Knitting Cybrarian

Bye Bye Blue

  octtarts 038 
  Originally uploaded by lauragayle.

Yesterday morning I said goodbye.  Some folks may think I'm silly, but this was hard for me.  The transmission on Big Blue died Friday and Friday night Joel and I had a discussion about whether or not it was worth it to put a couple thousand dollars in a nearly 20-year old vehicle that got at best 12-13 mpg.

I didn't argue.  I loved Blue, but it was pretty expensive to run and in the months that gas was close to $3/gallon, I spent over $300 a month on gas.  That's the better part of a new car payment.  If you're a regular reader, you know the tranny had been fussy for some time and the truth was that I knew it wasn't going to last.  I was a little fearful every time I started up the truck -- sometimes it didn't want to start, and of course, when I put it into drive, I wasn't sure what would happen - smooth start or a cranky start.

Why did I love Blue?  Well, Big Blue was originally my Dad's truck.  Mom bought it new for him in May 1987.  He kept sheets on the seats when he drove it to work to keep the upholstery clean and new looking.  He loved how it looked and how it drove.  He loved the V8 engine and we enjoyed riding the back roads of Franklin County, Va. in it.  When Dad died in 2001, Mom gave me Blue.  I put a lot of miles on Blue.  I drove it to Virginia and back several times, drove it to a few MLA Midwest Chapter meetings, MLA Board meetings, and just enjoyed driving it.  The guys at work really enjoyed watching me successfully parallel park -- I got ribbed about my "skillz" quite a bit. 

But it was time to say goodbye.  I got a new car on Saturday.  After the break-in period, it should get about 40 MPG.  It has that lovely new car smell.  And when I push down on the accellerator, the same thing happens every time. 

I felt sad yesterday when I took off my vanity plates.  But it was time.  Time to say goodbye to Blue.  You've been a good ol' truck.

Diversity?

Johnson County, Kansas is part of the Kansas City Metro Area.  Because of that, we're innundated with some of their ads during election season, even through we live in Clay County, Missouri (also part of the KC Metro).  I was particularly struck with the ads on their soccer fields question.

Now, I've just seen one or two TV ads, but I was amazed that ALL of the children were fair skinned.  Granted, it's possible I could have missed seeing an ethnically diverse child or two, but I really didn't see anything other than Caucasian children in the ad.  And I was stunned.  Just stunned.

The website encouraging folks to vote Yes on the soccer fields does show a little more diversity, thankfully.  But not much.  I'll let you draw your own conclusions. 

No va

I left work early today because I wasn't (and still am not) feeling well.  Big Blue was somewhat cranky this morning, but eventually got to running smoothly.  This afternoon, however, it was cranky and took some persistent coaxing to get out of the parking lot and onto the street.

I made it down the hill, but Blue didn't want to go up the next hill.  I made it most of the way to my next intersection, but Blue didn't kick up into the next gear and just stood still.  I put Blue into Park, then put it back into drive.  Big mistake.  I pushed the accellerator and Blue.... went backwards, albeit slowly.  I tried this a couple of times.

No luck.  So I backed down the street (going the wrong way) when no traffic was coming.  I backed into a parking lot.  Carefully.

I turned off Blue.  Tried again to go forward.  No luck.  No va (Spanish for "no go" -- and why the Chevrolet Nova didn't sell there!).  I called Joel.  And I called AAA.  Because I have the Plus membership, they took the truck to Mr. Transmission and me home.  I didn't wait too long -- the blessing in disguise of going home early.  But what about wheels?

Stay tuned.

oops

Today has been very busy.  I gave two classes (8 and 10am) tours of our Special Collections -- went over guidelines, how to find items and collection highlights.  Answered questions.  Called three references for candidates.

Was exhausted, so I left work a little early.  When I got home, I changed clothes and crawled in bed, intending to get up when Joel came home.  I'd eat dinner with him, then go to choir.  That was the plan.

I woke briefly when Joel came home and said I wanted to sleep for 10 minutes more.  I woke up after 7pm.  Choir started at 7pm and it's about a 20 minute drive to church.  Ooops.

I didn't make it.  Am going back to bed now.  Have an 8am meeting tomorrow.  Ugh.  Not the meeting; the time.

Portia approves

  portiaabfab 
  Originally uploaded by lauragayle.

Her Highness approves of the Colinette Absolutely Fabulous afghan.

Back in KC

I'm baaaack.  And today is my final day of vacation (much like Suzanne!).  The heating/cooling fella was just here to do the winter check/clean on our system (and all's fine).  The pest control guy will be here later. 

I flew back Saturday evening with a layover in Charlotte.  I didn't sit in one of their lovely rocking chairs, but splurged on some fudge and white chocolate cocoa mix at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.  I managed to avoid buying the lovely looking caramel or chocolate coated apples.  Here's the deal.  You walk off the plane into the airport.  You're a little tired, a little hungry because you get no food on airplanes anymore and this aroma hits you -- actually it tickles your nose, says to your brain "home... home... yummy" and drags you into the chocolate store.  It's the aroma of melted butter and sugar with cocoa mixed in.  Having made lots of brownies, I know that aroma all too well.  Funny that there were only women in the store when I was there.  A man stepped in as I was leaving.  I said to the salesperson, "my husband will complain that I shouldn't have spent the money and then devour it."  And that's exactly what happened.  Although Joel didn't devour it all, but he certainly tucked into it!

I sat next to a delightful young man on the flight from Charlotte to Kansas City.  The flight sped by as we took turns reading and chatting.  He hugged me and kissed me goodbye on the cheek at baggage claim.  I have to admit I was touched.  I wish him well!

Yesterday morning I went to church and the truck cooperated.  A little sluggish, but still cooperated.  Yes, I still need to get the tranny checked out.

I also took a loooong nap yesterday and did no knitting.  But I did print out a new copy of the Colinette AbFab chart after I discovered a mistake in it Friday or Saturday (needed one more repeat put in the chart).  Portia is quite happy I'm home and have put away the suitcase.  Saturday night she sat by my suitcase, making sure I took EVERYTHING out.  I think she was making sure that the big black thing was going away and that I wasn't leaving again soon.  Last night she slept on the bed between us -- but not at our feet, near our heads.  Unusual behavior for her.  I loved having her close enough to stroke and pet as I was falling asleep.

Unlke Suzanne, I've made a task list for today and hope to get it all accomplished.   It's a beautiful and cool fall day.  Sunny, with a cloudless blue sky and the maple out front is a brilliant yellow.   I hope to enjoy these days and get the most out of them before the winter gloom hits.

Work returns all too quickly.  I realize I could have used another week off -- I won't wait so long to schedule my next vacation days!

Virginia visit coming to an end...

Sadly, my week in Virginia is almost over. I feel mostly rested, although I’ve spent more time on e-mail this morning than any other time this week with the exception of my two hour focused stint at McDonald’s Monday. That’s good and bad. But there were days when I didn’t turn on the laptop at all, and that’s good.

I spent quite a bit of time knitting on the AbFab throw (photos after I return) and I knitted a gift scarf. Mom and I’ve mostly relaxed this week, although she’s worked some too. She cleans houses for a few people, including one person she also takes to the grocery, the drug store, etc. But I’ve run up and down steps for her here at the house, done a little cleaning and waited on her, which has been a needed break, I think. It’s always nice when someone brings you your coffee, a drink or a snack.

I’m bringing home a few things that were my Dad’s – and others will be mailed home. The list will sound strange to some of my friends, but to others it’ll make sense. Among these items are Dad’s Army patches and pins (he was in SCARWAF during the Korean War), his first knife and a few other knives, two of his old-fashioned lighters (to be mailed!), and some books given to him as a child. I’ve also run across some family things I had forgotten about or that were in dim recesses of my gray matter – the rocking chair pin cushion/thread holder Grandma Green used, her sewing machine (and accessories), and some things I had forgotten I had given to Mom and Dad.

Unfortunately when I opened one of the knives it stuck open. I can’t get it shut and it’s a very sharp knife, so I need to be especially careful. I’ve put some WD-40 on the hinge mechanism and will let it sit. Hopefully it’ll shut in a few hours. I’ve put it up away from the cats.

I had forgotten about the speech patterns here. Things and events are described in metaphors – comparisons all over the place. Dipthongs have dipthongs! Everyone is “honey,” “sweetie.” Makes me feel better, since I use those words myself and occassionally get strange looks. And I realize how very flat my speech sounds. I’ve lost some of the cadence and the rise and fall that I used to have. Speech is musical here, so no wonder it’s obvious to folks I’ve not seen in a while that I’ve moved far, far away.

Well, must sign off soon. Hope to upload this and then move along for the day. We’re having some family over for supper tonight and there are errands to run today.

This visit has reminded me how very much I find myself walking between worlds. Not belonging completely in either one, yet not a complete stranger or outcast either.

Ahhhh vacation

Since Saturday, I've spent very little time online.  I have to use dial-up at Mom's and it's just not very convenient or speedy.    Let's just rephrase that.  Compared to the cable modem and wireless at home in KC, it's just plain SSSS-LLLLLL-OOOOOO-WWWWWWW.  I didn't go online AT ALL on Sunday.  And I lived.  Really and truly.

This morning I went to the local McDonald's to use the wireless connection there.  I was a rarity.  How do I know?  I called last night to make sure they indeed had wireless, just like the NYTimes/JWire directory said.  The young woman who answered the phone didn't know, but I requested that she asked a manager, who told her that yes, indeedy, they did have WiFi.

This morning I had Mom drop me off there (she volunteers at her church on Mondays -- she's their music librarian!).  Before I got set up, I asked the staff about WiFi.  They had no idea what it was or if they had it.  They asked a manager, who said they didn't but would in the new space.  As I'm walking out, dialing Mom on my cell, yet another manager stopped me.  (Yeah, I'm the one with the laptop bag -- I stand out)  He asked me if I was set up for wireless and said if I did, then I should be able to use it.  I sat down, booted up, ordered some coffee and worked for two hours -- churned out a report and got caught up on some e-mail, blogs and comics.  Unfortunately I also sat where some regulars sit every day and they weren't happy I took over their usual seat/table.  Rather, they expressed that to Mom, who arrived as I was in the last throes of finishing a report.  I was focusing on the task at hand, and I was pretty much ignoring everything else.  I think I would have noticed if the place caught fire, but that would have been about it. Mom was tempted to say unkind things but refrained herself. 

Glad to know that something from working in practice rooms for all those years worked.  Nothing like working on blocking out extraneous noises to keep one focused.  Why does it work better at McDonald's than it does at my workplace?

Anyhow, what else has happened?  Visiting friends and relatives and KNITTING!  I'm about halfway done with the Colinette throw and it is absolutely fabulous. 

I sang at Mom's church last night and that went fairly well.  Reconnected with a number of friends, some of whom knit now too.  One came over this evening with a knitting problem.  Rhonda, here's the photos I took with the Cable Cast On.  I have no doubt you can do this again when you need to!  Your project is SOOOO cute!

I'm hoping to finish the throw this week -- it's addictive and beautiful.  And will be one large finished object!!!

Oh, the trees have changed color since I've been in Virginia -- I hope to take some lovely photos in the next few days.   Drove some country roads today, reacquainting myself with the back roads of Franklin County.  You can take a girl out of the country...

I'm leaving on a jet plane

My bags are packed and I'm almost ready to go.

I'm carrying enough knitting projects for 3 weeks, but who knows how much knitting time I'll have this week.  I do have clothes packed, right beside those knitting projects.  I've been watching the weather forecast for Virginia, but variances can mean the difference between being comfortable or freezing in a short sleeve shirt with a sweater.  So I'm bringing a couple of long sleeved turtlenecks too. 

Other adventures in travel include having a quart see-through self-closing plastic bag for lip gloss, hand stuff, asthma inhaler, etc. for carry on.  I flew last weekend, so I just left those things in the same bag all week in my purse.  Why change when I'm flying this weekend too?

But the clincher for travel prep?  Meds.  I'm moving delivery of my prescriptions from Walgreens to my insurance's mail order service.  It's supposed to be much cheaper.  But starting it takes longer than one would anticipate.  MUCH longer.  I got one of the refills today (zyrtec).  BUT I didn't get the one for my high blood pressure med or my anti-depressant med.  This is serious stuff folks, and I had promised myself I wouldn't run out of the BP meds again.  WRONG.  Oops. 

I called Walgreens, who said to call my doc.  I left a rather panicked message for his nurse begging them to have Walgreen's give me a refill for 8 days worth.  My mail order refills will no doubt be here tomorrow (and I won't be here then), so I should be able to use them when I return.

Other than packing my yarn stash, wardrobe alternatives and fretting stressing out to the max about the meds, Joel and I took down the window screens and I replaced the storm door screen with the glass insert.  Very exciting. 

How a morning should start off

  How a morning should start off 
  Originally uploaded by lauragayle.

I made bread dough last night and did the "cool rise" in the fridge method for the first rising.  Miss Portia wanted attention just before 4am, and I took that opportunity to take the dough out of the fridge to warm up.  Then when I got up (for the day) at 5am, I made out these rolls, let them rise and put them in the oven around 6am.  YUM! 

Joel's got a cold and it's hard for him to taste anything, but he's enjoying them -- must be able to taste the cinnamon/sugar/butter/walnut mix.