rjcb3

The World DOES Have An Edge

2011-01-01T02:47:00.000-05:00

...and I have fallen off!!!

Time to come back.

Stay tuned.

Remember

2009-12-01T11:27:00.001-05:00

No On 1

2009-10-20T12:58:00.001-04:00

So, most people who know me know that I don't get involved in politics. I hate the whole political back and forth squabbles and having to endure every Summer and Autumn filled with hatred from whichever side's turn it is to spew next.

I hate it.
I hate it.
I hate it.

...but there's always a "but" somewhere...

...and this time, I think it is high time I voice what I have to say regarding Issue 1 on the ballots here in my beloved State of Maine: the issue of gay marriage.

Last year, our governor, John Baldacci, did something historic not only to the State of Maine, but, to the United States, and added to the history books: he became the first governor of any state to endorse gay marriage by signing a bill which passed through the State House and Senate to his desk. This man went against his own personal beliefs on the issue and made his decision to be all-inclusive.

Celebrations in the gay communities all over Maine ensued. We don't have the biggest statewide gay population compared to New York, California, Florida, Texas, etc. but, we do well on our own... and that's not to include the just-as-large-maybe-even-larger gay friendly population here, who celebrated right along with us.

Oh, I must admit that I'm not in a big hurry to go waltzing down the aisle either, but, for the sake of those who are close to me, who would like to do so, and for the right reasons, etc. AND for the fact that it's a huge stride in EQUAL rights. Yes, that's right the word equal...equal means equal; equal means everyone is able to do the same thing as his or her neighbor; equal, equal, equal, equal, equal, equal...folks: my friends: everyone: LISTEN UP!!! We're all human beings no matter what we feel about anyone else. We are all born, we all live, we all die.

Of course, the people who are against the whole thing hit the streets right away with their petitions in hand getting enough signatures and the people's veto was underway, and the advertisements on television began.

Now, once again, I, who hate politics and could care less to speak up about anything except to cast my own private vote as a private citizen in my own private voting booth -- I'M SPEAKING UP!!!

For the very first time, I'm actually telling the world BEFORE the polls, I'm going to vote NO on Issue 1 (I do not want to reject the gay marriage law). Yes, I'm gay. No, I'm not getting married, nor am I engaged to be married.

...and for once I have a few things to say:

Let's begin with Bishop Malone in Portland. First of all, the separation of church and state should be remembered here and this person is using his powers as a head of the local church to influence a State issue. He has also publicly announced his intention to pass the baskets an extra time at service specifically to support this political cause. The political cause isn't going to refuse the contributions, so, could someone please tell me how this is legal? Besides the church/state issue, this bishop, who is so vocally opposed to same sex marriage is also the very same person who reinstated a sexually deviant priest and has defended others -- so, which is better: Two men getting married and living their lives legally and without doing any harm to the community, or a religious figure who diddles little children scarring them for life with no recourse?

...and speaking about children...

HOW DO SCHOOLS FIT ANYWHERE INTO THE ISSUE OF WHETHER TWO ADULTS CAN GET MARRIED!? Other than the fact that the couple might actually be raising children and need to be in contact with teachers regarding the well-being of said children.

Who said anything about gay marriage being a subject taught in schools?

Would someone please explain the logic of gay marriage superseding reading, writing, mathematics, science, grammar...all of those required subjects in the classroom. Teachers in all schools have well enough to do with the meager-est of salaries to have to worry about some social issue. I remember when I was in school, every once in a while, a question about an adult issue was broached, and teachers would flatly say right out that something like that was not appropriate for us to talk about, and get right back on with teaching -- and often, the teachers would, because whatever was brought up, write a note or call the parents just to let them know what their kids were saying in class.

The point is: LEGALIZING GAY MARRIAGE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CURRICULUM IN SCHOOLS!!!

These ads are rather unfair and misleading and have no place with the issue.

...and the most recent ad from "their" side is what finally made my mind up to speak out...

The people who wish to ban gay marriage have come out with an ad that claims that by legalizing gay marriage that teachers in schools will have to explain to kids (direct quote from the ad:) "What is gay sex?" and then the ad shows a graphic of an outline similar to what might be written on a blackboard as part of a lesson plan.

So, the people who are so opposed to this issue and are so afraid of these subjects being broached -- THESE PEOPLE ARE THE ONES BROACHING THE SUBJECTS IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!

Please tell me the logic: A child is watching television and this commercial comes on claiming that legalizing gay marriage is going to lead to teaching about gay sex in the classroom; this child comes to the adult "Mommy, what is gay sex?" When Mommy asks the kid where he heard that, and he says he saw it on the commercial on television...

If you don't want your kid to ask "What is gay sex?" why would you expose said child to it right there in your own advertisement?

So, we have a political movement that is illegally funded and needs to hit below the belt with misleading and baseless advertisements bordering on flat out lying just to get numbers on the boards AND publicly supported by the head of a religious community that has allowed at least one known child molester to remain free on the streets all while keeping him as a working clergyman in the church which he serves.

This is fact.

Yes, even if I was heterosexual, I would still be voting NO on Issue 1 this November simply because I believe in freedom and justice for ALL.

...and you know the great thing about it all is? You don't have to agree!!! You don't have to even like gay people. You could be one of the most homophobic people that this state has ever (or never) known. You could secretly wish that all gays get herded off in trains to camps like they did in Nazi Europe or here in the United States back in WWII.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO AGREE WITH ANYTHING ABOUT THE GAY COMMUNITY!!!

I would never ask anyone to change how they feel about gay people. I know that some people hate me just because I'm gay. I'm comfortable knowing that they have just as much right to hate me as I have to exist.

...but how about just living and letting live?

...and how about the money that WILL come pouring into Maine? I mean, of course, it's all been said too many times before, and people with their hands constantly held out to the State asking for more money don't seem to realize where that money is coming from, and seeing as they're some of the first to raise a BIG noise when they're denied any funding because the moneys just aren't available...

Does anyone realize why we're called "Vacationland?" How about a nice wedding at the Portland Headlight...or Pemaquid? How about the backdrop of Acadia National Park for the most perfect day? How about caterers for the event? How about tailors and seamstresses? How about hotels? Wouldn't it be the most perfect thing for a tourist state to go an entire Summer completely booked? What about a Winter wedding? Full slopes at the ski resorts? Baxter State Park at the foot of Katahdin?

...and these are just examples of weddings. How awesome would it be that not only do people decide to pour in the dollars to a perfect Maine wedding and then decide, it's the perfect place to honeymoon just the same? Perhaps live? Do people not realize we're in a real estate crisis here (ok, so, some of the rates have gone up in the housing market, but nothing to make any note of...we're still poor!)

...and wouldn't you know it...the farms and orchards all over the State that get assistance to stay alive and well and working...you know, all that money pouring into our State is taxed and some of those taxes do go to help keep Maine potatoes and Maine cranberries and Maine Pine trees growing and thriving. Enough fishermen and lobstermen need assistance.

With more money, we could have the necessary means to afford police and fire and rescue services that some have had to be cut recently due to no money.

Do you realize the jobs that would be created? Don't you think that we could re-open some of the old abandoned mills and put business and do good for the communities?

I know that some of the lobstermen from way up Downeast don't care much for gay people...just the same as some of the potato farmers and corn farmers and dairy farmers and wood loggers in the middle of the state. I know this and I would never try to change their minds. They are entitled to not like gay people for their own reasons. However, they will also benefit in the end by allowing people to just live and let live.

I know I'm saying just as much as everyone else has, but, everything I say (just as everyone else has said) comes from the heart. I love Maine. Maine is my home. I never want to leave here. Even if I never get married, I want to be able to travel around and visit the world and be the proudest person ever to say that I come from Maine.

Freedom and justice for all: THAT'S the way life should be. That's Maine.

Please vote "NO" on Issue 1.

.

And Then There's Maude

2009-10-05T14:48:00.001-04:00

A large silver-gray bronze-y gal who knows she's being observed by the world around her and decides to run the show and do things her way.

None other a woman than the 1991 Cadillac Brougham that starred in the events of the weekend of most recent memory.

Let's begin upon her arrival into the lives of the household in the Autumn of 2007. Day One (actually: Night One) the sale final and the automobile not yet named being driven down the highway, just to be driven -- just enough petrol in the tank to get us to the service station to fill up, but noooooo.

She decided that fumes weren't good enough and so, only a few hundred feet from the toll booth to get off of the highway, she stops and we use the momentum of the large, heavy street-boat to pull over to the shoulder and turn on the hazard flicker. Great thanks to Art, an attendant at the booth, who allowed us the use of a filled gascan for the meager amount of $5.00 (which we didn't have except to go get change at the service station). He took my State ID just to secure our return.

Even that little taste was almost not good enough for her tank. She guzzled that up as soon as she could and upon opening the little knob on the gastank, she sucked in air! You could hear the "whoosh" -- OMG, she was definitely empty. She wanted and needed gasoline and indeed, she got what she wanted.

The driver of the vehicle was even chided by his own mother (to which I still laugh) "Oh my God! You've only had it for three hours and you ran out of gas!"

Upon getting back on the highway, getting up the ramp and preparing to merge with traffic, the thought of her being an old woman (which she truly was) mingled with the thought of that old commercial of the old women stopped on the ramp getting on the highway and hearing "Punch it, Maude!" The name was perfect! It fit. It stayed.

Maude loves the highway! She hates the town streets. She doesn't like driving on the town streets. She could care less for traffic, and she'll tell you so. Her mileage soared while driving at speeds too illegal to report on a public board, but certainly made up for those miles in town almost double decreasing those magnificent numbers she produced on the road getting to whatever town. Her brakes suddenly, out of nowhere just decided to go kaput. Her battery didn't want to go. She had all of the little bits and pieces that needed work all at the same time...all while in town. Yes, indeed, Maude hates being in town.

Somewhere, I'm hearing the song "Don't Fence Me In."

...and she was determined to be driven until being stopped. I can't count how many times we've been pulled over because of an expired inspection sticker -- but somehow, she made it through being driven on a sticker almost two years old...and part of that time, on only half of a sticker. Do you realise how many times she got her own self out of her own mess with that need to be driven on the open road? Nary a ticket! It's the car, you know. Guys really fall for a great car...and it's a shame to rid the roads of such beauty. Only one guy was nasty toward the driver of dear Maude...the one in Old Orchard Beach, who either needed at least a ticket on his sheet for the day, or didn't have anything better to do on a Sunday afternoon -- expired sticker, you know the drill...blue lights, pull over, license, registration, insurance, etc. and a nice slow walk to the driver's side door, eyeballing Maude's elegant body before trying to be big tough guy...who still let us get back on the road -- right back to the highway and drive!

Maude could be one hell of a cougar when she needed to be, and the boys fell for it every time. Be very aware that I say "cougar" in the greatest respect for women of a certain age who still have what it takes. This car is more like a brazen hussy!

Interestingly enough, we've never been pulled over for speeding...'nuff said.

Bit by bit, Maude really did need work under the hood. Little things were starting to go all at once, instead of one thing at a time, and so, driving became less and less and turned into pretty much being parked on the side of the street only to move it to the other side of the street once a week for street cleaning. Maude didn't like that...not one bit.

"I'll show you..." thought she as she decided not to recharge her battery with just a few trips around the streets of town. Do you really think that a car has the mind of her own to just plain block the alternator from keeping a charge just to punish her driver for not taking her out on the highway? She was having to be jumped every week just to cross the street. She decided that instead of being the big heavy Cadillac that she was, when the snows came to town and she needed to be parked elsewhere for the snow bans in town, she wasn't going without a big show. Heavy weight, traction? Nooooooooo. This was in-town driving and the driver was, indeed being punished by She, the Queen of the Open Road (heavy emphasis on "open" and "road") Slip-slide -- but no accident, nothing to drop her out of commission; of course not. This was her soul talking, screaming "GET ME ON THAT HIGHWAY OR I WON'T DRIVE!"

She was parked most of the first Winter in a friend's off-street parking lot and along comes the fair weather again, and on the highway she goes and she drove like nothing was amiss under that huge awning that was her hood. (seriously, you could lift that thing and have a picnic under it in a rainstorm!) She was fine, I figure, with the rest and relaxation over the Winter because come good driving weather again, she responded rather well to that on-ramp to I-295 just down the street. Wouldn't you know it? She sputtered and coughed and was just about ready to stall on the way up the ramp and off of the in-town streets, and as soon as we crossed over into the world of high speed driving, she was a new woman!

More in-town driving did more and more under her hood than anyone could really imagine all at once. So, she needed to be brought to a mechanic, who did some work on her -- not much, but enough to drive here and there -- practically disabled her open road time, which sent her into a spin of a temper tantrum! She decided that since she wasn't going to be driving on the open road, she was going to drain the "new" battery that was put in.

...and so she was towed to a very good mechanic recommended by a very good friend -- who just happens to live a third of the way across the Southern portion of the State of Maine, going North and inland. Wouldn't you know it? She wasn't driving, but still on the highway, she WAS the pride of the road sitting on top of that flatbed. I wasn't there personally to see the sight, but, I can just imagine the grandeur.

Just as the lot of us thought, she was in bad shape. All of these little individual things were happening all at once, instead of just one little thing at a time. Mechanic wasn't going to be able to do much and the budget wasn't able to allow it all to be done as well...at least for now.

...which brings us nearly up to date.

How is it that an automobile can possess a person so that One will NOT under any circumstances send her away until she is completely and utterly dead with all hope abandoned for even so much as clicking the starter (if the battery is charged, of course)

October 3, 2009

The car needs to be off of the mechanic's lot. Everything that could have been done at this point in time has been done and she needs to be put somewhere until work can be done on her...which will eventually happen, just not right now.

Yes, Maude, we promise, you'll be able to drive the open road again, soon.

So, good friend in Lisbon knows a good rental dealer in Brunswick for a tow-dolly which will eventually tow the car still parked in Lewiston. Other good friend in Livermore is allowing a small space on her portion of land to park Maude for the Winter, safe, off the street, still good looking as ever (who knows...maybe a draw for customers at her shop...Maude does have that kind of magick.)

Saturday, the rental place is open, Sunday, closed, so, we ended up having to pay for two days, which would have, under normal circumstances only been a couple of hours worth of use. We get to the mechanic's lot and, of course, Maude needs to be jumped. She gets charged up enough to start, and just knowing that she's going to be on the open road, she stays running and running and running, nary a sputter or cough (except when it came time to go in reverse and the fluids had to be wakened up a bit...but it happened and she was running almost as if she was fresh off the lot and ready to go...but she knew what was going to happen, so, she was cooperating rather well. Up onto the tow-dolly she went without a problem. Straps went on and chains went on and everything was fine and secure. Away we went on our journey from Lewiston to Livermore with lots of open road -- after we left the upper side of Auburn, of course...which meant, we had to drive through town; by this time, without saying nothing more than "drive through town..." can you imagine what came next?

About a block from the Auburn Mall area, an on-ramp is conveniently placed. On the road, through town, at a stoplight, a kind person alerted us that the car was beginning to vier sideways and we decided to cross under the highway and check the car on the dolly in the parking lot of the K-Mart which was, of course, RIGHT THERE! But Nooooooooooo. Maude wanted to go onto the highway and she decided to jump the dolly and drop to the ground right at the entrance to the highway...on the approach of the on-ramp!

Police, Firetruck, Tow-wrecker...yes, indeedie, Maude pulled another tantrum and decided that she was going to stop traffic in the place where traffic was congested the most! Oh yeah, she also jammed herself into the tow-dolly to ensure that she was going nowhere. So, the tow-wrecker lifted Maude out of the jam and disconnected from the tow-dolly and we drove into the parking lot and waited for him to bring her on over. As we inspected the tow-dolly after all was said and done, we discovered that the straps were rotted and broken away, meaning they were meant to be broken under the correct circumstances -- coincidence? As the whole thing was happening, I saw with my own two eyes in the side-view mirror the front tires turning toward the highway before landing on the ground. Yes, they turned to the highway and because we weren't going that route, she dropped off the tow-dolly.

I hopped into the tow-wrecker with the driver to direct him the rest of the way to the place in Livermore while Lisbon friend and driver of Maude went back to get a full refund on the faulty tow-dolly, which happened way too easily. I have a feeling he was already planning on them demanding tow fees too, but, that didn't happen. All was well with the full refund. Personally, I think the tow fee should be recouped too, but, everything happened peacefully and so that is that. Just past Auburn, we were on the open road and the tow-wrecker was making all sorts of headway and with his lights flashing several people were actually pulling over and letting us through. I liked that...but then again, it was Maude -- on the open road getting her way...not even a twitch!

We made it to the destination, Maude was parked perfectly -- perfectly in the corner of the property where she will rest through the Winter. It's a good enough out-of-town open road right next to her -- a few feet away. She'll be able to be fixed little by little and, if anything, she'll be beginning her next voyage on the open road, where she belongs.

It's That Time Of Year Again

2009-09-10T10:40:00.001-04:00

SOMETHING TOLD THE WILD GEESE

By Rachel Field

Something told the wild geese
It was time to go,
Though the fields lay golden
Something whispered, "snow."

Leaves were green and stirring,
Berries, luster-glossed,
But beneath warm feathers
Something cautioned, "frost."

All the sagging orchards
Steamed with amber spices,
But each wild breast stiffened
At remembered ice.

Something told the wild geese
It was time to fly,
Summer sun was on their wings,
Winter in their cry.

* * * * * *

This has been one of my absolute favorite poems of all time ever since I learned it in the second grade, and I have a little bit of a ritual every year around this time, when I can finally feel Summer's last grasp at trying to strangle the life out of every living thing. The cool in the days returns and I'm ever so happy. I think of the words, recite them to myself, share the poem with the rest of the world…

(just wait until the real Winter finally gets here and we're in the good and thick of it, and I start pushing Robert Frost on everyone!)

A crispness to the blue sky tends to stand out; something that doesn't happen all through the year, but just around this time. It's still Summer, but you can tell, that's a September sky. That's pure Autumn…which is just that much a portion of "my" Winter.

You see, if you haven't already figured it out – I consider the Autumn, since it is the threshold to Winter, being just that much a part of Winter (even though my absolute favorite part of Winter is Solstice time and after…right in the thick of the storms and winds and blow ye from the depths of space and freeze the world time of year). I've lived much of my life by the old and ancient calendar of the "dark" (or darkening) season and the "light" season. Indeed, I celebrate the equinoxes and solstices as separate entities, but live my life through the years as only being split in two – the dark and the light. From Lughnasadh (the first week of August) we actually see the decline of the long Summer days and they're visibly shortening, even though that process begins right at the solstice, it become actually visible and noticeable in August…that begins my time of the year…and how about that, Autumn is smack dab on the doorstep! So, indeed, I do put so much a significance to Autumn in my Winter.

The farmers' markets are packed with fresh harvest.

Do you know something? Canning is coming back in style again after several years of being dormant and people are jarring up their own stuff for keeping on the shelves. All of a sudden, we're seeing canners and jars and lids and even the accessories (the little swatches of cloth to decorate, "special" markers to mark the sides of the jars – personally, a Sharpie or a Marks-A-Lot has worked fine for me for the many years I've been doing it…but, we certainly do live in a capitalist society, so, I suppose, all the best of luck to the merchandisers)

Indeed, it's a business-y time of year – and that's good for the economy – I mean, lots of companies do like to manage their fiscal years around the nation's, but also, school is starting up again, and wouldn't you know it…unemployment is somewhat slowing down and here and there a few more jobs are to be had (I'm lucky enough to have been one to finally climb out of the deep hole of unemployment and so I'm thankful, but also watching the world through different eyes.) Aside from regular business, here in Maine, we're wrapping up one phase of the tourist season and beginning another. You see, in the hot of the summer, a good number of the tourists happen to be the families with the kids – renting out cottages and other rentals; and then, as school starts back up and families go home, then you get the quieter couples and LOTS of retirees – those who would rather avoid the strongest of Summer heat and sun, but would still like to be able to walk without a jacket in the daytime along the beaches – this is the interim group of tourists that come around between the typical Summer crowd and the LeafPeepers (when Autumn finally shows her face.) Why not? It's good for business – and we do thrive on our tourists here in Vacationland.

…and what about this time of year sparking the fair circuit? Do you know how many people are primping and prepping and getting things just right for bringing to the country fairs? I know that other areas of the country have either declined on the fairs, or else, just turned this time of year into a carnival with midway rides and carnie booths (not to say those aren't fun either, but…) I'm so happy that most of the places here in Maine still remember the crafts and the animals and the harvests and the old fashioned games like the sack races and the pig chases and the pie eating contests for the kids – and the stitching and knitting exhibits and the farm machinery and the harvests for the adults…yes, indeed, people still award blue ribbons for best pie in show, or best jam, or best cross stitch, or best sweater…I miss growing up on the fair circuit – indeed, my family did – but we mostly kept a sales booth to sell crafts and yarns and materials. Ah, but I have seen, firsthand, the little old ladies – the sweetest people you'd ever meet – until fair time – come out with sharpened teeth and claws, knitting furiously, stitching with not even the hint of a knot in the thread, hand quilting absolute perfect stitches, you might have thought a machine did them – and then also inspecting everyone else's work – examining the back of cross stitched or needlepointed pieces and even two-colour carryovers on the backside of knit pieces, sniffing over a pumpkin or apple pie and trying to figure out just how much of what spice went in and just how long the custard cooked, perhaps turning a jar of jam to see how well it jelled – and masterfully cloaking all of the savage beast of good competition with the most convincing smiles and just that standard sweet old lady look. I love it all, and if I could live my life in something maybe resembling a Gypsy vardo traveling all over the fair circuit this time of year and then parking somewhere until the snow melts into Spring, I would give up all that I know of this life that I live now just to do that. This time of year begins my life as I know and love it.

I'm lucky enough to live on the third floor up apartment in my building and I'm RIGHT AT tree level and so, I'm sitting here looking out my window at the little Maple seeds (we used to love watching them twirl as they fell) and they're just now turning the reddish-brownish tones, but all the while, still hanging on to the green leaves for dear life – no, it's not time to break loose and tumble to the ground just yet, but, soon.

I'm hearing the Chickadees in the morning again; don't get to hear them all that much through the Summer. I love to wake up to hear that "looooo looooo – looooo looooo – chicka dee dee dee dee dee" They're frolicking in the trees just outside of the window.

The most beautiful smelling breeze comes through the windows and, of course, a common word for the weatherman is "good sleeping weather" – no fans or air conditioners – good high pressure (at least for now, the rain will come again soon) – and a very slight chilly feel – another bit of luck, being on the third-floor apartment and right in the urban canopy. Maybe it's just me, but, I feel that being right up among the branches and the leaves, I'm right in a spot where most of the time, the heat of the day is filtered and also the light and even the pollution (yes, even here in beautiful Portland, Maine, we have the city smells) So, what comes through the windows is simply fresh and beautiful.

The cats are either sleepy – the change of season kind of sleepy – they certainly know what time of year it is…or else, they're the most explosive bundles of skin and bones and fur you've ever known. Have you ever seen a cat during the changing seasons tearing through the house like a streak of colour? There must be a purpose to having an insatiable need to run to one spot, just to stop short, turn, and run to another one, just to do the same thing and run to yet another spot…but it happens every year. I mean, yes, indeed, they get that wild hair every once in a while all through the year – any cat person knows this, but, it's so much more concentrated this time of year, and it's so entertaining – until I have to go behind them and pick up the mess that these miniature tornadoes left behind. I mean, really…how many cat people REALLY keep all of the priceless antiques out for display on rickety tiny-top tables? What priceless antiques…oh, that's right…cat person.

All of the ducklings that were swimming in line in the ponds all through the year have grown up, but they haven't changed feather colour just yet, so, all you see is brown. After the Winter, we'll start seeing more of the beautiful green heads and the dark brown backs on the boys and the lighter brown and the spots on the girls…and they all know what time of day it is (be it breakfast, lunch, supper, or any other snack time) when a human just happens by…yes, indeed, even the ducks have grown into this time of year and have learned to gather into one spot when people come 'round because they know they're getting some kind of crumb that they're ready to fight over. They're learning how to fly – guess where they'll be going soon enough. When you see young ducks testing out their wings by running and jumping off of the banks of a lake or a pond, just to see if they can fly a few feet before crashing into the water…you know that in a few weeks, they're going to be taking to the air…it's coming…you know it.

…and how do you like that? It's knitting season (well, for me, all year 'round is knitting season, but…) New yarns and wools that have been spun and hung and plied and dyed and dried and skeined are going up on the shelves – why else do you think all of the yarn shops have been having their mega sales all Summer long? They have to make room somehow. New patterns are springing up all over the place. The "seasonal" knitters are going back to picking up the needles again, or else casting on something new. It kind of works in rather well even with schools as well…what art teacher wouldn't want to inspire creativity in kids? They're starting to teach knitting more and more to all sorts of kids in all sorts of schools these days. Interesting, what terminology will do. I mean, it will always keep the term of "craft" but, call it "art" and it becomes a medium for everyone!

I'm so alive and I know it.

I'm happy today.

The Messiah Project

2009-05-29T10:07:00.002-04:00

The Messiah Project

Here's a short playlist of selections:

1. Sinfonia
2. Comfort Ye
3. Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted
4. O Thou Who Tellest Good Tidings To Zion
5. For Unto Us A Child Is Born
6. Rejoice Greatly O Daughter Of Zion
7. All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray
8. Hallelujah For The Lord Omnipotent Reigneth
9. The Trumpet Shall Sound
10. Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain

.

.

Music has always been a passion of mine since I was very young. I'd always had a burning need to compose, play, or arrange. Even in the darkest periods of my life, I've never been without music, nor my knowledge of it -- which kept my brain constantly on the go...and still does. Yes, indeed, I am still constantly working out some kind of musical production in the back of my head while life happens.

...and as life is happening with everyone else in the world doing his/her/its bit, I might clear my thoughts every now and again to find myself mingling with the rest of the participants -- of life, that is.

From that summer vacation in 1989, the first time I'd ever seen the entire production of "Messiah" on a VHS borrowed from the public library, a fire was lit inside of me. I absolutely needed to DO it. I was still walking back to the library to return the video and already beginning to think of what I was going to need to do to put on such a production. First thing I needed to do was to find the sheet music, of which the library did not have, and had to search for it over the inter-library loan system. Next, I needed voices and instruments and thought that since I was one of three music ministers at the Catholic church in town, I might find support. Not many of the other folks in the band or chorus at school seemed to think that the idea was worth working -- can you blame them? This is high school in a small one-horse southern Ohio town, where one HAD to keep busy with everything to think of, and not have room on the plate for some other project...else trouble would set in fast.

Attempt number one: complete failure -- not by anyone's mis-doings, but, just by life being life and the participants participating in it.

Stuff happened.

Life happened.

...and ten years later, the Messiah Project flame still burned as bright as ever and brighter! I found myself in Cleveland, Ohio in 1999, and I had a computer and also had a separate line to connect to the internet. I discovered midi technology! Ok, well, to fast-forward for a moment back to the present, truth be told, raw midi sounded (and still does) absolutely terrible! Awful, I tell ya, but, then again, at one point in time, wax cylinders were high-tech back in their heyday...what we ever do without .mp3s nowadays? The fact that technology was available to be able to tap in note-for-note put me in a frenzy! Off to the public library, I trotted, and borrowed the book and renewed it and renewed it and renewed it until the poor librarian told me I couldn't take it out for at least 30 days because I had it for so long.

Noteworthy Composer became my friend and companion, and so did Jet Audio (which had a completely different soundfont with its technology and so, I was able to hear parts just a little bit better with a much nicer sound)

I was on my way, dutifully inputting everything and saving things periodically and just plain trying to make my dream come true.

...and along comes SOME kind of virus that caused me to not even be able to get onto the computer and away the hard drive was wiped clean, system re-installed, and nothing saved. Everything had to be done over again.

I don't remember the exact date, nor want to, but, I'm almost positive that Mercury MUST have been in retrograde at it's most powerful point.

Attempt number two: failure.

Once again, life happened.

The person I was sharing my life with at the time, ended up having the first of three brain surgeries and needed live-in care, and so, no longer was I working any job outside of the home, I was taking care of everything else there AT home. Things finally came to a point where I was able to schedule everything into my day to have just a little bit of time at the computer, and that time I had was very precious...but some of that time was being filled with a work-at-home position verifying yellow pages deliveries and then also doing a bit of transcription work for the woman whom I'd worked for previously downtown.

PBS played a production of Messiah and I almost began sobbing. At this point, I'd known the lyrics, I'd known the music, I'd known whatever I could about the actual material. I'd almost thought that something that I have yearned to do for (by this time) so long might not be in the cards, nor the stars, nor the stones, nor the whatever mojo was hanging around. Perhaps just being driven to KNOW this great musical work was enough.

...but I tried again...and this time, due to just being old and used and unstable, and all, the computer just plain died. I'm almost sure that anyone on the noisy city block could have heard it, too. It screeched and sputtered and just wound down to silence. I had only gotten to "the first few measures of Ev'ry Valley" (the third piece in the work -- just started it) but it was enough for me to finally just sit back in my chair and weep.

Attempt number three: failure.

...and once again, life happened. Another surgery and a cause to move to a different apartment for a year before moving back to the house meant more things to do to keep me away from Messiah -- but interestingly enough, when I WAS at the computer, I was working on other musical projects: smaller ones, single pieces -- things that were, in fact, NOT Messiah -- not even a single air or chorus. I'd firmly decided that this was not going to happen. The best I was going to get was to download .mp3s to listen to and enjoy it that way. I downloaded the .mp3s and listened to them and enjoyed them and was pacified for a short bit of time.

How is it that when a person makes up his mind NOT to do something once and for all, and tries to do everything else to fill the void, the void gets exponentially bigger?

I sat down at the computer and opened up Noteworthy Composer and clicked in the clef, the key signature, the time signature, and the very first note of "Sinfonia" looked at it, and clicked on the "X" in the top right-hand corner and when asked to save the file, clicked "No"

Attempt number four (if you can call it an attempt): instant failure.

October, 2004, life certainly did happen and everything moved at light speed. I ended up coming home to Maine. Yes, Maine. My homestate. The place that I never really wanted to leave when I was a teenager, but really had no choice. Years passed and finally I came back home to my beloved Maine!

For the first month and a half, I lived with a musician friend and introduced to her, Noteworthy Composer and Jet Audio so that she could create her own practice tracks.

She asked me if I could do "Messiah" and I began telling her of how much I wanted to and how much I loved the work and pretty much just let everything pass through the floodgate that she opened.

The reason she wanted rehearsal tracks was because the choir in which she was a part, was singing "Messiah" that year during the Advent season. She couldn't even finish talking when I interrupted her to get every piece of information: where, when, how much are the tickets? For someone who had an absolute need to be part of this great work, the question of "how could I be a part of this..." never came up.

I sat in the front row for my very first attendance of a live production. After know every in and out I finally got to experience it. As the conductor raised his baton I waited breathlessly for the playing of the very first note of "Sinfonia" Some maestros prefer an absolute attack while others like a nice easy start...and then the next two notes to complete the tiny phrase: is THIS maestro using a double dotted first note with a short note following, or just the plain dotted quarter and eighth? How long a space between the Grave and Allegro? I found myself analysing everything as it was happening...enjoying and being completely drawn in by the artistic beauty nonetheless, but, still, just the fact that "Messiah" had become over the years so much a part of me, I couldn't help but wonder and notice as things happened.

I finally moved into my own apartment in Lewiston and was allowed to keep the computer of a friend who was, incidentally moving out of state. I got everything all set up and just plain found myself plugging things back into the computer again. I was able to save my work on CD and thought to myself that I just might be able to do it. By the time I got to "All We Like Sheep" I decided that come hell or high water (and both did) I was going to achieve what I'd been meaning to do for what had been going on fifteen years.

Hell came two days before Christmas that year -- a severely perforated ulcer put me in the hospital (and yes, indeed, I died for the shortest of times -- saw the white light and all) kept me out of work for a month...where I spent most of my time sleeping to recover, if I wasn't taking walks to strengthen myself from surgery, which exhausted me the first couple of weeks and I slept some more. I did spend a bit of time at the computer, and had determined that since I faced the nexus between life and death and was allowed to live, I might as well do what I can to be part of life happening. The project didn't suffer, but, was interrupted here and there. When I was at the computer, I worked on it, when I wasn't at the computer, I didn't work on it. It was at this time when I realised that never had this become an obsession, as much as it was something that I was just so completely passionate about, and just had to DO it. I'd reflected a lot at how I became so in love with "Messiah" and what sparked the flame. In thinking of all of the failures, I had finally realised that I HAD let life happen in between -- and, I think, for once, finally found myself at peace, but yet still had that burning desire and a more revved up drive to make it and make it beautiful (at least beautiful to me)

High water came during one of the rainiest Spring seasons on record and the river going over its banks and several people not being able to get to work and my finally returning to work and making up extra hours for the month that I missed. I racked up a LOT of overtime gladly, but it did cause yet another interruption in the work, including the shorter periods that I was at the computer, I was still doing other musical things and sequencing other smaller projects as well.

Interruptions happen because life happens...and it/they all did.

September, 2005, I moved to Portland, Maine, to seek better opportunities (I had an awesome job offer, which ended up falling through -- no details -- we'll just say it fell through)

I met new people and also hung out with other friends that I'd already known and just existed while looking for opportunities, almost thinking about going back to Lewiston, but didn't.

Life happened as it has and always will.

In the meantime, I discovered the absolute gateway to the Solomon's Mine of digital/electronic music, the Direct midi to .mp3 Converter! Over this long period of time, I'd been using all sorts of software to input the notes, to sequence the pieces and give them instrumentation and spacial placement (or at least make it sound that way) basic conversion over to .mp3 (and I mean very basic) and even software to create original and/or edit existing soundfonts without having to do anything to the poor soundcard on the computer; but the one thing that puts it all together to make this all happen is the converter, which uses the soundfonts that have been created (using that bit of software), according to the instrumentation and arrangement via sequencing of the midi files (using THAT bit of software) that have been saved from the notation software. None of it would have been possible without Pistonsoft to wrap it all up together.

...and this is my arrangement: The Harpsichord continuo is essential besides being such an integral instrument, it also being the very instrument that Handel, the composer, himself, played during the premier in 1742. Oboes and Bassoons, of course, as written. Trumpets, for certain (it wasn't easy designing a good trumpet sound with the rest of the soundfont) A nice voice for the orchestral strings rounds out the standard instrumentation. As for the human voices: Soprano solo, Oboe; Alto and Tenor solos sharing the English Horn; Bass solo, Bassoon. Chorus is written in as a GM voice called "Church Organ" but, I decided that it needed a very "pipe-y" sound to it, loud and echo-y as if in a Baroque cathedral. As the work is Baroque, I wanted it to be the woodiest sound as could be had and so, I chose the double-reed instruments along with the strings in the orchestra. Even the Harpsichord and Organ sounds have a bit of the beautiful wood feel to them. I set the reverberation to sound similar to the orchestra and organ blending with one another, and the individual instruments, with much less echo and even less room to travel -- to sound as if the listener is right in the front row and the instruments are being played as if in a chamber for, the appropriately-enough feel of chamber music.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Finally, it all came together.

...but the dream isn't over, yet. As for the individual files, I'VE listend to them, but, now, it's time for others to listen to them as well. In the next coming days I'll be uploading some pieces and giving the world the opportunity to hear how I've fared.

It's digital; it's electronic; it's never been touched by a human hand -- all by the click of a mouse, but yet, I've come to like how it sounds.

Please enjoy this bit of a preview.

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MPBN Great TV Auction!

2009-04-07T10:09:00.002-04:00

The items have been boarded and ready for bids!

Here's the link

As they say at the auction:

Bid high, bid often!

MPBN Great TV Auction

2009-03-26T10:25:00.004-04:00

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My two items were picked up this morning for delivery to the station to be put up on the auction block!

The Red Shawl, I've come to affectionately know it as the "Go Red" shawl -- in support for Go Red for women's health. Bid high, bid often and show support for PBS and then go red!

The Pi Poncho is on its way just the same. I'm particularly fond of it. The lambswool was sent to me by Lily, from over in England. I just loved just knitting round and round and round and round. This was the one that I was working on during the day trip out to Belfast for the Celtic Festival.

These are just the bald and unedited pictures snapped from my camera, to just put forth and idea of what they look like. Oh, I really wish you could see the real things.

More as I hear word.

Next things to be working on is a couple of shawls to send out for the All Crafts 4 Charity project and also finish up another pair of knit socks, this time, for my cousin, Tammy.

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Podcast

2009-03-14T22:31:00.002-04:00

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...just uploaded and published "Terumah"

PODCAST

Enjoy!

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Some music to share...

2009-03-13T21:32:00.003-04:00

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For those that don't know, I also run a podcast/blog called "Capricorn In Aquarius" -- my own music label (which, is, of course, attached to lulu.com for publishing and all sorts of good stuff!) I decided to move that over to the blogspot because mypodcast.com has been just terrible at file uploading and allowing files of the proper dimensions to be added. I know, I know...servers and difficulties, etc. At least I know that the stuff that gets put out there can be heard by changing it over to this domain.

Click here and you'll get there

That particular podcast is pretty much in the domain of New Age/Electronic/Digital music; however, in composing all of THAT kind of music, I'm also so VERY into other types of music and sounds, etc.

So, I started playing around with a few sound fonts and searched around -- I wanted to get something a little bit more "realistic" sounding for some of the baroque/classical/romance period pieces -- simply transposing them and then also arranging them with all sorts of different instrument combinations...as realistic as I can possibly make it. Thing is, with learning about soundfonts and playing with them, I've also learned about how they're developed and just make a few of my own, with tinkering here and there.

Well, one of my all-time favorites has always been "The Little" Fugue in G Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach...and although my heart will always lie with the bassest of bass in the band, the tuba (it's all Mr. Huffman's fault!) I'm very much in love with the woodwind sounds -- especially with a lot of the baroque pieces.

I began tinkering with instruments to parts to spacial placement -- all that good stuff, and came up with this.

I hope you like it.

If you wish to download a copy please, click HERE

...and by all means, PLEASE tell me what you think of it...I could really use a bit of feedback. It's something I love doing so much, and yet, I also want to make it enjoyable for people to listen to.

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'nother pair of socks!

2009-03-02T16:21:00.003-05:00

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I didn't realise that my Uncle Terry and Aunt Laura were still visiting Mother and Aunt Debbie at the time that they were reading my previous blog post showing all of the socks that, for some reason, just decided to start knitting themselves right out of my hands.

(that whole, I-don't-knit-socks thing.)

So, next thing I find in my email inbox a message that Mother sent to me over myspace.com. I won't quote it, but, apparently Aunt Laura loved the pictures of the socks so much that she wanted a pair...

...that's not what got me...

...she asked how "much" I would CHARGE!!!!!

I was reading this quietly to myself, but, something from inside of me just up and shouted "WHAT?!?!?!?!?"

All three of the cats scattered!

The very next thing I did was get on the phone and since Aunt Laura was there, I demanded to speak to her to tell her off.

NO ONE in my family gets charged for me to knit them something!

I just couldn't believe it!

So, as I was firmly explaining that to my dear aunt, with Mother and Aunt Debbie laughing in the background...I'd already cast on and began knitting the ribbing for the first sock of the pair.

Where are these socks COMING FROM?

I'm a sweater-knitter!

Anyway...

Here they are: Zimmermann Moccasin Socks, done with k1p1 ribbing, and instead of ribbing all the way down the foot, I striped it in stocking stitch...just to see how it would turn out. They did rather well, if I say so m'self. Then, in hindsight, the stripes remind me of 1920s era mens' one-piece swimsuits. I like the way they turned out, though.

Hmmmmmmm...beta testing a modified technique on a family member...like THAT's been done before!

So, these are on their way to Kent, Ohio and will be worn on the feet of my Aunt Laura whom I love just as much as my Uncle Terry, her husband, just as well as the Baldwin Sisters of Bastian, Virginia...so many cast members of the soap opera that is my life!

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Shawls For Charity

2009-02-27T10:48:00.005-05:00

I ended up sending out a couple of shawls that I'd been working on for an AC4C (All Crafts 4 Charity) project for February.

They're going to a wee little town in Virginia to an elderly care facility.

...and I'm SO happy!

They turned out rather well. I'm glad for that. I would love to see the faces of the folks that will eventually wear them.

...and of course, they're both Elizabeth Zimmermann designs.

One of the folks on AC4C told me that she was starting a Pi shawl and asked me to post some pictures of the ones that I sent off. She wanted some inspiration as she's embarking on the adventure of her FIRST Pi shawl.

WOW! I'm truly humbly honored...

...but at the same time, I'm glad to post these, because I really like them.

This is the Pi R Square shawl...very simple, by the letter of the original pattern with no embelishments, nor lace patterns and all. This pattern is found in "Knitting Around"

I really fell in love with this Pelerine pattern when I read about it in "Knitting Workshop" It's SO simple! I made my increases at the increase points as yarnovers instead of just making one or knit in the front and back. It looks hinged! I love it! I hadn't thought of it, while I was making it, but, it reminds me of something that Bishop Patricius (St. Patrick) might have worn...and well, the pelerine was an integral part of church-wear at one point in history. Like I said, I hadn't thought of it that way, but, after it was finished, I was certainly reminded of it.

...rather interesting to see it spread all the way out full before it's folded into the cape-like shawl that it's meant to be.

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Socks

2009-02-25T18:21:00.005-05:00

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Socks!

...of Elizabeth Zimmermann's creations and I finally took the time to make a few pair. I've knit most everything from her "Knitting Around" book, but, socks aren't always something I tend to enjoy doing. So, I just don't knit socks. I just don't.

...anyone who knows me knows I'm a sweater/shawl person...all the big stuff...

...and I end up making several pairs of socks!

Have you ever known people who never had any intention of getting their driver's license -- until they finally saw THE car...and just HAD to drive it...so, they got their license for the car? This is kind of the way that somehow something in my neural network crossed over and I cast on for five pairs of socks just recently. It was the yarn! I saw a really great deal on some really thick sock wool -- none of this tiny sportweight hooey, but really great worsted weight thickness (DK for all of the new-fangled vocabulary folk) and all wool with just a hint of nylon purposely spun in for strength -- specifically for socks!

I loved this wool! I needed to knit this wool! I was going to get a few skeins and knit a nice jacket...that was my intention -- a really nice sturdy/strong (re-enforced with nylon, but wool all the way) cardigan because I really, really, REALLY had to knit with this wool!

...and then I cast on for socks!

I don't know what made my hands do it. Really. I don't know, but, my hands and fingers were not going to relent! I was, apparently, casting on for socks, whether I liked it or not. Funny how the project that you're casting on will tell you what is going to be knit... I'm thoroughly convinced of this phenomenon. The knitter never decides what is going to be knit. The yarn, the needles, the pattern -- they all have a mind of their own and WILL form a coup!

So, to get m'self warmed up, I made a pair of Zimmermann's Thick Woodsman socks -- the ones with the garter stitch join on the heel flap. They turned out really nice.

I made them just a tiny bit larger than my foot because, seeing as the wool was spun with just that touch of nylon, they wouldn't shrink TOO much, but, shrink down they did -- and they didn't felt (I don't care much for felted knitted anything). After the first wash, they shrunk perfect to size. Then, after a few really good wears, they were washed again, in a regular load, with WARM water and dried in the dryer -- didn't shrink at all, didn't felt at all!

What is WITH this miracle stuff?!?!?

I really want to buy the rest of the basket of skeins of this wool because I fell in love with it, but, at eight bucks a skein, I'll settle for the one-at-a-time thing until they're all in my stash.

So, after that, I decided to do the Moccasin Socks, but, instead of doing the K2P2 ribbing all 'round, I did a really nice K1P1 and I much prefer that. I know. It's been said about her enough and probably always will be in her lasting memory throughout time. THAT WOMAN IS A GENIUS! Meg Swansen was just WAY too lucky to have her for a mother. These socks -- the heels were perfect! The gussets were perfectly lined right down my ankle! It's almost as if they were knit right onto my feet! I made them into slipper socks because I was afraid I was going to run out of the wool if I made some socks with length on them. So, slippersocks they are and made just for padding around the house.

With four cats running around (three grown and one kitten) I don't care to really walk around in bare feet like I used to a few years ago.

I don't knit socks! Really. I don't.

I keep saying that to try to convince myself.

Now, of course, the roommate, Kevin wanted some. I'd run out of this wonderful stuff and haven't been able to get back to Central Yarn Shop yet to get more...oh, but I will. In the meantime, I decided to use some maroon acrylic that I got from a HUGE motherload from freecycle. Not bad...being used for slippersocks...same thing: just to pad around the house, nothing more.

Now, you know I can't do a thing without telling my Mother about it -- to whom she relays everything to her sister, my Aunt Debbie.

Let me tell you very briefly about Mother and Aunt Debbie:

I can assure you that you know these two women quite well...that is, if you're old enough to remember the Waltons and the Baldwin Sisters! Yes, they are two women living in the hills of Virginia -- yes, Virginia ('night John-Boy) -- who would have you think they're old maids by the way they live together and one never seen without the other. Oh, but they had their lives and the stories to go with 'em! They only have one man that they share between them: their brother (my uncle) way back in Ohio. Their children are all grown and a good number of their grandchildren are, too! They're quite happy with their current lot in life and so, I'm happy for them.

...but neither of them knit. Mother gave ME her collection of knitting needles, because she knew they would be put to use!

So, Mother loves the different shades and variations of purple and so, I did a pair for her. Hers were EASY to do. I had some wicked awesome lavender acrylic and then I made the soles double thick with the remainder of the maroon from Kevin's and some dark plain purple. I really like the way they came out.

Aunt Debbie has this thing about frogs. She loves them. She collects them. She "Dig'em" (sorry, I HAD to). I was going to make hers in froggy colours, but, the green that I was intending to use was absolutely abhorant! I really hated it. It was horrible! So, of course, I frogged it (yeah, I went there) and searched for a different green. I wanted to do green for the body of the sock and then for the sole, I had this really nice furry brown bulky stuff that I got from the yarn shop about a year and a half ago. So, I couldn't find any more green, but, I ran across some leftover Red-Heart brand acrylic called "Watercolour" -- and thought ok, well, if I can't get a froggy colour, then why not get the pond colour and all of its other surroundings. So, with the same type of colours that Monet waited for the sun to be just at the perfect angle to paint lilypads in a frogpond -- it kinda went together...at least so I thought. Apparently, so did the needles and yarn because I really like the way they came out. They are my favorites out of the lot.

These two will run around Bastian, Virgina bragging about the son/nephew that knits for them. They'll wear the hats that I made for them and they've paraded a few of the other things that I made for my sister-in-law and her daughter (my step-niece). They're so awesome!

So, apparently, I'm taking a bit of a break from sweaters...of which I still have some on the needles waiting for sleeves, and have a few more pairs of socks that I have to make -- because I'm compelled to do them inbetween working with some shawls.

Ah yes, shawls; but as Ricki Lake used to say all the time "...that's a whole 'nother show!"

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Terra Firma (and a Happy New Year)

2009-01-07T10:03:00.006-05:00

BACK!

I made it back from the Quad Cities in one piece...almost thought that was going to be a task for all of the gods in every pantheon known to mankind!

Ok, here's how it started:

December 23, 2008: We walked to the bus station to get the Concord Trailways from Portland to Boston Logan Airport. Interestingly enough, the walk was almost perfect. No wind, but the temps were really low, but, it felt really good. It was a regular early Winter morning walk, and clean, clear, fresh air filling the lungs. The both of us carried two carry-ons a piece. United Airlines charges baggage checking, so, large luggage was a no-go. I'm not paying $15 just to have my bags waiting in another city without my ability to retrieve them while spending the night at a midwest airport -- oh, that's a bit too far up the story -- the walk was perfect. I felt REALLY good getting on the bus and taking the window seat.

The sunrise was like none other than I'd seen before. Damn, if I didn't get any pictures of it, because the colours wouldn't show up through the glass of the window. The moon was in its couple of days before finally waning back to dark and new, and so, it led the sunrise right through the sky, and the way the crescent curved toward the sun, it was almost as if it was tied to the sun and pulling and pulling and pulling the heavy beast from the horizon! I've seen many truly amazing sunrises in my life, but, this one fits into the "O-M-G" category.

...and wouldn't you know it, since we were travelling south on I-95, and we claimed the left-hand-side-of-the-aisle seats, and since I had the window seat, I was able to watch the WHOLE THING, from beautiful colours in the dark all the way to the yellow and blue sky as we got to Boston.

...and of course, I knit the whole way down! The great Elizabeth Zimmermann mentioned in her "Knitter's Almanac" in the July month that shawl-knitting was pretty much the best thing to knit on a long vacation. She was right, only, I did it in December!

What could have been more perfect?

Well, we got to Logan and checked in decently quickly and after the tickets were printed, then we went through the security gates onto the concourse. Now, this is the first time that I ever brought my knitting on a plane, and so, this is the first time that I've ever needed to bring my knitting needles through a scanner. After going through the metal detector and such, the chaps called me back saying that they had to re-run my bag. "Oh geez...", thought I, and was prepared to mail back my knitting -- already on the needles on the top of the open bag so everyone could see (I had an envelope already prepared.) but noooooooooo. Knitting needles -- not a question at all, not a mention, nary a word!

They dug out my deck of CARDS! I suppose the small rectangle shape might have caused a bit of concern, but that's all. So, they had to re-run my bag over cards. It's rather funny when you think about it.

So, the flight to DC was still waiting to board, so, I pulled out my knitting and worked a bit more on the red shawl. I didn't know what I was going to do with it just yet, just knew that I wanted something to use up this skein of yarn that had been sitting for a while in my stash box. Come to find out, it wasn't colour-fast, and how do ya like that...my fingers were all red!

So, the flight to DC went well. Nice, smooth, good landing, etc. We had to walk in the open, though, and it stunk to high heavens from jet fuel and the wind was horrendous, but, we got inside, and found the next gate to get the flight to O'Hare, which was 4/5ths the trip after we were to arrive.

Boarding was quick, so, it was more or less from one gate to the other, and that was good, in my opinion.

Half an hour later, on the plane, the pilot comes up to the front saying that the weather has closed off one of the runways in Chicago, and so, we would have a delay, while we were all sitting on the plane waiting to take off. He invited us to listen to channel 9, where One could hear the tower reports, etc. Actually I really liked that. It was fascinating to hear all of the airport business as it was being carried out. I pulled out my knitting and as I was going stitch for stitch, I noticed that the girl on the aisle seat was crocheting! That was good conversation for about fifteen minutes or so, until the plane was finally cleared to take off and we were on our way to Chicago. Here and there, we said a few sentances to each other, but, we pretty much kept to our work. She was working on a gift for a baby, and so, needed to keep to her work, seeing as the holiday was only a day and a half away (at that point).

Now, I love to fly. I really do, but, I really hate the turbulance when we're going through the clouds, and I really despise the winds; especially when the plane is being tossed about. After watching all sorts of crash landings on the news, I know that some of the most critical times is just before landing, and the plane really has to find some kind of steady-ness...and wouldn't you know it, in just the split second before touching down, it was just fine! Mind you, all this time, I was listening to the tower and the pilot talking back and forth, and no reports of anything negative were going on, so, that actually softened the nerves just a bit, too.

Chicago O'Hare, December 23, 2008. The words that I REALLY want to say are pretty much too foul for anyone reading a blog in public. I won't shame anyone, so, I'll just begin by saying, I knew there was going to be at least a delay, possibly even a cancellation of the flight -- Moline was only a half an hour flight away, but, still, I was expecting delay or cancel.

Both happened.

Originally, the first flight to Moline was cancelled right off. I could definately understand it, too. There was no WAY I was going to even board the plane in that weather! I mean really...if the plane would have flown through all of that, I would have no doubt that the LOT of us would have heard those herald angels singing in person! No thanks, brotha! So, of course, what does One do when the flight is cancelled? Go to the Customer Service and get put on standby for the next available flight at the earliest opportunity, naturally. After about an hour in the line and supposedly getting put on the standby for the next flight -- the original flight got re-instated!!!

Have you EVER been to O'Hare? Their concourses are [insert appropriate favorite explitive here]!!! Put it this way: for the next four hours, we paraded from the VERY END of the concourse and downstairs (Gate F11) all the way over and up a whole concourse and a half away (Gate F1)! This dance went on back and forth and back and forth and back and forth. Now, of course, we needed to hear if our names were going to be called for either one of these flights, either the original, which others were put in standby before us, as we were re-assigned, of course; OR the next flight, which, through several delays, ended up leaving at the same time! We had to go back and forth to hear if our names were going to be called. So, after finding out that our names were not called at F11, we heard the announcement that the flight had changed gates to F1 and so, off we went again, just to find out that the OTHER flight to Moline, the one we were on standby for, changed to F11 FROM F1.

I went up to one of the so-called (and I only say this because that's what his title was on his badge) "customer service agent" to ask if our names had been called. This is something extremely important and couldn't have been answered by just looking at the boards. This was a rather individual and important question to which I was met with his HAND! Yes, folks, that's right -- he gave me a "talk to the hand" and told me that I was interrupting him! Not even a simple gesture -- he just stuck his hand out there and I was rendered worthless of his time.

It ended up that we missed both flights and didn't know for certain, until both were completely boarded that we were not called for either one.

TWO FLIGHTS TO MOLINE AND WE DIDN'T GET EITHER ONE OF THEM!

So, finally after accepting that we were going to be sleeping in the airport overnight, we decided to get to the customer service desk and get put on standby for the next available flight. Now, you'd think that this would have been easy -- now that the weather was letting up and flights were finally filtering out slowly and the airport was becoming less crowded and we were only the sixth in queue for the customer service desk. A woman came up to us and told us that this particular customer service desk was going to be closing and that we HAD to go to the other one that was all the way on the other end of the concourse! She said it's JUST opened and there was (and I quote) "no waiting."

No waiting.

We should have stayed in queue to get everything done at that desk.

No waiting turned into an hour and twenty minutes in line! She just flat out lied. There was nothing more to it than that: a bold-faced lie! When we got to the other end to the other desk, there was only ONE customer service agent at the desk and I really felt sorry for her, because she was there the whole time, didn't vere from her work -- she was the trooper of the night, I think. She was awesome! The line (what line? we were supposed to have been right at the front with no waiting) stretched into the next concourse!

You can't even find this type of stuff on TV or the movies -- it's WAY too fictional for real life, but, let me tell you, it really happened!

My eye caught this one kid. I felt so sorry for him and my heart broke with his for a moment. You could tell he was probably in his earliest of 20s or maybe even just 19 or so...most definately his first time away from home and a nice new rolling suitcase and a perfectly hand-wrapped gift strapped to it. You can tell he did it himself -- no bows or ribbons -- just a box, wrapped...but you could also tell that it was special. This kid was trying his damndest to hold back the tears. Every time he was on his cell phone and got off again he looked like he was just going to burst out in tears once again. I really just wanted to go over and give him a great big hug just because he looked like he could really use one, and then it broke my heart right along with him because I knew what we were either up against or going to do -- he clearly didn't. I just keep thinking of the recipient of that present, too. I hope he got where he needed to get in time to put it under the tree.

So for the "no waiting" period -- ALL of the re-assigned seats for the first flight out the next morning were already ticketed and the next available re-booked flight was two days later in the afternoon! So, we would have been spending the entire next day and a half there! NO WAY! They made us WAIT when we were plainly told -- not just hinted at, but told right out "no waiting" and because of that lie, everyone and us included missed out on the very next available flight!

Can anyone see where I'm going here? That whole...never flying United ever again...not because of the actual flight (pilot and attendants were awesome), but because of the customer service on the ground...and definately never going back to O'Hare...

Well, after sleeping at the gate where the first flight of the morning was scheduled originally; we woke up and discovered that the dance had begun again, and off we went to the gate only halfway across the concourse, this time. By luck we got the VERY LAST TWO seats left over for standby for the flight. You can bet I was up and AT the gate and ON the plane and ready to fly!

It was still rather windy, but, the plane made it into the air. Since I knew the airport at Moline and the empty fields around it -- the vast empty fields around it -- all I kept thinking was "...just as long as we make a nice three point landing, I don't care if we slide off the runway, they'll send a truck to pick us up on the other side of the field...just as long as we're safe and ON THE GROUND!" The landing was a bit jumpy, but fine, and we didn't slide off.

Come to find out, the next flight that landed after ours did just that -- and everyone was safe! How's THAT for creepy?

...took a taxi to Kevin's mother's house, and after slugging a couple of cups of coffee, showering, and napping for a short, Christmas Eve was finally observed!

[Vacation blog, different post, stay tuned]

Fast forward to New Year's Day -- and I wasn't even hungover! I honestly don't know how that happened considering the amount of vodka that I consumed the night before...but it was in moderate amounts and regulated through the whole night, so, I was feeling rather rested and ready to travel.

Moline. Everything was just fine getting through to the concourse, and a bit of time to wait, so, I dug out my knitting and almost finished the shawl that I was working on -- actually, I'd finished the last row and was beginning to cast off.

More about the shawl in another post, promise.

Clear day, but windy, takeoff saw the plane rocking from side to side. You could look out the window and literally see the horizon going up and down and up and down, you'd have thought you were on a ship in the middle of a huge Pacific storm with 30-foot swells.

30 minutes and a near nose-dive later, we were rattling down the runway. I could certainly understand only because it was the dreaded O'Hare and wind is a non-thought there. Hmmmm...wind? Chicago? Noooooooo.

...but the waiting time was not bad at O'Hare, not too long, but long enough to get a bit more knitting done...casting off the shawl. I was almost completely cast off when the boarding call came and so, I was back on the plane. The plane that would take us directly back to Boston!

Ahhhhh, what heaven. No more flights! (...and I really do love flying...really I do) No more airports. No more layovers! Beautiful Boston in our sites!

Beautiful frigid and snowy and icy and windy Boston! The day before, a HUGE snowstorm pretty much shut the city down. We were lucky that it was a clear day that we arrived, but, the wind and the rest of the weather...

...have you ever flown into or out of Logan? You lift off over the Atlantic Ocean. You descend for landing over the Atlantic Ocean. This particular landing was rather bumpy and the plane lurched all over the sky. You could look out of the windows and almost touch the waves, they were so high and choppy. Whitecaps were the word of the moment, and then, all of a sudden, it felt like the bottom dropped out of the plane and we were literally falling! No nosedive, the pilot kept the plane level, but, more than just I really thought we were going for a dip in the Ocean and would actually have to make use of the flotation devices that they talk about in the demonstrations before the flight.

Guess what?

We touched down -- not perfectly, but touched down nonetheless. I really have to give it to the pilot. The wind was knocking that plane all over the place and we were going left and right and swerving all over the runway as he was applying the brakes.

I've never been scared of flying. I'm still not scared of flying, but this particular trip was -- well, it was a trip!

From there, a Greyhound bus took us back to Portland and then we walked to Denny's for supper because I refused to cook.

...and the New Year was on.

So, pictures and further posts later on, once I get them all ready to put up online.

All in all, I'm just glad that we're back on solid ground and that I'm safe to tell the story.

I certainly hope everyone else had a good holiday season just the same.

.

She Made Me Socks!!!

2008-12-07T17:12:00.003-05:00

WOW!!!

I completely forgot about them until I opened up the postbox and there they were!

My friend, Lily, in England knit socks and sent them for a Christmas gift. I remember (now, of course) much earlier in the year, when she was asking about foot measurements...and in the course of the year, forgot about them.

I mean, dealing with being unemployed in a rather un-employable time, right now, did take a bit on my nerves and I haven't really been keeping my mind on a lot.

...but she made me happy!!!!!!!!

...look at the tiny little tag that she put around the cuffs. It sits on my stand next to my bed right now, I'm going to put it into a scrap book afterwhile.

...and of course, I HAD to get a picture of me wearing them. You just can't take a picture of socks without actually seeing them on your feet -- can you?

Now, sock knitting is an interesting sport. One of the things that experienced knitters look for is how the heel was turned. So many ways to make sock heels nowadays, and...well, it's a knitting thing. You look for certain things.

I love the way this came out. Wouldn't you know it? A perfect fit! Perfect, I tell ya; PERFECT!

...and I've already worn them for their first washing!

.

The Poet I Never Thought I Was

2008-11-25T12:38:00.003-05:00

Ok.

So, yes, I've written poetry before. I do it from time to time. I guess everyone takes their hand at it at least once AFTER they're out of school...when it's actually not a homework assignment. I do like taking pen to paper every now and again, and write a few verses -- mostly open verse and pretty much zero meter and just for myself only sharing every once in a while.

I don't know WHERE this came from. I just began typing and out it came. I didn't think of anything at all, other than knitting patterns for one of my favorite types of sweaters to make: the Fisherman's Gansey. I hadn't even thought of writing anything related to poetry at all -- just out it came.

...and whenever I DO write poetry, I generally, as a rule, do NOT rhyme my verses, nor do I have any meter whatsoever...(except when doing haiku and the 5-7-5 thing). Most of the time, I find modern rhyming poetry to be repulsive and soul-less as many so-called poets these days just put down words "just because" they rhyme with each other, and after reading the verse, you have to re-read over twice just to say "I don't understand that verse." Forgive my ego, I beg.

So, I REALLY don't know where this came from, because it's not the poetry I write -- furthest from...but, it came from somewhere in or through me and here it is just the same.

Oh gansey oh gansey,
Tight upon my chest,
Give me great protection,
'Till the boat comes to rest.

Diamonds, ropes, and ladders
Adorning all the yoke,
Keep me safe while fishing
To get back to my folk.

Tightly knit and waterproof,
Thick against the breeze;
Make sure that I'm kept well;
Do this for me, please.

Every fisherman has his gansey
Different, every one;
Passed down the generations
From father to his son.

If, alas, my boat should turn
And I should fall to sea,
Be my identification
So my family can mourn for me.

Oh gansey oh gansey
Tight upon my chest,
Knit by those who love me dear,
I am forever blessed.

.

Finished Stuff

2008-11-12T14:51:00.003-05:00

Well, my brother just got remarried.

It all just happened...I still haven't met the girl, but, I'm told she's one of the best things for him that has ever come into his life. Good. Congratulations, and I certainly hope that this is THE one!

Well, she has a six-year-old daughter -- my brand new niece!!!

You know what that means?

Christmas is just around the corner and so, it's the perfect season for this:

I adapted Elizabeth Zimmermann's Three and One pattern from "Knitting Around" and made this stocking just for her...with enough room for LOTS AND LOTS of stuff!!!

(they're going to kill me, I just know it...)

...and also, this:

I call it the "Whohat" It was originally supposed to be a candycane design...stripes...and it was supposed to be MUCH longer and tubular, and so on and so forth, and I really enjoyed knitting it, but, sometimes, an item just tells the knitter what it's going to turn out to be, rather than the knitter creating it; and that's exactly what happened. The hat told me it was going to turn out like this. So, it did.

...and then I was reminded of CindyLou Who and after a couple of second looks, it really does remind me of something a Who would wear.

So, the name stuck.

.

2008-11-02T00:25:00.003-04:00

My latest project!

The most recent charity for AC4C was Bonnies Babies in Scotland!

I, proudly being of the ilk, after sending off the couple of open baby cardigans and some buntings, ended up with this burning desire to do my next project something Scottish.

Why is it that I always go so deeply into doing something?

Well, it ended up that I found an entire set of Scottish sheet music, but a perfect single piece "Marquis Of Huntly's Highland Fling" became the music for a short animation telling the story of the Highland Fling -- the elements of the story being the elements of the newest pattern that I've designed.

So, my latest video from youtube and a link to lulu.com, where I've published the sweater design, the actual pattern itself (which can be used other than for the yoke of a sweater -- hmmmm...what about a panel for a future afghan with a nice Scottish theme...more patterns to come, I'm sure.)

...and just for the heck of it, I loved the song so much, I printed out the sheet music and added IT to the lot, too.

So, the link to the actual pattern (for published print or download -- I would recommend the download, you can actually print it yourself, and since there's no publishing costs, I kept the price much lower)

The Highland Fling Knitting Pattern

...and, of course, my storefront with the other things I published

Robert's Store

...and the video that you can find on youtube, too:

'hope you like it.

Please tell me what you think.

.

Lavender Gansey Hat

2008-09-30T17:00:00.003-04:00

It's just something that was done inbetween doing other things. Actually, I was thinking about making a pair of mittens to go with it, for a nice little lavender set, but, then again, I'm a sweater knitter (but I do like hats and scarves every now and again, especially since they can be done in the round and don't need to be steeked...ugh)

Often times, I like doing a hat after finishing a sweater or so, just to do something nice and easy and quick...just to do it.

I thought it might be nice: a little knit and purl simple design; something One might see on the yoke of a gansey sweater -- the reason I call it a "gansey" hat.

Blue And Gray Stocking Stich Patterned Yoke

2008-09-30T16:53:00.003-04:00

...now THAT'S a mouthful!
I just didn't know what to call it just yet. I want to call it some nice nautical name, because I love the colours, the light blue, the dark blue, and the gray (I was also thinking about a Civil War theme, but, it just doesn't fit...although I wouldn't mind trying something to fit the bill.)

So, at least for now, I'm just going to call it what it is...it's blue and gray and it's got a stocking stitch patterned yoke. Of course, it's also going into the book, too, because it's the technique is one that I really wanted to introduce...I really can't wait to publish...

...and here it is folded, with just the gray and the dark blue body.

So, I guess with everything that's been going on, I've been at least keeping my wits and, as the poem demands, "Go On With Your Knittin'"

Thorn Berry Double Yoke Finished

2008-09-30T16:38:00.004-04:00

What does an unemployed knitter do during the day inbetween hitting the pavement or submitting resumes via the internet (or getting sidetracked daydreaming what it might be like to work at home and make all of those thousands that everyone keeps on advertising clicking on the pointless links that all demand a credit card before coughing up the info)?

The unemployed knitter KNITS during the day inbetween hitting the pavement or submitting resumes via the internet...(etc. etc. etc.)

The way's been rough this past month. I'm just glad I have my knitting to help me keep my resolve. I've known so much sadness, but sitting back crying will neither get me a job nor finish sweaters to continue the next book.

So, I finished the Thorn Berry. This one is the tester, and so, it won't be sold or given away. The yarn was free for me...got it from a VERY generous person on freecycle.

This is how it looks before being folded up for storing. I think I've figured out why I like doing that...I like to see how the trim colour looks with the body colour with the yoke in the background -- especially when I'm doing a three colour project like this one.

We all go through it...I think...

2008-09-30T11:46:00.001-04:00

I haven't posted much in a while...

It's been an incredible time of sadness for me...maybe this could be telling me to work more on my "Poignance" sweater.

...but perhaps things might be looking a bit better. I'm going to be posting some pictures in a while that show two completed sweaters. One thing about it all is that I will never stop knitting. It's one of the only things that keeps me going.

Remembering...can't forget...ever

2008-09-11T09:51:00.004-04:00

I was living in Cleveland on September 11, 2001.

I lived two and a half blocks away from work -- a restaurant attached to the Great Lakes Brewery.

I was walking to work, to prep for lunch -- like any other day on schedule.

Leaving the house on W 29th Street, I crossed the street and walked up to Chatham around the school yard to W 28th Street and began walking up the street to Lorain Ave. At that corner was the parking lot for the very prestegious boys prep school, St. Ignatius. Across the street, the football field. Crossing Lorain Ave to that grassy area at the corner of the fence of the football field, I crossed W 28th Street to the sidewalk, and looked over to some movement -- a HUGE bird, flying across the open space of the football field. After a double-take, I wouldn't have believed it if I had taken a triple or quadruple-take...it was an eagle! A Bald Eagle flying free in the city!

WOW!

What news I had to tell, as soon as I turned the corner and went into work! I saw an eagle! You don't see that every day.

...but watching the eagle cross the open space of the football field drew my attention even further into the sky. Past the orate rooftop of the school, I saw a jet literally make a U-turn in the sky, and start to fly back toward the city -- very low. I knew that a plane that big would have been too big for the small lakeside airport and it was flying AWAY from Cleveland Hopkins International. At the time, it seemed odd...

...but boy, oh boy, I couldn't wait to tell people about seeing that eagle!

...and I did.

Now, being that the place where I worked was a brewery, of course, you have the restaurant and then, to the side, a full bar! (which just happened to be conveniently adjoining the kitchen) In that bar, two televisions were running as they normally did. If some of us were to take a short break from prep work, we would go in and watch a snip of the news or something of the sort. I hadn't taken a break yet, but, in the middle of preparing my station for the regular lunch rush, one of the grill guys ran in and said that something hit the Twin Towers and we all, of course, rushed into the bar and watched the first building smoking -- and then Chef made us all come back in and finish our prep...and then we heard of the Pentagon. We all rushed in again to watch and were brought back into the kitchen. Then the second one -- this time the footage caught the plane crashing into the building. We all rushed in again to watch.

All we could do was just stand there and watch in awe -- just like most of the nation...most of the world.

...and then, after getting corraled back into the kitchen by Chef (by this time, KNOWING we weren't going to have any business for the day) we turned on the radio and listened to the reports of a fourth hijacking...

...and then it hit me: that was the plane that I watched turn on a dime in mid air over Cleveland.

Y'wanna talk irony? It was a Bald Eagle, one of our nation's most sacred-held figures, flying FREE, that caught my attention and drew my attention to watch -- to literally WATCH [what turned out to be] Flight 93 being hijacked -- as it was happening.

I wasn't in New York and I didn't witness the buildings in person. I didn't see anything except what the news showed for weeks, rolling the same footage over and over and over again. "My" plane never made it to DC (as we later discovered was the intended destination). I heard that some of the people on that particular flight rose up and tried to fight off the terrorists -- how brave they must have been. I believe to the depths of my being that some of them knew that they weren't going to live much longer and decided that if they could do whatever they could to save other lives by diverting the attention of the terrorists and making them crash the plane into an empty field -- rather than another building, killing even more innocents...

Heroes.

...even the ones that just sat quietly on that plane, doing what they were told to do. Their lives were a sacrifice -- and I truly believe that they all made their peace that day -- you know, some of the phone messages that were kept and played back so that all of us in the world could hear...

...they made their peace.

I heard something on the news this morning: "This is one of those events where you will always remember where you were and what you were doing."

The "Thorn Berry" Double Yoke

2008-09-08T15:54:00.006-04:00

I decided to name it this only because I like the way the colours work together.

The colours remind me of "berry" colours anyway, but, better, the colours of the berries that come from thorny bushes: blackberry, raspberry, etc. etc. etc.

I would have actually had more done, but Friday evening and all night and up to 2 am was spent when my dear friend, Miriam, came to Portland. She lives in Lisbon, but was house-sitting for some friends over the week-end. So, Friday, I walked over, and we drove down to Scarborough to her favorite buffet and we had dinner and stayed until closing; and then drove back to Portland and talked until the wee hours -- no knitting done then.

AND on the next day, (Saturday) she called me back over to the house, because the folks came back and the one guy who works at Maine Medical told me about them hiring and so, we went over and talked and then after that, just spent the evening.

...it just so happened that an old gal named "Hannah" decided to start raining as we left and so, it rained constantly when we got to the house, and then it rained even more while we were there, and we stayed for a few hours and still it rained hard and long...good thing she didn't bring the wind with her that she carried up the coast.

...visiting friends impromptu = no knitting.

Sunday I knit. I wanted to catch up for the time that I lost and at least completed the body.

This was the design that I began working with -- just a simple moss stitch -- simple enough; but I call it a "double yoke" because I wanted to add just another plain and simple stitch on the OTHER side so that the sweater, when complete could be worn either way, front or back.

...so far, it's coming out quite well. I'm glad.

I'm going to trim it with a simple ribbing ('haven't decided between plain k1p1 or k2p2) in black! That will trim it quite nicely, I think. I used a bit of the black yarn that I plan to trim to fuse the neck, and even that tiny bit really works well.

'can't wait to get more done!

The Double Yoke Up And Over

2008-09-04T18:24:00.004-04:00

...and here's another for the book!

I have been in such a creative mood lately, and it's been kind of great! I think it's because I was actually running OUT of WIPs.

(gasp! oh no!)

It happens in waves and so awesome does it run its course!

So, this sweater will be made to be worn in more directions than one...at least front and back and I'm hoping, by the way that I'm going to make it, inside out and backwards as well.

'was thinking of actually naming the sweater that one, but, I'll work with "Double Yoke" only because if anything, I know that it will be able to be worn both front and back with a different design each direction.Of course, it's not much right now as the yoke is just beginning -- a simple moss stitch -- but wait to see what I have up my sleeve!

Wish me luck on the progress of the latest bunch of creations!

Hooded Cardigan

2008-09-03T22:04:00.016-04:00

I don't know if this is going to be a vest or a jacket, but, for certain, it's going to be a cardigan and it's destined to have a hood!

As much as I absolutely despise the term "hoodie" I won't apply it to this piece.

...but it's another Up And Over, which will be in the book too.

I got this yarn from Central Yarn Shop -- it's also a mill end -- that I might end up doing a Fair Isle with the green and black tweed that made the garter yoke.

The Sweater Named "Poignance"

2008-09-03T22:04:00.012-04:00

Wouldn't you know it? My very first original (though easy as anything to dream up) cable design, and it comes in a time in my life where the making of it has seen so much sadness.

That's why I named it "Poignance"

It'll end up being like that empathetic doting old aunt, who's "been there;" who knows the answers to everything; who will listen and give comfort when comfort is needed.

This sweater, so far in its making, has been there and seen it and will have the wisdom to comfort the wearer in times of sadness.

So, the ultimate ending will be comfort.

It's an Up And Over -- what will also be included in the upcoming book; but, progress is recorded right here...and on Ravelry (if you're a member you can see it there, too).

Mill End Sweater Complete!!!

2008-09-03T22:04:00.008-04:00

I REALLY like this, and had a good time doing it!

It started out wicked easy and finished the same way.

I knit down the arms to the cuffs and used 4 dpns on ONE cuff but during this time, I fixed my 11 inch circular and so, finished the OTHER one on the circular. 'don't mind using dpns, but, I REALLY love my teeny tiny circular.

This yarn is unbelievable! I really love it! I still have about a pound and a quarter left on the cone, so, at least another sweater is in the works!

...and probably something in a Fair Isle with the tan and white cotton tweed.

...for some reason, I have taken to getting a picture on how neatly these sweaters fold up; I get a picture of how the arms fold in and the bottom folds up (just before folding it all together)...don't ask me why...I really don't know, but it is kind of cool to see how they fold up, too...

...I guess.

Job Hunt Continued

2008-09-03T22:04:00.002-04:00

I went for a different interview today. It's at the Jewish Community Alliance here in Portland. I actually would like working there. The group helps people...there's a LOT of charity involved.

Wish me luck!

Job Hunt

2008-08-27T20:28:00.002-04:00

I went to an interview this morning for a monitoring position at another call centre.

...interesting...when you're in this kind of work, you either are stuck in a rut...OR...you know what you're doing and love what you do so much that you don't want to get out of it.

I happen to enjoy the entire process of customer service, no matter what call centre it comes from. That includes monitoring -- I did enough of it when I was a manager at the last place, so, I shouldn't think this is any more difficult. I would actually LOVE doing the job. So, I certainly hope they like me; besides, Ruth, one of my friends from the other place ended up working and doing the first monitoring position there. We were agents together and after I was promoted, I was her manager and she, my agent. I would immensely enjoy working with her again!

Wish me luck!

Pelerine Complete!

2008-08-23T19:55:00.004-04:00

I really like the way this turned out, finally.

...it was just one of those filler projects just to knit...and I really like the way it ended.

Downsized Again

2008-08-21T11:44:00.006-04:00

I decided to wait until this morning, rather than last night.

I might have been banned from blog-posting for a while with the language that I would have used.

Citing "downsizing" the company decided to eliminate one of the two manager positions that were being held. Guess which one of the managers they kept and which one they kicked.

Now, HERE is where the swear words and the unacceptable language for a public blog begins:

THEY'RE HIRING FOR A NEW @#$%^&*! CAMPAIGN!

I'll talk again later on, but, that's about it for now.

GO ON WITH YOUR KNITTIN'

2008-08-19T16:38:00.004-04:00

Grama had this poem -- found it in a magazine or newspaper or something -- had it pinned up to her cork board.

GO ON WITH YOUR KNITTIN'

When the folks next to you act like those in th' zoo,
A grumblin' and growlin' and spittin'
It's a pretty good plan to be as calm as you can
And do something useful - like knittin'

When gossipin' Susan with poison barbed tongue
Comes into the room where you're sittin'
And starts to defame some neighbor's good name
Count your stitches out loud and keep knittin'

When there's been a slight mis-understanding at Church
And others hint broadly at quittin'
Why the very best thing you can do is sing
And stay at your post and keep knittin'

When Satan moves in with the cohorts of sin
Say, you'll never find me submittin'
You irk me I find, so get thee behind
And please don't disturb me - I'm knittin'

In the middle of problems, the big ones and small
It's always proper and fittin'
To trust and to pray 'til the Lord shows the way
And go right ahead with your knittin'.

Author is unknown.

Pelerine Nearing Completion

2008-08-19T13:27:00.005-04:00

So, after finishing my "Plastic Gansey" for Ravelympics, I've been doing my whole cool-down process by working on almost to completion, the pelerine that I began before casting on the sweater.

I needed SOMETHING to keep me occupied.

It's almost finished, and probably will be later on tonight, I-cord edge and all.

I knew the colours would be Celtic-esque, but, I didn't realise how well they worked together.

Ravelympics Blog

2008-08-08T09:20:00.004-04:00

Hey, I've put up a separate Ravelympics Blog!!!

...only because that's what's pretty much going to take up my time in the next couple of weeks.

http://rjcb3ravelympics.blogspot.com/

...and I'll post pictures of progress of the sweater that I'm doing, and, who knows...the different places that I'm knitting it...

Pelerine Begun

2008-08-05T15:43:00.004-04:00

So, I begun a new project to avoid the temptation of casting on the sweater for my event in the Ravelympics.

It's just a simple Pelerine from Elizabeth Zimmermann's "Knitting Workshop"

It's so perfect right now for me.

This is the start of it...so far it reminds me of a fried egg motif, but, green will soon come after the yellow is used up.

Pi R Square Shawl

2008-08-02T17:47:00.006-04:00

My first!

Completed!

I have cast on for one of these over and over and over and over again, and never completed it and always ripped out the yarn and used it for more practical uses (or else, more personal favorite uses, like sweaters).

I swore I wouldn't do that ever again, and so, I pushed myself and pushed myself and pushed myself and I'm so glad I did.

Sweater Decided!!!

2008-08-02T17:40:00.002-04:00

I have finally decided that I'm going to do a gansey from one of my own designs for the Ravelympics Sweater Sprint for team TKE!

I'm using a skein of yarn that a friend from work gave me last year for Christmas. It's a Caron Pounder, Cape Cod Blue. It's 100% Acrylic and so, I'm calling it The Plastic Gansey.

:)

I can't wait, I can't wait, I can't wait, I can't wait to cast on and knit, knit, knit away while the games are in session. Who knows? I just might bring my knitting to work and go during my breaks and lunch as well. It's only one sweater, yes, and other people are signed up for so many more projects, but, this one is going to be special for me to do. Even if the event is called "Sweater Sprint" I'm still thinking of putting the best care into it, because the event is special to me, Team TKE is special to me, Ravelry in general is special to me, but what makes it so precious is that the yarn was a gift from a dear friend.

...and since she's from work, I think I'm going to bring it in every few days to show progress.

Ravelympics Madness

2008-07-29T14:27:00.002-04:00

I can't wait until the Olympic torch is lit. I have decided that I'm not going to cast on until the torch is officially lit, partly because I'm just like that...that the games aren't official (in my book) until the torch is blazing away, and that I just want to watch the festivities!!!

I'm doing the Sweater Sprint, but I don't know what sweater to do!

Conundrum of conundrums.

The Twenty Block Jacket

2008-07-27T15:28:00.001-04:00

The Four Piece Sweater

2008-07-27T15:27:00.000-04:00

The Up And Over Sweater

2008-07-27T15:21:00.002-04:00