Monday, June 30, 2014

Have I Already Talked About This?

Daughter is moving back into town.  She has had a devil of a time finding anything, but called a little while ago to say that she and her two roommates will be coming in tomorrow to sign a lease on a house.  Hopefully, everyone will be able to get together and have a celebratory meal.

Finally got the upstairs air conditioning fixed this morning.  Yep, the service calls were that backed-up.  I'm relieved, but am sure mine is nothing compared to Erin's and Riley's.

Spent some time yesterday looking at calendars and thinking about Knitters' Hunk/Chick dates.  May let you in on them tomorrow.  Today, I must end WordFest I.

Encephalopathy.

Remember, words matter.

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Attitude

I woke up in a really bad mood this morning.  Have you ever done that?  There was no obvious reason for it, I just started the day agrumble.

And nothing's happened in the intervening hours to improve my humor.

Therefore, I will just leave my word here and move along.

Anthropopathism.

Saturday, June 28, 2014

So There is No Confusion

My word today is 
klipspringer.

But it's important to me that you know I'm not referring to the character in The Great Gatsby.  I'm referring to this ungulate*:






*Which would make a good starting point should there ever be a Word Festival II.


Friday, June 27, 2014

This Was Inevitable

A couple of the knitting kits I ordered arrived today, along with three skeins of yarn that were clearly bought with something in mind.  I can't, though, for the life of me, figure out what that something is.

Why don't I write things down?

Used to, I didn't have to write things down.

I liked that better.

We're coming to the end of the Daily Word Festival.  I unintentionally have long-ish words for the end.  Today's a nice medium-length, I'd say:
Choctaw.


Thursday, June 26, 2014

Nice and Easy

Of all the possible animal combinations in this house, these two becoming friends was easily the least likely:
Riley is so skittish and demure.  Finn is so rambunctious and demonstrative.  But he's the only one she'll share space with.

Meshugganah.

In the latest WEBS catalog was a free pattern for these handwarmers:
Cute, huh?  And they look sort of complicated, giving them nice character.  But it's a simple 4-row-reapeat pattern using bulky yarn, so they knit up in no time:
Love them.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Fascination

The book I'm reading, Diagnosing Giants, is proving quite intriguing.  It's a collection of thirteen post-mortem diagnoses of some of the most famous people in history.  The stories themselves are engrossing, but what makes this book particularly fun is that the author doesn't tell you whose story you're reading.  He refers to each subject as "the patient" until the time is right for revealing the identity.  It's masterful.

I've read seven of the stories, and figured out who five of the patients were before they were indentified.  Granted, one was a wild and, ultimately, lucky, guess.  And one of the remaining stories is known to me because it's been the "hook" all the booksellers and reviewers have been using.  (And a hint --- if you are interested in reading this, just buy it.  Don't look anything up online because patients' identities are revealed.  I managed to look away from one just a split-second too late and saw the name of one of the upcoming patients.)

Anyway, if you want to take a little break from your knitting, or need something to do between World Cup games, I recommend this book very highly.

Claro.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

History

Quite by accident today, I came across the first thing I ever knit.
Now, my mother got all fancy and put grosgrain ribbon down the inside fronts and made buttonholes.  But a mustardy-olive-y vest with seed stitch (which I have come to dislike doing) accents was my first completed project.

Most people, I guess, start with scarves or dishcloths,  Neither my mother, nor my aunts, nor my grandmother (all the knitters I grew up with) ever made dishcloths, strangely enough.  When I gave Mama some washcloths, she was amazed at how sturdy they were and how she could scrub with them.

When Hannah learned how to knit, her first project was a stuffed animal.  No fear, that one.

Still consumed with the World Cup.  Still knitting away to it.  Sick and tired of a Bacardi commercial that is being run and run and run and run and run.  I used to kind of like rum.  Not so much anymore.

Pled.


Monday, June 23, 2014

Po-Tah-Tow

Just had a tunafish sandwich for lunch.  It's a certainty that most of you would call it a "tuna salad" sandwich.  It may be a Southern thing, or it may have been a just-in-my-house thing, but we always called the ingredient in the can "tuna," and the finished product "tunafish."

Other sandwich fixings made exactly the same way did have "salad" in the name: egg salad, chicken salad, ham salad.  But it always was, and always will be in my vocabulary, "tunafish."

And the only way to eat a tunafish sandwich is with potato chips.  BETWEEN the bread.
(Lettuce optional.)

You're welcome.

Oh, and, extant.

Carry on.


Sunday, June 22, 2014

Short

For some reason, I am insanely sleepy today.  If the US/Portugal World Cup game weren't on right now, I'd be in bed.  As it is, I'm hoping I can stay awake for the whole 90 minutes.

My word today doesn't mean "tired," but it's sort of along the I-just-want-to-be-left-alone mode.  

Ennui.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Happiness in Boxes

Today was yarnbox day:
 The sequined and the variegated definitely go together, but I can't account for the teal-y blue.  I'm sure the sequined and variegated will go into a thin-ish, airy-ish scarf.

Shari wears scarves year-round, which got me thinking about lightweight, fluttery neckwear.  I'm probably too hot-natured to wear even the flimsiest scarves in spring and summer, but you can't argue that they add an awful lot to a look.

Speaking of Shari, I drank some tea at her house that absolutely floored me.  She had gotten hers on a trip to Israel, but, fortunately, it's available online.
Direct from Jerusalem, I'll have you know.  It is absolutely my favorite tea.   There are also a couple of blends from David's Tea and The Tea Table that I'll try to never be without, but this is true nectar.

Had a thought today about how to put a twist in the Hunk and Chick contests;  will turn it over in my mind for a while yet.  You'll all find out in plenty of time.

Smack.

Friday, June 20, 2014

Caboodle

Summer is so here.  And the air conditioner upstairs isn't working.  I'm always downstairs, but Erin and Riley stay up there, and it has to be awful.  I'm doing what I can for them, as service calls for AC repairs are stacked way up.  They don't seem too uncomfortable. . .

For some reason, I've lately become a fan of knitting kits.  I'd never given them much thought in the past, as I've always had a stockpile of yarn and figured I could find something to use for a pattern that caught my eye.  Still, I've admired a few kits recently.  One is this:

That's the Beaubourg pullover, and I'm making it in Manos del Uruguay Maxima Cherrywood:

Last night, I ordered a yarn kit for a pattern I already have.  Let's just hope I remember why, and for what, it was bought when it arrives!

While I wait, I'll enjoy
toile.


Thursday, June 19, 2014

The Z Sound

I haven't ever really wanted to be male.  (I qualify with "really" because, let's be honest, who wouldn't want to live a period-free life?)  But they do have a decided advantage when it ccomes to hot weather.  First, they can go shirtless.  Second, they can buzz all their hair off without setting off storms of "WHY?"s.

This is as close as my hair will let me get to the second.

And I'll spare you even the hint of a photo of the first. . .

********************************************************

Xyst.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Paranomasia

Yes, I am well aware that I misused "dreamt" yesterday.  But it was near enough to my meaning to risk raising everyone's grammar hackles.  Besides, there was no way to work prestidigitation into the entry.  To do so would have required an act of. . .

HEY!!!


Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Love

Twenty-two years ago today, this sparkling creature joined the rest of us on Earth:

 I never dreamt so much fun and happiness could be wrapped up in one person.

Happy Birthday, Hannah.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Games

Well, I'm watching the World Cup.  Are you?

My son and I got very involved with it in 2010, including setting alarms for pre-dawn matches.  So it was a given that the matches would be on this year.

I must say, my very favorite part of it all is just before the teams come onto the field (sorry;  the pitch) and the players are shown talking to the children who will hold their hands and lead them out.  The national anthems are fascinating, too.  So many of them sound like defiant marches compared, at least, to ours.

I have run out of yarn for the v-neck top I'd been working on.  So frustrating, especially since I'd had it on the needles so long.  I'm just setting it aside for now, until a cooler head comes 'round --- the immediate impulse is to throw it in the trash.  Maybe there's enough there, though, to use for something else.  Once it gets unravelled.


My word today is grinding.  As in, say, one's teeth.

Sunday, June 15, 2014

A Word from Our Sponsor

Today's post is brought to you by the word kerfuffle.

Ten Things I Learned From My Father
1.  How to ride a horse.
2.  How to shine a pair of boots.
3.  How to mind your own business.
4.  How to drive.
5.  To love sports.
6.  How to order at a restaurant.
7.  To have a firm handshake.
8.  To appreciate good, close harmonies.
9.  How to keep box scores.
10.  How to whittle.


Saturday, June 14, 2014

Literate

Before the order for all the dog bone toys came in, I had been on a good reading streak.  Since there was a deadline involved with the toys, everything else got tabled while I worked on them.  This included books.  By the time things had settled back down, my reading vibe was fully absent.  Fortunately, I wasn't very far into the books I had been reading, so putting them back on the shelf wasn't difficult.

You see, there are very, very fews books which I can re-read.  If I had been too deep into those books, putting them away meant I'd likely never pick them back up.  But I was able to re-shelve them, knowing I could come back to them later, and could use my bizarre method of choosing something to read now.  (And, no, I won't divulge The Process.  Complicated and potentially embarrassing.)  My next book is

That being the case, is it bad form to have my daily word be flay?


Friday, June 13, 2014

Round and Round

A couple of weeks ago, I was sick.  Last week, Daughter was sick.  Got a call this morning that Son has now succumbed.  I made a chicken soup and DVD run for him earlier.  It's never easy when your children don't feel well, especially when they're away from you.

Still drained today.  Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughts.  I'm trying not to give up.

Knitting a little bit.  Finishing up a v-neck sleeveless top I started forever ago. Kathy has been knitting lots of these lately:
It's the Garter Trap, from ravelry.  I'm itching to cast one on myself.  I'd like to use the yarns I got a while ago,
but I don't have the yardage the pattern calls for, and I wonder what a shorter version of the scarf would look like.

Today's word is a long, long time favorite.  See what you think:
Aristotelian.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

So Tired

I've been in therapy quite a long time.  I did take a break, as my first (and magnificent) therapist thought that I had done enough good work to let me go.  Notice, the word "well" isn't in there.  I never felt "well," just "better."

The therapist I've been working with the last few years has had me at, arguably, the deepest points of my depression, but her willingness to work with me has never flagged.  And in the last month or so, we have dug down to some ugly bedrock issues.  

I had a session today, in which we went down into the trench again, and I am emotionally, and, therefore, physically, spent.  It really is easier to be sad --- to mope along and not put forth the true effort you have to to get over yourself.  It's also less frightening.  And embarrassing.  And painful.

Today I realized how long I've been living my life on eggshells while, at the same time, trying to carry the expectations/fears/selfishness/anger/guilt/immaturity of a lot of people on my shoulders.
I am so tired.

Thankfully, there are words like sluice to bring me small bits of relief.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Summer

Lightning bugs have begun to appear here this week.  Their arrival is one of the two things I tolerate Summer  for.  The smell of newly-cut grass is the other.  Oh, and I like the smell of rain on really hot pavement.


I realized some time ago that my most vivid memories are triggered by smell.  A familiar aroma willl put me right back into a place, or at a time, where I then begin to recall what I saw and what I heard.  If a memory does spring out of vision or hearing, hard on its heels are what things smelled like and what physical sensations I was having.  Lightning bugs, for example, cause me to smell that cut grass, and maybe some grilling burgers, while feeling my feet on the ground and tree roots and sharp sticky weeds we had to steer clear of when trying to catch them.  We also had to be careful running across driveways, because, back then, they were all
gravel.




Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Shame

I have spent a good part of this afternoon, and plan on spending almost all of tonight, contacting office-holders of all levels in Georgia.  "Evacuation drills" and "reunion procedures" and bulletproof blankets should not, should never have had to be, part of what our children learn, and learn about, in school.  If any future candidate for whom I have the chance to vote is not in favor of plain-as-the-nose-on-your-face-common-sense gun control, I will oppose them.  Vigorously.

Seems like I used "damn" as my daily word too soon. . .

So today, I'll use spilt.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Up to Here

Can one exist without sinuses?  I have had it with mine.  Could they be filled in, like aggravating potholes?  Or, perhaps, decorated in such a way that no germs/phlegm/drainage/bacteria would deign to move in?

Fittingly, one of my favorite words is
DAMN.




Saturday, June 7, 2014

History?

Evidently, this is my 400th post here.  Historic?  Nah.  Just interesting.

This flower is known as the Hoary Pucoon.  I didn't know it existed until yesterday, when the good Kathy, who is matching me day by day with interesting words, brought it to my attention.  The name sounds like a Shakespearean insult, don't you think?

If you are looking for history, this was your guy today:
Triple Crowns are brutal affairs;  the Derby and Preakness winners are often so tired by the time Belmont (the longest TC race) rolls around that they just can't go that distance.  With one other-worldly exception.
Secretariat won the Belmont by thirty-one lengths.  And was still pulling away at the end.


The perfect lead-in to today's Favorite Word.

Colt.


Friday, June 6, 2014

An Ounce of Preparation

Sat down this morning with the paperwork from past Knitters' Hunk and Knitters' Chick contests, and established seeds #1 - #5 for both.  Seeds #6 - #8 will be determined by nominations.  I'm still trying to come up with some sort of twist, or contest-within-the-contest thing, but the creative part of my brain fails me.  Thankfully, there's still some time to think.

Today has been KnitCrate day:
The red and black Malabrigo should feel right at home in Athens:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ocular.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

In the Mood

(The title of one of my all-time favorite songs, by the way.  Go ahead --- look it up and have it playing while you read.  I've got it playing while I type. . .) 

These past couple of days, I've been in the mood to knit with sock yarn.  All that cotton finally caught up with me, I guess.

Like most knitters (assuming), I have lots of sock yarn leftovers.  Which works for what I've got going on now --- making cat toys.  They don't have to be anywhere near as big as dog toys do, nor as hard-wearing, so small yardages work beautifully.  I'm making hexipuff-shaped toys, called "Kitty Corners,"  triangles called "Catjibs,"  and I've altered the pattern for a Barbie ski hat into a cat toy.  All of them are stuffed with polyfil and catnip, and even harder to keep away from my animals than the dog toys ever were.  The cats catch the scent of the catnip as soon as I opened the cannister of it, and are on me before I know it.  Each toy has to be put up and away immediately --- I've lost 3 by finishing them and leaving them in the room while I get a drink, or to go to the bathroom.

Live and learn.

Speaking of:
thistle.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Godzilla

In our house, Godzilla has always been a favorite.  Even when he was a man-in-a-rubber-suit, whether his movies were "plain," or dealt with by Mystery Science Theater 3000:

This year's Godzilla is spectacular:


And have I mentioned that Ken Watanabe and David Strathirn are part of the cast?  Cranston, too --- no disrespect to him.

Go see it.  Really.

Or, to put it another way, real
quick.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

But

I intensely dislike Summer
but
I do like these pre-Summer days of afternoon clouds and thunder and occasional downpours.

Jade.




Monday, June 2, 2014

Words and Picture

Nice favorite words and phrases from you in response to yesterday's post!  My word for the day is

thirsty.

Getting together with Son and Daughter tomorrow to see "Godzilla."  When we found out --- however long ago --- that a new movie was being made, we decided we'd see it together.  I was in Pennsylvania the weekend it came out, but both of them went ahead and saw it.  So I'll be the only one in for surprises tomorrow.  Besides, Ken Watanabe and David Strathairn.


Sunday, June 1, 2014

Gear Shift

Hello, and happy June.  "Rabbit, rabbit," as my Twinnie would say.

I am feeling so much better today.  Last night was the most complete night of sleep I've had this week.  Fingers crossed.

Believe it or not, there are only two months until this year's Knitters' Hunk and Knitters' Chick contests will get underway with nominations.  Since that means I'll blog every day, I'd best get in some practice.  So, I'm going to blog one of my favorite words every day this month.  Just something to stretch the muscles.

If you want to know what the word means, or how it's pronounced, feel free to research.  I'm just putting them out here for you.  But understand that my favorite words are almost always favorites because of how they sound.  Or look.  Meanings don't figure in too much.

I'll start with My Favorite Word of All.

Chthonic.

Do you have any favorite words?

48

If you've ever rented a movie on Amazon Prime, you know you have 48 hours in which to watch it.  (By the way, why do we "watch"...