Good News Deserves a Break

The first order of business is the good news that my dad is still doing well. And if you have heard this somewhere else (facebook, twitter, me in person) sorry, but good news is worth hearing again. My dad's doctor visit this week went so well he is not scheduled for another appointment until mid-December. When I think about how at this time last year I thought I would never have another holiday season with my dad, I am feeling very lucky right now. I would also like to make sure and thank everyone for their kind words and support. You have all been so comforting during this very difficult time, thank you.

With that said, I am going to take the rest of the month off from blogging. Part of the problem is I am furiously knitting away and I really can't post about what I am knitting because it is Christmas knitting, i.e. the stuff I am knitting to give away as Christmas presents. I am a little self-conscious about giving knitting as a present because it is like giving your mom a gold painted macaroni necklace (Cool instructions on how to dye pasta http://www.ehow.com/how_4850657_dye-pasta-beads-kids-crafts.html). Sure she will fuss over it and even wear it a few times, but in the end she probably would have preferred a gift card to JoAnne's. But still I knit on, hoping that my knitted item will find a good home. Furthermore, I currently feel driven to knit. So I will knit.

The Promise of Friday

I love Fridays, I know it is a cliche, but I can't help it. Friday's (when I don't have to work on a Saturday) give me hope that my life might improve. Maybe somehow I am optimistic that magically I will be able to solve all my problems, get all my errands done, see every friend, popping out knitting projects like I am a machine, and still having time to lay around like a large sloth on my futon. Friday at five holds that promise, that hope. I will overcome and I have 63 and half hours to do it in.

This weekend, I have Christmas knitting to do, an out of town friend to see at ungodly early tomorrow morning, litter boxes to clean, laundry to wash, chili to cook on Sunday, and Woodchucks to drink and a futon that is in need of my companionship. All very busy. Those are things I probably will accomplish; it is the solving all my problems that won't get done. I will astutely ignore my problems. Pretend they don't exist and of course drink more Woodchucks.

Monday comes, (the cruelest of days) and I am back to wishing for Friday.

Multi-Colored Nightmare

I had a nightmare last night. I dreamed a vile man I once knew broke into my house while I was at work. He stole ALL my Fiestaware. He called me to torment me that he was selling it all on e-bay to right some wrong he thought I had done to him. I woke up in terror and unable to go back to sleep until I knew my Fiestaware was still in the house. I stumbled out of bed to check all my dishes were safe. Once I snapped on the light and saw all the vivid colors I was finally able to sleep in peace. Bad dream.

Michael Allen Ford

(Mike's Panel)

A long time ago, back in the nineties, I lost some of my friends to AIDS. They were bright, active men who had so much to give the world and sadly they died much too soon. One of these men was Mike Ford. Mike died younger than I am now, a very sobering thought when I look where I am in my life. Mike was tall and thin with a cheesy eighties mustache and deep voice. By day Mike was manager in a sporting goods store, but one night a week he did a radio program at a local public access radio station, "Coming Out of Hiding." He like to say it was, "The Queer Voice of St Louis." Mike and his friends put time and effort into producing an hour long show which could be reached by several far flung counties as well as the St. Louis Metro area.

(Mom's Signature Block)

Once Mike received a letter from a woman in one of these far flung counties. She told him that she had to hide who she was from her family. but once a week she put on her headphones and listened to his show. She said it was the only time all week she felt connected to who she truly was. There was no return address on the envelope and the only signature was an outline of her hand on the letter. Mike treasured this letter and it inspired him to work harder at reaching out to these deeply closeted listeners. Mike was not a perfect man, like the rest of us he had flaws, but he was committed to helping people come out.


(Mom under the panel)

So, I was surprised a couple weeks ago when at work I was confronted with the specter of Mike. Once a year the library I work for displays a small section of the AIDS Quilt ( http://www.aidsquilt.org/ ). I know I have looked for Mike's panel in the annual Quilt display before and it has never been there; this year it was. Mike's panel looks as vibrant and as fresh as it did when we donated it. My friend Dan wanted vivid colors to represent a larger than life person. None of us could sew and we wanted something special, something that stood out. My mother seamstress extraordinaire took the fabric and our requests for rainbows and radios and made it real. She put her best effort into it and stunned us all with her amazing skill. Recently, she made the trek to St Louis to see her handy work and commented, "It is holding up well." I snapped a few shots of her with the block for her to show her quilting buddies that she knows how to make something that will last.

For me this has been very humbling, making me question the choices I have made. I ask myself would Mike be proud of me? I am coming up short. Sorry Mike.

Whip it was fun!

New green fiestaware! Much love!

Road to Socktopia

I could blog on endlessly about knitting socks, but lets face it, how boring for knitter and non-knitter alike. So I wrote a horrid piece of doggerel to outline my journey through the world of sock knitting. And of course I am including photos of my trip to socktopia. Please be kind of my poor poetry, it is meant to amuse not edify anyone.

I knitted some socks

I thought this soo rocks

I started cuff down

On DPNs I went round

& round & round

One done, what another to go

I was suddenly full of woe

Next I tried two circs

Surely this method had perks

However, again I went cuff down

On circs I went round

& round & round.

Knitting the heels

Was like dancing crazy reels

Took another class

Heard toe-up was less of a task

But after the toes

Once again round and round I goes

1 circular needle $12, 1 knitscence magazine $8, 7 skeins raspberry 100% superwash wool $45, having a new project 2 keep me from going insane priceless.