I left the store.
I finished a pair of socks:

I call them my 4Evah socks because they took me forever to knit.
And I knit one sock from a pair of socks:

Okay, okay, I still have to stitch up the toe. I will. I'm not afraid of the Kitchener stitch, in fact I really enjoy it.
There was a blip when I was making these socks, however. I started decreasing for the toe, and noticed that I had the stitches wrong on the needles, so I unknit to where I had started the toe decrease.
Well, at least I thought I had.
As I was finishing up the last of the decreases I noticed that I had left a K2Tog in (and if you look closely I think there's still a SSK in there too).
Being the lazy knitter that I am, and knowing that these socks are too ill-fitting to be worn in public with normal shoes (plus too bulky), I left it (them) in.
Can you see them here above the bottom needle?

I'm thinking about calling it a sock dimple.
I'll let you know if that catches on.
I cast on for Multnomah, but as much as I love the pattern, and the yarn I'm using (which sadly seems to be pooling on one side), I needed something bigger for my pre-menopausal, pre-arthritic hands and failing eyesight.
You'll notice the above ill-knitted socks are knit on larger needles (size 7s, as a matter of fact).
I'll go back to Multnomah, but only when it's bright and I can see the needles clearly.
Getting old is a right pain.
I have been reading intermittently, and as a matter of fact I have books that are now officially one day overdue at the library.
Hello $1.50 in fines.
C'est la vie.
C'est la forgetfulness on my part.
So that should bring you partially up to speed with my life.
What's new with yours?

RIP Davy Jones

You really were my favorite Monkee.
I remember watching your show when I was four years old, staying up late, and past my older brothers' bedtimes - they used to get so mad because I could stay up and they couldn't.
Honey, nothing stands between me and what I want.
It's the beauty of being the youngest, and the only girl.
But The Monkees - I used to sit in my room and listen to their records.
I still have all of those records, and I don't know that I would ever part with them.
Today when I saw the email come into my in box that announced Davy Jones had died, I shouted.
My boss yelled, "What's wrong?"
I said, "Davy Jones from The Monkees is dead."
He replied, "I thought it was something important."
"It is!" I told him.
But how do you tell someone that a little part of your childhood died today.
Oh well, no one can take away my memories.
Here's a song that is currently making the rounds on the Web:



Two interesting points:

1. When he tells us in the first verse that "the shaving razor's cold and it stings" Davy looks so young that it's hard to believe he's even started shaving yet.
2. I find it interesting that this now-popular video features Davy walking off alone at the end of the song. Anyone see any similar symbolism to The Beatles and Paul is dead rumors, along with the front cover of "Abbey Road" with Paul out of step?

And in the spirit of fairness to all...

...here's a video featuring things that knitters say.
Let me know if you can relate.



For the record, I never swatch, I always hide new yarn, and I'm always on a yarn diet.

Ah.....Vacation

The place where I work closes for a two week break.
Academia is not all bad, I have to admit.
So now I'm technically "off" for two weeks, even though I'll check e-mails, and will go in for a few hours one of the days - no big deal.
How will I spend my time?
1) Putting up our Christmas tree - for some reason the kids are all anxious to have this up. Seriously? It's not like Christmas is next week or anything.
2) Finishing a Who? hat for the little girl across the street, and finding a cool hat for her younger brother. Plus knitting an infinity scarf (of some sort) for my sister-in-law.
3) Organizing my pantry. It's a wreck. Food hoarder gone wild. Menus will be made and food will be incorporated into dishes. Stat.
4) Finishing up the 13 books on my "Currently Reading" list. That's a lot of carryover into the new year - must start fresh. Although if I were smart....hmmm....I'd read all of those 13 books up until the end, and then finish them all at once in 2012 so I can list them as completed on next year's reading challenge. Hmmmm....naw, that's kind of cheating, don't you think?
5) Sleeping. As much as possible. Like a bear I'll hibernate and store some energy so I can begin 2012 refreshed and ready.
As a matter of fact, I think I just might go back to sleep now.
After all, I woke up at 3:00 on my first official vacation day.
How sick is that?

How to Clean Your Bathroom Floor

How to Clean Your Bathroom Floor in Five Easy Steps:

One: Use the faucet to wash your hands, and inadvertently leave it running.
Two: Go to the library, and return in 30 minutes.
Three: Return to see that the clogged sink has caused the water to spill over onto the floor.
Four: Gather all the "dirty" towels from your teenager's floor and use them to soak up the water.
Five: Wring out towels in now-dirty tub, and take them upstairs to wash in hot water, bleach, and detergent.

Voila! A clean floor! I wouldn't eat off of it, ever, but it's better than it was.

Next lesson: How to Get Your Husband to Clean the Dirty Bathtub in Two Easy Steps.

And how do I spend my weeks?

Wondering what I've been doing?
This is my weekly routine:

Work lunch work go home work go to bed
Work lunch work go home work go to bed
Work lunch work go home work go to bed
Work lunch work go home work go to bed
Work lunch work go home order out go to bed

Remembering

I know everyone has their own memories and thoughts about today.
I just want to share this lovely, elegiac version of a traditional song which I think sums up many feelings that will be expressed and shared today. The lyrics may not fit, but then again they may, so please enjoy as we remember how our world changed 10 years ago.



And while we all remember what happened to the Twin Towers, let us not forget all those who lost their lives both in the Pentagon, and on the plane.

Semper fi.

It's Not Only Kids Who Say the Darndest Things

So my son's girlfriend works at Subway.
She told us that she gets asked a lot of stupid questions, ones not coming just from the WalMart employees who want to know if she has a boyfriend, does she want to go out, and also if she wants to go out drinking (yes, no, and no).
Two examples of the dumb questions she hears:

"How long is a footlong?"
"How big is a six-inch sub?"

Or regarding what kind of cheese they want on their sub, people will often respond, "Um, yeah."
Sometimes I forget how stupid people really are.
I'm glad they remind me from time to time.

Is it too early to think about New Year's resolutions?

I've been considering what kind of New Year's resolutions I can make this year.
With the New Year a short 30 days away (if I did my math right) it's really not too soon for me to consider how I can improve my life in 2011.
Some of the ideas that have been bouncing around inside my brain housing group are:

1. Co-writing a story/book with someone comes to mind.
Such as - you write a chapter, then I write a chapter, etc.
Just for fun, mind you.
Any takers?

2. Also I've been thinking that it would be great to do nothing but knit up all the sock yarn I have - make it the New Year of Socks, or something along those lines.
But I'm not sure how that would be for me - I have such knitting ADD that I don't even know if I could last two weeks knitting only socks.
It's a great thought though, don't you think?

3. Decluttering always has a place on the list, but that's something that will never be accomplished to the degree that it should be.

4. Maybe even give up one food I love for an entire month to see how I do - just kind of a test for myself.

5. Organizing my pantry comes to mind too, but that's hardly a New Year's resolution, more of a "to do" list item.

6. The last thing I've been pondering is how to focus on improving my "professional" life.
I took a seminar this summer that was underwhelming (glad the State paid and not me), but I did take away two things from there.
First, that in whatever you do you should always remember - Q-TIP.
Quit Taking It Personally.
See, now you can't shake that one either, can you.
Second, that you should focus 3 hours a month on professional development.
I never do that.
Ever.
But there are some certifications I'd like to get, and they would require me to take a HUGE test, so I would need to study.
Can I find time for focused study?
Only time (or the New Year) will tell.

Has anyone else been considering their New Year's resolutions?

Friday Kittens

Being a cat person I enjoy looking at pictures of cats and kittens, so when SN2 showed me this video this afternoon, I had to share.
You may have seen this before, but it's worth a repeat viewing:



Happy Friday!

I Found My Camera!!!

I found my camera this morning!
Amazing what shows up when you clean a bit.
And surprisingly enough I also have the charger on hand, although I'm missing the case, so the battery is at home being charged right now.
Pictures!
I can take pictures again!
Not necessarily good ones, but pictures.
Now, let's see how long I can hold onto this blessed thing before I misplace it again.
Any bets?

Sometimes it's the little things that bring me joy

Behold, my new clothesline.
Ah, thus will be the source of my new joy.
The rapturous thought of bringing my wet laundry down a flight of stairs and outside to hang on the line.
If Keats were alive today he'd write an ode to the clothesline, I'm sure of it.
Such simple things can be so inspiring.
DH and SN2 were joyful last night over Barcelona beating Man U and winning the Champions League.
See, same feeling of joy, different inspiration.
We're a simple family, with simple needs.

Fluids are not only necessary, but they are fun too!

We went to RIT a couple of weeks ago for their Imagine RIT event.
It was amazing.
Essentially it was all the seniors completing their senior thesis/project.
There's probably more to it than that, but this explanation will suffice.
Some of the ones we saw were remarkable.
Then we stumbled on this one.
DN2 decided she wanted to participate.
Here it is, the video of a water balloon being dropped on her head, and it is filmed in millisecond photography.
Or something like that.
When watching the video, see the clock spinning in the background.
That's how fast time flies.
Here it is: