Yet another sign I am still not ready to follow politics again: crying when the song "Eve of Destruction" comes on the radio. Seriously, fifty-year-old Vietnam protest song?! Mmhmm, think I'm gonna stick to binge-watching cleaning and makeup videos on YouTube for now. But reading up on "Eve of Destruction" did bring the 2001 Clear Channel memo to my attention, though. I mean, I know people did some nutty stuff in the fall of 2001, but suggesting radio stations not play Rage Against the Machine is not helpful. Jeez. They should've banned that horrific Lee Greenwood song, if they wanted to pacify the masses... But hey, this song was also on the list!
Anyone remember the show Cleopatra 2525? That was fun...
So we've had a bit of drama over here, the worst of which I think/hope is over, or at least addressed. At his point we are planning a quick New York vacation, which will involve fun family stuff and hopefully Der Rosenkavalier at the Met! In crafting, a very good friend is having a baby soon, so I am making a Guernsey-style blanket for her. I am taking a break from it at the moment to work on a Rikaart cowl (finally using my Miss Babs!). I probably should have done this before the freak cold snap here, so it might actually be useful.
New Lorde video! Where on earth did they find a pay phone?
The last few weeks have been hectic, particularly this one. It would help if I didn't have trouble sleeping--not from worry or stress or anything. I am tired...
I bounced back rather quickly from the cold, thankfully--and Mark is feeling better, finally--and have actually been accomplishing things. In the last week, I've applied to be a school volunteer (has to be done on-site, during school hours, so it's logistically harder than it sounds), scrubbed grout, washed carpets and a bunch of clothing, made a number of washcloths (stockpiling Christmas presents, if you can believe it!), went through Rosina's warm-weather clothing (may need shorts, has enough tops for three kids), went to a great Korean supermarket (our first HMart, I am in love) and a not-so-great international festival, trimmed Rosina's bangs, and finally mailed postcards about ACA to, as I refer to them, our dillweed senators.
And I heard this on the radio the other day. This will always be a good thing. How hot was he back then ?! Even with the cigarette!
I have a cold, and am miserable and pretty pissed about it.
This song is brought to you by my trial Sirius XM subscription. My usual favorite station is Soul Town (OF COURSE), but The Joint is also a good one. I don't know how weird it is that some suburban white mom is blasting reggae out of a station wagon. Granted, reviewing the channel guide for Sirius XM is quite suggestive of their target demographics. Not anyone under thirty, to be sure.
So the reason that I have a trial subscription is the same as the last time I had one: we have a new (to us) car! The TDI buyback scheme is tedious and involves a lot of back-and-forth with forms--but even with all the forms submitted, we still had to wait TWO MONTHS for an appointment. In the meantime, a car became available, and we were able to swing it, so we jumped. And it's probably the car we should've gotten in the first place: a 2013 Prius v. And it's blue! Hooray! Learning to drive a hybrid is a bit of an adventure, but you get the hang of it fairly quickly. You definitely sacrifice responsiveness for fuel efficiency, which is annoying in a hilly area when you have to quickly accelerate to 45 mph out of a turn or traffic light, but I suppose one must drive safely, regardless of mpg. Anyway, yes, Yuppie Car #2. But I'm averaging 45mpg every day, so I'm satisfied.
Speaking of which, I must pick up the child soon, but I do have a crafting update. Inspired by the pussyhats, I've decided to keep some charity items in the mix. I am working on a mistake-rib scarf for the Knit Your Bit project (one of my usual recipients, when I feel like crafting for charity). I finally finished a black lace scarf, and started another black scarf. Typical.
Thank you so much for your hard work, sacrifices, and class. I hope you can take a few days off! I would be honored to have you all over for dinner sometime. I suppose you could easily access my contact information if need be. Give the NSA something positive to do for three minutes!
I am actually serious about the invitation.
Lots of love,
Jennifer
(I did make Pussyhats. Six going to DC with a friend, and one for me out of some crazy scratchy wool. I did get recognized in the wild last weekend - at Cheesecake Factory, of all places. Here R. models one of the sparkly acrylic ones.)
And now I'mma be morose again for a few minutes. The George Michael binge continues...
I have not really been in the best place lately, but I did feel like I needed to post. I don't know if it's just the Seasonal Affective Disorder--which has not really been that bad in the 17 years I've lived in the South, but still is an annual thing--or that the election has broken my heart, and my husband's heart as well, but yeah, just not feeling all that hot... Anyway one of the things perturbing my brain is, of course, George Michael dying, on Christmas even. (Not that I'm the biggest fan of the song "Last Christmas", not really my thing, but y'all know my love for George Michael. Even when it wasn't cool, I was into George Michael.) I have been listening a lot, just enjoying his voice, and developing new respect for some surprisingly complex pop songs. This one, though, is just for fun, and because it cheers me up I've been listening to it a lot. This video, though. Top of the Pops, 1984. Lip-synched, Princess Diana hair, Miami Vice outfit in black... So many colors... (Please don't watch this if you are prone to motion sickness or seizures. Oh man.)
And if you are not smiling at least a little after that, well, I can't help you.
If you're not watching Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, well, why the hell not?! It is fantastic, so long as there are no small folks around. I do miss Santino Fontana, because super sexy voice, but am bearing up well. This made me howl...
There are last-minute ornaments to embroider (Mark's co-workers--like he couldn't have told me sooner! Eh, no biggie, they're fast), but I will return soon, promise.
The blogosphere has been really quiet lately. Not that I can blame its members. Our schedule change really cramped my style - and that was before I turned into a huge anxiety ball. And that was before everything went pear-shaped.
I haven't really processed yet - I was actually in the hospital with gastroenteritis the second week of November, and with the recovery on top of everything, I need baby steps. I plan to get more involved once I'm ready to jump back in - volunteering at my daughter's school, which is majority lower-income, will be an easy place to start - but in the meantime I need to focus on good things. I'm an inherently optimistic person (even as a teenager, and was trying to be all angry), and I have to, HAVE to believe that the vast majority of people are good, and that we CAN change the world for the better. So I'll still be here, and I'll try to spread a little happiness. We damn well all need some.
Even if it’s Nineties Duran Duran.At least there’s no weird African/women-as-animals
fetishism in this video.
Last week was Rosina’s first week of school, and other than
some minor interpersonal things (Mean Girl hogs sparkly red pencil, drama
ensues) she loves it and is doing great.She even likes phys ed! (If I didn’t know any better, I’d say we brought
the wrong baby home…) Her school offers free breakfast every morning, and she’s
been walking to the cafeteria, picking out her food, and finding her way to her
classroom by herself. (I didn’t even
know any of this until I asked her.)We
may even try school lunch one of these days!($2.25.What in the world…) Because
she’s going to a magnet and not her neighborhood school, we were planning to
use an express bus stop.Turns out that
the bus stop was more than twenty minutes from our house, in the wrong
direction for the school and our jobs, and took about forty minutes to get to
the school.We would have to leave the
house before seven, and she wouldn’t get home in the afternoon until after
four.So not only was it more than two
hours round-trip, it would have been a nine-plus hour school day, for a
five-year-old.Suffice to say I have
swallowed my pride, and am driving her to and from school (about twelve
minutes).I hate doing this – it goes
against my principles – but now I understand why so many people have to do
it.The bus situation in this county is
just terrible.Her school is fairly
small, and it’s in right in a neighborhood with lots of walkers, but there are
only TWO BUSES for a whole elementary school. That would transport about 1/3 of the
students. How many kids are being left
out?? Anyway, morning drop-off is a piece of cake, but pickup sucks big
time.I guess I’ll have to get used to
it…
In crafting news, I am getting close to finishing my
cardigan.The body is done, and I only
have about two inches of the first sleeve left.I’m not super impressed with the fit – the yoke is too big in front (I KNOW
– how is this possible?!), and the sleeve shaping is triangular and fits a bit
oddly – but I think blocking will really help. (Famous last words…) My stripes
are a bit different due to the yardage on hand, and I’ve had to fudge a bit on
the sleeves to accommodate what I had left over, but it’s going to work.Once the knitting is completed, I have to sew
in a zipper – and may have to order one online, since I need a long one – so I’m
not nearly as close as it seems, but it will be done by the time I need a densely-knit,
light-worsted weight handspun wool cardigan.(GO HOME SUMMER, YOU’RE DRUNK.) I am already thinking of my next
projects:a hat for Rosina, a baby
sweater for a coworker’s pregnant daughter, bears for new-baby gifts for my SIL
and cousin, stranded slippers for me?Oh, and Rosina wants this Tunisian-crocheted ammonite.That may wait until Christmas.
Somehow I got a certain "summer anthem" by a certain former Disney star-turned-wayward youth-turned-new Voice judge stuck in my head. I'm not even sure how, because I can't imagine voluntarily listening to it. (Maybe because the chorus starts out like "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems,", which samples "I'm Coming Out" - two summery songs that are not terrible like this one...) Anyway, I needed to evict it, and this sort of worked.
Summer has been passing quickly. We just completed a trip to see Mark's family (Buffalo with record high temperatures and zero control over the schedule = not a vacation!), and had my parents come visit this past weekend. (Only one fight about police brutality with my mother, and I tried desperately to change the subject...) School supplies have been purchased, and Rosina starts kindergarten in less than three weeks! Nope, still not really processing that. I am working from home until after Labor Day, since camp is over. We have been watching the Olympics, and I have been working on my handspun cardigan! After two separate stupid mistakes (miscounting and switching to the wrong size tips, respectively) which each involved frogging huge amounts - two feet of plus-size cardigan total, I kid you not - I think I am finally on the right track.
Loving this so much today. The muted trombone solo is amazing. I could listen to Postmodern Jukebox all day!
Heavy crafting this weekend, including finally soaking and finishing handspun from last year (this is not hard or time-consuming, WTH?) in preparation for Tour de Fleece. I also finished spinning this:
(Background photo is from last October, taken of the Hudson River at Cold Spring, NY. It was also used in our holiday cards.) I also sewed myself a very trendy kimono-style jacket out of a sarong bought on my honeymoon. Oh, and we went to an actual play on Saturday night! (Which means in preparation for the babysitter, I also cleaned the house on Saturday. Nice to have done.)
Appropriate because we just bought a ton of produce:
This was of my favorite commercials as a kid. It is funnier now that I actually know the original song. Also, is this when freezer bags came out? How odd that a product I use every day hasn't been around forever... 🤓
In other news, have you heard about the Volkswagen drama? We've been kind of in limbo since September, with a series of rumors floating around, but it looks like we'll know more on Tuesday. Since we were all pretty much lied to, and the Magic Snowflake Fuel-Efficient Automatic with Cargo Space doesn't really exist, we've basically decided on replacing the Sportwagen with a CRV. Everyone we know who's ever had one has loved it, they last forever, reliability, etc. The 2015 models get about 33 highway, which isn't as good as I was hoping for, and I dislike having to get an SUV (I do put my foot down about minivans; I was willing to do a station wagon, but I have my limits), but it has more cargo room (note this is for Mark, who does actually haul things in the Jetta) and is waaay cheaper in the long run than the runner-up, the Prius V. (We also chose the Jetta over it back in 2013, for the same reasons.) Ideally we'd like the auto swap process to be a net-zero situation, but we may end up with a very tiny loan, depending on how much cash back we can get.
I finally watched The Silver Linings Playbook, and I did like it (though minus a star for the age difference, groan), but now I have this song stuck in my head.
Granted, it doesn't take much to get this stuck in my head. I still lament not giving The White Stripes a chance while they were still a thing. The movie had a great soundtrack in general - Zeppelin, even.
Last weekend we went to the beach, for the first time in years (not counting a day trip last August, when it was in the 70s and too cold to even wade). Rosina's favorite part: wiping out in a (small!) wave. That and meeting a baby sea turtle at the aquarium. It was a nice trip! Our other excursions this summer are basically for family obligations, so it was good to have time to ourselves.
I suppose if you're going to have a song stuck in your head, this beats an annoying Ed Sheeran song.
And did you know? It's a Carter Family song. No surprise!
Rosina's birthday was a little crazy, but she was so excited, and her friends had a great time at the party. And my cardigan is done! I even got a chance to wear it today before it gets ridiculous hot. I need to get a photo!
This video is cool for a lot of reasons--and altruistic as this sort of thing goes, since it sounds unforced and is not a hot mess of showboating old men trying to sing/play over each other--but check out the kid in the background. Is that George Harrison's son, or possibly his clone? Whoa. Regardless, Prince's solos are so great, so stay tuned. He is making that hat WORK.
(Speaking of music, I may have been conceived while "Afternoon Delight" was the #1 song in America. I doubt that's what my parents were listening to, but it is indeed troubling.)
Regarding my own little clone: she's turning FIVE this weekend. ("Just the Way You Are" by Bruno Mars was the #1 song when she was conceived. At least it's not a novelty song! And no, TMI, the radio was off.) I am not sure how we've reached this point. She's a little unsettled herself by all the changes happening in the next few months: she's been at the same place for school and camp for two years, and in September she'll be going to a completely new place where she doesn't know anyone. (She's going to a STEM magnet school, not the base school, but none of her friends live in our neighborhood anyway.) We know she will do great, and that realizing how big the world is is just a part of growing up, but she's been clingier lately because of it, and it does make me feel for her.
On a happy note, look what she gave me for Mother's Day! This is why we keep them around...
Actual Knitting Content: the fingering weight, top-down, garter-striped circular yoke cardigan I've pastiched is nearing the home stretch. There may actually be pictures once I finish the second sleeve.
Why does this keep happening?! I'm still processing--when the news came over the radio yesterday, I just kept yelling NO--but you should check this out. Are we sure he didn't write this song?
I just happened to chance upon this. I went to grad school with Rhiannon--and yes, it is crazy to think there's one person between me and Elvis freaking Costello, but I suppose that's just being a musician... Anyway, she's great, and this is a lovely cover, even if it's for reasons that will not go away.
Not that I'm feeling this maudlin, but my birthday is tomorrow, and the gravity of being very close to forty has hit me, and it is not pleasant. I could complain about how I feel like I've wasted time, then admit that I really haven't, life well-lived, etc., but that is BORING so whatever. Mark and I haven't discussed anything about it, so I wonder if he has some surprises planned. I do love surprises! Coming up soon after that is our anniversary (and THANK GOD I was able to line up a sitter, as we have absolutely terrible luck with that), and Rosina's birthday a month later. We're planning a party this year, but considering the possibility of renting a pavilion at a playground and just serving cake and drinks, rather than an actual meal. It would be easier if her birthday weren't in mid-May, when it can be relied upon to be hot and humid, with an afternoon thunderstorm--otherwise a party from 3-5 would be great. If you have a party from 9:30-11:30, is it okay to just have cake? Maybe if we have coffee to appease the adults? :) I'd love to do a donut party, but Rosina is currently skeptical. We'll keep working on her!
I meant to post this last week, but somehow it was still pending. Anyway, this song was stuck in my head all last week.
How cool is Lorde?! Since I am actually old enough to be her mom (i.e. I even know who her father would've been), it seems like a weird choice. Most of her songs are about being a teenager, naturally, and she wouldn't be here without the ladies of my era--definitely Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, Ani?--but damn, she just does it so well. And she seems fairly normal and well-adjusted in interviews. May she make fifty more albums!
Despite my usual (and justified!) reluctance to embark on charity knitting and knitting-for-hire, I've decided to knit a few hats for Rosina's preschool's silent auction. Her Felicity (technically made for me) was so darn cute, and she got a lot of compliments on it. I had two more skeins of the same yarn, so why not? That and a few basic watchcaps--also from leftovers--and hopefully they will earn a few dollars. (As in, they better go for at least $12 apiece. Probably better if I don't ever know...)
