I do not usually do this but today's Ten on Tuesday fits perfectly!
Ten Things to Bring on Vacation:
1. Bike Shorts -- standard black with good padding. (Pearl Izumi for the gals and Mike, Performance for Little Squid.)
2. Bike Jerseys -- Velowear in yellow and red with our Squid on Wheels logo ironed on. (Velowear is not our favorite but is the only brand easily and inexpensively obtainable in four different sizes at once.)
3. Knitting -- socks for this trip -- enough yarn for 3 pair. Yes, I am overly fearful of having too much knitting time.
4. Geocaching swag (mini socks for us)
5. Maps, guide books and more maps
6. Nuun! (and the water bottles to go with it)
7. Ebooks! Lots of books in a very compact package. No fear of running out of reading material on this trip.
8. Easily schelped games for summer evenings -- Quiddler and Set.
9. Folding Bicycles. Can't have a bike trip without the bikes.
10. The rest of the family. 'Cause it just wouldn't be as much fun without them!
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Monday, August 02, 2010
No Cycling Miles but some Knitting
No miles today but lots of packing and a little knitting.
Several weeks ago I started a Pi Shawl using some pretty purple-grey handspun. My goal was to just knit and knit until the yarn ran out. When I started what I thought would be the last round before the edging, I started racing the yarn. You know (at least the knitters do), knitting faster and faster in hopes of getting to the end of the row before running out of yarn.
I was doing this while sitting on a bed in a hotel in Pittsburgh. On the other bed was my sister, frantically crocheting as if her life depended on it, trying to finish a baby blanket before our nephew's bris the next day.
When I got to the end of the row, I had about 18 inches worth of yarn left. Phew!
My sister finished her crocheting about the same time and, it an act of true sisterhood, I helped her hide the ends.
The next morning I started the edging. And the same scenario (the yarn race) played itself out yesterday as I did the laundry. This time I lost with several inches of edging still to be knit.
Did I lose it? Did I throw a tantrum? No, I calmly (really) took a smaller needle and started reknitting the edging from the dangling end. I'm really hoping that this works!
If you came here today looking for miles, come back on Thursday.
Several weeks ago I started a Pi Shawl using some pretty purple-grey handspun. My goal was to just knit and knit until the yarn ran out. When I started what I thought would be the last round before the edging, I started racing the yarn. You know (at least the knitters do), knitting faster and faster in hopes of getting to the end of the row before running out of yarn.
I was doing this while sitting on a bed in a hotel in Pittsburgh. On the other bed was my sister, frantically crocheting as if her life depended on it, trying to finish a baby blanket before our nephew's bris the next day.
When I got to the end of the row, I had about 18 inches worth of yarn left. Phew!
My sister finished her crocheting about the same time and, it an act of true sisterhood, I helped her hide the ends.
The next morning I started the edging. And the same scenario (the yarn race) played itself out yesterday as I did the laundry. This time I lost with several inches of edging still to be knit.
Did I lose it? Did I throw a tantrum? No, I calmly (really) took a smaller needle and started reknitting the edging from the dangling end. I'm really hoping that this works!
If you came here today looking for miles, come back on Thursday.
Sunday, August 01, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Squid on Wheels: Guess our Mileage!
After taking a brief hiatus last year, the Squid on Wheels mileage contest is back!
Guess how many miles Squid on Wheels will ride for the period encompassing January 1, 2010 through October 31, 2010. Any mileage accumulated after October 31 will count in our totals but will not count for contest purposes. (We figure that the riding season (for the kids) really ends once outdoor temperatures stay below 60 degrees.)
Closest guess will get a package of goodies tailored specifically toward that person.
So far this year we have ridden 507 miles as a family. (The term family is defined as at least one adult and both kids on the counted ride -- the adults do far more mileage just commuting to work.) There are some Squidette-alone and Little Squid-alone miles that will be mashed together and added in once school begins.
Entries are due August 30 which means that you will really only have to guess our September and October mileage. Feel free to submit initial guesses and change them any time up until the deadline. I'm curious as to what people think we can do.
Starting tomorrow, I will post whenever we ride and what the mileage is so you can keep track if you so wish. We have some nice rides planned for the month of August so if you want to stay up to date, check back frequently. There will, hopefully, be lots of small posts with pictures from interesting locations sent from my phone. I will only post the mileage once a day though there may be several blog entries in a day. (Now you kind of know the reason for all the test posts over the last month.) Those of you who are Facebook friends will see different pictures and updates since posting the same picture to both is kind of silly.
Anyone wanting a slightly different take on these rides can check out Mike's blog.
Now to just decide what knitting to take on all these rides ...
Guess how many miles Squid on Wheels will ride for the period encompassing January 1, 2010 through October 31, 2010. Any mileage accumulated after October 31 will count in our totals but will not count for contest purposes. (We figure that the riding season (for the kids) really ends once outdoor temperatures stay below 60 degrees.)
Closest guess will get a package of goodies tailored specifically toward that person.
So far this year we have ridden 507 miles as a family. (The term family is defined as at least one adult and both kids on the counted ride -- the adults do far more mileage just commuting to work.) There are some Squidette-alone and Little Squid-alone miles that will be mashed together and added in once school begins.
Entries are due August 30 which means that you will really only have to guess our September and October mileage. Feel free to submit initial guesses and change them any time up until the deadline. I'm curious as to what people think we can do.
Starting tomorrow, I will post whenever we ride and what the mileage is so you can keep track if you so wish. We have some nice rides planned for the month of August so if you want to stay up to date, check back frequently. There will, hopefully, be lots of small posts with pictures from interesting locations sent from my phone. I will only post the mileage once a day though there may be several blog entries in a day. (Now you kind of know the reason for all the test posts over the last month.) Those of you who are Facebook friends will see different pictures and updates since posting the same picture to both is kind of silly.
Anyone wanting a slightly different take on these rides can check out Mike's blog.
Now to just decide what knitting to take on all these rides ...
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Super Mommy Strikes Again
When in doubt, take a step back, give up for a little while and then try again. Me.
That's kind of been one of my mottos for a while now but tonight proved the rule.
Little Squid has been frustrated by how quickly his bike GPS eats batteries. Basically, he has to replace them (rechargeables) before every ride or risk the gadget losing power before the end of the day. He's also been a little peeved that we always go with the mileage that Squidette has on her bike computer instead of what the rest of us display on our GPSs. So, to avoid the inevitable frustration on our upcoming bike trip, we offered to get him a bike computer just like Squidette. Less technology for our techo-geek but hopefully greater accuracy. He readily agreed and we ordered post-haste.
It arrived last night but we put off the installation until this evening, guaranteeing that we'd be under pressure to have it working by tomorrow's ride.
Mike futzed with it for about half an hour, then I joined him for another half hour.
Finally, I suggested that we just pack up the blasted thing and return it and go to our local bike shop, get what they suggested and have them install it.
Then I took a break.
And then I tried again.
And got it on the first shot.
I'm feeling a little smug right now ... where's the anvil that's about to fall on my head?
That's kind of been one of my mottos for a while now but tonight proved the rule.
Little Squid has been frustrated by how quickly his bike GPS eats batteries. Basically, he has to replace them (rechargeables) before every ride or risk the gadget losing power before the end of the day. He's also been a little peeved that we always go with the mileage that Squidette has on her bike computer instead of what the rest of us display on our GPSs. So, to avoid the inevitable frustration on our upcoming bike trip, we offered to get him a bike computer just like Squidette. Less technology for our techo-geek but hopefully greater accuracy. He readily agreed and we ordered post-haste.
It arrived last night but we put off the installation until this evening, guaranteeing that we'd be under pressure to have it working by tomorrow's ride.
Mike futzed with it for about half an hour, then I joined him for another half hour.
Finally, I suggested that we just pack up the blasted thing and return it and go to our local bike shop, get what they suggested and have them install it.
Then I took a break.
And then I tried again.
And got it on the first shot.
I'm feeling a little smug right now ... where's the anvil that's about to fall on my head?
Friday, July 16, 2010
Feathers
Feathers are apparently the item of choice when out comes to wiping out an oboe.
Yesterday, my very talented son managed to get his feather stuck inside the top of his oboe. Tightly.
It took the power of a mother, who knows that her son absolutely needs his oboe for camp, to get enough of the feather out of the oboe so that the job could be finished. Imagine, if you will, Mike pulling the feather with a pair of pliers while I hung on to the oboe for dear life. We totally awed his teacher, who was convinced that we'd have to take out for repairs.
This morning I causally mentioned that little squid would need a new feather. No, I was told, his instructor gave him A new one.
This post is being written from the garden of the Manhattan School of Music where I wait for little squid to get out of camp. On my way here I saw no fewer than six feathers scattered across the bike path.
A sign?
Yet another test
Picture is my mom, my new nephew, my younger sister and my brother's cat
--
http://www.squid-knits.blogspot.com
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Mobile blogging once again
So my last attempt at mobile blogging was an epic failure. Now I'm trying it again using the real interface but on my new phone. I think it may work. That said, expect my posts to be a bit shorter and more error prone when I post things way. Proofing is not easy on the small screen. And, I'm trying to figure out how to add pictures.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
I Stole My Own Car
The day started out like any other rainy July day. I assessed the weather and decided that making Little Squid ride his bike to camp in the rain was just cruel. And, as I was in "nice mommy" mode, I decided to drive him instead of making him take the subway.
Grabbing my keys from the hook by the door, I quickly determined that there were two sets of keys attached and, that the second set MUST be my car keys.
And so it starts ...
We get to the car and I realize that the second set of keys on my ring are the keys to our bike locks, not the car. (Just goes to show how often I've driven since school let out.)
Not really wanting to go back to the apartment, I borrowed the keys that our parking lot keeps on file, promising to return them when I returned.
An uneventful trip to camp ensues and, having dropped off Little Squid, I head over to my school's summer school site to do some work. A few blocks later, my phone rings. Good, lawabiding citizen that I am, I wait until I am stopped at a light to dig it out and answer it.
It's LoJack. Telling me that my car is being moved without my authorization.
Then I see a missed call from Mike indicating that he also got the alert.
And I just start laughing! (Then I text Mike to let him know that I am actually in the car.)
(The battery in the fob on the parking attendant's set of keys had died. We knew it was old and I was intending to replace it this week after having already replaced the batteries in our sets. I've have now replaced the battery so if LoJack calls again, we'll know the car is really being stolen. Maybe.)
Grabbing my keys from the hook by the door, I quickly determined that there were two sets of keys attached and, that the second set MUST be my car keys.
And so it starts ...
We get to the car and I realize that the second set of keys on my ring are the keys to our bike locks, not the car. (Just goes to show how often I've driven since school let out.)
Not really wanting to go back to the apartment, I borrowed the keys that our parking lot keeps on file, promising to return them when I returned.
An uneventful trip to camp ensues and, having dropped off Little Squid, I head over to my school's summer school site to do some work. A few blocks later, my phone rings. Good, lawabiding citizen that I am, I wait until I am stopped at a light to dig it out and answer it.
It's LoJack. Telling me that my car is being moved without my authorization.
Then I see a missed call from Mike indicating that he also got the alert.
And I just start laughing! (Then I text Mike to let him know that I am actually in the car.)
(The battery in the fob on the parking attendant's set of keys had died. We knew it was old and I was intending to replace it this week after having already replaced the batteries in our sets. I've have now replaced the battery so if LoJack calls again, we'll know the car is really being stolen. Maybe.)
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Friday, July 09, 2010
Friday, July 02, 2010
Unwinding ... yeah, right!
I have a small problem. I can't wind down.
The last few weeks of work each spring are like a whirlwind. I get to work really early and leave no earlier than usual -- often working 10-12 hour days.
By the time I get to July 1, the official start of my summer vacation, I am so used to running on the proverbial treadmill that I can't get off.
That tends to translate into frantic cleaning of the apartment. And by cleaning, I mean scrubbing, not just straightening.
Today, for example, I got up, read my email, played some Farmville and then bleached and scrubbed all the painted surfaces in the bathroom.
Then, after waiting for the bleach smell to wear off, scraped and spackled. Took a walk with the family and picked up some supplies for my new watering system for the terrace.
Now I'm waiting for the primer to dry so I can paint it ...
I should be weaving but the loom is kind of blocked in with all the stuff that came out of the bathroom ...
I could sit and read a book ...
but I can't sit still for more than a few minutes at a time ... I think I'll set up the watering system.
(oh, and I might have done some work type work while waiting for the primer to dry ...)
The last few weeks of work each spring are like a whirlwind. I get to work really early and leave no earlier than usual -- often working 10-12 hour days.
By the time I get to July 1, the official start of my summer vacation, I am so used to running on the proverbial treadmill that I can't get off.
That tends to translate into frantic cleaning of the apartment. And by cleaning, I mean scrubbing, not just straightening.
Today, for example, I got up, read my email, played some Farmville and then bleached and scrubbed all the painted surfaces in the bathroom.
Then, after waiting for the bleach smell to wear off, scraped and spackled. Took a walk with the family and picked up some supplies for my new watering system for the terrace.
Now I'm waiting for the primer to dry so I can paint it ...
I should be weaving but the loom is kind of blocked in with all the stuff that came out of the bathroom ...
I could sit and read a book ...
but I can't sit still for more than a few minutes at a time ... I think I'll set up the watering system.
(oh, and I might have done some work type work while waiting for the primer to dry ...)
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Daughter Mine
It's been a big year for Squidette. She will complete her first year of high school in just a few days (poor kid has a final today). All indications are that it was a good one. She came out of it as she went in, a sweet, caring young lady, one who can always find the joy in life.
I could list all that she has done, but that would be bragging and I try to model how I wish my children to be -- modest about their accomplishments without downplaying them too much. Basically, shes done good. (Bad grammar intentional.)
She's a Hebrew School dropout who spent what should have been 3 Sundays a month of service with her peers, serving in her own way, in a long-term project that was more meaningful then the random ones chosen for the group.
She's a High School celebrity, handling the constant inquiries of "are you Mr. Z's daughter?" with grace and charm. Just wait until next year when many of her counterparts actually have Mike as a teacher!
She's a loving and devoted daughter, always willing to lend a hand.
She's a caring sister, willing to put up with the occasional absurdities of Little Squid.
She's a devoted friend -- who will allow her self-made study guides to be wrenched from her hands just before today's final.
She's my daughter and I am very proud to be her mother.
I could list all that she has done, but that would be bragging and I try to model how I wish my children to be -- modest about their accomplishments without downplaying them too much. Basically, shes done good. (Bad grammar intentional.)
She's a Hebrew School dropout who spent what should have been 3 Sundays a month of service with her peers, serving in her own way, in a long-term project that was more meaningful then the random ones chosen for the group.
She's a High School celebrity, handling the constant inquiries of "are you Mr. Z's daughter?" with grace and charm. Just wait until next year when many of her counterparts actually have Mike as a teacher!
She's a loving and devoted daughter, always willing to lend a hand.
She's a caring sister, willing to put up with the occasional absurdities of Little Squid.
She's a devoted friend -- who will allow her self-made study guides to be wrenched from her hands just before today's final.
She's my daughter and I am very proud to be her mother.
Happy Birthday, Squidette!!!
Child Mine
(From left to right: Lil' Sis, Older-younger Bro, Younger-younger Bro, Mom, Daddy, Big Sis and me)Somewhere over the course of those 4 hours my dad called Squidette "Puss." Now Puss is an endearment that my father has used on both of my sisters and myself over the years and I found it charming that he now uses it on his granddaughter.
Just a short while ago I found myself using another fatherly endearment on the same child. "Child mine," I said, "put this away (handing her some laundry)."
Which started me thinking ... the expression "child mine" is one I have heard probably thousands of times over the years as my father used in on anyone of his five children. It seems only fitting that I make a public acknowledgment of the origin of this phrase on Father's Day.
Somethings just get better as they get passed though the generations.
So from my family to yours, and to my Daddy ... Happy Father's Day.
And as for that child of mine ... she turns 15 in just a few hours. Watch out world!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Squid on Wheels: Circling Manhattan ... Counter clockwise
In the past, when we have chosen to circumnavigate Manhattan, we've done so in a clockwise direction, starting on the west side and riding north.
Today, however, three out of four squid refused to ride clockwise, citing the hill at the G.W. Bridge (aka the Little Red Lighthouse hill) as the main point of contention. Let me just state now, and for the record, that there are other hills, almost as bad, elsewhere on the ride and you find them regardless of the direction of the ride. What goes up must come down and visa versa ...
Oh, and we also decided to leave lower Manhattan, with its throngs of tourists, out of the ride, a move that cut about 8 miles and well over an hour, off the total.
First stop, the U.N. where we got a good view of the statute of St. George slaying the missile-dragon and where a kind passerby agreed to take a family photo. (First, however, a not-so-kind passerby refused to take our photo. Well, this is New York.)
Four Squid, Four Bike Fridays
Next stop, Hells Gate. The Hells Gate bridge is the arch-shaped one in the background. The really long one is the Tri-boro. (Or the RFK Bridge if you have a newer map or GPS ... but it will always be the Tri-boro to us real New Yorkers.)
Then a nice view of the Highbridge water tower ...
and on into Inwood Park.
Following Inwood Park, we headed back south, stopping to pick up a new rearview mirror for my glasses and continuing down to Fairway where we saw these people.
And then saw them in the river.
They were headed on a 2-3 mile swim uptown. The finish line (cove) was just south of the Little Red lighthouse.
After they headed uptown, we headed downtown to cool drinks and showers.
Today, however, three out of four squid refused to ride clockwise, citing the hill at the G.W. Bridge (aka the Little Red Lighthouse hill) as the main point of contention. Let me just state now, and for the record, that there are other hills, almost as bad, elsewhere on the ride and you find them regardless of the direction of the ride. What goes up must come down and visa versa ...
Oh, and we also decided to leave lower Manhattan, with its throngs of tourists, out of the ride, a move that cut about 8 miles and well over an hour, off the total.
First stop, the U.N. where we got a good view of the statute of St. George slaying the missile-dragon and where a kind passerby agreed to take a family photo. (First, however, a not-so-kind passerby refused to take our photo. Well, this is New York.)
Four Squid, Four Bike Fridays
Next stop, Hells Gate. The Hells Gate bridge is the arch-shaped one in the background. The really long one is the Tri-boro. (Or the RFK Bridge if you have a newer map or GPS ... but it will always be the Tri-boro to us real New Yorkers.)
Then a nice view of the Highbridge water tower ...
and on into Inwood Park.Following Inwood Park, we headed back south, stopping to pick up a new rearview mirror for my glasses and continuing down to Fairway where we saw these people.
And then saw them in the river. 
They were headed on a 2-3 mile swim uptown. The finish line (cove) was just south of the Little Red lighthouse.
After they headed uptown, we headed downtown to cool drinks and showers.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
gently across the Hudson River!
Early this morning, Mike and Squidette rode to the Village Community boathouse on Pier 40 to take a day long coxswain certification course. They have both been involved with the Stuyvesant H.S. rowing club -- Mike as a faculty adviser and Squidette as a novice club member. Today was the day that they got certified to Cox a boat on their own. That means that both of them can essential captain one of these craft.
These craft are 25" Whitehall Skiffs which are crewed by 4 rowers and a coxswain. They are, according to Mike, capable of going about 3 knots. No, I really do not understand what I just typed but know it has something to do with speed.
Not-So-Little (aka Preteen) Squid and I went out on a public row while Mike and Squidette split their time between the water and the classroom as they earned their certifications.
It was a lot of fun and I learned the following:
We all had fun and are all now pretty tired. I fully expect Preteen Squid to fall asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow despite his being rather perky right now.
This may turn into a weekly activity once school ends.
Early this morning, Mike and Squidette rode to the Village Community boathouse on Pier 40 to take a day long coxswain certification course. They have both been involved with the Stuyvesant H.S. rowing club -- Mike as a faculty adviser and Squidette as a novice club member. Today was the day that they got certified to Cox a boat on their own. That means that both of them can essential captain one of these craft.These craft are 25" Whitehall Skiffs which are crewed by 4 rowers and a coxswain. They are, according to Mike, capable of going about 3 knots. No, I really do not understand what I just typed but know it has something to do with speed.
Not-So-Little (aka Preteen) Squid and I went out on a public row while Mike and Squidette split their time between the water and the classroom as they earned their certifications.
It was a lot of fun and I learned the following:
- Even the best sunblock, properly applied, cannot combat 3 hours on the water at midday.
- I have no padding on my sitbones.
- My biking callouses are mostly sufficient for rowing -- I only have one blister on my right hand and none on my left.
- The Hudson River really is salty!
We all had fun and are all now pretty tired. I fully expect Preteen Squid to fall asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow despite his being rather perky right now.
This may turn into a weekly activity once school ends.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Crafting Update
Yes, there has been knitting, sewing, spinning and weaving going on -- just not much photo uploading!
So, for your crafting fix ...
Baby Blanket with Lamby thrown in for size contrast. Handwoven center. If you look close you can see where I stopped for a week and then forgot which way I was treadling. It's actually more obvious in the photo then it is in real life.
Back side of the blanket.
And an oldie but a goodie ...
The first shawl I ever knit. I used a blue coned cotton that my mother-in-law was given by a friend. It was knit about 10-12 years ago using Elizabeth Zimmerman's Pi Shawl pattern and has been well worn. I broke it out to wear to synagogue this weekend and received several compliments on it Those prompted me to wash it and think about repairing a few of the snags that it has accumulated over the years. It is not my best work but I love it!
So, for your crafting fix ...
Baby Blanket with Lamby thrown in for size contrast. Handwoven center. If you look close you can see where I stopped for a week and then forgot which way I was treadling. It's actually more obvious in the photo then it is in real life.
Back side of the blanket.And an oldie but a goodie ...
The first shawl I ever knit. I used a blue coned cotton that my mother-in-law was given by a friend. It was knit about 10-12 years ago using Elizabeth Zimmerman's Pi Shawl pattern and has been well worn. I broke it out to wear to synagogue this weekend and received several compliments on it Those prompted me to wash it and think about repairing a few of the snags that it has accumulated over the years. It is not my best work but I love it!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Performance Season
May is student performance month.
For us, it started off with the New York City All City High School Concert (Squidette on clarinet), moved on to the Wagner Middle School production of Annie (Little Squid in an assortment of minor roles) and continued last night with the Manhattan Borough-Wide Salute to Music concert (Little Squid on oboe).
Still to come ... the Stuyvesant High School spring concert (Squidette with a potential Alto solo) and the Wagner Middle School Spring Concert (Little Squid on oboe for both 7th grade bands).
And, inserted with in there may be Little Squid giving a go at a Klezmer jam (on oboe).
Add to that our obligations within our own school communities (awards ceremony for Mike, 2 graduations and a prom for me), we are putting on our roller skates to get to the end of the school year.
But let me pause for a minute to reflect on last night.
The few glimpses I had of Little Squid (tough to see the oboe player as the conductor stands right in front of him) were of a kid who was thoroughly enjoying himself. I smiled so wide that I practically split my lip. I clapped so hard that my hands hurt. And they were good! Not just middle school good, but GOOD! No, they will not be a threat to the New York (or Boston) Pops, but they were good just the same,
I'd like say that these are the best kids in the borough, but frankly, unlike the All City programs, no one gets rejected from the Manhattan program. I can't speak for the other boroughs.
What you do have, however, is the most dedicated public school students. The ones who want to play. Who are willing to get up early on a Saturday morning and play for three hours. The ones who are willing to schlep to East Harlem, or who are schleped by patient and loving parents, when the subways are at their worst -- and the school is a good half mile or more from the nearest station.
I had the pleasure of listening to many of their rehearsals in bits and pieces. (They practice in my school so I often worked in my office while the kids played in the cafeteria.) On the rare occasions when I wandered down during their break, I'd hear kids just tooling around on their instruments in between bites of granola bars and drinks of water. Sometimes they'd be playing the ensemble music, sometimes they'd just be playing with music. It was such a delight to witness!
As school budgets get tighter and tighter, music gets squeezed out. Instruments are expensive to obtain and to maintain. Evening performances, while a source of revenue to schools for their programs, cannot pay for teacher salaries and the overtime required for the concerts.
The Manhattan Borough-Wide program ran all this year with just two instructors. They are supposed to have three but the missing teacher was never replaced. There were a few days this year when the program ran with only one instructor. I offered my services but, with no musical training or talent, I was useless. They didn't need a crowd control person -- the kids controlled themselves.
The Borough-wide program has been running for 52 years. 52 years.
Mike and his siblings played in the program. He and I are racking our brains trying to think of professional musicians who came out of the program but, aside from the concert master during Mike's second year, we are clueless.
What it comes down to is that while I do not think the program is in danger of being cut just yet, there are fewer and fewer kids in the Manhattan program each year. Why? Because fewer and fewer elementary and middle schools can afford to teach instrumental music. As far as I can tell, only two middle schools in Manhattan have serious instrumental (band) programs, Wagner and Manhattan East.
Instruments cost money. Lots of money. My kids' elementary school required the parents to rent / lease / buy the instruments and only provided school instruments for kids who qualified for free lunch. Their middle school provides instruments but they are hard used and, by the end of each year, sounding it.
When a school has to decide between books and instruments, books are winning out. Schools shouldn't have to decide. They should be able to provide books AND instruments.
Kids who are exposed to music are just so much more well rounded. Their brains are challenged to work in different ways. Neuropathways are formed and nerve connections made that just would not happen otherwise. They experience the frustration of trying to get a nice sound, and the joy that comes with finally doing it. They learn to play with music, to learn rules ... and break them with impunity. They are given yet one more thing to care about and to appreciate.
So ... if you have a few bucks to spare, donate it to your local elementary, middle or high school music program. Or, if you don't have one, contact me (email button on the right) and I'll provide you with an address or two -- the Salute to Music Program and Little Squid's middle school. I promise you, they will do the right thing with the money.
For us, it started off with the New York City All City High School Concert (Squidette on clarinet), moved on to the Wagner Middle School production of Annie (Little Squid in an assortment of minor roles) and continued last night with the Manhattan Borough-Wide Salute to Music concert (Little Squid on oboe).
Still to come ... the Stuyvesant High School spring concert (Squidette with a potential Alto solo) and the Wagner Middle School Spring Concert (Little Squid on oboe for both 7th grade bands).
And, inserted with in there may be Little Squid giving a go at a Klezmer jam (on oboe).
Add to that our obligations within our own school communities (awards ceremony for Mike, 2 graduations and a prom for me), we are putting on our roller skates to get to the end of the school year.
But let me pause for a minute to reflect on last night.
***
Roughly 50 students, primarily from two Manhattan middle schools, came together to put on an awesome performance. They played classical, jazz, marches and Broadway tunes. They made a delightful sound and smiled through every note of it. The few glimpses I had of Little Squid (tough to see the oboe player as the conductor stands right in front of him) were of a kid who was thoroughly enjoying himself. I smiled so wide that I practically split my lip. I clapped so hard that my hands hurt. And they were good! Not just middle school good, but GOOD! No, they will not be a threat to the New York (or Boston) Pops, but they were good just the same,
I'd like say that these are the best kids in the borough, but frankly, unlike the All City programs, no one gets rejected from the Manhattan program. I can't speak for the other boroughs.
What you do have, however, is the most dedicated public school students. The ones who want to play. Who are willing to get up early on a Saturday morning and play for three hours. The ones who are willing to schlep to East Harlem, or who are schleped by patient and loving parents, when the subways are at their worst -- and the school is a good half mile or more from the nearest station.
I had the pleasure of listening to many of their rehearsals in bits and pieces. (They practice in my school so I often worked in my office while the kids played in the cafeteria.) On the rare occasions when I wandered down during their break, I'd hear kids just tooling around on their instruments in between bites of granola bars and drinks of water. Sometimes they'd be playing the ensemble music, sometimes they'd just be playing with music. It was such a delight to witness!
***
As school budgets get tighter and tighter, music gets squeezed out. Instruments are expensive to obtain and to maintain. Evening performances, while a source of revenue to schools for their programs, cannot pay for teacher salaries and the overtime required for the concerts.
The Manhattan Borough-Wide program ran all this year with just two instructors. They are supposed to have three but the missing teacher was never replaced. There were a few days this year when the program ran with only one instructor. I offered my services but, with no musical training or talent, I was useless. They didn't need a crowd control person -- the kids controlled themselves.
***
I wish there was a way to really express all that I saw each week but it boils down to kids doing something they love while being taught by people who love what they teach. The Borough-wide program has been running for 52 years. 52 years.
Mike and his siblings played in the program. He and I are racking our brains trying to think of professional musicians who came out of the program but, aside from the concert master during Mike's second year, we are clueless.
What it comes down to is that while I do not think the program is in danger of being cut just yet, there are fewer and fewer kids in the Manhattan program each year. Why? Because fewer and fewer elementary and middle schools can afford to teach instrumental music. As far as I can tell, only two middle schools in Manhattan have serious instrumental (band) programs, Wagner and Manhattan East.
Instruments cost money. Lots of money. My kids' elementary school required the parents to rent / lease / buy the instruments and only provided school instruments for kids who qualified for free lunch. Their middle school provides instruments but they are hard used and, by the end of each year, sounding it.
When a school has to decide between books and instruments, books are winning out. Schools shouldn't have to decide. They should be able to provide books AND instruments.
Kids who are exposed to music are just so much more well rounded. Their brains are challenged to work in different ways. Neuropathways are formed and nerve connections made that just would not happen otherwise. They experience the frustration of trying to get a nice sound, and the joy that comes with finally doing it. They learn to play with music, to learn rules ... and break them with impunity. They are given yet one more thing to care about and to appreciate.
So ... if you have a few bucks to spare, donate it to your local elementary, middle or high school music program. Or, if you don't have one, contact me (email button on the right) and I'll provide you with an address or two -- the Salute to Music Program and Little Squid's middle school. I promise you, they will do the right thing with the money.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
And so it begins ...
I rushed home yesterday to make it back in time for the start of Little Squid's oboe lesson. With the later start time required due to his participation in the school play, I managed to walk into an absolutely empty and clean (thanks Maria!) apartment. It was so quiet that I tiptoed around for a few minutes, not wanting to disturb the peace. I had a glorious 15 minutes before Little Squid arrived, followed closely by his oboe teacher ...
About an hour later I was beginning to wonder where my other child was. I knew where Mike was, and that he might not be back for hours -- but I thought my older child was at chorus rehearsal. A few minutes later, she called. She was rowing. Which was where Mike was. So, since she was with her father, she figured she didn't have to call. Neither thought that I would be worrying ...
And so it goes.
Below, a repost of my last post. Only 2 more days to vote for worthy causes and this one is currently on the edge of getting the funding. As of this posting, it is at #9 which could go up or down, very easily. Help it go down enough so that it is guaranteed the funding. Thanks!
The following post is a shameless appeal for help. It may take the form of guilting but, if you persist and decide to help, note that the help will cost you less than one minute per day for the next 19 days. Seriously!
The Boys and Girls Clubs across the country provide a safe place for kids to hang out after school. They provide all sorts of interesting programs and many Clubs also provide meals.
The Boys and Girls Club of Schenectady is trying to build a new playground. They have applied for a grant from Pepsi. The catch is, this is a popularity contest. The ideas that land in the top 10 at the end of the month will win the funding.
Right now the Craig Street Clubhouse of Schenectady is in the top 15 or so. Your vote, each and every day, can help propel them into the top ten. I've been promoting this idea on Facebook for the last 10 days and have watched this project climb from 44 to it's current place. Yes, I am affiliated, kind of, with the Club -- my brother works there.
I work with the kind of kid that this club serves. The tales my brother tells mesh so very closely with the tales of my own students in East Harlem. Kids who go home to an empty apartment because their parent is working. Kids who feel unloved. Kids who have nowhere else to turn. All these kids want is a safe place staffed by people they feel they can trust. In some places schools serve that need -- the stairs outside my office a often crowded late into the evening with kids who have no place else to go to safely socialize. The Boys and Girls Clubs provide a safe, supportive environment.
Please take a minute out of your day, today, tomorrow and for the rest of April, to vote for the idea linked here. And peruse the offerings in the other funding categories. The Boys and Girls Club of Monroe, Iowa is looking to build a community center. And there are so many other worthwhile projects in other funding categories. But vote for Craig Street first!
About an hour later I was beginning to wonder where my other child was. I knew where Mike was, and that he might not be back for hours -- but I thought my older child was at chorus rehearsal. A few minutes later, she called. She was rowing. Which was where Mike was. So, since she was with her father, she figured she didn't have to call. Neither thought that I would be worrying ...
And so it goes.
Below, a repost of my last post. Only 2 more days to vote for worthy causes and this one is currently on the edge of getting the funding. As of this posting, it is at #9 which could go up or down, very easily. Help it go down enough so that it is guaranteed the funding. Thanks!
***
The following post is a shameless appeal for help. It may take the form of guilting but, if you persist and decide to help, note that the help will cost you less than one minute per day for the next 19 days. Seriously!
The Boys and Girls Clubs across the country provide a safe place for kids to hang out after school. They provide all sorts of interesting programs and many Clubs also provide meals.
The Boys and Girls Club of Schenectady is trying to build a new playground. They have applied for a grant from Pepsi. The catch is, this is a popularity contest. The ideas that land in the top 10 at the end of the month will win the funding.
Right now the Craig Street Clubhouse of Schenectady is in the top 15 or so. Your vote, each and every day, can help propel them into the top ten. I've been promoting this idea on Facebook for the last 10 days and have watched this project climb from 44 to it's current place. Yes, I am affiliated, kind of, with the Club -- my brother works there.
I work with the kind of kid that this club serves. The tales my brother tells mesh so very closely with the tales of my own students in East Harlem. Kids who go home to an empty apartment because their parent is working. Kids who feel unloved. Kids who have nowhere else to turn. All these kids want is a safe place staffed by people they feel they can trust. In some places schools serve that need -- the stairs outside my office a often crowded late into the evening with kids who have no place else to go to safely socialize. The Boys and Girls Clubs provide a safe, supportive environment.
Please take a minute out of your day, today, tomorrow and for the rest of April, to vote for the idea linked here. And peruse the offerings in the other funding categories. The Boys and Girls Club of Monroe, Iowa is looking to build a community center. And there are so many other worthwhile projects in other funding categories. But vote for Craig Street first!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Good Things for Kids!
The following post is a shameless appeal for help. It may take the form of guilting but, if you persist and decide to help, note that the help will cost you less than one minute per day for the next 19 days. Seriously!
The Boys and Girls Clubs across the country provide a safe place for kids to hang out after school. They provide all sorts of interesting programs and many Clubs also provide meals.
The Boys and Girls Club of Schenectady is trying to build a new playground. They have applied for a grant from Pepsi. The catch is, this is a popularity contest. The ideas that land in the top 10 at the end of the month will win the funding.
Right now the Craig Street Clubhouse of Schenectady is in the top 15 or so. Your vote, each and every day, can help propel them into the top ten. I've been promoting this idea on Facebook for the last 10 days and have watched this project climb from 44 to it's current place. Yes, I am affiliated, kind of, with the Club -- my brother works there.
I work with the kind of kid that this club serves. The tales my brother tells mesh so very closely with the tales of my own students in East Harlem. Kids who go home to an empty apartment because their parent is working. Kids who feel unloved. Kids who have nowhere else to turn. All these kids want is a safe place staffed by people they feel they can trust. In some places schools serve that need -- the stairs outside my office a often crowded late into the evening with kids who have no place else to go to safely socialize. The Boys and Girls Clubs provide a safe, supportive environment.
Please take a minute out of your day, today, tomorrow and for the rest of April, to vote for the idea linked here. And peruse the offerings in the other funding categories. The Boys and Girls Club of Monroe, Iowa is looking to build a community center. And there are so many other worthwhile projects in other funding categories. But vote for Craig Street first!
The Boys and Girls Clubs across the country provide a safe place for kids to hang out after school. They provide all sorts of interesting programs and many Clubs also provide meals.
The Boys and Girls Club of Schenectady is trying to build a new playground. They have applied for a grant from Pepsi. The catch is, this is a popularity contest. The ideas that land in the top 10 at the end of the month will win the funding.
Right now the Craig Street Clubhouse of Schenectady is in the top 15 or so. Your vote, each and every day, can help propel them into the top ten. I've been promoting this idea on Facebook for the last 10 days and have watched this project climb from 44 to it's current place. Yes, I am affiliated, kind of, with the Club -- my brother works there.
I work with the kind of kid that this club serves. The tales my brother tells mesh so very closely with the tales of my own students in East Harlem. Kids who go home to an empty apartment because their parent is working. Kids who feel unloved. Kids who have nowhere else to turn. All these kids want is a safe place staffed by people they feel they can trust. In some places schools serve that need -- the stairs outside my office a often crowded late into the evening with kids who have no place else to go to safely socialize. The Boys and Girls Clubs provide a safe, supportive environment.
Please take a minute out of your day, today, tomorrow and for the rest of April, to vote for the idea linked here. And peruse the offerings in the other funding categories. The Boys and Girls Club of Monroe, Iowa is looking to build a community center. And there are so many other worthwhile projects in other funding categories. But vote for Craig Street first!
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Squid on Wheels: Jamaica Bay
The weather report was for a lovely, clear day with highs in the 70s. So we set out to circumnavigate Jamaica Bay. The first indication that we'd made a bad choice was when we could not see most of the Verazzano Bridge as we approached it ...
It started out chilly and got progressively chillier and damper with absolutely no views of the bay due to ground level fog.
We kept saying ... "it will be better on the next turn." But it wasn't. With each turn it got colder, windier and damper ...
On the other hand, we got to stand on the Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge for 15 minutes listening to fog horns and waiting to see the boat emerge from the fog -- which it did, mere moments before reaching the now elevated bridge opening. And then we got to witness and feel the elevated section of bridge (think like an elevator, not draw bridge) come down. Very cool! Made the ride totally worth it!
It started out chilly and got progressively chillier and damper with absolutely no views of the bay due to ground level fog.
We kept saying ... "it will be better on the next turn." But it wasn't. With each turn it got colder, windier and damper ...
On the other hand, we got to stand on the Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge for 15 minutes listening to fog horns and waiting to see the boat emerge from the fog -- which it did, mere moments before reaching the now elevated bridge opening. And then we got to witness and feel the elevated section of bridge (think like an elevator, not draw bridge) come down. Very cool! Made the ride totally worth it!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Back on the Road
After yesterday's glorious weather we woke up raring to go on a family breakfast ride.
O.k., not all of us woke raring to go. A certain teen actually had to be woken up ...
The first part of our ride was fairly quick and uneventful, ending at the Brooklyn Fairway where we chowed down on apple fritters, muffins, hot chocolate, coffee and tea on the patio. We were a bit chilly because we had all managed to underdress just a wee bit.
Properly fed, we then pedaled the short distance to Ikea -- to discover that they did not open for another 45 minutes. That led us to look for and find 2 geocaches. Yea!
Returning to Ikea, Mike went in and restocked our supply of lingonberry juice concentrate. And chocolate.
Now that we had secured life's necessities, Mike was eager to play with the geocaching mode on his new phone and was quite amiable to more caching. All told, we attempted 7 caches and found 4 today, bringing our total to 150. Not-So-Little Squid and I have declared a goal of at least 200 caches by the end of the summer. This means that we may actually have to cache outside of Manhattan and Brooklyn.
While approaching the site of our third cache of the day, we skidded to a halt when we spotted this:
These folks are building bamboo frame bikes. Cool!
Over all, a good day. 23 miles over 4 hours with lots of stops for caching.
O.k., not all of us woke raring to go. A certain teen actually had to be woken up ...
The first part of our ride was fairly quick and uneventful, ending at the Brooklyn Fairway where we chowed down on apple fritters, muffins, hot chocolate, coffee and tea on the patio. We were a bit chilly because we had all managed to underdress just a wee bit.
Properly fed, we then pedaled the short distance to Ikea -- to discover that they did not open for another 45 minutes. That led us to look for and find 2 geocaches. Yea!Returning to Ikea, Mike went in and restocked our supply of lingonberry juice concentrate. And chocolate.
Now that we had secured life's necessities, Mike was eager to play with the geocaching mode on his new phone and was quite amiable to more caching. All told, we attempted 7 caches and found 4 today, bringing our total to 150. Not-So-Little Squid and I have declared a goal of at least 200 caches by the end of the summer. This means that we may actually have to cache outside of Manhattan and Brooklyn.
While approaching the site of our third cache of the day, we skidded to a halt when we spotted this:
These folks are building bamboo frame bikes. Cool!
Over all, a good day. 23 miles over 4 hours with lots of stops for caching.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
More Dish Towels
I've been admiring Dave's weaving and absolutely had to try one particular pattern. So, I threaded the loom in a straight twill, alternating white and blue cotton.
Unfortunately, to get the pattern to come out the way that I wanted, I had to beat very firmly, resulting in a rather stiff fabric. (look at the bottom 20 inches)
Then I started playing with different tie ups. The last one (on the left and at the top) is my favorite. It has a nice drape and looks really cool.
I also really like the second from the left but I ran out of white 14 inches in so it will be more of a dish cloth then a dish towel.
Next up, baby blankets!
Unfortunately, to get the pattern to come out the way that I wanted, I had to beat very firmly, resulting in a rather stiff fabric. (look at the bottom 20 inches)
Then I started playing with different tie ups. The last one (on the left and at the top) is my favorite. It has a nice drape and looks really cool.
I also really like the second from the left but I ran out of white 14 inches in so it will be more of a dish cloth then a dish towel.Next up, baby blankets!
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Squid On Wheels: First Ride of 2010
Notice, if you will, that we are all now riding Bike Friday folding bicycles. Little Squid was upgraded and brought into the fold yesterday, so today we had to do a quick shakedown ride.Go Squid!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
What do Squidlings do on a Snow Day?
They build snowpeople! Which, unfortunately, were knocked down just a few hours later by some anonymous jerks.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Snow Day Redux
Yup, for the second time in a month, we have a snow day. We'll ignore the fact that the last snow day was off by a day (we should have been off the day after and not the day of).
Plans for the day? Maybe to weave off this warp that has proved to be a challenge.
There have been broken warp thread galore, threading issues and the challenge of weaving off a 39 shot repeat. The challenge there is that I keep getting interrupted and lose my place in the pattern. Despite all these issues, however, I love how it is coming out.
The yarn is some that has been marinating in the stash for 10 years or so. The weft is a slubby, loosely spun yarn, the warp, a nice wool two-ply that keeps breaking.
Next up on the loom, some more blue and white cotton for, I think, baby blankets. I have some cotton of unknown provenance that has been marinating in the stash for even longer than the wool above. My only questions are: is it thick enough for baby blankets and ... what pattern?
Plans for the day? Maybe to weave off this warp that has proved to be a challenge.
There have been broken warp thread galore, threading issues and the challenge of weaving off a 39 shot repeat. The challenge there is that I keep getting interrupted and lose my place in the pattern. Despite all these issues, however, I love how it is coming out.
The yarn is some that has been marinating in the stash for 10 years or so. The weft is a slubby, loosely spun yarn, the warp, a nice wool two-ply that keeps breaking.
Next up on the loom, some more blue and white cotton for, I think, baby blankets. I have some cotton of unknown provenance that has been marinating in the stash for even longer than the wool above. My only questions are: is it thick enough for baby blankets and ... what pattern?
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Just Strolling Along ...
Schacht did not ship my stroller at the same time as the loom. Why? I have no idea but the good folks at The Woolery were on top of it even before I emailed them and the stroller arrived last night.
This morning, with no warp on the loom to worry about, I tackled the stroller installation.
Forewarned by Dave, I paid close attention to the pictures and gave up early on interpreting their badly written instructions. (I also kept Dave's post on the subject open on my laptop near at hand.)
After a minor misstep or two, I was finally on the right track. With the assistance of my fabulous husband, I managed to get everything together in about half an hour.
See?
Just a note to the folks at Schacht ... wouldn't it make more sense if there were a notch at the bottom of each brace instead of a slot? This is something that we may attempt to "remedy" with the dremel tool. Just not now.
And this? Look closely at the "middle" bolt. It snapped off as Mike was putting the nut on. I'll hit home depot tomorrow and replace it. Can't blame the manufacturer for this one and not worth contacting them for something I can get easily right here.
And there you have it, a loom on wheels. Something to make my downstairs neighbor a little happier as I fold and unfold the loom. It also now makes it possible to easily bring the loom into the living room should I so desire. But not out on to the terrace. Navigating the narrow door is still a bit more effort then I think I want to tackle right now even though I LOVE weaving outside.
Back to threading my third warp!
This morning, with no warp on the loom to worry about, I tackled the stroller installation.
Forewarned by Dave, I paid close attention to the pictures and gave up early on interpreting their badly written instructions. (I also kept Dave's post on the subject open on my laptop near at hand.)
After a minor misstep or two, I was finally on the right track. With the assistance of my fabulous husband, I managed to get everything together in about half an hour.
See?
Just a note to the folks at Schacht ... wouldn't it make more sense if there were a notch at the bottom of each brace instead of a slot? This is something that we may attempt to "remedy" with the dremel tool. Just not now.
And this? Look closely at the "middle" bolt. It snapped off as Mike was putting the nut on. I'll hit home depot tomorrow and replace it. Can't blame the manufacturer for this one and not worth contacting them for something I can get easily right here.
And there you have it, a loom on wheels. Something to make my downstairs neighbor a little happier as I fold and unfold the loom. It also now makes it possible to easily bring the loom into the living room should I so desire. But not out on to the terrace. Navigating the narrow door is still a bit more effort then I think I want to tackle right now even though I LOVE weaving outside.Back to threading my third warp!
Friday, February 19, 2010
I'm going to have to figure out ...
... what to do with all this fabric!
Just a taste of the latest to come off the loom. Better pictures after I wash both sets of yardage.
(Tho most of this is a scarf for Little Squid who chose the pattern, helped warp the loom and wove a fair amount of the yardage.)
Point Twill threading on 4 shafts -- I've ordered a book on 8 shaft weaving and it should arrive on Monday.
Just a taste of the latest to come off the loom. Better pictures after I wash both sets of yardage.
(Tho most of this is a scarf for Little Squid who chose the pattern, helped warp the loom and wove a fair amount of the yardage.)Point Twill threading on 4 shafts -- I've ordered a book on 8 shaft weaving and it should arrive on Monday.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
First Efforts
A 3 yard sampler of twills and tabby-twills.
I threaded the loom with straight twill draw on 4 shafts (let's pretend that I have the language down) and played with different tie-ups and patterns. We did about 3 inches or so of each pattern or until we got bored of it.
We? Yeah, the kids took turns too. Especially Little Squid. He's taken to weaving like a Squid to water. He's enjoying it so much that the next warp is a scarf for him. We will thread the loom in a point twill and he will either pick a single pattern or we will weave it as a scarf-sampler.
(For all those weaving mavens out there, please excuse our wonky weaving. It was our first effort and still needs to be washed, cut apart and hemmed into usable, if interesting, dish towels. Hey, I believe in everything being used, even one's first efforts if possible. The sett was probably too loose for the yarn that I used and there are other issues but hey, we had fun!)
Monday, February 15, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Love Letters
I had absolutely no intention of writing a Valentine's Day post but then I started clearing out space for my loom. In the space where the loom will temporarily reside was a box of mementos taken from my mother-in-law's apartment after her passing several years ago. There are pieces of my father-in-law's stamp collection and a bulging envelope of cards and letters.
Poking through it, I grabbed a small handful of the correspondence and took them into the living room to peruse. On top was a letter from my father-in-law to my mother-in-law the summer before he began full time employment in 1956.
As I finished reading the first one aloud, Squidette commented "I've never seen a real love letter before, just read about them in books."
Pictured below is the original letter. Transcribed below are the contents for your enjoyment.
Dearest!
I received your wonderful letter today & am, of course, happy you miss me as I miss you.
Today I ordered a new pair of frames: charcoal gray shell for the upper half & silver rim for the lower half of the frame. Thus do you bend me to your will.
I visited H & R tonight for a hot dog supper & received an unsolicited opinion of you (I never solicit opinions about you). Quoth H: "Renee is a lovely girl." Quoth I: "I know it."
So you see my days have been uneventful, being composed of errands or visits. But I am glad for tasks to do to fill my time so that I have less time to think alone & long for you. I enjoy whenever the conversation turns to you & me because that is a topic I am very interested in. Yet I don't want to make a pest of myself & act like a lovesick youth who bores everyone with talk of his love. Personally I like to think about you, about things we've done & about our future. I am so very happy that our relatives get along well together & we with them, because altho this is not a matter of paramount importance, harmonious relationships will make life less aggravating than it might be.
My eye doctor yesterday reminded me of how he had, 2 years ago, predictied how a trip away from home (at Columbia) would make a big change in my life and when I retrospect concerning this last semester & of the things accomplished in so short a time I feel amazed. I am thankful & happy & joyous & overwhelmed & satisfied & everything else that we're together & each other's. I can recall how I used to be afraid, at one time, that you would have another date & turn me down. Yet years ago I foresaw that when I would fall in love that everything would go smoothly, & it has.
I miss you, yet I don't mind missing you because whenever I feel sad I know that in a few days I'll be in N.Y. & seeing you.
I feel a bit nervous & uncertain about working. I suppose this is due to the novelty of the situation, just as I was nervous & uncertain when I was about to begin at Harvard & Columbia. I know that there are millions of persons who would love to change places with me because of my potential career & wonderful fiancee. I wish I could tell you how much I love you but words are not counters of feeling but only express thought.
Love,
XXXXX,
Marvin
(If you look at the pictures at the bottom of the last page of the letter, the first one is a frowny face and the caption reads "me without Renee" and the second one is a smiley face and the caption reads "me with Renee")
Poking through it, I grabbed a small handful of the correspondence and took them into the living room to peruse. On top was a letter from my father-in-law to my mother-in-law the summer before he began full time employment in 1956.
As I finished reading the first one aloud, Squidette commented "I've never seen a real love letter before, just read about them in books."
Pictured below is the original letter. Transcribed below are the contents for your enjoyment.
Dearest!
I received your wonderful letter today & am, of course, happy you miss me as I miss you.
Today I ordered a new pair of frames: charcoal gray shell for the upper half & silver rim for the lower half of the frame. Thus do you bend me to your will.
I visited H & R tonight for a hot dog supper & received an unsolicited opinion of you (I never solicit opinions about you). Quoth H: "Renee is a lovely girl." Quoth I: "I know it."
So you see my days have been uneventful, being composed of errands or visits. But I am glad for tasks to do to fill my time so that I have less time to think alone & long for you. I enjoy whenever the conversation turns to you & me because that is a topic I am very interested in. Yet I don't want to make a pest of myself & act like a lovesick youth who bores everyone with talk of his love. Personally I like to think about you, about things we've done & about our future. I am so very happy that our relatives get along well together & we with them, because altho this is not a matter of paramount importance, harmonious relationships will make life less aggravating than it might be.
My eye doctor yesterday reminded me of how he had, 2 years ago, predictied how a trip away from home (at Columbia) would make a big change in my life and when I retrospect concerning this last semester & of the things accomplished in so short a time I feel amazed. I am thankful & happy & joyous & overwhelmed & satisfied & everything else that we're together & each other's. I can recall how I used to be afraid, at one time, that you would have another date & turn me down. Yet years ago I foresaw that when I would fall in love that everything would go smoothly, & it has.
I miss you, yet I don't mind missing you because whenever I feel sad I know that in a few days I'll be in N.Y. & seeing you.
I feel a bit nervous & uncertain about working. I suppose this is due to the novelty of the situation, just as I was nervous & uncertain when I was about to begin at Harvard & Columbia. I know that there are millions of persons who would love to change places with me because of my potential career & wonderful fiancee. I wish I could tell you how much I love you but words are not counters of feeling but only express thought.
Love,
XXXXX,
Marvin
(If you look at the pictures at the bottom of the last page of the letter, the first one is a frowny face and the caption reads "me without Renee" and the second one is a smiley face and the caption reads "me with Renee")
Thursday, February 11, 2010
First Left to Brooklyn
I have noticed that my commute is somewhat quicker if I manage to stay out of Brooklyn ...
(I'll wait while you all come to the realization that I have a 5 mile intra-boro commute that involves no bridges or tunnels or even, most days, highways.)
And on to our tale ...
This morning I dragged myself out of bed a bit earlier than usual so that I would have extra time to clean the snow and ice off of the car and still arrive at work on time. No, biking was not in the plan.
I did the usual ... shower, dress, dry hair ... and skipped the make-up figuring I'd steal some time and do it at work. After dressing in flannel lined jeans -- mom-style jeans -- and my uber warm Sorel boots (work slacks and shoes in my tote), I carefully made my way out to the car. Carefully, I say, because as nicely as the walks around our Co-op are cleared, the parking lot is a mess of ice and snow.
Picking my way across the lot I was suddenly jerked from my snow induced stupor as I realized that my car was not covered in 5 inches of snow/ice/ick but was mostly cleaned off ... and my husband was putting the finishing touches on it.
(You can all go "awww" now.)
So I did what any self-respecting wife would do (and could legally do, in public, in a parking lot, in freezing weather), I offered him a lift to work (he was going to take the subway). Hey, he saved me 20 minutes of freezing labor.
I carefully navigated my way out of the parking lot, taking only 5 minutes to actually get moving after spinning the wheels a bit in the slush (thank you oh tub of 12 year old kitty litter that lives in my car for just such an emergency). Cautiously, because the streets, while not horrible, were still rather slushy and I had not yet had sufficient caffeine, I made my way to the hallowed edifice that is Stuyvesant High School and dropped off my fabulous spouse and, making a U turn, headed off to work.
On the rare occasions that I drop Mike at work, I then head south, down West Street and through the tunnel that loops around the bottom of Manhattan and leaves one heading North, up the FDR Drive. This was my intent this morning.
I quickly got into the left lane and looked carefully for the signs indicating the tunnel. And when I didn't see them, but did see altered traffic patterns due to the construction at Ground Zero, I took the first ramp to my left. I figured that I was already past the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel entrance.
I figured wrong.
Yes, I wound up in Brooklyn.
Oops.
But I still got to work early.
And I still have a wonderful spouse.
*** And my loom is still delayed in a FedEx warehouse in Middletown, PA due to the weather.
(I'll wait while you all come to the realization that I have a 5 mile intra-boro commute that involves no bridges or tunnels or even, most days, highways.)
And on to our tale ...
This morning I dragged myself out of bed a bit earlier than usual so that I would have extra time to clean the snow and ice off of the car and still arrive at work on time. No, biking was not in the plan.
I did the usual ... shower, dress, dry hair ... and skipped the make-up figuring I'd steal some time and do it at work. After dressing in flannel lined jeans -- mom-style jeans -- and my uber warm Sorel boots (work slacks and shoes in my tote), I carefully made my way out to the car. Carefully, I say, because as nicely as the walks around our Co-op are cleared, the parking lot is a mess of ice and snow.
Picking my way across the lot I was suddenly jerked from my snow induced stupor as I realized that my car was not covered in 5 inches of snow/ice/ick but was mostly cleaned off ... and my husband was putting the finishing touches on it.
(You can all go "awww" now.)
So I did what any self-respecting wife would do (and could legally do, in public, in a parking lot, in freezing weather), I offered him a lift to work (he was going to take the subway). Hey, he saved me 20 minutes of freezing labor.
I carefully navigated my way out of the parking lot, taking only 5 minutes to actually get moving after spinning the wheels a bit in the slush (thank you oh tub of 12 year old kitty litter that lives in my car for just such an emergency). Cautiously, because the streets, while not horrible, were still rather slushy and I had not yet had sufficient caffeine, I made my way to the hallowed edifice that is Stuyvesant High School and dropped off my fabulous spouse and, making a U turn, headed off to work.
On the rare occasions that I drop Mike at work, I then head south, down West Street and through the tunnel that loops around the bottom of Manhattan and leaves one heading North, up the FDR Drive. This was my intent this morning.
I quickly got into the left lane and looked carefully for the signs indicating the tunnel. And when I didn't see them, but did see altered traffic patterns due to the construction at Ground Zero, I took the first ramp to my left. I figured that I was already past the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel entrance.
I figured wrong.
Yes, I wound up in Brooklyn.
Oops.
But I still got to work early.
And I still have a wonderful spouse.
*** And my loom is still delayed in a FedEx warehouse in Middletown, PA due to the weather.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Snow and Song
Today we had something totally unprecedented ... a snow day announced at 11:00 a.m. the day before the storm. No kidding. That said, here in Manhattan, the storm was rather unremarkable except for it's exceptional ability to get one wet. After standing for a mere hour in the snow while Little Squid sledded with friends, I was totally soaked. As in my parka was dripping and my double layered glove-mitten combo had soaked through to my skin. Good thing the kids threw in the towel when they did.
Meanwhile ... the squidlings performed last week, turning their annual violin recital into the Squid show. The highlight was this clarinet-oboe duet.
Yes, I did say it was a violin recital. There were 5 other kids who all played the violin -- as did my offspring. Want to see?
Little Squid Solo
Little Squid - Squidette Violin Duet
Squidette Solo ... Squidette Solo ... Squidette Solo ... Squidette Solo (it was an entire sonata and could not be uploaded to Youtube in one piece)
As for my loom (because I know it is as much at the top of your mind as it is on mine ... (yeah, right)) ... it is held up due to the weather and is currently paused somewhere in Pennsylvania. It was supposed to arrive in the area tomorrow but that just is not happening. Oh well, I couldn't arrange for delivery before Monday anyway ...
Meanwhile ... the squidlings performed last week, turning their annual violin recital into the Squid show. The highlight was this clarinet-oboe duet.
Yes, I did say it was a violin recital. There were 5 other kids who all played the violin -- as did my offspring. Want to see?
Little Squid Solo
Little Squid - Squidette Violin Duet
Squidette Solo ... Squidette Solo ... Squidette Solo ... Squidette Solo (it was an entire sonata and could not be uploaded to Youtube in one piece)
As for my loom (because I know it is as much at the top of your mind as it is on mine ... (yeah, right)) ... it is held up due to the weather and is currently paused somewhere in Pennsylvania. It was supposed to arrive in the area tomorrow but that just is not happening. Oh well, I couldn't arrange for delivery before Monday anyway ...
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Cest La Z
Cest La Z is the latest addition to my blogroll. Penned by my fabulous spouse, it is currently addressing issues in Computer Science education with a, so far, single departure towards biking.
Mike is trying his hand out with blogging and we only ask that you give him a chance to figure out his spacing issues -- something to do with the script he is using to upload his text.
Mike has been tooling around cyberspace since he was in high school -- where he learned to program big IBM machines with punch cards. He and I were some of the earliest cyberdaters as we spent long hours chatting from our college computers -- his at home and mine in a computer lab on campus and later from a "dumb" terminal in my dorm room hooked up to a 200 baud modem that I had to stick my phone handset into.
He's taught computer science for most of his almost 20 year teaching career and has seen trends come and go. Opinionated and strong minded, he fights for what he believes is best for his students -- and given where so many of them have wound up, it works.
So go check him out -- but don't give up if computer science education is not your thing. I suspect that, come summer, there will be more travel, biking and history on tap.
Cest La Z!
Mike is trying his hand out with blogging and we only ask that you give him a chance to figure out his spacing issues -- something to do with the script he is using to upload his text.
Mike has been tooling around cyberspace since he was in high school -- where he learned to program big IBM machines with punch cards. He and I were some of the earliest cyberdaters as we spent long hours chatting from our college computers -- his at home and mine in a computer lab on campus and later from a "dumb" terminal in my dorm room hooked up to a 200 baud modem that I had to stick my phone handset into.
He's taught computer science for most of his almost 20 year teaching career and has seen trends come and go. Opinionated and strong minded, he fights for what he believes is best for his students -- and given where so many of them have wound up, it works.
So go check him out -- but don't give up if computer science education is not your thing. I suspect that, come summer, there will be more travel, biking and history on tap.
Cest La Z!
Friday, January 22, 2010
One Ball Down ...
I spun 11 skeins of the background color for Mike's new sweater. Each skein averages about 200 yards of sport weight yarn. The piece below measures about 13 inches (it looks smaller due to the curling that I didn't bother to eliminate for the photo). It has used, so far ...
ONE ball of yarn. Just a hunch here, I think I may have enough yarn for this thing ...
(And the entire sweater will not be this boring, just the back and arms. The front has some seriously exciting intarsia going on.)
ONE ball of yarn. Just a hunch here, I think I may have enough yarn for this thing ...(And the entire sweater will not be this boring, just the back and arms. The front has some seriously exciting intarsia going on.)
Sunday, January 17, 2010
A tale of Two Sweaters ...
One finished!*
And one begun!**
* Sweater for Little Squid. Generic Basketweave pattern stitch using the guidelines from Ann Budd's The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns.**Sweater for Mike. Hand dyed, hand spun, roughly sport weight yarn. Construction guidelines will be from the same book, pattern will be one-of-a-kind. Look for the finished product sometime around October.
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Yogurt
I've been looking for something really deep to post about and even had a huge monologue going on last night as I was trying to fall asleep. Unfortunately, it was all about work stuff which I really can't post about. Sorry! Let's just leave the work stuff with this: there was a public hearing regarding the fate of my school last week. It goes up for a vote on the 26th.
On the home front, I'm still plugging away on Little Squid's sweater -- front, back and right arm are done. Left arm is about halfway up his forearm. My rigid heddle loom is now clear of weaving and the final product will be run through the wash tomorrow. And I've started spinning the alpaca-merino blend that I bought at Rhinebeck.
I've also made some yogurt.
You may remember this post where Little Squid and I experimented with frozen yogurt using our homemade product. We never did master it but hey, that's what next summer is for. Right?
Meanwhile I have continued to make yogurt every week or two using the same method. Recently I've seen some posts on other blogs raving about a Crock-pot method of making yogurt.
I studied it, thought hard about it, and decided that I will stick with my method. It is fairly simple and only requires about 2 hours of my time depending on the temperature of my kitchen. In cooler weather the cooling processes occurs much more quickly then it does in the heat of summer.So, for those who are interested, this is my adaptation of Harold McGee's yogurt making technique as originally published in the New York Time on April 15, 2009.
First, heat the milk to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. I do this by heating about 12 ounces milk at a time on high in the microwave for 1 minute (in a 4 cup measuring cup) and then dumping it into a pot on the stove with the flame at a medium setting. (I make a gallon of yogurt at a time. You can easily make less.)
While it is heating, I monitor the temperature and twiddle my thumbs. This is actually why I microwave the milk. The one minute intervals keep me interested enough that I do not walk away and then forget that I have milk heating.
Once the milk reaches 180 degrees it is time to cool it. I do this in two or three or, when making 2 gallons at a time as I do during the summer, 4 bowls.
During the warmer weather I surround the bowls with reusable cold packs to help it cool faster. I also stir it frequently to increase the amount of milk that comes in contact with the cooler parts of the bowl (and the air).
When the temperature of the milk reaches 120 degrees, I take yogurt that I've set aside from the last batch (2 tablespoons of yogurt for every quart of milk used) and mix it with some of the warm milk to thin out the yogurt.
This yogurt-milk slurry then gets mixed into the warm milk and the mixture gets put into a large container. I use a gallon Tupperware pitcher that we've had forever.
The pitcher gets a lid (I have no idea where the official lid is these days) and then gets wrapped in towels.
Usually I use three towels but this time I used four -- one underneath the pitcher to insulate it from the cold counter. Our kitchen was really cold.
Then the wrapped pitcher of pre-yogurt sits on the counter for about 6 hours, more or less. More if you like it tarter, less if you like it more naturally sweet.
The neo-yogurt then chills overnight in the fridge and is ready for eating in the morning.
I, personally, take it one step further and strain the yogurt in a HUGE fine meshed strainer that we got at a restaurant supply store. Mike cut the handle off of it so that the strainer, sitting on top of a storage container, fits in the fridge. Half a gallon of yogurt fits in the strainer at a time.
One hour usually makes it thick enough for my taste but you can strain longer if you want. Half of the last batch strained overnight by accident. It is incredibly thick and smooth and luscious!
And there you go. A gallon of milk costs between $2.39 (Costco) and $3.50 (Whole Foods 365 brand). A quart of my previous favorite yogurt, Greek Goddess, costs $5.99 at Fairway -- more elsewhere. A gallon of milk makes 2.5 to 4 quarts of yogurt depending on how much you strain it. Monetarily it makes sense but that's not why I do it.
I do it because it is too easy and too good not to.
The only down-side is the cleaning of the pan. The stuck on milk can be tough to clean with a regular sponge or dishrag so I use this curly thing. It gets it right off and then I toss the curly thing into the dishwasher to get all the milk-curd crud out. Hey, it works.
On the home front, I'm still plugging away on Little Squid's sweater -- front, back and right arm are done. Left arm is about halfway up his forearm. My rigid heddle loom is now clear of weaving and the final product will be run through the wash tomorrow. And I've started spinning the alpaca-merino blend that I bought at Rhinebeck.
I've also made some yogurt.
You may remember this post where Little Squid and I experimented with frozen yogurt using our homemade product. We never did master it but hey, that's what next summer is for. Right?
Meanwhile I have continued to make yogurt every week or two using the same method. Recently I've seen some posts on other blogs raving about a Crock-pot method of making yogurt.
I studied it, thought hard about it, and decided that I will stick with my method. It is fairly simple and only requires about 2 hours of my time depending on the temperature of my kitchen. In cooler weather the cooling processes occurs much more quickly then it does in the heat of summer.So, for those who are interested, this is my adaptation of Harold McGee's yogurt making technique as originally published in the New York Time on April 15, 2009.
***
First, heat the milk to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. I do this by heating about 12 ounces milk at a time on high in the microwave for 1 minute (in a 4 cup measuring cup) and then dumping it into a pot on the stove with the flame at a medium setting. (I make a gallon of yogurt at a time. You can easily make less.)
While it is heating, I monitor the temperature and twiddle my thumbs. This is actually why I microwave the milk. The one minute intervals keep me interested enough that I do not walk away and then forget that I have milk heating.
Once the milk reaches 180 degrees it is time to cool it. I do this in two or three or, when making 2 gallons at a time as I do during the summer, 4 bowls.
During the warmer weather I surround the bowls with reusable cold packs to help it cool faster. I also stir it frequently to increase the amount of milk that comes in contact with the cooler parts of the bowl (and the air).
When the temperature of the milk reaches 120 degrees, I take yogurt that I've set aside from the last batch (2 tablespoons of yogurt for every quart of milk used) and mix it with some of the warm milk to thin out the yogurt.
This yogurt-milk slurry then gets mixed into the warm milk and the mixture gets put into a large container. I use a gallon Tupperware pitcher that we've had forever.
The pitcher gets a lid (I have no idea where the official lid is these days) and then gets wrapped in towels.
Usually I use three towels but this time I used four -- one underneath the pitcher to insulate it from the cold counter. Our kitchen was really cold.
Then the wrapped pitcher of pre-yogurt sits on the counter for about 6 hours, more or less. More if you like it tarter, less if you like it more naturally sweet.
The neo-yogurt then chills overnight in the fridge and is ready for eating in the morning.
I, personally, take it one step further and strain the yogurt in a HUGE fine meshed strainer that we got at a restaurant supply store. Mike cut the handle off of it so that the strainer, sitting on top of a storage container, fits in the fridge. Half a gallon of yogurt fits in the strainer at a time.
One hour usually makes it thick enough for my taste but you can strain longer if you want. Half of the last batch strained overnight by accident. It is incredibly thick and smooth and luscious!
And there you go. A gallon of milk costs between $2.39 (Costco) and $3.50 (Whole Foods 365 brand). A quart of my previous favorite yogurt, Greek Goddess, costs $5.99 at Fairway -- more elsewhere. A gallon of milk makes 2.5 to 4 quarts of yogurt depending on how much you strain it. Monetarily it makes sense but that's not why I do it.
I do it because it is too easy and too good not to.
The only down-side is the cleaning of the pan. The stuck on milk can be tough to clean with a regular sponge or dishrag so I use this curly thing. It gets it right off and then I toss the curly thing into the dishwasher to get all the milk-curd crud out. Hey, it works.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)