In yesterdays meme, my cousin Elana also tagged her brother. So ... yenta that I am, I had to go check out his blog. Said cousin is a doctor and writes a medical blog (see #3 from yesterday) but I can get over that. In the comments on his answers to the meme was a reference to today's meme which I then took from this blog. So, consider it stolen from the medical blog world and let loose in the knit blog world.
1. Latkes or Sufganiyot?
Latkes! Love that savory goodness.
2. Multi-colored candles or blue-and-white?
What ever is in the box, though I do favor a single color per night with a contrast shamos.
3. Do you place the Hanukiah by the window or away from the window?
Usually away -- we are 11 stories up. We also do not have much space near the window. This year we are trying the window for the first time. I'll let you know how it works out.
4. Favorite Holiday Dish?
Latkes!
5. Favorite Holiday Memory?
Running around with my cousins at the big family chanuckah party.
6. One Hanukiah or more than one?
One. I was brought up with one per person but have been converted to the one-per-family method. Unfortunately we now get one box of chanuckah candles per-kid from religious school so we have a plethora of candles and I am debating going to more than one.
7. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Nope.
8. Favorite Holiday Dessert?
I really do not have one. I know that sufganiot are traditional (jelly donuts) but I am not really a fan of them. Frankly, after pigging out on latkes, I am usually too full for dessert.
9. Favorite Holiday Song?
Ma-o-tuzr. (Rock of Ages) Squidette learned this on the clarinet and violin last year.
I am not tagging anyone but if you want to grab it ... go right ahead. Happy Chanuckah!
Friday, December 15, 2006
Thursday, December 14, 2006
5 Things Meme
I've been tagged by my cousin, Elana, to share "Five Things you might not know about me." This is a tough one since I tend to be fairly open in this blog but I will give it a shot.
1. In college I flirted with becoming far more religiously observant then I am now. I saw Judaism as an anchor in a storm and spent my first two years in college taking refuge in the Hillel House at George Washington University. During the end of my sophomore year I deepened a friendship that had existed on a very superficial level with the man who is now known as Papa Squid. When I transfered colleges a few months later, I did not find the same community at the Cornell Hillel house as I had at G.W. and my path towards a very observant life ended. My anchor then took the very real and very solid form of the Love of My Life, Papa Squid.
2. For years I thought that I did not have the right personality to become a teacher despite the fact that it was what I always wanted to be. This stemmed from a misinterpretation of a comment from someone I love and respect. Years later when I was looking at leaving graduate school and going into teaching I mentioned this to the person in question who replied that she meant the lower grades, not the upper ones that I wanted to teach. She thought I'd be great with older kids. I concurred and here I am.
3. I am inexplicably afraid of doctors. I even get nervous calling to make an appointment for an annual check-up for any one of us. My mother-in-law used to enable me in this fear by occasionally calling the pediatrician when one of the kids was sick. Just the fact that she was willing to do this gave me the courage to make the call and deal with it. This is not a disabling fear -- I did go for a well-Mama appointment just yesterday and the kids get taken at least once a year for check-ups as well as the, fortunately, rare sick-kid visits. I used to try to palm off all kid-related doctor appointments on Papa Squid but have almost stopped doing it. Basically I have acknowledged that I have a problem and am handling it in a mature manner.
4. I once swore that I would never get married and never have kids. You see how well I stuck to that one. Good thing I know a stupid decision when I see one.
5. I never intended on becoming an Assistant Principal. When Mike was pushed to start the A.P. program so that he could take over from his soon-to-retire boss, I joined him to get the credits (for salary purposes) and keep him company. Before Mike could step into his bosses job, his boss passed away. Since Mike was not yet certified, the job went to someone else. At the same time my friend and mentor started asking me when I would have my certification because she would not retire until I was ready to step into her job. And there you go.
I tag Ann, Cookie, Dave, Susan and Debbie!
1. In college I flirted with becoming far more religiously observant then I am now. I saw Judaism as an anchor in a storm and spent my first two years in college taking refuge in the Hillel House at George Washington University. During the end of my sophomore year I deepened a friendship that had existed on a very superficial level with the man who is now known as Papa Squid. When I transfered colleges a few months later, I did not find the same community at the Cornell Hillel house as I had at G.W. and my path towards a very observant life ended. My anchor then took the very real and very solid form of the Love of My Life, Papa Squid.
2. For years I thought that I did not have the right personality to become a teacher despite the fact that it was what I always wanted to be. This stemmed from a misinterpretation of a comment from someone I love and respect. Years later when I was looking at leaving graduate school and going into teaching I mentioned this to the person in question who replied that she meant the lower grades, not the upper ones that I wanted to teach. She thought I'd be great with older kids. I concurred and here I am.
3. I am inexplicably afraid of doctors. I even get nervous calling to make an appointment for an annual check-up for any one of us. My mother-in-law used to enable me in this fear by occasionally calling the pediatrician when one of the kids was sick. Just the fact that she was willing to do this gave me the courage to make the call and deal with it. This is not a disabling fear -- I did go for a well-Mama appointment just yesterday and the kids get taken at least once a year for check-ups as well as the, fortunately, rare sick-kid visits. I used to try to palm off all kid-related doctor appointments on Papa Squid but have almost stopped doing it. Basically I have acknowledged that I have a problem and am handling it in a mature manner.
4. I once swore that I would never get married and never have kids. You see how well I stuck to that one. Good thing I know a stupid decision when I see one.
5. I never intended on becoming an Assistant Principal. When Mike was pushed to start the A.P. program so that he could take over from his soon-to-retire boss, I joined him to get the credits (for salary purposes) and keep him company. Before Mike could step into his bosses job, his boss passed away. Since Mike was not yet certified, the job went to someone else. At the same time my friend and mentor started asking me when I would have my certification because she would not retire until I was ready to step into her job. And there you go.
I tag Ann, Cookie, Dave, Susan and Debbie!
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Oh My!
19 young ladies today. I am and was floored both figuratively and literally. Literally, because there is barely enough room in my office for 3 other people, let alone 19 so we took it to the hallway and sat ... on the floor. I moved from group to group and at least one other staff member pitched in, teaching some of the girls how to cast on using the backward loop method (I tend to teach long-tail.) Most of the kids were new to our sport and took to it like fish to water. Some of the "older" kids taught groups of newbies and everyone had successfully cast on and was actually knitting by the time I kicked them out. A few more have learned to purl and bind off so they are slowly enlarging their skill set. There are now well over 30 blocks on the wall and I have hopes that by next weekend we will have enough for me to put the first blanket together.
A huge Thank You to Debbie whose donation of needles was the only thing that stood between my teaching and my turning kids away today. I had picked up another 5 pair on Friday but with 19 knitters ... at least 10 of them new ... I immediately ran out of medium sized needles. I will have to give a shout out to the kids for a return of materials from those who have given up so that others can learn.
(The blocks have been rearranged and are now overlapping in order to fit them all on the board.)
(The blocks have been rearranged and are now overlapping in order to fit them all on the board.)In other news ... on Friday, I received this:
Today, I received this:
My New Bike!!! It will be assembled by the ever capable Papa Squid sometime before Sunday.
Monday, December 11, 2006
The Cage ...
We are not cruel and unusual parents. O.k., maybe unusual but not cruel! I'm not sure how the cage wound up being a running joke but it there it is. I passed on Elizabeth's suggestion of a hook from the ceiling but Papa Squid pointed out that our ceilings are too low. So, the cage it is. (Yes, Cookie, he is a nice young man but he is also a monster! A cute monster, kind of like Cookie Monster. Matter of fact he is a lot like Cookie Monster. But not blue and not furry (yet).)
Today I was thrilled to receive a huge package from Debbie! Included were lots yarn and needles for my kids at school and presents for me and the squidlings. The presents have been set aside for the start of Chanuckah in a few days. Thank you, Debbie! I promise pictures when we open them.
The O'neill Building deserves a proper photo on the blog but it will wait until the scaffolding is all gone. It is a beautiful structure and they are putting back two golden domes that were removed a long, long time ago. The first dome is up and glows wonderfully in the sun. Papa Squid and I will do our best to photograph it over the winter break. The developers have done a wonderful job of renovating the Ladies Mile buildings. These were the grand old department stores back when our neighborhood was Uptown.
I am feeling mostly better today and hope this lasts. Its been a long time since a cold has taken over my body for this long. Blah!
And at last, a picture for today -- proof that my odder creations get worn.
Today I was thrilled to receive a huge package from Debbie! Included were lots yarn and needles for my kids at school and presents for me and the squidlings. The presents have been set aside for the start of Chanuckah in a few days. Thank you, Debbie! I promise pictures when we open them.
The O'neill Building deserves a proper photo on the blog but it will wait until the scaffolding is all gone. It is a beautiful structure and they are putting back two golden domes that were removed a long, long time ago. The first dome is up and glows wonderfully in the sun. Papa Squid and I will do our best to photograph it over the winter break. The developers have done a wonderful job of renovating the Ladies Mile buildings. These were the grand old department stores back when our neighborhood was Uptown.
I am feeling mostly better today and hope this lasts. Its been a long time since a cold has taken over my body for this long. Blah!
And at last, a picture for today -- proof that my odder creations get worn.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Where to Put the Cage?
Here I am, minding my own business, when all of a sudden I am asked, quiet seriously -- "if you move your spinning wheel ... (I look up) and I move some books, we could put the cage there for Little Squid." Given that we have been redecorating again today -- two shelves put up so far -- I figured that the question would be serious. Squidette immediately yells for Little Squid and whines that we are discussing putting a cage in the corner for him. I counter with "no, I want to put it on the terrace."
He'd prefer it in the corner.
That's all I have for you. My cold is still wiping me out and after 4 hours in the synagogue learning about Bat Mitzvah preparations I was not good for anything. For the curious, the event is still 21 months away. And yes, the 4 hour were actually worthwhile and I did not feel like my time had been wasted. I also now have a new appreciation for our Rabbi.
Squidette wound up somewhat saddened as a friend we had not seen in a long time asked after Grandma. She didn't know that Grandma was no longer with us. While it has been over a year, we still feel it pretty keenly when someone brings it up. I could use a parental hug right now. (My folks have been calling to check up on my cold every day which makes me feel loved but sometimes you just need a hug.)
The session also brought up some interesting issues regarding honors and such and all sorts of ways that we could insult (both intentionally and inadvertently) lots and lots of people. Oh Joy.
I think I will go snuffle my way through the bagel cutting now and head off to bed a bit early. No, the mittens are not finished but the new baby blanket is started and I am almost ready to start the heel flap on Little Squid's new sock.
And last, a kind of random image. Please tell me that you interpret the url on this sign the same way I do ...
He'd prefer it in the corner.
That's all I have for you. My cold is still wiping me out and after 4 hours in the synagogue learning about Bat Mitzvah preparations I was not good for anything. For the curious, the event is still 21 months away. And yes, the 4 hour were actually worthwhile and I did not feel like my time had been wasted. I also now have a new appreciation for our Rabbi.
Squidette wound up somewhat saddened as a friend we had not seen in a long time asked after Grandma. She didn't know that Grandma was no longer with us. While it has been over a year, we still feel it pretty keenly when someone brings it up. I could use a parental hug right now. (My folks have been calling to check up on my cold every day which makes me feel loved but sometimes you just need a hug.)
The session also brought up some interesting issues regarding honors and such and all sorts of ways that we could insult (both intentionally and inadvertently) lots and lots of people. Oh Joy.
I think I will go snuffle my way through the bagel cutting now and head off to bed a bit early. No, the mittens are not finished but the new baby blanket is started and I am almost ready to start the heel flap on Little Squid's new sock.
And last, a kind of random image. Please tell me that you interpret the url on this sign the same way I do ...
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Slow Saturday
I really want to knit myself a purple scarf to go with my new grey wool coat. The lovely young lady who shepards Little Squid home from school, however, has expressed that she needs mittens. This means that the mitts that I knit for her are now mine. Normally I could easily knock out a plain pair of mittens in 3 days. This has not happened. I got the first one finished except for the thumb, had Squidette try it on and determined that it was too small for the giftee. I then cast on 3 more times before I settled on going up just one size in Ann Budd's Handy Book of Patterns. By the way, thanks Dave for pointing out that the purpose of the elastic in this book is to keep one's place. I was kind of stupid that way and kept having to leaf through the book to find my page. (The original mitten has been set aside, not frogged, and will eventually get a mate -- probably a spare pair for Little Squid.)
Anyhow, I am once again working on the mittens and swear that I will not start anything for myself until they are done. There is also the matter of a pair of mittens promised to a certain sister. When these are done I will weigh them and determine if darling sister's mittens require a purchase of yarn. (I have half a ball in the right color.) If so ... then she will wait a smidge longer until I get back to Knitty City to get another ball. If not ... then I will cast on and maybe she will get them before she goes back to school for the next semester. Since her birthday is not until March, I figure I have a fair amount of leeway.
We spent much of today at Ikea and actually managed to obtain everything we set out to get. Little Squid now has a new rug for his room, Papa Squid got the small piece of furniture on which to pile things near our bathroom and shelves to go over his desk.
Anyhow, I am once again working on the mittens and swear that I will not start anything for myself until they are done. There is also the matter of a pair of mittens promised to a certain sister. When these are done I will weigh them and determine if darling sister's mittens require a purchase of yarn. (I have half a ball in the right color.) If so ... then she will wait a smidge longer until I get back to Knitty City to get another ball. If not ... then I will cast on and maybe she will get them before she goes back to school for the next semester. Since her birthday is not until March, I figure I have a fair amount of leeway.
We spent much of today at Ikea and actually managed to obtain everything we set out to get. Little Squid now has a new rug for his room, Papa Squid got the small piece of furniture on which to pile things near our bathroom and shelves to go over his desk.
Recently Papa Squid began to work on this place to make it look a little more finished. Given that we never finished painting this summer, it is taking some work. Pictures were hung, shelves were purchased and Herman was placed.
Some of my tea pots. The four on the right-hand shelf were given to me by my mother-in-law. From left to right they were obtained during her travels in: China, Italy, Turkey and the Christmas Tree shop. The tea pots on the left shelf (left to right): craft fair here in NYC, Quebec City, my sister-in-law and London. Yes, almost all of my tea pots have a story behind them. There are more of them but they are not yet on obvious display.
Herman and friends.
Some of my tea pots. The four on the right-hand shelf were given to me by my mother-in-law. From left to right they were obtained during her travels in: China, Italy, Turkey and the Christmas Tree shop. The tea pots on the left shelf (left to right): craft fair here in NYC, Quebec City, my sister-in-law and London. Yes, almost all of my tea pots have a story behind them. There are more of them but they are not yet on obvious display.
Herman and friends. Friday, December 08, 2006
Wow!
As I finally ventured forth to get the yarn for the long-promised baby blanket, I decided to check my mail box first. After all, who knew?
Who knew is right! Look what I found!
Chanuckah towels that apparently jumped out at Susan found their way to New York and jumped out of my mailbox. I love them and promise to use them once the holiday starts in a week. Thank you, Susan!
Then, after I thought all possibility of bigger packages was done for the day, the doorbell rings and it is USPS with my Sock-ret pal Angel package!
Debbie, you out did yourself.
Included in the package is KnitPicks yarn in a self-striping colorway, purple Cascade 220 (I think I have a vest in mind for this), sockie needle point protectors, an adorable notebook, stationary, a calendar, pens and sparkly pencils, a paw print tape measure, magnets and some other swag that my poor cold-adeled brain can't recall right not. Thank you so much Debbie! The pack of tissues is already in my jacket pocket ready for my non-stop runny nose. *grin*
Two packages in one day. I feel so special!
Who knew is right! Look what I found!
Chanuckah towels that apparently jumped out at Susan found their way to New York and jumped out of my mailbox. I love them and promise to use them once the holiday starts in a week. Thank you, Susan!Then, after I thought all possibility of bigger packages was done for the day, the doorbell rings and it is USPS with my Sock-ret pal Angel package!
Debbie, you out did yourself. Included in the package is KnitPicks yarn in a self-striping colorway, purple Cascade 220 (I think I have a vest in mind for this), sockie needle point protectors, an adorable notebook, stationary, a calendar, pens and sparkly pencils, a paw print tape measure, magnets and some other swag that my poor cold-adeled brain can't recall right not. Thank you so much Debbie! The pack of tissues is already in my jacket pocket ready for my non-stop runny nose. *grin*
Two packages in one day. I feel so special!
It's here!!!
Good bye old sofa -- you served us well.
Hello New!By the way, all of our memories are the pits. Squidette remembered it as being blue, I remembered it as being more burgandy and it is ... beige. Which makes perfect sense since we are awful when it comes to committing to color. It does have burgandy, gold and green in the swirls so those will be what I look for when I go shopping for the yarn for a new sofa blanket.
Now to take that nap I was talking about!
Saga of the Squirrel: Act 3
(I figure I can be productive while I am waiting for the couch so ... here you go.)
Saga of the Squirrel: Act 3
When I returned I found my office under siege. Apparently a squirrel had entered the office to my east and the occupants had chased it into my office and cornered it there.
Now remember -- my windows were CLOSED so there was no way out for this guy.
on to open the lower sash. Stymied, we stood there for a while.
The trap stays, baited, under my desk. Just in case.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
The Best Laid Plans
Plan for tomorrow:
1. Get up before the crack of dawn.
2. Wake kids up shortly after before the crack of dawn.
3. Drag sleepy kids uptown to friends house for drop off by 7:00 a.m.
4. Rush back home for couch delivery.
5. Wait for couch.
6. Wait for couch.
7. Wait for couch. (Couch is due between 8 and 10 a.m.)
8. Accept delivery of couch and bribe nice gentlemen to take old couch to garbage room.
9. Put living room back in order.
10. Collapse on new couch and sleep, sleep, sleep.
11. Wake up, eat lunch, go back to sleep.
12. Pick up kids from school.
What do you think? Other then the morning rush and the strain of waiting (and the strain of having totally forgotten what this thing is supposed to look like) there is nothing else and I refuse to put anything else there. If some knitting or spinning gets done, wonderful. If a closet gets straightened -- then I've lost my mind.
I need to sleep. This cold has been dragging me down for 4 days now and I need this day.
1. Get up before the crack of dawn.
2. Wake kids up shortly after before the crack of dawn.
3. Drag sleepy kids uptown to friends house for drop off by 7:00 a.m.
4. Rush back home for couch delivery.
5. Wait for couch.
6. Wait for couch.
7. Wait for couch. (Couch is due between 8 and 10 a.m.)
8. Accept delivery of couch and bribe nice gentlemen to take old couch to garbage room.
9. Put living room back in order.
10. Collapse on new couch and sleep, sleep, sleep.
11. Wake up, eat lunch, go back to sleep.
12. Pick up kids from school.
What do you think? Other then the morning rush and the strain of waiting (and the strain of having totally forgotten what this thing is supposed to look like) there is nothing else and I refuse to put anything else there. If some knitting or spinning gets done, wonderful. If a closet gets straightened -- then I've lost my mind.
I need to sleep. This cold has been dragging me down for 4 days now and I need this day.
Some Answers
For those of you in the know, my first Sock-ret pal was a bit on the slow side. I am sure she meant well but the end of the first sending period came and went and nothing was sent. The powers-that-be (Rachel) intervened and I was gifted with both an Angel and a second sock-ret pal (known known as Socky the Second). Socky the Second asked some questions earlier so I figure I will answer them before I go to work.
First, do you really want solids? I too am drawn to the siren song of variegated yarn and I too feel I should invest in more solids. So do you REALLY want solids or would you rather stay on the dangerous path that is lovely variegated yarn? It's alright, you can be honest, it won't go beyond me, you, and everyone who reads the comments on your blog.
Actually, no. I really want variegated. I love seeing how the colors swirl and change.
Second, Elizabeth Peters (love her, LOVE HER), do you have a particular series you prefer? Just curious.
I just finished listening to the Amelia Peabody series and have only spot tasted her other stuff but I have liked it all. The Amelia books are so much my faves that I have been known to read and listen to them and then relisten when I could not decide on a new audio book.
Third- er- third...um, seems wrong not to have a third, doesn't it? But, really, your site, fantastically informative. So I guess, for now, it's the two.
Why thank you. I try to be amusing and informative.
Do you mind to post answers here? Or in posts, you know, I'm not sockticular.
Actually, I mind very much. *grin*
Best inky wishes,
Socky the Second
(Squids are inky, right? Not just octupus? Or was that a really sad example of my high school biology learnin'?)
Yes, Squid are inky. You can even buy canned squid in their own ink. No kidding. We, however, in the Squid-Knit family are not inky unless our pens are leaking ... or unless we adorn ourselves with Bobs. But that's another story. Time to go to work.
First, do you really want solids? I too am drawn to the siren song of variegated yarn and I too feel I should invest in more solids. So do you REALLY want solids or would you rather stay on the dangerous path that is lovely variegated yarn? It's alright, you can be honest, it won't go beyond me, you, and everyone who reads the comments on your blog.
Actually, no. I really want variegated. I love seeing how the colors swirl and change.
Second, Elizabeth Peters (love her, LOVE HER), do you have a particular series you prefer? Just curious.
I just finished listening to the Amelia Peabody series and have only spot tasted her other stuff but I have liked it all. The Amelia books are so much my faves that I have been known to read and listen to them and then relisten when I could not decide on a new audio book.
Third- er- third...um, seems wrong not to have a third, doesn't it? But, really, your site, fantastically informative. So I guess, for now, it's the two.
Why thank you. I try to be amusing and informative.
Do you mind to post answers here? Or in posts, you know, I'm not sockticular.
Actually, I mind very much. *grin*
Best inky wishes,
Socky the Second
(Squids are inky, right? Not just octupus? Or was that a really sad example of my high school biology learnin'?)
Yes, Squid are inky. You can even buy canned squid in their own ink. No kidding. We, however, in the Squid-Knit family are not inky unless our pens are leaking ... or unless we adorn ourselves with Bobs. But that's another story. Time to go to work.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Teens Knitting: An Even Dozen
The knitting club has finally reached critical mass. There are now young ladies stopping by my office at all hours looking for yarn and instruction. It has been a long time since things have been this way and I must say that I missed it. If I am going to fully understand why I do what I do then I have to be surrounded by my "clients," the kids in our school. The knitting club had taken a back seat to other responsibilities, both work related and personal, and I lost touch with the average kid. Today I realized that I have finally gained back the critical mass of kids that makes this such a wonderful endeavor.
Last week we moved the group in to a near by, larger, office. My friend was out of the building and I figured that she would not mind. (She didn't.) Yesterday, when my office started overflowing, we were invited next door where a dozen young ladies sat knitting and learning to knit while the my friend sat and worked at her desk.
Periodically, one or another would get up and go in to my office to get a different yarn but for the most part they sat quietly chatting in while helping each other out. One young lady is trying to knit mitts for herself, another is making a bright, striped, scarf and most of the rest are working on the blanket blocks shown above. As of this morning we had 22 blocks. Warm Up America calls for 49 blocks per blanket so we are well on our way. My goal is to get this done with fewer than half being made by me. Since only one, so far, is mine, it looks like we will do it! Meanwhile, I am knitting two small blocks together to make a double sized block and have to even out another with an interesting shape. I also have to buy more pins to put the blocks up on the wall.
Monday, December 04, 2006
The Enforcer!
That's me! I am the gal who enforces the rules as set forth by the Powers that Be. Today I enforced the regulation regarding Holiday displays. Notice that Holiday is capitalized as per my newly adopted faith, that of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. I had already adopted the "Pirates vs. Global Warming" hypothesis (it makes a good point of how statistics can be bent to ones own purposes) so it was only a short hop to full fledged Pastafarianism. As of tomorrow I am going to display an empty box of Ronzoni in my office in celebration of the Holiday. I'm pretty sure that no one can object unless it attracts mice.
Since Pastafarianism is a laid back, accept all, kind of thing, I also feel free to commemorate a military victory and it's associated miracle which occurred over 2000 years ago. Remind me to show you a picture of my way cool menorah sometime during this celebration two weeks from now.
Meanwhile I will refrain on commenting on the Sock-ret pal issues (scroll down to see Rachel's posts) except to point out that there is a reason I have not thanked anyone for a package in the last 2 months. Thank you to Rachel and Dani for working out the problems. I swear here and publicaly that I will NEVER stand up a swap partner!!! Thank you to the people who have stepped up to the plate as angels and second pals!!!
Since Pastafarianism is a laid back, accept all, kind of thing, I also feel free to commemorate a military victory and it's associated miracle which occurred over 2000 years ago. Remind me to show you a picture of my way cool menorah sometime during this celebration two weeks from now.
Meanwhile I will refrain on commenting on the Sock-ret pal issues (scroll down to see Rachel's posts) except to point out that there is a reason I have not thanked anyone for a package in the last 2 months. Thank you to Rachel and Dani for working out the problems. I swear here and publicaly that I will NEVER stand up a swap partner!!! Thank you to the people who have stepped up to the plate as angels and second pals!!!
It's Not Christmas Yet
Earlier, but not early enough, KnittyOtter asked me to take my camera with me on my walk to midtown when I went to resupply myself with cosmetics. Oops! I had meant to take the camera to give you all a taste of NYC during the holiday season -- the store windows and such -- but I was in such a rush to beat the crowds and claim my makeup bonus that I forgot the camera. Besides, without snow it is not quite as nice.
So, in an effort to make it up to my favorite Otter, I present some of the unusual bits of my neighborhood and NYC in general as captured during a later trip out with Squidette to get some boxes for holiday cookies.
In Manhattan there are no large lots to set up for Christmas tree sales so we get these sidewalk stands that tend to pop up the day after Thanksgiving.
Yes, this one has been there for a week already. They eat up half the sidewalk but I kind of like them because they add such a lovely smell to the overly polluted air. When it snows, they are positively lovely.
We just stumbled across this firehouse. I know I have passed it before but I do not think I've ever noticed it during the holiday season.
There were actually two of these trees and the picture does not do it justice. The tree is covered in silk flowers like the bundle pictured at the bottom. We chose this one to pose the hand coverings on.
KnittyOtter kind of guilted me in to hiding some ends before I went out. I say some ends because I did the ends on each of one of the 3 pairs of hand coverings available. (Actually the single glove ends were already hidden but those on its mate are not). Yes, the mates are still waiting for their ends to be hidden and a snake scarf is waiting for it's eyes and tongue.
So, in an effort to make it up to my favorite Otter, I present some of the unusual bits of my neighborhood and NYC in general as captured during a later trip out with Squidette to get some boxes for holiday cookies.
In Manhattan there are no large lots to set up for Christmas tree sales so we get these sidewalk stands that tend to pop up the day after Thanksgiving.
Yes, this one has been there for a week already. They eat up half the sidewalk but I kind of like them because they add such a lovely smell to the overly polluted air. When it snows, they are positively lovely.
We just stumbled across this firehouse. I know I have passed it before but I do not think I've ever noticed it during the holiday season.
There were actually two of these trees and the picture does not do it justice. The tree is covered in silk flowers like the bundle pictured at the bottom. We chose this one to pose the hand coverings on.
KnittyOtter kind of guilted me in to hiding some ends before I went out. I say some ends because I did the ends on each of one of the 3 pairs of hand coverings available. (Actually the single glove ends were already hidden but those on its mate are not). Yes, the mates are still waiting for their ends to be hidden and a snake scarf is waiting for it's eyes and tongue.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Lazy Weekend
For those waiting for the outcome to the latest Act in the Saga of the Squirrel ... it is rather lame ... he appears to have found his way out of the building. At least that is what we think. The exterminator did come back and set up a Hav-a-Heart trap early on Friday but it was still empty by the time I left for the day. If it is empty tomorrow we will call this tale closed.
Meanwhile I have been so wiped out this week that I have not even started editing Act 3 of the Saga so you will have to wait a bit for it. Hey, good things come to those who wait. Right?
I have been very productive on the knitting front but since ends are not yet hidden and it is still totally dark here, there are no photos for now. Maybe tomorrow.
All of the planned holiday gifts are done. 2 teacher scarves, 1 pair of mitts (my own design) for the third teacher (I got bored of scarves), 1 pair of Fetching for our Little Squid transit person (babysitter just sounds wrong), the Violin teacher gauntlets and socks for my boss. Maybe I will make one or two more gifts but none are planned for now. Instead I am back to trying to finish some of you UFOs and I will finally buy the yarn for and start the last baby blanket that I owe. I also owe the kid sister mittens and a hat but hey, her birthday isn't until March so I have time.
We did get a new fan / light for Little Squid. Lowes had some really cool ones and this new one would look better in a living room or such but it is what he wanted and the price was in our range. We will hook it this afternoon. Yes, I will take pictures -- exciting, no?
I also have more Knitting Club tales but since I didn't post it last week I will give double -- and pictures of the blanket in progress (15 blocks so far) this week.
Otherwise my big plans for the day involve laundry and the purchase of make-up which will involve a trip into Midtown and a department store during the holiday season. Yes, I am nuts but I will also not make it through the month with what I have and hey, they have a Bonus!
Meanwhile I have been so wiped out this week that I have not even started editing Act 3 of the Saga so you will have to wait a bit for it. Hey, good things come to those who wait. Right?
I have been very productive on the knitting front but since ends are not yet hidden and it is still totally dark here, there are no photos for now. Maybe tomorrow.
All of the planned holiday gifts are done. 2 teacher scarves, 1 pair of mitts (my own design) for the third teacher (I got bored of scarves), 1 pair of Fetching for our Little Squid transit person (babysitter just sounds wrong), the Violin teacher gauntlets and socks for my boss. Maybe I will make one or two more gifts but none are planned for now. Instead I am back to trying to finish some of you UFOs and I will finally buy the yarn for and start the last baby blanket that I owe. I also owe the kid sister mittens and a hat but hey, her birthday isn't until March so I have time.
We did get a new fan / light for Little Squid. Lowes had some really cool ones and this new one would look better in a living room or such but it is what he wanted and the price was in our range. We will hook it this afternoon. Yes, I will take pictures -- exciting, no?
I also have more Knitting Club tales but since I didn't post it last week I will give double -- and pictures of the blanket in progress (15 blocks so far) this week.
Otherwise my big plans for the day involve laundry and the purchase of make-up which will involve a trip into Midtown and a department store during the holiday season. Yes, I am nuts but I will also not make it through the month with what I have and hey, they have a Bonus!
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Giving Thanks for the Stash
November is now over and the stats are in: yarn used -- 13 units, yarn gained -- 2 units. Net loss -- 11 units! (A unit is a ball or skein of any weight.) Items completed: Sock-ret pal socks (1 unit), baby blankie (4 units), teacher scarf (4 units -- balled and multistranded from a large cone of lace weight merino -- balls were roughly 40 grams a piece), Violin gauntlets (2 units), Fetching (zero units -- there is still enough yarn to make a third mitt). There is still one teacher scarf in progress that has already used 2 units. I am going to continue trying to use more then I acquire for the month of December. I do acknowledge that I will have to get three skeins of something bulky and baby friendly so I can finally give my friend his baby blankie.
Now, since the previous paragraph was totally boring, I present:
And as for the Squirrel Update: He appears to have found his way out of the building or at least out of the display case. I am really bummed that we were never able to get a picture of him. Every time I entered the lobby, he was hiding. Apparently he did give a good show for our students -- kind of like having a mini zoo in the lobby. I will work on editing Act 3 over the weekend for posting during a slow news day next week.
Now, since the previous paragraph was totally boring, I present:
Violin Gauntlets modeled on the lovely arms of Squidette. A gift for our wonderful Violin teacher who cannot wear wool.
Pattern: my own riff on Fetching using one fewer repeats, cables crossing on different rows and much length.
Yarn: Reynolds Tiara Silk and Viscose purchased many years ago at the annual Smiley's hotel sale (which I am passing on this year)
Pattern: my own riff on Fetching using one fewer repeats, cables crossing on different rows and much length.
Yarn: Reynolds Tiara Silk and Viscose purchased many years ago at the annual Smiley's hotel sale (which I am passing on this year)
And as for the Squirrel Update: He appears to have found his way out of the building or at least out of the display case. I am really bummed that we were never able to get a picture of him. Every time I entered the lobby, he was hiding. Apparently he did give a good show for our students -- kind of like having a mini zoo in the lobby. I will work on editing Act 3 over the weekend for posting during a slow news day next week.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Saga of the Squirrel: A New Tale
So far the Squirrel Saga Acts that you have read are several years old. Today's tale is fresh ... so fresh that it does not yet have an ending.
And here we go ...
This morning as I am slowly getting my act together and putting away my coat, purse, etc., a teacher comes in and asks "have they caught the squirrel yet?"
I look at her blankly. "Squirrel, what squirrel," I say with confusion in my voice, thinking that it was a rather strange coincidence since I had just posted Act 2 last night.
"The squirrel in the showcase," she responds, matter of factly.
"Explain, please," I respond, still confused.
Apparently she had been working on the two showcases in the lobby yesterday -- yes, I remember her scraping tape off the glass -- when all of a sudden the kids noticed a squirrel in one of them. Seeing the kids, the squirrel scampered up and perched on top of the light where it seems to have stayed all night.
As of this morning it was still on the light where I saw it's beady eyes with my own narrowed gaze. It was sighted periodically throughout the day today.
While the cases were open on and off all day yesterday, there was always a person in them and they would have noticed a squirrel flying by. It seems, however, that there is considerable open space along much of our electrical conduits and this guy somehow got into this open space and found his way to the display case from the inside. Mice have also, apparently, found their way into the case on occasion as evidence on the bottom of the case suggests. Our friend has emptied it's bladder at least once during its captivity. We have no idea how he got in to the walls of the building.
Pest control has been called and at least one Hav-a-Heart trap will be on hand by morning.
This is a true story. I can't make this stuff up. My imagination just does not run to squirrels in showcases.
May your day not involve wildlife where it should not be.
This post is the sole property of Devorah Zamansky and may not be copied without permission.
And here we go ...
This morning as I am slowly getting my act together and putting away my coat, purse, etc., a teacher comes in and asks "have they caught the squirrel yet?"
I look at her blankly. "Squirrel, what squirrel," I say with confusion in my voice, thinking that it was a rather strange coincidence since I had just posted Act 2 last night.
"The squirrel in the showcase," she responds, matter of factly.
"Explain, please," I respond, still confused.
Apparently she had been working on the two showcases in the lobby yesterday -- yes, I remember her scraping tape off the glass -- when all of a sudden the kids noticed a squirrel in one of them. Seeing the kids, the squirrel scampered up and perched on top of the light where it seems to have stayed all night.
As of this morning it was still on the light where I saw it's beady eyes with my own narrowed gaze. It was sighted periodically throughout the day today.
While the cases were open on and off all day yesterday, there was always a person in them and they would have noticed a squirrel flying by. It seems, however, that there is considerable open space along much of our electrical conduits and this guy somehow got into this open space and found his way to the display case from the inside. Mice have also, apparently, found their way into the case on occasion as evidence on the bottom of the case suggests. Our friend has emptied it's bladder at least once during its captivity. We have no idea how he got in to the walls of the building.
Pest control has been called and at least one Hav-a-Heart trap will be on hand by morning.
This is a true story. I can't make this stuff up. My imagination just does not run to squirrels in showcases.
May your day not involve wildlife where it should not be.
This post is the sole property of Devorah Zamansky and may not be copied without permission.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Saga of the Squirrel: Act 2
Setting: My office which has the usual four walls but with doors in both the northern and eastern walls leading to other offices. The Southern wall is entirely taken up with radiators and windows. The Western wall is taken up with old fashioned built-in floor to way-high (not ceiling) cabinets. There is no way to directly access my office from the hallway.
And so on to our tale …
So, there I was, minding my own business, bopping around the building and in and
out of the offices actually getting things accomplished. I had left the top sash of my window open a little because unlike much of the school, my office is rather overheated.
Now, I rarely open my bottom sash and when I do I only open it a crack because
squirrels seem to love our school. On this day the bottom sash was not open because even though my office was hot, I did not need a 20 degree breeze across my keyboard.
After finishing my stroll of the facilities, I returned to my office where I noticed a squirrel on my window sill -- inside. Normally this is not a big deal but as I said, the bottom sash was not open and the upper sash was a good 8 feet up from the window sill. I momentarily panicked – after all, I had to get to the window in order to open it to let the squirrel out. My secretary closed the door from my office to her office and I closed the door from my office to the adjacent office. I then retrieved a window pole from
another room and set out to enter my office from my secretary's office. I
figured I would use the pole to push the window open from the bottom without getting too close to the now panicked squirrel.
In the meantime the squirrel was running around the room jumping desperately in an effort to get out through the top sash. There were no curtains on the outer windows and the shades offered only a slippery surface for the squirrel’s sharp claws. Returning with the window pole I put my face to the window just as the squirrel gave a flying jump AT
the door and caught itself, briefly, on my door curtain. What I saw was squirrel
belly and claws -- my face was protected by mere millimeters of 60 year old glass. Yes, I know I was on the other side but I have to admit that I screamed.
At that point a braver teacher than I observed the situation and cooing “poor squirrel” opened the door, calmly walked to the window and opened it. The squirrel left as fast as it could and we closed all the windows.
For days afterwards my office stank of scared squirrel.
Ironically enough, there was a squirrel trap in my office. (Hav-a-heart if you care.) However, since it was in my office I couldn't get it and this squirrel, unlike the one we bought the trap for (act 1) WANTED to leave.
The image of squirrel belly flying at my face is one I will never forget.
The contents of this post are the sole property of Devorah Zamansky and may not be reproduced without permission.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Happy Birthday Sis the Elder!
*** THANK YOU for all your wonderful birthday wishes!!!***
I'm not joking you. My sister's birthday is the day after mine. She is X years and 364 days older then me. (Hey, I shared my age, I'm not sharing hers.)
Doesn't she look like the younger sister?!
Doesn't she look like the younger sister?!Having siblings so separated in age is interesting. I think that we have to work harder to be friends because, growing up, our ages very much defined what we could do.
Over the years we have shared confidences, joys and sorrows. As my only older sibling she is and has always been a role model for me. I watched as she went off to college and had what seemed to be a rip-roaring time while getting grades that set the standard for the rest of us.
Sis also set the standard for how to build an adult life -- an example that we have all learned from and turned to our advantage. It is always a good thing to have someone pave the way.
In the last few months our roles have been somewhat reversed and it has been kind of cool to be the more experienced sibling when it comes to our kids. Watching her turn in to a mom has been a wonderful experience.
As a human being, my older sister is kind, intelligent, humorous and an all-around great gal. I am so glad to have her both as a sister and as a friend.
Happy Birthday Sis!
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