Dear Blog,

I think of you every day, yet, I never take the time to write.

So this is a quickie:

In our house we've been plagued with colds and sinus issues. Two rounds of antibiotics and steroids each. And one of us is still hacking.

As the two readers of this page may recall, I'm a big ballet fan. I've been a season ticket holder (that's patron) to the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater for thirty(!) years. I'm a believer in supporting the arts you love - be it professional wrestling, jazz, or whatever. Our ballet is incredibly flexible in their season ticket holder policies. So when my mother-in-law passed away, and we just didn't feel like Giselle ten days later (even though it's my DH favorite - he has a "thing" for the Willis), we exchanged the tickets for another performance and gave them as a Christmas gift. Well, two weeks ago the creeping crud invaded out home. See above, and we didn't feel up to traveling. So I exchanged another set of tickets for the following weekend. We were packed and ready to travel Saturday (tickets were for Sunday). However, when I got up Saturday morning, we were in the middle of a snowstorm. A full blown snow storm, not the predicted flurries. So reluctantly we changed plans (you may add "yet again" here). We'd drive right to the theater on Sunday, stay overnight, and drive home Monday. The weather looked promising. Fast forward to early Sunday morning. First thing I did was to look up the weather and what did I see? A travel advisory for our entire route!!!!!???? Not for Sunday, but for Monday. That meant that we'd certainly be able to get there, but coming back was going to be a problem. As we discussed the possibility of it not being a serious advisory....it changed. Now it was a severe weather warning. So, here we are, all packed up and no where to go. Fortunately, the box office and ballet theater allowed me to swap these tickets for the final performance in April, when there is no possibility of snow - even in Central PA. At least none that will stick around. But I now have four tickets to Cinderella (with the PBT Orchestra). Anyone want to buy 2 excellent seats to Cinderella? This has not been a good year for traveling...or ballet for us.

Lastly, I'd like to share some gratuitous knitting content. My Wurm (not Raveled yet, I need a better photo). LOVE. IT. Even though it's getting a little to warm to wear it, says the woman who lives where it is currently 25 degrees.

 I used a worsted superwash called Giusto, dyed by an indie dyer Altobish. Sadly, she has given up dying yarn and has gone back to teaching viola and violin full time. I say sadly because this yarn was to die (pun intended) for. I actually bought two more skeins. It only took one to make the hat, so I have another skein in the blue, and one in spring green. It was great to knit with and I have a feeling it's going to wear like iron, which is really good. I'm not particularly gentle with my knitwear.

 Then there is this. This is Four Play, in the Gypsy Heart colorway. I find it fascinating that the skein looks so much different than the cake, which knits up totally differently in the scarf. Scrunchable Scarf,  that is. With the busy variegation, I wanted something that would be poofy, yet I didn't think cables would be a good choice. And it looks even more different than in the photo because I changed the cast on. What is in the photo is 32. I upped it to 38 (multiples of 3, +2 for selvage) and found the flashing and pooling overwhelming and repetitive. So  settled on 35 and that seems to have worked better. A 3 stitch difference really mattered.  I just love these simple yet lovely patterns. They let the yarn shine. And if you ever get the chance to snap up some Four Play, do it. You will not be disappointed. Srsly.

Knitting Content!

I may be incapable of writing a blog post for our Institute, but that's probably because they won't let me put knitting content on our blog. I have no such trouble here. Many of the folks I've followed, write about losing their knitting "mojo". Much to my chagrin....I've only lost "mojo" for very short periods, and only after an intense burst, like Christmas. After banging out a series of complex beaded ornaments several years ago, I couldn't even visualize a bead project. Clearly, my creativity (and brain) was exhausted. I think that because I don't push like that any more, I'm finding whatever I'm doing way more enjoyable. And if I don't feel like stitching on a particular day, I don't. I've even read a book. 

Which brings me to today, though I'm not the queen of the Finished Object (that distinction belongs to Chrisknits.  You go!) I do have two FOs with which I am well pleased.....

My Parcheesi Blankie:

Raveled here.

You can get all the details. This was a long time in the knitting, but that really didn't fuss me much.

It's nice to have it finished though, so I can use it. I didn't wash or block it, just curled up under it. It is very warm, and this is a nice time of year to have a new blanket.











Then there's Color Affection:

Also Raveled. Get the details. If you're interested.

This was my first experience with Madtosh light, and I really LOVED. IT.

Toward the end I was tired of the fussiness of carrying the three colors along the edge. But it wasn't all that long, and the results were worth it. I only wish I could have thought of a nicer finish for that edge, but other than applying i-cord, which I was just not in the mood to do, I can't think of anything. I'll wear it asis, and if I feel I need a better edge, I can always go ahead and add i-cord, probably in the Grasshopper color.





And now I'm in the market for a new scarf. My dearest got me a new [short] down jacket for Valentine's Day (we are nothing if not practical), in a lovely plummy color, and though I have a scarf that will suffice, I'm thinking I'd like something warmer. One of my favorite scarves is the simple and brilliant Noro Striped Scarf, which seems to go with everything I own, but I was thinking of something different. I think I've settled on the deceptively simple Scrunchable Scarf. I have some Brooks Farm Four Play in my stash, that I've had FOREVER, in Gypsy Heart, and I think the kettle dyed yarn will work fine in the simple stitch pattern, and be warm to boot. Four Play has silk in it, so I'd expect it to be warm and cozy. I was originally thinking of a Clapotis, which I've knit before [twice] and love, but because it is a little like a shawl/scarf, I was thinking it might be too "much" for a casual coat. The other candidate was the Instant Gratification scarf. But the original pattern was knit in super bulky, and is an open stitch, and Four Play is 10 ply worsted/aran, so I'm not sure it would be "fluffy enough". Besides, I think I have a skein of Ester Bitran Hand-Dyes Talinay that will be perfect for Instant Gratification, and would be a divine Christmas gift. Sadly, this yarn is discontinued, so an orphan skein might be the perfect use for this pattern. You can see my Talinay used here. So either I'll have a scarf to go with the hat or I can cannibalize the hat (though I love the pattern it is a little silly looking when I wear it, which I do! And I seem to have a hat fitting issue which I will address in a future posting.)

Yes, Christmas 2013. Lately, when I've made samples and examples for my knitting classes, and when I finish a piece that I've done before, I'm putting it aside as a gift. I've got two put aside so far and the Instant Gratification scarf, looks like it might be another volunteer - though it isn't a class sample. It also uses up some of the (discontinued) stash that will otherwise remain sitting around (now I'm wondering if I have any leftovers from another project...hummmm).  Looks like a win-win to me.

The state of ol' State.

Living in a college town does bring with it both challenges and advantages. There are sporting events, philanthropy events, academic events, arts festivals, concerts, administrator trials (oops, that might just be here), and then there are drunken events. None of the first few actually classify as "drinking events" even though some imbibing may occur. Except for this:

http://www.centredaily.com/2013/02/22/3511453/our-view-to-state-pattys-participants.html

This is strictly an excuse to wear green and get publicly wasted en masse. It is both maddening and frustrating. If you want to have wine with dinner tomorrow....well, get it today. Any place that sells alcohol, will be closed up tighter than a drum. And even though I had/have no plans to go out tomorrow, it annoys me anyway. And don't get me started on the municipal costs....it is simply too painful to contemplate.

Juxtapose that with this story  from the front page of the morning paper........ we may not have cattle rustling, but goat rustling is alive and well........

I'm still kickin'

 This has been a busy month. Classes started back up, there were family issues to resolve, we have a statewide workshop at the conference center tomorrow (Not even speaking to the staff assistant today, she's very dangerous. I may buy her a cupcake though.). The weather has been very cold - single digits during the day. Cold enough for parkas, and cold enough for me to knit this:

It's a Honey Cowl, and my, my, my, it was a wonderful knit.

My version is made with Filatura Di Crosa Yarn, Zara (a stash yarn from a now closed yarn store - RIP Knit Wits, Greensburg, I miss you!) a fine superwash merino, and a pleasure to knit with. I didn't realize it was a superwash until I tried to spit splice it, with no luck. I spit and rubbed, and spit and rubbed, to no avail. I ended up knotting it, then reading the label. Sigh. It's backwards I am.

Anyway, love the pattern, loved the mindless knitting, just what I needed. Too bad I couldn't give it the time I wanted to and now that it's finished the temp has risen to 56 degrees TODAY. A little too warm for a wool cowl. I have no fear that there will be other opportunities to wear my creation, though.  This is January, heading into February. And this is Central Pennsylvania. And no, these swings in temperature are not global warming - as I was told by a transplanted Seattle-ite. If you've lived around these here parts long enough you remember the 4 feet of snow one Friday in March, and the 60 degree temperatures the next. Or the time when it was -18 F (or thereabouts) for about a week (not wind chill), and we couldn't do laundry because the hoses froze. The next week it had rebounded to the more normal, and tropical feeling 30s. So all I have to do is wait.

Here's a closeup:

Can't you just feel how fluffy it is?

I'll eventually Ravel it. But there really isn't much more to say.

Pattern is free....go do it.











And I have another finished object waiting in the wings! But it will just have to keep waiting until another day. Probably not tomorrow because we will be entertaining nearly 200 "guests". I hope the bar is open early......

They're back!!

And it's about time!

I can't think of a good title for this post.

I'm usually dynamite at thinking of "sexy" titles for our workshops, programs and institutional blog postings, but today folks, I got nothin'.

Marcella's passing knocked the stuffing out of us. We simply lost the ability to focus. Both of us. Her son, which was to be expected, but me too, which was a surprise - to me at least. My sister, who spent 30 years as a nurse, and who is also a pragmatist by training, doesn't get it. "She was 93. She lived a great life. She didn't suffer", she told me these things over and over, to no avail. But I figured out. It doesn't matter. When someone you cared about deeply for over 30 years is gone, it leaves a hole in your life. Double that for my husband and siblings and I cannot imagine. So we've just been getting by. Our 25th anniversary came and went, and though we recognized it, we still haven't exchanged the very special gifts we have for each other. Partially it was emergency dental work, then the flu, at precisely the wrong time, but I also don't think we had the heart for it.

Then there was the very disappointing election. I'm still stunned by a country who can elect someone who made every facet of this country worse. It isn't simply that he accomplished nothing. He made it worse, with the most deceitful administration I've ever heard of or studied (and I lived through Nixon). We, personally, are on the precipice (I'm not using the word cliff deliberately) of massive health care issues (e.g., won't be able to afford our co-pays), in 2013. I'm still wondering who actually can afford the "Affordable Health Care". But don't worry, I can get free birth control pills. (I hear the hormones make good plant food. The only purpose they would serve for me.)  I feel a rant coming on so I'll stop now.

We are just catching up. Seriously. We just figured out where we will be spending Christmas. One of our families isn't happy. (Sorry Mom.) I spent the last week fussing about what to send our teenage nephews for gifts. Husband finally settled it, with one word "check".

Last year it was a town in turmoil. This year, it is all personal turmoil.

Nonetheless here are some scenes that deserve to be preserved:

An office Christmas tree (that we were discouraged from erecting last year) that each day had homemade "treats" appear on it and in it - including loaves of sweet bread. (I was beginning to be afraid of that tree.)

A Christmas party for the knitting teachers from the LYS where the owners gave everyone Nameste Better Buddies (mine is eggplant).

An SUV driving down Beaver Avenue with a red nose on the front and reindeer horns attached to the windows. 

The barista at my local coffee shop tickled to death that her finals are over.

A concert of Duke Ellington's Nutcracker arrangements.

So all is not bleak. At the grocery store, the checkout person was chatting with the customer in front of me waxing poetic about how it will be nice "to get the town back" for a little while. I agree.

We just need to remember the meaning of the holiday, and get our feet under us again in 2013. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone. We start again in 2013.

The highest compliment ....

I always thought the highest compliment a knitter could get was a request for a hand knit item, then to see it well used and well loved.

Well, I just got the highest compliment I could imagine. My dear mother-in-law left this earth to meet her maker wearing a pair of my hand knit socks. She will have warm feet for eternity. Makes me tear up to think of it.

And if that wasn't enough, her daughter gave me another pair that I had knit for her, that she wore so much there was a hole in the toe of one sock. She asked if I could repair it. Well, you bet I can, and I'll make the pair a little longer so the daughter can wear them.

Life suspended.

Remember this lovely lady?

http://knitnbead.blogspot.com/2009/01/this-is-how-i-want-to-be.html

We lost her today. She was at home and peaceful, surrounded by her family, including her husband of 66 years. 

She led a long, fruitful, and feisty life. We should all be this lucky.

I'll always be grateful to have been lucky enough to have been part of her family.

Rest in peace, dear Marcella.

I'm so embarassed ....

Think about how close this country came to having this idiot as president.

The altitude? Come on! Really?

Scary isn't it?

Probably shouldn't admit this, but I voted for this chump. What was I thinking?

It's been a while.

Like months awhile. I wish I knew why, but most likely because I'm just baffled and disheartened. This country is in the worst shape it's been in since I've been an adult. There is real data all over the place that illustrates it. Yet, stubbornly, 40some percent of the country seems to think that the policies that are being put forth are not to blame.

It's pretty simple for me. The presidency is a performance based business. If the guy we hired isn't performing....pink slip. And it's more than just not performing. It's that the policies going forward have no hope of succeeding and every indication of making it worse. How can I say that? Because they've made it desperately worse, not better...not even slightly better. Not even light at the end of the tunnel (that's probably a train) better. But apparently that's OK with the folks who are too busy watching Dancing with the Stars and Hell's Kitchen.

And to everyone who wants to tell me that "things were worse than they thought, so it needs more work", well I have one thing to say. PROVE IT. Show me some data that will prove that simply allowing our very flexible economy to recover on it's own wouldn't have been a better, more cost effective, option and I might consider this contention. As opposed to incurring a 16 Trillion debt that reaped nothing of value. I'd love to see someone do that.
 

What I did on my summer "vacation".

I knit Wendy Knits' Mystery Shawlette, after the KAL was over. Why? I dunno. I had about 500 yards of my Filigran lace weight left over from my Jellyfish, and decided I'd use it up. I nearly did. I probably have about 20 yards left over. It was quite a nice knit even for the car. I made a few mods to accommodate the transition from fingering to 2 ply lace, but it's still good. If I could wave my magic wand I'd make it longer rather than deeper, but that's hard to judge in progress.

If you look closely, you can see beads at the bottom. You had the option of beads or nupps. Because I have more beads than your local bead store, I used beads. They are "tiny tims". Tear drops to most of the rest of the planet. But they were a little fussy to set because of the fineness of the yarn and the openness of the pattern, and I was glad to be done with them. seriously.

Anyway here it is, a back view (why don't I comb my hair?) 

And then opened flat. I'll probably wear it like a scarf, as soon as the weather chills slightly.

I tried to get a close up of the beads, but for some reason my camera just refused to cooperate.

And I now have a taste to knit in more lace weight.

During our travels we spent a little time in Ligonier, PA. You may recall we went to Fort Ligonier last fall. It's pretty in the summer too. That's the town square with the gazebo.






And, just in case I didn't mention it before, there are TWO yarn stores within a two block radius - Bo-Peep Fine Yarns and Kathy's Kreations. It is like dying and going to heaven. I bought some lace weight, stitch markers and Kitty Snips (to go with my Puppy Snips). It was lovely, but too hot to do more than meander around. And both shops were waiting for their winter stock, so were a little light on the wool. I've been told that this is the slowest time of year for yarn stores. I'm guessing that there aren't many of us who like to have a lap full of wool in 90 degree heat, even if it is lace weight. I purchased this:



Yes, more lace weight, and I'm thinking of using it for Natessa. This pattern just spoke to me immediately, and the Manos....ummmm...baby alpaca, silk and cashmere....what could be softer.








However, I have I don't know how many things queued before I start this, as well as three projects that need to be moved along. I'm trying to do that now - but the Manos and Natessa...... 

In other news, the students are trickling in, we'll get the full bore invasion next week. Because of the events of the past year, spiking in the past two months, we haven't felt like we've had any down time at all. It has been so stressful around here, the University is even holding group therapy sessions for employees. I wish I was kidding.

And look who followed me home, along with the Manos, from Ligonier. I suspect this may be one of those generational things. Anyone recognize this sweet face?

It certainly was a "sheepy" trip.

If I were president....

..... I'd have told the NCAA that I'll see them in court-- after I told them to bite me. They have NO purview in this matter. They did not follow their own procedures and practices. This was not, either a football or an athletic matter. That this coach had extraordinary power was no secret to anyone. Especially to the NCAA and the media who propped up that pedestal on a regular basis. (To much internal "eye-rolling".) So if this "culture" [of personality] was such an issue, why wasn't it noted before - instead it was celebrated. Now you, CEO Emmert and company, decide that it was such a problem that it needs to be punished? Frankly fella, I think God handled that already and more thoroughly.

Without exception, I'm sick of the gasbags, windbags, and demagogues who think that piling on this community is appropriate. President Erickson  made a deal and signed off to move the University past this. I think he attempted to minimize the collateral damage.  There are still sports that will not be supported, employees who will have their hours cut and contracts contracted, or perhaps lose their positions entirely. These are people who are completely and totally innocent of ANY wrongdoing. All they want to do is take care of their families. So to all you gasbags who are demagoguing this issue, next time your local food bank asks for a donation, please do think about the facilities support staff who has probably had his or her hours cut because of you.

Please. Stop. Now.

For the record. Nothing in the Freeh report has been a surprise to anyone with whom I've personally talked. But it is still very distressing.

But this community has had ENOUGH.

And I've, personally, learned something very important. Don't take notes at meetings unless you can mail them on a postcard. (A lesson I've always adhered to regarding email.)

Happy Birthday United States!

Even though, right now, it feels like I'm living in crazy town, I can't imagine living anywhere else. How boring would that be?

• 330,000,000 million citizens.
•  Every type of terrain imaginable from desert to snow covered peaks, and the freedom to live in any of these places.
• A democratic republic that changes government control, at least, every four years, without bloodshed (except figuratively).
• And a uniqueness that thrives no where else in the world. 

And I suspect that Ben Franklin would agree. I can only imagine that the old coot would be thriving in the current political environment. That alone gives me hope.

Oh yeah...and don't forget to thank your local veteran. They are the successors to those first patriots who dumped tea in harbors and ambushed Georgie's soldiers at Lexington and Concorde. 

In other news, I finished Jellyfish!
It was way too hot to model a wool scarf. Even a lace weight scarf.  Would I do it again? Probably not. But I like the finished product and the flowiness of it will be perfect in the early fall. See Rav for details.......I'm too lazy to retype everything.

May I just say.....

...HOLY CRAP!

http://hotair.com/archives/2012/06/21/the-olympic-committee-just-messed-with-the-wrong-old-ladies/

Spread the word.....I think the Olympic Committee needs a few knitted muzzles.

ETA: I sent the following to their "customer service" (donation) address:

While never having participated in a "Ravelympics" I think your lawyers have gone one step beyond the pale........Yes, I know they're on retainer. Yes, I know they need to keep themselves busy, but really. REALLY? You, the USOC, are making yourselves look like the jackasses you apparently are.

Well, here's the reality - not only will I NOT EVER consider making a donation to our fine athletes, I'm going to ban them from our home. And I'm going to make sure to let NBC et.al. (read: sponsors) know. 

Thanks for freeing up my summer.

Is blogging passe?

Seems to be. "Friends", and I mean that sincerely, who I've followed for some time seem to have slipped off the face of the earth. I'm hoping that it means they are doing well and have found satisfaction in "real" life.

Then I looked at the last time I posted....yikes! Nearly a month ago. I can only speak for myself, but gads I've been busy. I've spent more time traveling than I have in a long time. Both business and personal, and boy howdy, I'm tired. I'm out of town four more days this week and early next, and then I think I can "rest" for awhile.

Here's a sample:

 This is the Washington Monument (no kidding, huh?) at dusk from the WWII Memorial.

I was at a conference in Washington DC, and because I was alone, and pretty far (15 minute walk, on crazy, busy streets) from the White House and Mall, I hopped one of those touristy, double decker tour buses. I was hesitant at first, but I was glad I did. I got to see all of the memorials that I wanted to, save one.

While I was there I did a little house shopping for Mitt and Ann and ran across this little fixer-upper.

It even comes with it's own security system. Enlarge the photo and you can see that "system" peering though a telescope on the left side of the flag. Probably looking for the Mr. Softee truck.

Look down in front. There is a group of Salvadorans in front having their photo taken. They looked absolutely tickled.

This was a tour of the lighted monuments and, to me, the most striking was this one:

Maybe because I most admire Abraham Lincoln, his taste in vice presidents not withstanding. To me walking up to this memorial took my breath away.









The FDR memorial was, frankly, stunning too. And I really wanted to see the Vietnam Veteran's Wall (having a decorated Vietnam combat medic in my family and all). However, by the time we arrived (just across from the Lincoln Memorial), it was simply too dark, and it isn't lighted very well. I think there should be some kind of dramatic lighting for a black wall. But I suppose there are more important things. It was the weekend after Memorial Day, and it certainly wasn't too dark to see the the wreaths and notes propped against the wall. It was rather chilling.

On the knitting front, I'm still working on my Jellyfish. Coming along nicely, but I had to stop, in my travels, and purchase some more Filigran.  Luckily the store where I made the original purchase still had one skein. Now with my luck, I won't need it. Sigh.

I'm also working on yet another Wingspan. I'm teaching a Wingspan class next week (and a beaded bracelet class in late summer), and need to have an in-progress sample to show. (I guess I don't HAVE to, but it's the instructor in me.) This one is going to have wrapped stitches, no holes, and I'm making it wider. It's going to be the same "Tropical Fish" color, because I had a partial skein left over (and yes, bought yet another).  I'll probably give the first one to my mom.

There more, but, I figured I had to walk the walk before I complain about "other people".

And yes, the "TRIAL", began with jury selection last week, and [horrifying] testimony is being taken as of yesterday. As a (trusted) state police source says, this is no slam dunk, though it seems like it should be.

I'm sorry....

I had no intention of writing a post today, but just when I think this administration can't get any stranger...there's this...

Hubris.

And now they're defending the indefensible....what did they think would happen? Can there really be THAT many stupid people in the White House? Just askin'.

And I'm not a Twitter follower but sometimes -  it's just too funny.

ETA: According to articles yesterday, when this was actually first published,  the website was originally intended for school students to use, and learn about the 44 presidents.....Kinda defeats the purpose. 

This n'at.

• I wish I had FOs to show. By rights, I should - however, I am knitting a "shop sample" of Wingspan, for a class I'll be teaching next month. I need to have it in the shop owners hands before the end of the month for a photo op, and I'd like to get it done ASAP for her. (She could photograph mine, but she says that prospective class participants like to come in and handle the samples. I'm not comfortable handing over a shawlette that I've worn and will continue to wear for that purpose.) Unfortunately, I've not been as diligent as I was with my own. Wooziness makes knitting, not the best activity. I'm in a holding pattern with my "infection". I still experience intermittent symptoms, so I'll decide next week if I need to revisit the treatment with the doc. BTW I'm using Kauni 8/2 (which I pronounce kan-I, and I'm told is really connie) for this version, and it's quite nice. A little scratchy, but the hand of the fabric is nice, and I think a good bath in wool wash will help. I may leave that in the Cynthia's hands as well.

• For me to make Mitt a lock for my vote (in reality I can't imagine who else I'd trust the economy with) all he has to do at the convention is say in his acceptance speech ".....When I take the oath on January 20, 2013, there will be no more references to what the prior administration did. No matter how horrible the condition of the country is on that day, Monday, January 21st, it becomes "my economy". You will not hear how badly the previous administration "ran the car into the ditch" [ad naseum]. The buck will start and end at my desk in the oval office."  That's it. I'm a pretty simple person. We need an adult in the White House, instead of some dude who, in reality, belongs in a tent at McPherson Square.

• I continue to be fascinated in a gruesome kind of way, with how stupid the media in this country thinks we, the great unwashed are. I submit:

Mitt Romney

This is the worst you can come up with? Cutting the hair of a class mate? If it actually happened as originally described, that is. Nice investigative journalism that (I hope the reporter didn't graduate from Penn State). You can't imagine that we care when we're paying $3.80 for a gallon of gas?

Elizabeth Warren

No amount of cover will erase this mess Princess Wannabe. You may remember this posting of mine. This faculty member is just most certainly cracked and a fibber to boot. And to be fair, I almost can't blame the law schools who jumped at the opportunity to acquire a "minority female" faculty member. All universities are compelled to be politically correct and acquire minority faculty.....at all costs. Most, can't say all anymore, are legitimately who they claim to be, and are completely qualified for their positions. That's the good news. Warren is most certainly the bad news.

Amendment One in NC

In the same posting listed above, you will note that I had a friend on facebook, who has been drinking the CA kool aid too long. His assessment of the 2 to 1 margin in favor of the amendment is that there are "too many Jesus people in NC". Notice I said "HAD". I have made the decision to sever myself from all bigots regardless of what bigotry they espouse. I am horrified that if one is pro-choice that one cannot acknowledge that thinking abortion is murder is a legitimate opinion. Or that if one favors traditional marriage, one cannot acknowledge that gay couples may need some legal recourse to the same benefits. I don't see these things as mutually exclusive, but simply understanding that having an opinion doesn't discount the opposite side of the coin. 

Notice I'm completely ignoring the disingenuous pretense of the ever devolving President. I just can't wait to see who else he tries to pander to. I'm not sure there are any "people" left. He may have to start working on the forest creatures in Bambi. 

I feel like I'm on an island alone....... surrounded by sharks.

It ends...

... what may have been the worst academic year in the 150 year history of this institution. Officially we are now in "Maymester 2012". (Oh pleeze, don't ask.) Officially, though, it is the start of  2012-2013 academic year.

We spent last week in the throes of final exams, movings, graduations, and for the moment there is a lull. At the end of May "Summer I" starts (these are 6 week semesters), and with it come the influx of new freshmen. But for now all we have to contend with is construction and road closings. Which is harrowing in and of itself.

As for the trial...it starts next month. Information is slow to reach the public thanks to a gag order. (I use the term gag in all its incarnations.) There are numerous hearings scheduled at a rate of about one a week. However, one interesting piece of information is that the state has changed the date of the alleged Victim 2 assault from March 2002 to February 2001. No information as to why is forthcoming, however, my suspicion is that Victim 2 has been found and interviewed. What this does, however, is eliminate one of the charges, not reporting known child abuse, from the administrators. The statute of limitations would have expired.

That's where we are. Where I am is still dizzy from a sinus infection.

I'll be in Washington DC the first weekend in June. Can anyone recommend a good yarn store in the vicinity of downtown? I'll be at the Grand Hyatt.

ETA: And, currently, there are workmen on a scaffold outside my window....pounding...yes, pounding, to remove bricks from the facade of the building. It is charming.....Is it any wonder I have a headache? 

Karma will getcha every time....

Just as I was congratulating myself that we both DH and I made it through an entire winter, albeit, not much of one, without the requisite colds, flu etc. (You must remember we live and work in an environment that is lousy with people. It's like a petri dish of bugs.), I began not to feel "right". After a surprising episode that had me feeling like I was hungover, without the associated adult beverages, my DH said, "better see the doc, this has happened before". Huh? Happened before? Well, if he hadn't said that I'd still be wondering....my attention is elsewhere frankly. Well, the penny dropped. My sinuses! Of course. When I get a sinus infection, I feel like I'm motion sick standing still in a room; sitting down; and sometimes lying down. I don't have to move a thing. Well, sure enough, I spoke too soon. Sigh. I ALMOST made it.