Category: Uncategorized

It would be Monday again, and I’d be at my boxing lesson. And I would box better than I did. I would not flop my elbows out, I would not give my opponent a chance to zing me one. I would throw my jabs more quickly.

I saw Cher in concert, you know. She was like a Barbie doll with lots of outfits to show off.

Monday will be here soon enough. I have boxing gloves now, just little practice ones, but they look super cool. I don’t hurt my hand as much with them on. Maybe all this shadowboxing will pay off. Maybe I’ll keep my elbows where they belong.

I tried to watch Broken Flowers last night, but was too tired. Now my chance at it is over…only get 24 hours with Movielink. If I could turn back time. I would have waited to start that movie.

Jaycrawler progress: almost done with that heel flap. May even finish tonight if I get off the darn computer. By finish I mean the heel flap. NOT the sock!

Noelle posted about someone talking trash about bloggers, knit bloggers in particular. While I tend to walk away from this sort of ugliness (the trash talking, to be clear), I do think that it’s sort of a super ratty thing to grouse about. I agree with Noelle. Click your mouse somewhere else if you are not interested in what is going on in someone’s blog.

I’ve learned so much from reading blogs, about knitting, about books, about cool sites to visit. Blog reading is a nice part of my day. I don’t have a television. I haven’t had one in 14 years, with the exception of the time I spend at Neal’s house. Knitblogs are my entertainment, and to be frank, much more productive and interactive than television usually is. We all know I’m hopelessly hooked on Netflix-ing Sex in the City. But I get more out of keeping up with the projects my local girlys are working on and reading blogs like Whip Up.

Blogs give me a sense of community outside of my UNM graduate student world. Does this community replace real life for me? No, but it is a part of my real life. Here’s some interesting reading about blogs. Those of us writing blogs do so for a variety of reasons. We know we’re opening up our lives, the part of our lives that we as narrators choose to reveal, to anyone who stumbles by. Those who lurk, or who like to read blogs and comment but don’t have their own do so for their own reasons (btw, stop lurking. Join the WBNM Posse on my frappr map. Just for fun.). Those who are just plain ol’ snarky, but keep reading anyway…I, a woman of great imagination, cannot imagine why. What do you think?

I remember asking my mom that question when I was a teenager (lo, those many years). Her response has always stuck with me. See, Babs washes the Donald’s hair in the sink each night. After cleaning up the kitchen from dinner, she pulls a couple of towels out of the linen closet and puts them on the table. She puts the nicer one (you know how there’s always a more raggedy towel) on top, to be used by the Donald. That, she told me, is love. When you want the best for the other person. You know what else she told me? The Donald always switches them, so the nicer one is waiting for her. There may be other ways to define love, but that’s the one I cherish. And, heck, they’re going to celebrate 50 years of marriage before too long. I guess they oughta know.

Happy Valentine’s Day, my loveys.

I don’t get a big thick New York Times delivered to my door. I read it online. I miss the Sunday Times, though, and although I could easily have the physical paper in my hands, I’m going to stick to the online version while I’m in NM. Because, you see, I take most of the day to read the physical version. Sometimes most of the week.

Since I spent much of this evening on homework and fretting by the phone, I thought Short Story Sunday could have an “I’m Five” diversion. Want to join? Read this article, then post a comment about a book club in your life…past or present. The good. The bad. The…you get the picture. Lurkers, this is a good time to participate. Don’t make me call on you.

Here’s my book club story. For 18 months in 2000-2002, I met with a group of friends–some of whom became friends through our meetings–each week to read James Joyce’s Ulysses aloud. I had never read it and was determined to do so. We had the usual reference books to help us through, as well as the experience of a professor, lots of artistic folks, and a woman who grew up sharing a bedroom with her Irish gram. We rotated homes, always had good snacks, tried to meet in pubs (too dark and noisy), comforted each other after 9/11 (we met in Westchester. We knew a lot of people who suffered), celebrated New Years, birthdays, births, and anniversaries. We stopped meeting shortly after the book was finished. No one wanted to re-read it right away, and Portrait doesn’t have the same “read me aloud” music to it. That group, Pam, Joel, Fred, Robert, Susan, Andy, Margie and me, plus the many drop in folks, has a bond that I feel for few other groups. Good reading. Good discussions. What more can you ask for?

Gee, a few days off the computer, and it’s all exciting! The new Anticraft is up. Shall we explore? First off, kudos to the crew for dedicating the issue to those affected by cancer. Let’s all think about those we know for a moment, ok?

Part of the fun of this issue is that it isn’t all knitting. Gasp if you must, but let’s be real. If you’re a knitter, most likely you enjoy other crafts, too. But we’ll start with the knitting. These socks would be a loving treat for any man. Like to cook? Try this recipe. I might try it without the chicken. I know Carole is going to make this. And while I’m not going to make this, I like the idea of a collage or diorama, or whatever you call it.

Other online fun…I came across this KAL. You know you’ve seen this bag, wanted, lusted, longed for this bag. Me too. While there are a few projects in line ahead of it, I joined the KAL so I’d be able to keep it in the front of my mind. I especially love the Mary Poppins button. She’s one of my favorite characters. Possibly because my gramp and my oldest brother were chimney sweeps.

MP takes alot of yarn, though, and as you all know, I’m on a bit of a diet. Look: Weekend Getaway Satchel (Marta McCall)Reynolds Lite-Lopi (l00% wool; 109 yd [100 m]/50 g): #0005 black heather (MC), 15 skeins; #0434 crimson, 5 skeins; #0439 cherry red, #0414 burnt red, #0444 dark grass, #0240 golden green, #0435 goldenrod, #0443 bright blue, #0438 light fuchsia, #0436 pumpkin, #0442 royal blue, #0264 mustard, #0441 leaf (light green), and #0440 bright purple, 1 skein each. All colors are used double throughout. Yarn distributed by JCA Inc.

That’s a lot of yarn, huh? So, I think this is going to be a summer ’06 project.

ETA: My favorite knitting designer has a new pattern in the Spring Interweaves. Check it out. I want it.

Is it wrong to embroider a onesie while watching Sex in the City? If it is, well I don’t wanna be right! My ex-SIL is scheduled for a C-section delivery of her second daughter on the 17th, and I thought I’d play with this cutie poodle for a little gift. I like the fairly instant gratification of little embroidery projects. I’m such a slow knitter that I sometimes need the boost of a FO to keep me crafting.

There’s snow in the NE, have you heard? I spoke with my cousin this morning and had a spark of glee when I heard that. Surely, I thought, Neal can’t fly home in this. He’ll have to find a flight tomorrow morning. But he’s smart, my guy. He called me on my “yippee, it’s snowing, I don’t have to do my homework” attitude. If you grew up in a snowy region, you know what I mean. Well, if you grew up in the South or NM, it probably only took two flakes before school was cancelled. If you grew up in TN, a little rain seems to do the trick (so MB tells me).

So, after a few tears I admitted that he was right. Most likely, he would not be staying here that extra day. Now I’m waiting by the phone to hear he’s safe and sound. Another hour or so. Fly safe, Delta plane, fly safe.

While I’m waiting, I may as well bask in the memories of our too short weekend. Dinner on my birthday (thanks, btw, for all the lovely wishes/cards/gifts) was yummy: rigatoni with artichoke hearts and lemon caper sauce. On Friday we bought paint for touching up a few marks on the walls and to FINALLY paint my closet doors (installed a year ago. Yup, I didn’t once think I should tackle that myself). Friday night we met D&M for dinner at il vicino. At the risk of sounding all NY on you, it’s the closest thing to pizza I’ve found in NM. After dinner we headed out to the UNM Works in Progress. My pals Carson and Allen both did strong readings, and then my teacher Dan made me laugh as I envied his skill. More important, he got Neal to want to read a short story. Neal’s been begging off reading b/c of tired eyes, and this frustrates me. He went home with Dan’s collection, How Animals Mate. My best birthday gift of all.

When we came home, Neal read the essay I’m working on for my CNF class. It was so great to be able to talk about my writing with him, to hear what he thought, to talk about all sorts of things. Sometimes phone dates just don’t cut it. Face-to-face conversation with him reminds me how lucky I am to have him in my life. I’m gushing now. Sorry.

Saturday we returned to my puppy’s home: Madrid, NM. I like going there, but it’s starting to feel like Santa Fe South. I’m not such a fan of Santa Fe, can you tell? I bought myself an egg separator at Conley Studio Pottery. If you go to Madrid, stop in there to see some neat things. After a nap on Saturday (Neal painted closet doors, I napped), we found a little Albuquerque miracle: a beautiful meal. My girly Ramona’s place Graze is worth a visit. Worth planning my next visit. Soon. Neal and I shared a Graze plate…such flavor! such perfection in portion size! Neal opted for a sea bass special, while I luxuriated in the wild mushroom orzo. With truffle oil…possibly my favorite taste of all time, and this, my dear reader, is my new comfort food.

Now…I’m waiting for the phone call that lets me know my lovey is home safe. How long until the end of May?

I just got home from having my first creative non-fiction essay workshopped. I wrote about some things that have weighed on me for decades, some things that have been critical in how I see life. It was hard at times to listen to what people had to say. I have a renewed sense of direction, though, which is good.

I came home to find a letter from one of my neighbors urging me to take more of a leadership role in our Homeowner’s Association Board. I’m on the Board, which I’m glad to do–I like to be involved–but I joined it with the explicit understanding that I COULD NOT take a leadership role. My instinct is to just do it, to make happen what needs to happen. But the fact of the matter is that I will be gone in May. What good does three months (two, really, as I’ll be at conferences most of March) of leadership do? A bit of sticking my thumb in a dam, I’d say. I’m bitter right now. I sometimes feel like I give and give and then get asked to give more. Of course I can say “sorry, no.” But in this situation, I’m feeling manipulated. The fact that I’m moving was used as a chip of sorts in this letter. As in, don’t I want to make sure everything remains in order as I go to sell my place? Permit another moment of whining. I am about one responsibility away from collapsing into full-on freaked out mode. Ok. That’s enough, Missy.

Countdown: 30 minutes until my big day. 16 hours until I pick Neal up at the airport.

Noelle made the comment that she and her sweetie pie hubby had a conversation in which my name, Post Modern, and Audrey were all mentioned. That set me to thinking about the what-do-I-call-my-blog-when-I-move question. PoMoGolightly it is, then. I’m setting a new space up for myself, and I’ll be sure to let you know when it’s ready.

In Stitch and Bitch news (bring it Sew Fast, Sew Sleazy. I got a right hook to knock your socks off), there was a record 28 knitters at Flying Star tonight. Shout out to the girlys! Scout gave us our “business cards,” so if I see you knitting, I’ll slip you one as a private invite a la Gertrude Stein.

Since I know my readership is as vast as the stars in a New Mexican night sky, let me ask for help here. I KNOW that somewhere I saw a picture/schematic of how to properly measure for the One Skein Wonder. I lucked out and sized the one I made for my little cousin just right, but this one is for a swap, and I want to make sure it’s perfect for the recipient. Anyone know where that is online? I wish I’d bookmarked it like I seem to do with everything else I find.

Neal Countdown: 40 hours to go! Gotta clean and stock the fridge and catch up on homework. The time will fly!

Just thought I’d let you know. Can’t cry during my workout, but…ouchy! My fellow boxing student couldn’t make practice today, so it was me and the Rev. I hit some good punches. Muttering nasty things about people I dislike helped a lot. And realizing that I’m ambidextrous when I box helped, too. It shows up in strange places. Do you think that explains my inability to remember left from right without thinking about it (really hard)? Damn, I got a good hook. Left or right. Gotta work on that upper cut, now.

I’m off to a hot shower. These bones are getting old. I’m proud of the bruise on my left knuckle (call me quaint, biatch) and the scrapes on both hands (take that, smirking student). I can’t wait for next Monday.

Neal countdown: 65 hours. Woohoo!

My little girly is two today. Well, her grandma decided this would be her birthday, because do you ever really know when you adopt a little pup? This picture is of us the day after I adopted Maddie.

Maddie is my first dog. Neal’s Tilly, who loved me through a hard time in my life, was the first dog I ever REALLY knew, the dog who made me think I might want a puppy pal of my own. Less than a month after I moved to NM, lonely and sad, my sister MB sat outside of Pet Smart, holding my chai and not at all annoyed, while I fell in love with the divine Miss M. Her name is short for Madrid, my favorite town in NM. Her loving previous owner (who was moving and not sure she could take Maddie a.k.a. Tickle with her) and I spoke on the phone, and I learned that Maddie was from Madrid. X, her first owner, had found her tied by a shoelace to a telephone pole. As if that isn’t awful enough, she had over 300 ticks and shards of glass in her. Life picked up after that…I adopted her mere hours after X, broken hearted, gave her up. She’s living with Tilly and Neal in CT now, learning to be a more obedient girl, and cute as an effing button. I’m so in love with her, I can’t imagine life without her, even if I’m 2,500 miles away from her. Sometimes I hear her singing for her supper (she LOVES her some supper!) during my phone dates with Neal.

For her birthday, she dug in the muddy back yard, then took a road trip to Auntie I’s to visit her pal Romeo. Neal’s promised a sliver of cheese for a special nighttime treat.

Mama loves you, birthday girl! xx