the wormy scarflet

Like most of my endeavors, there's a distinct hit-or-miss factor to my knitting.  What I lack in talent, I make up for in ingenuity and ignorance. I'm pleased with my latest "creation".  I don't even know what I should call it.  Scarflet? Mini scarf with button? Neck-knit?

Ingredients:
two funky yarns that Joy spun together for me.
1 faux-celtic button.
1 plain button.
Some black stretchy string.
Ribbon.
An old scarf my mom bought for me in Wilmington at an arts fair.

I think I like knitting.  I'm not really interested in intricate patterns or all the different types of knitting.  I'm really interested in the materials, juxtaposition, and color.  I need pretty, soft yarn to get me interested in a project.

I may go to the yarn store tomorrow to stock up on some more chunky yarn to make some scarflets for Christmas presents.

It feels awesome: warm and snuggly.  I need to get someone to my picture while I'm wearing it.

job update

I go in tomorrow at 10am to a local nursery to try out the job. We shall see-- I'll be on the seedy side. It could be fun, and there's definitely a lot to learn. This will be unskilled labor that I have interest in.

I have an all day interview on Sunday. Yes, Sunday, which I thought was on Saturday until a few hours ago. Oops. And, I have an all day interview on Thursday. I have to prepare two lessons. One is on figurative language, which I'm going to use comic strips. And, the other is on Roman technology. Both are going to be awesome, but guess which one is my favorite?

In related news, I'm still studying for personal training certification-- a chapter a day. And, I start my knitting class tonight at 6:15pm at my church. I have selected my turquoise blue worsted weight yarn and size 9 circular needles. Bring it, grannies. They give lessons so that you can bring your skillz to the "Knit One, Pray One" ministry that sews prayer shawls.

bronchitis

A bad bout of bronchitis is making me feel like death... and sound like it too. I went to the doctor and got meds. So, I should be on the mend. Apparently, my sicknesses are related to allergies... and everything is in bloom. It's glorious outside. Perfect.

The conference was inspiring. It reminded me there is a point to teaching... beyond the paperwork, annoying parents and lack of supplies.

I was at school one, whopping day this week. Yea, spring break... well conference and death by bronchitis.

I bought some really fun fabric today (I can see my sister rolling her eyes now). I am checking Consumer Reports on sewing machines.

satin pillowcase and tilapia

are a few of my favorite things. My sewing instructor took me out to dinner to celebrate my birthday tonight. The Chief and G's husband came too. I ate tilapia. She made me a Carolina blue satin pillowcase with lace trim. It's gorgeous and will be good for my hair and skin. I went for a run in lieu of crosstraining-- running is so much easier and faster. Maybe I'll try to follow the training manual tomorrow. Hmm.

So, I read the first chapter in Lottery Rose to my classes yesterday, and today I read the first chapter in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Then, I let them vote on which story to read. Both classes voted for Striped Pajamas. It must be because it's a movie... or perhaps it's the lighter tone. They both have very heavy themes. Plus, I think we're prone to enjoy first person narration in these post mod times.

Getting the planning done for my my unofficial birthday party. I bought a whiffle ball (with bright blue bat) set and a red kickball. I'm hoping that the isolated thunderstorms slated for Saturday afternoon will be somewhere else other than the Catawba from2-7pm. They're calling for 80 degrees-- that's ideal.

I found out the Vancouver Half Marathon is two weeks after the Tofino one. Should I stay a little longer and run that one too? Decisions. Decisions.

tweed skirt

This skirt is tied with my wool sheath for favorite item I've sewed thus far. It's really comfortable. I feel British and horsey when I wear it... as if I should have a corduroy jacket and a pipe or have graduated from Oxford or Edinburough. It's comfortable and classic. I wear it with my boots (pictured) or some brown dansko clogs with opaque brown tights. I wear it with olive green sweaters as well.

belted sheath

This sheath caused the vest. I had a lot of left over material, and my teacher hates to waste material. I haven't owned a non-sports vest since elementary or junior high.

This was the third sheath I've sewn. It's wool and lined. I wear it by itself and as a jumper with blouses or turtlenecks underneath. It's versatile, flattering and soft. It's also very heavy. I wear with my boots or my Roxis and black opaque tights. I'm going to enjoy it for years to come.

the vest

I brought the vest home last night. This piece was by far the smallest, most intricate, most time-consuming piece I've made to date. This said, I think it's going to be fabulous teach in all day; it's a little more professional than my North Face. Of course, I'll probably put it away until next year. This time last week it was snowing. Now it's hovering around 70 degrees Fahernheit (sp?).

It's shell is completely wool. It's also completely lined. Princess seams. It's going to be warm and comfortable.

intermission

Weekends have begun to feel like intermissions during a long play. They're a brief break to stretch my legs, use the bathroom, chat, gather yourself, figure out with tact who's coughing (or tapping her foot directly behind you) take care of any business (email, text, note to self), figure out plans for afterwards. And, then sometimes, I just keep my seat unless somebody needs to pass by me. This weekend was a hybrid between business and rest: I began a pants project (measured, cut the pieces, began sewing the tops together (wool and lining separately)) and did some final measurements for the vest.

Rest came as lunch with a friend, two movies (You've Got Mail and Four Feathers), dinner with my sister and my mom. I didn't even read. The fact that I got so little work done leads me to believe that I'm unconsciously expecting a snow day on Monday. An entitlement mentality does me no good. I've read enough Aesop's Fables to know that.

I made a hard decision: no Italy. I can't afford it: the economy is horrible, I'm not tenured (there's no guarantee I'll have a job next year), my student loans carry on (they make me see the positive side of inflation), I have trip planned for April and June already, I don't have a real summer job lined up-- very sketchy. My priorities need to have an air of prudence to them. I'd love to go to Italy, but it's not going to be Summer 2009.

Lenten update: I stuck to my limited internet use except for today. However, I didn't use the extra time to read my Bible. I used it to spaz out or sleep. Now, I need to convert the time to good-- it's not enough to clear the schedule.

Schedule Update: my work week was stressful: I can feel it in my neck and shoulders-- at least it's not to the point that I'm nauseous. My afternoon block was out of control and spiteful. And there's colleague conflict. It's as if I get into this painful, defensive crouching posture mentally and emotionally. I'm drained. I need to be reading my Bible and praying more. Friday night I had a great time serving homeless people dinner with my small group and hanging out with M & B.

Work highligt: I had my student's write a metaphor for hope in response to Emily Dickinson's "Hope is a thing with feathers." One kid wrote that hope was a set of car keys. You need your car keys in order to go anywhere, but sometimes you lose them. Yet you inevitably find them. I've been thinking about the metaphor a lot. It's brilliant... and I helped facilitate it. It makes my aching shoulders somewhat worth it.

A Satisfying Saturday

After slaving away another four hours this morning, my vest still isn't finished. The side seams and buttons are left to do. Princess seams are the culprit. They make for an excellent fit but make you earn it. I went over to Geneva's at ten, but I woke up at 7:30. I got up, made a pot of coffee, and read Life Together and Romans. It was a civilized and mature way to muscle through a Saturday morning. When the Chief arose, I showered and got ready to go over to the sewing den. I had to abort the mission due to hunger pangs. I devoured a cheeseburger while Geneva and The Chief munched on salads.

This afternoon validated my devotion to my mailbox. (Chief makes fun of me: "What did you GET today?!?") My mailbox has been a cornucopia of goodness the past two days. Yesterday I received a postcard from London. Today it brimmed with a international Valentine's package full of designer chocolates (mostly dark) and a paperswap book, A Trip to Vanity Fair.

I napped, ironed and walked. I watched some of the UNC game. Then, I settled down at the dining table with a goblet of red wine and two sets of Central Africa tests. Now, I'll read more of Bonhoeffer. This is my definition of a satisfying Saturday.

How do you like my new digital camera? It's pink.

the day i lost one five dollar bill

I went to Copper last night because I had reservations at 7:45. Come to find out, my reservations were for tonight. Oops, details. 23 and 24 are only one digit off. My affinity for 23 must be linked to Michael Jordan's UNC jersey. This "mistake" demonstrates that I bleed Carolina blue. I am Tar Heel born and bred, and I like my Indian cuisine on Friday nights... not Saturday. I really enjoyed the food and ambiance. The spices were funky and aromatic. It tasted like the recipes called for half a teaspoon of perfume (in a good way). I had fun loading my fork with the different flavors. The pungent with the warm and sweet. Of course, hanging out with M is always fun times. But, last night eating dinner was playful and adventurous (adjectives I reserve for outdoor activities for the most part).


I love my hairstylist. He rocks! I was in one craptastic mood as I drove to his shop and came out smiling. It's bizarre the relational connection you make with your stylist; it's similar to the imprinting and bonding that takes place between a cub and mama bear. There's a necessary level of trust: please don't make me look like a complete dufus. We talked military and Obama. We talked racism in America. We talked about the proportion of the population with curly and straight hair-- it's a continuum with few people on the edges. We talked TMI; he related his conversation with his doctor about Viagra (I got both their takes on 4 hour erections). This led into his monologue on marriage, which hinged on St. Paul's exhortation to refrain unless you're too weak (and he's not even Christian, but "Paul is on to something). We talked how different siblings can be. Et cetera, I guess this is bottom of the barrel when it comes to subject matter. But, heck, I use lesson plans as material. Reader, congratulations, you have a fabulously rich inner life to be able to stomach... I mean, appreciate, this.

It's official: I'm a paperbackswap.com fan! I've mailed 6 books (Voss, Velvet Elvis, Electric Acid Kool Aid Test, Special Topics in Calamity Physics, Go Put Your Strengths to Work, and Getting From College to Career), and received 2 (Holy The Firm and Living By Fiction both by Annie Dillard). I picked up Holy The Firm and got sucked into the first topic. I had to pry myself away from the book so that I could plan lessons (don't worry if they're really good, which they probably will be, I'll share the lessons' highlights). It's full of the kind of sentences that you wish were a bubble bath so that you could soak in them or a savory soup that was stewing on your cooktop for eight hours (you get to chop the vegetable, then smell it long before you get to eat it-- the whole process enjoyable). Warm, luxurious, nourishing, refreshing. I'm a big fan, and you should join because I want to swap books with YOU!

Deuteronomy. Church. Prayer. Friendship. Angst. Questions... always questions. Doxology. Logic. Worry. Pain. Grace. My spiritual life feels like a sea of verbs and these nouns are the islands on which I land. But, the two important things I learned in Seminary are that God is good and God is powerful. Biblical theology is messy, which is why it resonates with us, I guess.

I sewed straight seams in my vest today. I only had one major mistake that took about 25 minutes to correct. Go, me. I overlapped material. But, I'm excited about my vest. I was nonplussed at first about a vest. The only one I own is NorthFace. I don't consider myself a vest person. But, this vest is a vest I could grow to love. It's going to be nice. G makes me do all these details that go far beyond what the Guide Sheet instructs you to do. It takes longer, but my last couple of pieces are quality. The vest is going to look sharp and professional and be comfortable.

Somewhat linked, I've been gravitating to fashion blogs, specifically the kind where women dress on a budget. They're fun to read (funny and fiesty) and have excellent ideas. I need to get a digital camera for my blog. My blog is the only pictureless blog, which is blah. I think pictures would improve my readership (everybody wouldn't have to have as rich an inner life).

d is for domestic

I woke up and medicated my savage cold. I find sneezing and snot humiliating AND tedious. Nobody can take you seriously when you sneeze. Watery eyes combine with limpness to make you feel like the sack of wet tissue and bone that you are. Thank you, Jesus, for over the counter medication. For about 2 hours, the mucus factory shuts down.

Today, despite my cold, I was a bundle of productivity. I embarked on making a vest with the same material that I made my dress. I'm not a big vest fan, but this one has princess seems so it should be feminine and tailored. I thought this vest could replace my NorthFace when I teach, which upon some soul-searching I realized isn't "professional" unless you're an outdoorsman. I took my sewing teacher out to an awesome lunch that we thoroughly enjoyed. We then went to Mary Jo's to pick out buttons and my next project. I decided to go all wild and crazy: pants. It's a Simplicity pattern for flat front, zipper in the back, slightly flared legs. I picked out some charcoal gray, tropical weight wool with a hard finish. I won't have to line them, and I'll be able to wear them three seasons. They're going to rock!

I went grocery shopping and picked up snacks for school. I ran out of them and haven't replenished my cache, which is pricey when I visit the vending machines daily. I came home, lay down read then napped. Then, I got up ate dinner, and decided I needed to make vegetable soup... a vat of vegetable soup. I journeyed to Harris Teeter again. I bought a parsnip among other things. I cleaned and chopped, opened and poured into the state-of-the-art crock pot (an oxy moron if there ever were one). The vegetables are stewing for ten hours. We shall see how my no recipe vegetable concoction goes. There's garlic in it, how wrong could it go? Now, I'm straightening and doing laundry. Geez, next thing I'm going to do is get a subscription to real simple.

oxymoron (emphasis on moron)

This morning I read, drank coffee and squandered time. I finally decided to don my new (PINK) sweater dress with (black) leggings and leave the house. I survived the wilds of a hopping fabric store, which I would have thought was an oxymoron until today. Crafty women and their bored husbands swarmed the aisles of cotton, velveteen, notions and fat quarters. It's a fabulous learning opportunity. I asked one woman point blank: "What are you going to do with that?" (That was a fat quarter of candy cane material.) She answered, "Make ornaments." I asked, "Where do you find Christmas ornament patterns?" She answered, "I take apart ornaments."

My sewing sherpa, G, deserves a purple heart for patience, endurance and fortitude. How does she put up with me? And, I brought her a vest pattern, apparently, gaging from her reaction to it, a difficult vest pattern. After she studied the guide sheet for a few minutes, she looked me in the eyes and said, "All I ask is that you don't get us any fur to work with." I answered, "Okay, I find wool tricky enough." I'm almost finished with my *awesome* dress. It's wool. It's heavy. It's crazy comfortable. I'm very proud of it.

I drove over to Charlotte to visit H. A good time was had by all. Her roommate is an excellent cook and generous too. We made a mix, but then my computer died. After my sister listened to it, she asked, "Who helped you with it?"

Which forced the inevitable, I bought a new power cord for my ancient computer. This is the second time I've replaced the power cord, Mr. Apple Computer Man. The second time in three and a half years. I asked the cordial sales staff if they were going to recycle it. She said no. At least she was honest. An honest anthropology major she was. So, I kept my retired power adaptor and maybe will give it to somebody to refurbish or something... or maybe a historian will study it 500 years from now.

I found out about the half marathon in Charlotte in March. Then there is the Seattle one in June. When you see my photo in the newspaper and ask yourself, "Who is that gorgeous athletic beast?", remember I'm a fabulous writer too.

I'm adopting GK Chesterton's motto "Anything worth doing is worth doing badly" for 2009. Let the rumpus start!

what does the late bird get?

My week was quick and crappy. I dreaded my last period-- the leaden lump in my stomach, don't eat kind of dread. Then, everything came to a head, and I survived. My students were relatively subdued Friday afternoon; perhaps, their antics exhausted them as well.

I'm supposed to head to DC next weekend for a friend's PhD party, but it seems that I've waited too late and the airline tickets are exorbidantly high. I'm brilliant.

I sewed a cute, tweed skirt today at G's. Spending time with her is always such gift. She's so different from my family-- she thinks before she speaks. She's a sewer not a reader. She's so patient and wise.

I have some tales to tell. Alas, I'm tired.