she's just saying...

Ignite yourself

[From Jen, a friend and fellow blogger:]

"If you had five minutes on stage what would you say? What if you only got 20 PowerPoint slides and they rotated automatically every 15 seconds?

 Around the world people have been putting together “Ignite” nights to share their answers. Visit the Ignite Bend website to find out more about local events. More information about Ignite Events held around the world can be found at O’Reilly’s Ignite website.

The local website goes on to say: "topics range from tech to gardening to current events. It’s fast, it’s fun, it’s theater/concert/stand-up all rolled into one! At Ignite Bend #1, speakers talked about Legos, social media, karma, acronyms, and more..."

So, there's the plug: it's June 4 for all you Central Oregonians.Check it out.

The concept is very similar to Henry's fourth-grade class assignment last week: Pick a topic of interest about an invention or idea and give a 3-minute speech with visuals. Henry picked the zipper, which meant that I've learned more than you can imagine about the history of zipper design. Fascinating stuff. Maybe that could be my Ignite Bend topic. Or maybe I should talk about chicken sweaters.Or how (not) to build a water feature by yourself with no skills or equipment.

What would you pick to speak about, if this was your assignment?

A single mother's day

1. Fed dogs, cats, fish and Henry
2. Did laundry
3. Epoxy'ed front gate screws
4. Raked one of 7 garden beds
5. Made Henry lunch
6. Felt sorry for self
7. Picked up dog poop
8. Made Henry sweep the decks and wash the porch chairs
9. Wet-vacced out the scummy pond
10. Patched liner again
11. Repaired the hoses
12. Filled and watched the waterfall
13. Realized it was still slowly leaking
14. Went inside, poured some wine and watched the Red Sox
15. Kissed my sweet boy goodnight

Amaryllis of the day

striped amaryllis, originally uploaded by Meltrier.

This is probably the most spectacular one yet.

Though it's labeled "Ludwig Dazzler, a brilliant white," it clearly isn't. I'll have to do some research.

Update: it's "United Nations" if anyone out there is interested...

Summer camp crazies, one more time

Once again, I find myself reviewing a year-old post and realizing that nothing has changed in the intervening time. This is about registering Henry for summer camps.

As a working single parent, I have to book him for twelve weeks of activities this summer. At an average of $160 a week, it adds up quickly. To avoid the hell of standing in line this year, you can register on-line for a mere 6% more, which also adds up.

Here's last year's post on the subject, comin' round again:

Hell no, I won't go.

"I can't face getting up at 4 am Sat. to stand in line to sign Henry up for the Bend Parks & Rec summer programs. The doors open at 7, so to get your choices, you truly have to line up at 5. 5 AM outside, that is. It's cold and dark and miserable. We huddle in chairs and blankets, wearing our ski gear, waiting it out. Many jokes about how a few years ago, it would have been for concert tix.

Just as bad is the upcoming signup for Kids Inc, the before/after-school care BPR runs in the local schools. Great program, limited space. Last year I got in line at 5, and people were camped out from the night before. It was miserable, boring, cold and damp under the trees at Hollinshead Barn. I love our Parks & Rec for the incredible job they do with programs, parks and trails. But there's GOT to be another solution for this registration fiasco. What it does is reward the most determined, obsessive, clued-in parents who are able to stand in line for hours those mornings. Those who aren't in the know, are new to town or don't have the resources to get there early are screwed for summer camps or childcare for the school year."

Old relationships never die...

Maybe the best way to end something is to not end it at all, but just let it fade away, as the old song goes.

We so much want "closure" in this world. The last scene, a final act, the curtain drops, the lights go out, it's over now. But maybe that's not the way the natural world works. Instead, that "finality" is actually an artificial construct, a directed vision of how we think things should end.

Often when we speak of closure, we really mean another chance to interact. Often, closure just gives us the opportunity to open things again. We're still feeding the beast.

To allow things to just wind down and peter out seems weak, indecisive. But it is an action, and possibly the most final one you can make.

I'm not sure. I'm just saying.

Knit one purl one; pass it on.

I've taught two people to knit successfully.

The first was a 15-yr old boy who lived across the street. What motivated him to learn were the other snowboarder guys who were crocheting hats on the bus to the mountain. Seriously. He would watch out his window to see when I was home from work and come over with his yarn and needles. He caught on quickly and we progressed through the steps to start on his first hat. Every couple of nights he'd appear at my door with a dropped stitch or other little goof he'd need me to fix, then go back home and knit. He finished his hat and we moved on to slipper socks. He had a grand plan of producing slipper socks and selling them to fellow students. He even got orders, but eventually other things intervened, like girls and a driver's permit. He's way too cool now to knit, but you never know, someday...

The other student I had was PJ, my boss at the time and a great friend. We'd work on her knitting at lunch hour. We got a lot of bemused looks and curious comments - knitting was not really that hip at the cellphone company. She started with a scarf and went on from there, joining the knitting group and becoming a masterful knitter. Here's her latest project:

I can't tell you how impressed I am with this.  I've been knitting for a thousand years and haven't gotten to where she is with this sweater. I will take the credit for starting her off, though. I hope that she'll teach two others and pass it on.

I'm not an agoraphobe - I just don't leave the house.

I have a reputation among my close friends as a regular no-show at social events, even when I've assured them I'm going to be there. It's clearly deserved - I've become a hermit. I just want to stay home these days.

I don't know why, and it worries me a little. Depression, social phobia, agoraphobia? None of those seem likely given the pharmacy of meds I take. I'm comfortable in groups, social, outgoing and chatty - you would never call me an introvert. I used to love going out. So what's going on?

I have two parties to go to this evening, and I'm dreading both. And these are very casual, fun events with good friends and kids - Henry would come with. I've told everybody we're coming, and back when I was invited, I really thought they'd be fun. But it tires me just to think about putting out all that social energy, and I am trying to think up excuses to stay home.

My only explanation is that I'm constantly "on" at work; talking, collaborating, negotiating, being up and positive and helpful. So I just want to withdraw evenings and weekends. The line I use on Henry is "you always have fun once you get there" and it's probably true. But honestly, I'd rather stay home, cook an interesting dinner, watch a movie with H and knit.

Is that so wrong???

Be jealous. Be very jealous.

Presenting the winning prizes for my blogoversary contest.

For Monkey: Bob is testing out the catnip mouse here and deems it acceptable.

Here's KG's Koffee Kup Kozy:

Maybe I should quit my day job and sell knitted tchatchkes. You may place your orders...

repeat, rerun, recycle

I'm realizing that many of the posts I wrote last year can just be re-pasted as new entries.

Does that mean I'm in rhythm with the cycle of the seasons in my life, or that my life is really boring?

Whatever, it makes for easy blogging for lazy bloggers. And since most of you didn't read this blog back then, it's all new to you!

From last April:

Ah, Spring in Central Oregon!

Every C.O. blog is probably posting a similar thought today.

the very latest in poultrywear

With fear and trepidation, I bring you a knitted chicken garment pattern. (Not a knitted chicken, but a knitted pattern for a chicken).

(For my newer readers, some back story: this blog catapulted in hits through search results after I re-published a BBC article about a woman who knit capes for rescued chickens. Much of my traffic comes from all those chicken-loving knitters out there, most of whom appear to live in England.)

I've never actually knitted fowlwear myself, nor am I a poultry farmer, unlike my blog friend Kathi D. (Gratuitous Kathi D plug here.)

However, since I seem to be a clearinghouse for the info, here's a free pattern. This knitter makes shawls for young chicks, and as she says, "the front two corners are tacked together, because chickens can’t use shawl pins."

Pretty cute, actually:

Now I just sit back and watch my traffic stats climb again.

Tweedy goodness in the works

I finally landed on a pattern for my tweedy shetland yarn that I've been stashing up for years, and I'm quite happy with it.

I forgot how fast things knit up on size 10 needles. It's an easy pattern with enough cabling to keep it interesting, and quite well-written. I had a question on one instruction and emailed the pattern company (Sirdar), and someone wrote back to explain the stitch. Nice, huh?

I'm going to cut down the collar to reduce the bat cape effect, but other than that, no modifications, which means I can mindlessly follow the pattern exactly, a rare occurrence.

Maybe this will be the mythical sweater project with none of the angst and doubt and disappointment I've experienced in the past. And if that sounds overly dramatic and even ludicrous, you're probably not a knitter.

and so it begins...

Just sit. And pet me.

I'm guessing the Buddha didn't have pets.

Fundamental to Buddhist practice is sitting meditation. I practice somewhat sporadically these days, but it's an important, meaningful and refreshing activity for me (more like non-activity, really). However, it's a little hard to do with lovey, hungry, furry beings climbing all over me.

I like to sit just after I wake up. My pets like to eat just after I wake up.

They remind me of this by rubbing up against me, purring, grunting, dropping balls by my feet, scratching at the door,  barking, meowing loudly, and just generally bugging me. Especially when I'm sitting on my cushion on the floor.

They're my little Bodhisattvas, enlightened beings who stay among us to help us reach nirvana ourselves. I'm guessing their message to me is to stay in the present and take care of others' needs first.

It's a frustrating but loving lesson.

Bob hogging the cushion, deep in thought.

Friday cop out

You can tell that a blogger is scraping the bottom of the content barrel when you see posts like this.

 

You're supposed to fill in the blanks:

1. Apparently there's some sort of _____.
2. _____ sunny day.
3. 2009 _____ so far.
4. _____ that was it.
5. For too long I've been _____.
6. I am not obsessed with _____; I am not!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _____, tomorrow my plans include _____ and Sunday, I want to _____!

So here are mine:

1. season called "spring" though you wouldn't know it from Bend
2. However, it's a gloriously
3. has been pretty good, actually,
4. When he moved, I thought
5. short
6. knitted chicken sweaters
7. chardonnay, the Red Sox/Yankees game, lose five pounds

carrot art

carrot art, originally uploaded by Meltrier.

Seen at a market in Portland. A very fancy market.

This spoke to me in a profound way, though I'm unable to articulate why.

Anyone?

A lost weekend for me and my blog

A brief interlude in Portland, the blow-out Trail Blazers game, sushi and shopping, then to Salem for the Oregon Tourism Conference, then 24 hours of food poisoning, then sleep-driving back to Bend. You really don't want to hear about it. I'll post about something fun tonight.

outed to 450 plus

Whoops. Met nancydbrown here at conference, and exchanged blog info. She then introduced me (and my blog) to the entire breakfast event. So go check her blog out & say hi for me.

Visiting with Industrious Visitors of the Visitor Industry

I'm at the Oregon Tourism Conference in Salem, Oregon. More to come...

Four(teen) Eyes

My mother used to say that it was a good thing that I had such perfect teeth, because my eyesight sucked. (No, of course she didn't say "suck").  My siblings and I all had glasses from an early age. I remember my first pair: they were pink with silvery sparkles. I loved them. Then I got sophisticated and moved up to the blue ones with sparkles. Finally in college I got contacts, and my social life picked up immediately.

Above is my eyewear wardrobe. Every day I get to mix and match.
1. From the front: stylish no-line sunglasses with reader lenses (for reading by the pool while wearing contacts).
2. My "regular" sport sunglasses (to wear with contacts)
3. Prescription sunglasses - kind of dorky because I had some old bifocals tinted, but they work.
4. My reading glasses that I wear OVER my contacts*
5. My prescription glasses
6. My contacts

*Because I'm extremely nearsighted while at the same time losing my ability to focus closely, my contacts correct for distance and I have to wear reading glasses to see the computer or anything else within four feet.

Sometimes I think I should give it all up and just wear glasses. But putting aside my fragile vanity, I see much better with contacts.

Myopia + presbyopia + astigmatism + glaucoma. I think I'd choose cavities.

Answer: Hot Cross Buns

See Question two posts down.

Sheesh. I gave you a big visual hint, I thought. Do I have to do everything for you?

You may already be a wiener.

(Speaking of jokes, this was once my brother's favorite cartoon: a large hot dog standing by his mailbox reading a piece of mail that said the title of this post.)

And speaking of jokes, didn't anyone like my rabbit joke? Or maybe it was too SUBTLE for you... you didn't get it but were too embarrassed to say so. That's alright - I understand.

Moving on and backwards at the same time, here are the official Blogoversary small knitted object winners:

(drum roll)

1. MONKEY and
2. KG

OK, men: what will you have? Catnip mouse, warshrag or latte snuggly?