Thursday, October 06, 2005

Big Weekend

It's a big weekend upon us here at Casa Tres, as Pop is arriving on Amtrak from points East in the morning. Having been 6 1/2 years since his last visit, its interesting to look back at how my life has changed in that time. Don't worry, this isn't going to be one of those lame flashback sitcom episodes presented blog style [or is it bloggie-style?]; I'll spare you the details.

O.K., just one flashback. Back in 1999, I bought a potted cactus for my patio, for the barbeque I threw for all my friends in Pop's honor. It was about 18" tall, now it is over 6' tall with big branching arms!

We will go to the Getty, go shopping, hang out, drink old fashioneds, and eat lots of really good food.

If my old man knows anything, its how to have a good time, and a good time we shall have.


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Sock Update:

Sadly, the sock didn't fit the intended foot; too short through the length of the foot. I apparently started the toe too soon. I will finish the second sock before I rip the toe and lengthen. They say your first sock is an experiment. I'm taking it in stride. Photo next week.


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In Other News:

Since I don't have any knitting photos, I'll leave you with a couple views of the construction site a week ago, with the big red clouds in the sky from all the fires in the San Fernando Valley.













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Confession:

Pop isn't just coming to visit, he's coming for my birthday.

For some reason, this one isn't like the others. I'm having issues with my age. How lame is that? I know I should get over it and just get on with my life. And I do, at times, experience the pleasure of expertise that comes about from having been around the block a couple of times [especially when I'm around my students LOL]. I'm not even old, but there's something about moving past mid-30's and firmly into late 30's that has me worked up this year.

Enter, Pop: how great is it, that on the first birthday that I've ever freaked out about my age, my old man can show up and make me feel like the luckiest kid in the world?

Sunday, October 02, 2005

How Not to Learn to Kitchener

Suppose you have a sock, your first sock even, and you've been working on it for a few weeks [or a few months] and you are finally ready to graft together the toe. You've been putting it off because you've been really busy and distracted lately, and this is no longer mindless knitting. You need to sit down quietly, with a clear head, and really focus with your manual and that little tapestry needle, and learn this new technique with the funny name:

KITCHENER

That was exactly the situation I found myself in last night. So what did I do? I followed the above instructions exactly, almost. After some pizza and wine, I got comfy on the bed, poured myself another glass, got out my knitting and my copy of Ann Budd [God Bless Ann Budd!] and popped Mary Tyler Moore Season 1 into the DVD player.




O.K., so there were a few distractions in the room. Did I mention that there were two dogs also on the bed? I gave it my best shot. Its not a difficult technique, really. But you must pay attention, and you should be willing to back up and start over if you find that you have lost your place. Otherwise, your kitchener will turn out something like this:


Bad Kitchener!

But take heart! Life is just like a TV rerun, you can always start over again the next day, almost as if nothing ever happened. Even if you've already woven in the ends. Just think of Mary Richards, out there making it on her own.

You can do it!

Behold, I give you my kitchener:


Good Kitchener!