Scatterings

Life is degenerating into chaos at what should be an alarming rate, but the end of the school year is in sight, so i find myself feeling uplifted, rather than panicked. I’m done teaching classes and just working my way through final meetings with students, then the whole seemingly limitless summer lies before me. At this point, I can still imagine accomplishing all I dream of over the break: taking care of grades and evaluations, reorganizing my work life, sorting my stash, getting back to work on some sink-my-teeth-into-it pattern designing (rather than the little bits of small-scale play I’ve managed lately)—not to mention the whole wedding thing.

I stayed up late last night finishing my Impressionist Cowl. All I have left to do is the grafting for the final stitches on the i-cord bind-off, but I want to hold off on that until I have a particularly lucid, patient moment. I knit it up in some Debbie Mumm Traditions that I picked up at Joann on a bit of a whim because I liked the colors (chocolate raspberry, which is a self-striping colorway that moves from raspberry to brown to coral). I am ambivalent about the yarn, which I pretty much knew I would be, as it’s 75/23/2 acrylic/wool/other, but the colors are lovely. It had that nasty, dry acrylic scratch as I started working with it, but definitely grew softer with handling. This yarn has a thick, black core, which shows through in spots, and as the core is a different fiber mix than the outer wrapping, the yarn tends to bunch up. After much frustration, I discovered if I just took hold of a yard or so at either end and gave it a quick tug, the two fibers sort of sproinged into harmony (if only there were more sproinging into harmony in this world of ours!), making the knitting much easier. This pattern works up fast and is entertaining, definitely worth another knit. I’d like to try one in (surprise!) Malabrigo and perhaps one of the softer Noros.

If you are in the mood to yield to temptation, you may want to cruise by either Discontinued Brand Name Yarn (some newer Cherry Tree Hill Closeouts and some Lily Chin) or Little Knits (Rowan Kidsilk Night at a bit over half off).

Clarabelle (her site has now gone private, so I’m afraid I can’t link you) tagged me for a meme that’s been making the rounds, so I’ll finish by answering those questions (let me know if you’d like to be tagged next!).

1. What were you doing ten years ago?
Pretty much what I’m doing right now—drooling in anticipation of the end of the academic year. (I’m afraid my life is rather predictable.)

2. What are five non-work things on your to-do list for today/tomorrow?
• Pick up requested library books—and get going on them!
• Cast on for another cowl (it’s all about the cowls right now).
• Take another look at my second Ruffles and Ridges shawl and see if I can do anything about the lumpy bit at the nape of the neck from the bind-off.
• Remember to put the Giants game on this afternoon while I’m stuck in the office.
• Spend tomorrow evening tucking in my baby-friend Tommy, whose mother is kind enough to share him with me once a week.

3. What snacks do you enjoy?
What don’t I enjoy?
Pink Popcorn is a definite favorite, now that I’ve found a small, out-of-the-way grocery that carries it (gas prices are well over $4 a gallon, but I’ll still go out of my way for pink popcorn). I have also been fighting a fierce jones-ing lately for Nacho Cheese Doritos. And hot dogs. Baseball season’s here, and I’m thinking hot dogs, hot dogs, hot dogs.

4. What would you do if you were a billionaire?
(I am rather glad I don’t actually have to deal with this issue as the moral responsibility would probably be more than I could bear).
I’d put most of it into a non-profit grant-giving organization of some sort that focused on small-scale development, educational, and environmental programs. But I confess that first I would skim enough off the top to generate a modest living-off-the-interest income for me and Melissa and to make a down payment on a house on the Oregon coast. I’d pick something older that came with some acreage, then pay to have it rewired and have custom cabinets put in every room before we moved in.

5. What are some of the places you’ve lived?
My childhood favorite was Cotati, California. When I was in college and doing summer-stock costuming work, I lived in Oakland (Woodminster), Salinas (The Western Stage), and Santa Clara (Theatre Santa Clara).

6. What are some of the jobs you’ve had?
Costumer designer, union organizer, public school outreach coordinator, waitress, receptionist, teacher.

7. What peeps do you want to know more about?
Any volunteers? I’m curious about pretty much everyone/everything.