Saturday, April 27, 2013

Skyscraper Shawl

Recently, Universal Yarn Company has been tempting me with all kinds of pretty yarns.  I came upon the Classics Big Shades Big Time in a green acrylic / wool blend .  The yarn was pretty, soft, and came with a pattern for a Skyscraper Shawl.



Following the recommendation of the shawl pattern I bought 2 skeins and cast on.  I did bump up to a size 17 needle, but even with the larger size I realized that I would have plenty of surplus yarn.  I even added on 6 more rows, and used just over one skein.  Regardless of the extra yarn, I knit this really lovely and fast shawlette.  With the current cool spring, I have even worn the shawlette a few times with a shawl pin.  I feel very lovely in my garment.



I even knit another Wham Bam Thank You Lamb Cowl with the leftover skein.  I will have to say acrylic blend or not, I loved it.  From now on I will need to be strong to resist buying more of Universal yarn.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Kiwis Rock!

 
In a week of sad news, I heard something good.  New Zealand is the 13th country to recognize marriage equality!  I am so impressed by the beauty and conviction showed by the Kiwis by as they proclaim that marriage should be defined by love.  The footage from the parliament floor was inspiring.  One parliamentarian, Maurice Williamson (http://www.national.org.nz/Bio.aspx?Id=55), spoke out so eloquently I want to share it with you.  I laughed, I cried, I hoped for a better future.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Tempest in the Hoosegow

There are so many words for jail: hoosegow, mainline joint, skinner joint, stoney lonesome, con college, glasshouse, bucket, club fed, greybar hotel, big house, slammer, calaboose, castle, cooler, country club, crowbar hotel, digger, farm, guardhouse, hole, joint, jug, juvie, pen, pokey, rock, sneezer, stockade, the clink to name a few.  I am partial to hoosegow, it sounds like a place you don't want to ever go.  Well Monday through Friday that is where I am finding myself, in the stoney lonesome.

How could dear, sweet, little, ol' me have come to such a fate?  Well a paycheck my friends will make many us reassess the merits of going to the joint.  Many things are not so bad about this new job.  I am downtown, the building is much more secure than any north county library, and my phone rarely rings.  Okay, that might have something to do with my phone being a little broken, but they are going to fix it soon.  I have a very large office, which echoes like a cave.  And honestly everyone is being very nice to me.  Who knew you would meet so many nice people in the clink?

I do get frisked every time I go to my office because I work in a secured part of the building.  I am being checked to make sure I a not taking inside anything I shouldn't.  No gum, cell phones, or scissors for me.  Try opening a sealed box without a sharp implement sometime and you will get my situation.  I am also learning all types of new terminology: contraband, boats, pods, commissary, and sally port have become a part of my everyday lingo. 

My life has changed in so many ways in such a short period of time.  Part of me is a little shocked by the changes, but I will adjust to my new normal.  The new normal includes coming home and sitting down to dinner with my wife more often.  Actually, sometimes I even get to walk a block down and meet her for lunch.  We actually talk about things we will do together when we get home.  In the end I think the extra time is worth spending my days in the crowbar hotel.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Life in the Pokey

I know I have been remiss in blogging.  Bad Tempest.  I have been working on acclimatizing myself to my new job and schedule.  I promise to catch up this weekend, because I get out of jail on the weekends.  I think you will get tired of these lame incarceration puns very soon.