I'm sorry but I just can't think of anything happy or upbeat to talk about these days what with workers' rights being stomped on in so many Republican-led states, human rights being stomped on around the entire globe, Japan getting whupped by Mother Nature and the successive nuclear meltdown of our worst nightmares. And on top of all these mostly man-made disasters, it's been raining non-stop outside my window for days. Even the grocery store I shopped in this morning was flooding on one side.
I am feeling really low down and there ain't nothin' for it. If I had a guitar and a broken beer bottle neck and any musical talent at all, I might be able to come up with something for how I'm feeling. Since I don't, I just have to content myself with my knitting.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Winter Photos
Sorry for all you folks back home, but we really only had one day of snow...yet...this winter. I'm not hoping for more at this point!
My kids were so thrilled to wake up one Sunday morning a couple of weeks ago to find their world buried in white stuff so we had to bundle up and spend some time playing in it.
Unfortunately, it was completely gone by the next day, but we had our fun. My son said it was the best day of 2011 and yes, he's anticipating it'll be the best for the entire year, poor thing.
My kids were so thrilled to wake up one Sunday morning a couple of weeks ago to find their world buried in white stuff so we had to bundle up and spend some time playing in it.
Unfortunately, it was completely gone by the next day, but we had our fun. My son said it was the best day of 2011 and yes, he's anticipating it'll be the best for the entire year, poor thing.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
The Things I Worry About...
Sometimes I wonder if we knitters will ever run out of new designs to knit. After all, there are really only 2 stitches in all of knitting land with slight variations on the two. So, how many combinations of the two, with various other design features, like sleeve length, rectangle vs. triangle shawl, etc., can there be? Will the designers eventually have to stop designing for fear of copyright infringement? I'm always amazed by the vast quantity of patterns, each one unique, that are available through Ravelry. Add to that all the books and magazines and pamphlets and blogs and so on that are constantly being cranked out...whew! Is there no end to knitting patterns???
I also wonder the same thing about music. There are only so many notes in an octave and a possibly finite number of rhythms. How can they keep coming up with new music after all these years? Especially pop music, since it relies on many fewer notes and rhythms. I remember hearing Quincy Jones say in an interview many years ago that all hit songs use the same melody but with different rhythms. I've never been able to discern that for myself but it has stayed in the back of my mind. Do you think it's true?
I know, I know. I might have to seek professional help these worries of mine.
I also wonder the same thing about music. There are only so many notes in an octave and a possibly finite number of rhythms. How can they keep coming up with new music after all these years? Especially pop music, since it relies on many fewer notes and rhythms. I remember hearing Quincy Jones say in an interview many years ago that all hit songs use the same melody but with different rhythms. I've never been able to discern that for myself but it has stayed in the back of my mind. Do you think it's true?
I know, I know. I might have to seek professional help these worries of mine.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Podcast Oddities
I received an ipod last Christmas and have been continuously plugged into it for a year now because I'm absolutely thrilled to be able to hear some of my favorite radio programs from when I lived in Michigan and have found loads of other great 'casts to listen to. I have three observations on the changes in spoken American English that have occurred in the 10 years I've been away.
This first one drives me crazy. People seem to neither give nor receive anything anymore. It's all "gifted". Arrgh! When did "gift" become a verb? According to my trusty old (1993) American Heritage Dictionary, "The verbal use of gift in Modern English is irredeemably tainted (as is its derivative giftable) by its association with the language of advertising and publicity." Here here. This Christmas I gave many handmade gifts that were greatly appreciated by those who received them. At least that's what they told me.
Thing #2: I listen to a variety of podcasts and I'll admit an awful lot of them are about knitting. A lot of them are not, though, and this is a reference I hear on a broad cross-section of all of them: Big Box Stores. What are they? I don't remember ever hearing that term when I lived in The States.
#3: At The End Of The Day I am so tired of this cliche. I think it originated in the UK, but it's use is widespread among the American podcasts I listen to. It's as bad as "wake-up call" which, thankfully, doesn't get much use anymore. Perhaps journalists are tired of all their wake-up calls and are now looking forward to the end of the day.
And with that, I'm done complaining in 2010.
Happy New Year!
This first one drives me crazy. People seem to neither give nor receive anything anymore. It's all "gifted". Arrgh! When did "gift" become a verb? According to my trusty old (1993) American Heritage Dictionary, "The verbal use of gift in Modern English is irredeemably tainted (as is its derivative giftable) by its association with the language of advertising and publicity." Here here. This Christmas I gave many handmade gifts that were greatly appreciated by those who received them. At least that's what they told me.
Thing #2: I listen to a variety of podcasts and I'll admit an awful lot of them are about knitting. A lot of them are not, though, and this is a reference I hear on a broad cross-section of all of them: Big Box Stores. What are they? I don't remember ever hearing that term when I lived in The States.
#3: At The End Of The Day I am so tired of this cliche. I think it originated in the UK, but it's use is widespread among the American podcasts I listen to. It's as bad as "wake-up call" which, thankfully, doesn't get much use anymore. Perhaps journalists are tired of all their wake-up calls and are now looking forward to the end of the day.
And with that, I'm done complaining in 2010.
Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
My First Blog Post
Yeah!!! I'm finally getting around to beginning my blog as we're all winding down (or winding up) to Christmas, one of my favorite times of year.
In my blog, I plan to talk a little about knitting and probably a lot about life as an American expat in Italy. It's not all "Under the Tuscan Sun", you know. Maybe it's because I don't live in Tuscany, but it's not like that at all. Don't believe the hype!
So I wanted to get my blog started by the end of the year because it was the very last item on my To Do list for 2010. Ha ha! I don't do annual To Do lists and if I did, I'm pretty sure I would never get through all the lofty goals I've set for myself.
And on to the knitting part: I finally finished the first sock (of a pair) I started in November. It took me a long time to get through it because I kept stopping to do Christmas knitting (3 pairs of mittens, 3 hats, 2 star ornaments) and I got a bit side-tracked by a pullover I've recently begun. I had to remind myself that the sock wouldn't get done without a bit of effort on my part so I finally finished it last night, having stayed up past my usual bedtime to do so. It's quite pretty, but as with all socks I've knit, it isn't as long as I thought it would be. This pair is called I Heart Toe Up Socks from "Socks From The Toe Up" by Wendy D. Johnson. I'll get around to adding photos some day. This is my second pair from this book. Now on to my second sock!
Happy holidays to everyone!!
In my blog, I plan to talk a little about knitting and probably a lot about life as an American expat in Italy. It's not all "Under the Tuscan Sun", you know. Maybe it's because I don't live in Tuscany, but it's not like that at all. Don't believe the hype!
So I wanted to get my blog started by the end of the year because it was the very last item on my To Do list for 2010. Ha ha! I don't do annual To Do lists and if I did, I'm pretty sure I would never get through all the lofty goals I've set for myself.
And on to the knitting part: I finally finished the first sock (of a pair) I started in November. It took me a long time to get through it because I kept stopping to do Christmas knitting (3 pairs of mittens, 3 hats, 2 star ornaments) and I got a bit side-tracked by a pullover I've recently begun. I had to remind myself that the sock wouldn't get done without a bit of effort on my part so I finally finished it last night, having stayed up past my usual bedtime to do so. It's quite pretty, but as with all socks I've knit, it isn't as long as I thought it would be. This pair is called I Heart Toe Up Socks from "Socks From The Toe Up" by Wendy D. Johnson. I'll get around to adding photos some day. This is my second pair from this book. Now on to my second sock!
Happy holidays to everyone!!
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