The Quad

I got a call last night from Mom asking me to come over and watch The Quad (The Twins + their BFFs) so she could show a house. Normally this is not a big deal, but she called just moments before Antique Roadshow. However, I did go down there. It ended up being one of those times when being a big sister just flat out rocks.

They stripped down to their panties in the back yard and ran through the sprinklers. Followed by a quick dry off and change of clothes in order to play in the dirt pile in the front yard. StepDad came home early and the two of us sat outside and watched The Quad get flithy. Two of the girls had sand just caked in their hair; thank the stars I thought to put everyone in the Twin's clothing rather than what they came in. When Mom pulled up, we went inside and had assembly-line showers. She washed, I dried and threw them on the big bed to watch Cars. Everyone got to wear an over-sized shirt, and while Mom cleaned up the bathtub (I'm talking serious sand and mud all over the place) I herded them to the kicten. 3 pentnut-butter and 1 ketup sandwiches later, I got to go home. Even the BFFs kissed me good-night, which just makes ya feel like they care.

I finally finished Barrie's Window in Thrums yesterday and it was wonderful. But I really need to get started on Swift's work. The back of the Younger Twin's sweater is done. I am using a British pattern book, which means small needles and short-row shaping of the sleeves. It is a bit odd, but I like using new methods.

Thursday is a big day, as I have an interview on campus for a job. Crossing my fingers on that one.

Beat

My sister's room in now clean. As in, clutter gone/floor swept/bed made. Talk about a major undertaking. No one feels like cooking tonight, so we get to eat out somewhere family friendly.

Yesterday, the ear doctor vacuum out the Younger Twin's ear. Now her ear-drops actually get into her ear. However, she is terrified of getting her ear wet. Normally, this is not a big deal but somehow we are going to have to wash her hair.

I finished another book from my summer reading list last night. Yea! The Pullman book is still driving me crazy, one would think I would be able to get through the first fifty pages but no. It is impossible.

Dad sent me a surprise. I have not had a chance to get into the cookies and try the Pear Tea yet. With any luck, I will sometime in the near future.

Busy Days

Fifty pages left of the Apology and I heard my Fall class is reading an abridged version. Needless to say, I plan to finish the unabridge and tote it to class. Who wants to read just portions of any text under 500 pages?

The desire to start a big knitting project has been so ovrewhelming that I spent $20 at Michael's yesterday on enough yarn to make the Elder Twin a skirt and the Younger Twin a sweater. I do not normally perfer acrylic yarn, but due to the nature (and receptiants) of the clothes; I will this time. Maybe I will have enough left over to knit up other girly items.

The Younger Twin has a very bad ear, resulting in the loss of nearly an entire week at Zoo Camp. I mean, the doctor could not see all of the ear due to the amount of blood and puss in the ear. Ewww. She does not want anyone to kiss her ear or anywhere near it. Her sister, however, has spent the past two nights at our house. The Elder does tend to pester her Younger twin; not a good combination when the latter is irratable.

I have spent the better portion of the past two days tring to get either a T/GA position or other job on campus. We'll see how that turns out. My computer has a bad hard-drive, so I'm left to use others around the family. The people who work on our computers were nice enough to let me spend a few hours today getting files. Most of my music is on real CDs, but there have been a couple I bought off iTunes (mostly Bach on the harpsicord and others I woke up and had to hear right then). I also took the time and reloaded the Shuffle while I was there. It will be a week or so before I can do so again. Makes for an interesting list.

Book Troubles

Right now, I have bookmarkers in two books; Apology for Raymond Sebound and Window in Thrums. I feel as though I have read Raymond Sebound's apology before; even though I know very well I have not. It is taking great self-control not to just breeze through it or pick-up Window every five pages.

Knitting was very productive today. I finished one bowl and started another, I should be able to felt later this week. Still struggling to figure out if I am going to finish a sweater I have started.

I have purged my bookshelf again and have found two more bags of books I can get rid of. Other than that, a somewhat slow day.

go figure

If I grit my teeth and just keep pushing, I have a 50-50 shot of getting sick. If I go to the doctor early, 75-25 shot in favor of getting better. However, if I have something I want to do and is important to my life (like a roommate's wedding) then just forget even trying to predict the outcome.

The Maternal Grandparents left for St. Louis yesterday morning around 9. I was about half an hour away from leaving, as Friday I got car-sick just driving to the Post Office. But then, as I was finding shoes the world started to do some major spinning. There was plenty of time, so I thought I would just lay down for a moment. The StepPaternal Grandmother called at 1230 to see if anyone was home, as she had bought a roster lamp for the Maternal Grandmother and did not want to leave it on the front porch. Well, great. Just great. Needless to say, I got back into my pj's and crawled into bed.

Nothing got done this weekend. I did not even pick up my needles until this afternoon. However, as the Twins watched TV this morning (I did go over to get them dressed, but the three of us opted not to go to church), I did manage to read some of Sir Barrie's novel Window in Thrums. It is very delightful and will no doubt result in a completely new blog layout later this week.

The Maternal Grandparents got home less than an hour ago. They spent the weekend seeing a cosin. The strongest impression I have of that woman was when she told my sister and I that she wanted to take us to the petting zoo to pet the little bunny rabbits. We were, at the time, both in the upper portion of grade school. To date, I still only know and refer to her as the 'petting zoo cousin.'

Puppy and Siblings

Well, Puppy has a fatty tumor that has to come out before it gets worse. The Vet said it was nothing big, they see it all the time with older dogs. While this does make me feel a world better…this is my Puppy they’re talking about. Can we go in tomorrow? The surgery is scheduled for Aug 17.

Yes, this is the day after the DC siblings go home after flying in the Friday before. No, I have not bought StepSister no. 1 anything for her birthday. It would be cool to take her out to a movie then grab desert. Looking at their itinerary that just is not going to happen. And I have forsworn knitting any gifts. However, I may get inspired for Chirstmas gifts in the StepBrother catagory.

I am going to Conway tomorrow afternoon for a wedding on Saturday. A former roommate is marrying her long-time boyfriend. Speaking of weddings, one of the Matriarch’s middle sons went ring-shopping today. He speaks to the girl’s father tomorrow, which is just like him. His older brother got married the weekend before Christmas Eve two years ago this December. The younger son is still kinda wondering around, enjoying being himself.

The socks I have been working on are in the last stretch; this is a very good thing as I am tired of working on them. My Harry Potter inspired scarf is as tall as I am (5’ 3” ish) and is just over half-way done.

Younger Twin stayed the night and slept in; slept in for her at least. She took a shower using my cream-rinse and giggled the whole time. I jokingly fussed at her, to ensure she would enjoy the whole experience and actually used the blasted thing. Her curls tangle like nothing I have ever brushed through before. Elder Twin has bad tangles as well, but curls just make them look worse.

Tuesday ramblings

The StepPaternal Grandmother said she wanted someone (turns out that person is me) to pull weeds, ‘before they get out of control.’ I did not realize she meant the front and side beds which most people see when they pull up. The one bed that is hidden from the street and most areas in the back, courtesy of a big wooden bench with a back, was a good two weeks beyond being out of control. It was not fun.

Between this and moving furniture around the house yesterday afternoon, I was wiped out. However, the dining room/kitchen area looks much better.

We have had one of the Twins every night this week. They alternate in order for them to not be ‘twin-ed’ and it is less overwhelming. Sunday there was a huge fight over who got to be first. It was the Elder Twin’s turn but the Younger put up one hell of a tantrum. The Elder offered to switch nights. The Younger stopped crying. The Elder then said, “Just teasing” which lead to me carrying the Younger out to the car, strapping her in, and the combined strength of Mom and I to remove the Younger’s grip from the back of my neck where she had each hand holding on the other wrist (right hand on left wrist and vice-versa).

When at last it was the Younger Twin’s turn to stay the night, she had a blast while her sister was by all accounts lost without her twin.

While answering phone’s at Mom’s office so the staff could attend some required class, I managed to finish Erasmus’s In Praise of Folly. Honesty, I did not expect to finish it at all this summer. I am well past the half-way point in Sir Barrie’s novel, Tommy and Grizle. At this point, I do not see them marring each other after all; especially given that Tommy has once again realized that he does not live in the world he created and that he does not, in fact, love her in the way of most men or in the way she loves him. The whole was Barrie gay or liked little boys school of thought appears completely fabricated when examining this text. If Barrie was gay, would there not be more male homosocial scenes and themes? And where are the boys here? The only one I can find in 310 pages out of 509 is Tommy himself and there only references such as his boyhood nickname, Sentimental Tommy. Wait; when he first came home, there was a chapter where he and his friends (of both sexes) went back to their childhood haunt. To Tommy, everyone became a child again. It was Grizle, who broke the spell and Tommy saw everyone including himself instantly transformed back into adults. He goes on to imagine his best friend taking his newborn son to this place as the son grows into a small child, however, there is no return for the father and the son never sees the place his father speaks of. It seems to me then, that Barrie is projecting unto his main character a child’s ability to imagine a world greater than this one or a world that is perfect.

Wow, that was longer than I thought it would be. Sorry about that.

Knitting has been slow today. I am nearly out of the burgundy yarn for a Harry Potter scarf. No pattern, just inspired by the scarves I saw in the movie. And while this is the most pleasant experience I have had of knitting socks, I am not moved to use the itty-bitty needles. Nor am I so inspired to knit more of them than necessary.

is the weekend over yet?

VBS is over! Now we can take a week off, minus working and teaching others the joy of knitting (as if I mind that). Pulling weeds is not fun, but I have to finish in one day so I can answer phones for two.

After I posted early Friday morning, I realized that Puppy was not wearing her collar. Thankfully, Mom bought one for the little Pom-pom that was too big and never returned. So, Puppy and I popped over to Mom’s and got the collar. Since I had to take her to the beauty shop, we walked a few blocks in Mom’s neighborhood. The two of us washed my car while we were out and about. Shortly after getting home, I received a call from the Younger Twin to come pick her up from the church. Despite having her BFF there, she was tired and wanted to watch a movie. She then proceeded to tell me all about Shriek and what was going to happen next. Cute kid, do not mistake me; however I could have survived without the commentary.

The Twins really enjoyed Music Camp this week, they preformed Friday night as cats on Noah’s ark. Now they are just worn out, dinner last night after VBS was spent with the Younger crying that nothing was right and she did not know what was right. She finally got hungry enough to eat something—a chunk of my dinner. Whatever, I was just glad she quit crying.

The Step-Paternal Grandmother and I went to the Harry Potter movie after dinner. I only made three mistakes on the striping pattern in the scarf. As the credits were rolling, she could not find her phone; we ended up having to locate an usher to find it. I was shocked to find Puppy in bed with the Maternal Grandparents when I got in last night. Little Benedict-a.

highs and lows

My mobile phone is slowly dying, so I’m on Mom’s old one…also slowly dying but people are able to get through to me. My camera is dead, again; I am using Mom’s old one since I do not have the funds to get a new one. I suppose that now I know what to say when family asks what I want for my birthday. Still, this is just aggravating.

I stopped by the graduate office, just missing everyone I needed to talk to. My name is not on the tentative TA list, which just makes my heart sink. No idea where to go from here, except the loan office again.

However, the good news is that I can turn a heel using 2 circ needles. What would I do without my weekly knitting group? Whatever they wish to call themselves, knitting groups rock. Not only can they teach you new things, like turning a heel, they also help preserve your sanity. Better yet, they admire finished products, giving ones ego a nice boost.

According to the Maternal Grandmother, the tee-ball party was a disaster. A storm came in minutes before the beginning and the event had to be moved indoors. Not many people came, although a few straggled in late. We did have the cutest trophies; and everyone liked the little gift we put together for them. Mom had each girl (and the other coach) a pillow slip with their name and a grasshopper embroidered on it. There was also a little tackle box with craft stuff in it.

The pirate party was a huge success, as over 70 kids showed up.

I missed both events in order to pop over to the university and attend the SnB. Both Mom and the Maternal Grandmother (and Maternal Grandfather had I asked him) told me to go knit. They cited that I really look forward to my weekly knitting night and that all those kids would get to me. I honestly did not press or argue the matter.

Another edition of Socks and Books

I am so close to getting to the heel of the socks, if my measurements are right. To be completely honest, I am using a lone, friend-less sock of the Maternal Grandmother’s.

Ha! I feel like a sock-knitter, at least for the next 5 seconds.

Not much happened today, I did read Marlow’s play and I am 1/5 of the way finished with Sir J. M. Barrie’s novel, Tommy and Grizle. I thought my book might be a first edition, but it is not. According to one bibliography of Sir Barrie’s, this book was written four years before my copy was printed. Oh well, it is still a really great book. I brings me to question the line of reality and imaginary that Sir Barrie often blurs.

The Elder Twin is with me writing up this post. She tells me that when she is finished with her pirate story (she is writing) that she wants to send it to her sister. Elder said lots of other things, but I opted to email the rest. [Sis, let me know if you did not get it.]

In other news, we are doing some serious prepping for Saturday’s VBS tonight. Puppy is getting a hair-cut on Friday.

Pictures!

Lookie! 2 socks, toe-up, 2 circular needles. The whole venture of sock knitting does feel sluggish, despite the new technique.

Not much happened today, besides the whole sock thing. I did find StepMom’s Christmas present and scratched her name off the list.

My camera’s batteries are low and did not take good pictures, but here is the best on of the Cable-Down Raglan.

I am taking the Twins to and from Music Camp this week. The Elder Twin watched Knitty Gritty with me, but I don’t think she was impressed by the guest at all (and the guest was very impressive, casting on from behind her back? Way too cool.). This Twin does not knit with me often and when she does, it is mostly for me to hold her. She adored the ‘church wrap,’ as Mom calls it, that I made for her. Case in point, she fell asleep in it during singing yesterday. Why is it when she wants to knit with me, I fail to get any knitting done? Oh well, sisters are worth it. It is nice to have someone appreciate my knitted gifts and I do almost have the Younger Twin knitting and purling.

Mom has two closings on Friday and somehow she has to squeeze in VBS prep. That whole shebang is Saturday, nearly all day. The Maternal Grandmother’s workshop on play therapy went over nicely. Turns out, she gets double credit for the venture.

The tee-ball awards ceremony is Thursday night…the same time as the SnB. Two dates to prom and no clue what to wear.

Books and knitting

I adored Jane Austen’s novel. The letter Captain Wentworth writes to Anne…it was almost as good as Mr. Darcy’s entire character. Almost. This main character was quietly lovely. Why does that only make sense if you have read the book? Anyone who liked P&P’s Lizzy is in for a shock with Anne Elliot Wentworth. Where Lizzy was open and straightforward, Anne was a sealed vault. All the same, I came to love her. Who could not? It is a Jane Austen character.

The Maternal Grandmother has gone with me nearly every day last week to estate sales or antique shops. It has been good knitting time for me and I have found very nice editions of minor works by my favorite writers. J. M. Barrie among them. Naturally, I am no closer to picking out what exactly I want to explore in literature. I remain optimistic, nevertheless.

The Cable-Down Raglan is complete, even with the modifications I made to the pattern. Someday a picture will be posted. I am very glad it is finally done, no big projects for the time being; though I am working out the pattern of a mosaic hat.

This afternoon I saw the new Disney movie…the one about the cooking rat. I would have enjoyed it more had I not had the Elder Twin in my lap nearly the entire movie. Needless to say, not much knitting was done. The Twins and I went with the StepPaternal Grandmother, who also treated us to ice cream after the movie. I wonder how StepSister number 1 would like an afternoon like that for her birthday.

jumping

Zoo camp is over, and once again the Twins throughly enjoyed themselves. They spent the night here last night and by all accounts demonstrated their new crafting skills. This morning they showed me all 20 of their new paper-plate snakes (that do not have eyebrows, they emphasized this point several times).

The 4^th is over with nothing overly exciting. Other than, of course, the burning question of wither or not Jane Austen’s hero of Persuasion, Anne, will marry her lost now found love who is currently in love with someone else. The ‘other woman’ as it were is Anne’s sister’s younger sister-in-law who two chapters ago received a very serious head wound after jumping/falling off a short cliff. The girl is expected home and is recovering while Anne herself is in Bath with pompous family members. My stars, this is much better entertainment than any show on TV. A very good thing as this week has been declared marathon week on cable.

Speaking of jumping, I spent nearly two full hours on the I-40 Bridge last night while someone contemplated jumping off. I was fortunate enough to be on the bridge itself and after finishing the first sleeve of my Cable-Down Raglan, I was able to turn around and get on Front St to I-55. At first, I had thought to wait it out. However, when people closer to the front were turning back saying, “No progress,” I cast-off in more ways than one.

Ok, so I belled the sleeves. The pattern's instructions left them a little too loose for my taste, but rather than letting the frogs eat the entire sleeve; I ripped back 33 rows and belled them. I like the effect myself.

The SnB group was small last night. And by small I mean a party of two. On the bright side of life, the other knitter is in a charity organization that needs yarn. I purged an entire box this afternoon. Since it is for a good cause, the discarded yarn will not find its way back into my stash.

The Twins have been in Zoo Camp this week. The Elder is not nearly as thrilled about this as the Younger clearly is. Speaking of the Twins, the Elder wanted to play a make-believe game and the conversation went along these lines:

Elder: I’ll be queen and you be the servant.

Younger: I don’t want to be the servant.

Elder: But I’m older so you have to be the servant.

Younger: But I don’t want to.

Mom: Girls, lets drop the subject.

Elder: But I like this subject.

May God or whoever is in charge have mercy and protect their kindergarten teacher and all who follow.

Yesterday, I had a level two migraine. For someone who lived with them as long as I did without medication, one would suppose it would not have been a major occasion. Yet I took both a pill and nap to get over it.

I spent the day with the Maternal Grandmother in Collierville. She wanted to look at all the little shops and antique places. Turned out to be a very productive excursion; as I found artsy jewelry for several people on my Christmas shopping list. This list now includes the DC family. After a few talks with my Dad that included: “everyone loves your knitted gifts and they are very sweet, but,” I have decided not to knit that branch of the family anything. Sure, there is one project I want to finish that was designated as one of their gifts. However, someone else might be getting it instead. Or I might frog the stupid thing. I have not made up my mind yet.

This choice has been a bitter relief. For starters, there is that whole wool allergy thing and I adore working with yarn that is a renewable resource (like wool or bamboo since both can be re-grown by a sheep or plant, respectfully). And I really don’t think the mohair wrap (a pain to work with but a beautiful product) went over too well with my StepMom. All the same, now I have tons of knitting time that goes into other projects. And I have started knitting some things for me which is a very strange experience.

On a more pleasant note, I ordered some bamboo circulars on eBay. They came in yesterday and are a dream to work with. Now I have the materials to work socks on 2 circulars. Although I really should finish the Cable-Down Raglan and shawl/blanket for the Younger Twin before I start thinking about a new technique and project. Who am I kidding? I have a list of 13 things I want to knit. Yes, 2 socks on circular needles are on that list.

The SnB group was absolutely fabulous on Thursday night. On of the ladies present said I could become a Master Knitter. Out of pure curiosity, I looked up the basic qualifications and let’s just say I want to finish all of my education before embarking on that road.

I finally cast-on the Younger Twin’s shawl/blanket. She really likes the colors and even helped me work on it during Church. As for my Cable-Down Raglan, one of the sleeves is almost done. I want to modify the sleeves into a bell-sleeve; but how would that look? And do I want to or is it a passing phase? I shall probably end up putting the stitches on waste yarn while debating the issue at the next SnB.

The family and some extended family had lunch here today. That was quite noisy, everyone having tons of fun. Best of all, I was promoted up to the grown-up table without needing a bigger seat (long story, abridged: some tables are too high for me to sit at, requiring the location of a taller chair).

I accidentally took Sir Thomas Browne with me the other day instead of Jonathon Swift. However, I did finish Browne and will be taking a mental break by reading Jane Austen next. She is quite a lovely author.