Does your life ever feel like a game of Frogger? Lately, readers, it's been one damn thing after another. Oversleep? Wading through deep snow while wearing clogs? Car troubles? Gates down at the RR crossing forever? Participating in the daily Pedestrian 500? All this and more is part of my glamorous life! I've finally got a weekday off to get my car to the mechanic and arranged to have it seen/fixed, so the car decides to freeze shut. This leads to me jumping up and down next the car, trying to stay warm, while swearing and kicking ice chunks off of the undercarriage. One good kick and an incredibly determined tug on the lower corner of the door popped it open, but not before my hands were totally numb. This cold weather just makes everything seem more aggravating than usual.
So, I've decided to get out of town for a couple of days. Minus the car. It would be wise to head towards tropical climes, but I've decided instead to go visit a friend at my alma mater. We're going to watch movies, knit, and wear many layers of clothing.
It's not all bad here, really. My boss returned from TNNA with presents for all of the staff. She brought me a signed copy of Knit Knit, a very inspirational, avant garde design book that includes a design from Anna Bell (aka Amelia Raitte). I'd thought about buying it before, so it was a very cool gift!
We also had a visit from Franklin, of The Panopticon. I hadn't seen him in a while, so I was pleasantly surprised when he came into the store. He's such a darling that I let my lunch go completely cold while I talked to him. I tried hard not to be a dork.
Well, must be off to pack an impossible collection of items into my LeSportsac Weekender. How many knitting projects do I really need? And how much can I carry?

The Cut Direct

I have purchased several copies of Einstein's Dreams over the years. It is a truly amazing book that I have given as a gift six times, I think. One of my Lighting Design classmates introduced me to the book in college, saying that it had completely changed her ideas about design. It's a life changing book that has inspired plays, dances, and a cult following. Thank god Alan Lightman has no inclination to be the next L. Ron Hubbard. Though I love this book dearly, I've never managed to keep a copy of it for myself. Every time that I buy one, I end up giving it away.

I bought a copy to give as a Christmas gift this year. It looks as though this one will stay in the library. I am no longer speaking to the intended recipient. This is a recent, painful development that has left me contemplating the fragile and ephemeral nature of friendships.




For one person to look directly at another and not acknowledge the other ... is such a breach of civility that only an unforgivable misdemeanor can warrant the rebuke... It is a direct stare of blank refusal, and is not only insulting to its victim but embarrassing to every witness. Happily it is practically unknown in polite society. Emily Post, 1922

Sorry for the temporary blog abandonment. I've been running myself ragged. First Christmas, then late nights with friends, and now a commissioned piece with a fast approaching deadline. I could live in the bathtub! So, I'm going to cheat on this post and make a random list. I'll do a real post once the sweater is finished.

* I finally broke down and bought myself the MAC brush set for eyes, after several years of putting it on the xmas list. Clearly, my relatives do not appreciate my need to be fabulous. They are so much better than my old Clinique brushes. It is so much easier to do my eyes now (especially with their eyeliner brush! Love!) that I might actually do my makeup more often. I also got some new under-eye concealer and powder. It was a good day for the MAC counter.

* After working with both the Addi Turbos and the Addi Turbo Lace needles, I still prefer the originals. The point on the lace needles is fabulous, but I miss the slickness of the original turbos. This is not to say that the lace needles are poky, it's more like the difference between 4th and 5th gear. When you're in a hurry, you need 5th!

* I went to The Fold in Marengo for the first time. It was fabulous, even though we got terribly lost in the middle of nowhere. Their store is a real destination LYS. It was packed for their New Year's Sale, but everyone was in such good spirits. There are few other stores where standing in line for forty minutes would be tolerated. Kelly bought really great roving to try out her new spinning wheel and I was very good and only bought two skeins of yarn. They were 560 yard put-ups, but technically only two skeins.

* I'm back to riding the train for my regular commute. I would prefer to drive, but the parking costs were killing me. Sadly, the Trib company still hasn't returned to my train station to fill the paper boxes. Did you know that it is November 15th, 2007? Well, that is the date on the paper in the Tribune box at my train station, and it really ticks me off. Have they given up my area as Sun Times readers? I never read that other paper, even though it is the only one available for purchase on my way in. Perhaps this is a sign that I should knit more instead of reading the paper.