Does the excitement never end? Here I've just weaned myself off smelling salts after having seen Da Boyz and—whammo!—it’s opening night of the Olympics. Be still my heart. The Best Cook Ever informs me that, in celebration, we are having Olympic Teriyaki Marinated Barbecued Pork Chops, Olympic Brown and Wild Rice Mix, some As Yet To Be Named Olympic Vegetable, Olympic Soda, and Olympic Ice Cream.
I assume that TMK will be cooking the rice in her new and most curious way which involves a rice cooker, one of those mondo orange extension cords, and the great outdoors. TMK has a very low tolerance for heat and keeps careful tabs on anything in her house that might insidiously raise the ambient temperature. This year she discovered that the rice cooker had been flying under her heat-seeking radar, so now she preps everything in the kitchen, carries the rice cooker out to the backyard, plunks it on her small teak table, and plugs it into the (mondo orange) extension cord running from the garage. Too funny.
Knitting Knews
Something freaky is going on, and I am starting to fret. I’ve completely quit knitting, except for a measly row or two at lunch! I have two theories about this strange development.
Theory 1:
My knitting tends to sputter and stall whenever I approach the end of a project or part of a project, and I am at That Point in all of my projects. Observe:
Baby Norgi: All knit except ¾ of one sleeve. Sputtered. Stalled.
Acorn Scarf: Finished first half. Need to pick up provisional stitches and dash off second half. Sputtered. Stalled.
Janine Pillow: Completely knit. Just needs finishing. Sputtered. Stalled.
Front of striped sweater: Just needs shoulders to be knit. Sputtered. Stalled.
See?
Theory 2:
Let's see; how do I put this? You know how athletes aren’t supposed to engage in—ahem—“extracurricular activity” before a big game? In a similar way, I think my knitting energy is being consumed elsewhere (no, no, I’m not going to go all X-rated on you). The person who had been tapped to do this month's Guild presentation has been called away on an unexpected matter and I've been asked to substitute for her. I love teaching and love doing presentations, and the particular topic for this presentation—using the Internet as a knitting resource—is near and dear to my heart, so I'm unduly excited about this unexpected project. Therefore, my theory is that, while I’m still thinking about knitting 24/7, my knitting energy is going into, say, typing the text for PowerPoint slide no. 49 instead of wielding needles and yarn.
(Note to all the Guilders: Hope you will be there next Wednesday to cheer me on! I'll be nervous and may need some major hand-holding!)
As time progresses, we will see which of these theories is correct...
How exciting!! Ryan, I can't wait to hear about your guild night. :) I've been signing up for a Knitting Meetup at Meetup.com for a year, and this is the FIRST month we have had enough people to make it a go, I am SO excited! After discovering blogs and hearing how much fun so many have at knit gatherings, I want one too!
Mmmmm, Dinner sounds, nummy, too. Every time I have seen ads on TV for the Olympics...I think of you Ryan! Enjoy the opening of the games! :) L
Posted by: Lisa in Oregon on August 13, 2004 01:36 PMI just got my Guild newsletter yesterday. I was very excited to see that you'll be giving the talk instead but bummed because I will not be able to make it.
I told the owner of the Fiber Gallery that you will be there. She's planning on coming so she can meet you. Good luck. And take some time to knock off some of those projects. :)
Oh, I wish I could be there, too! I'm sure you will provoke gales of laughter and impart lots of wisdom as well.
I think BOTH theories are valid! Plus the Olympic spectator energies. I always slow down at the ends of a project--it's that stupid (but actually rather rational if you look at experience) fear: fear that the object will not measure up to the vision, fear that it won't fit, fear that you'll screw up the finishing work.
I pretty much always have a large-scale easy-peasy project going to get me through the doldrums and that will accompany me through marathon viewings of the Olympics or Lord of the Rings (or whatever else keeps your mind occupied...). Right now it's a simple top-down T shirt out of Silke Tweed. It has been on the needle for a while now, but oh so comforting to have on hand when the complex color work seems a bit too challenging or perhaps not quite as lovely as I had hoped.
Every so often, the cries of the unfinished objects break through my indifference, though, and I get a great kick out of finishing them off in a clump! And then everyone thinks you knit really really fast because you show up with 10 finished objects!!!
Posted by: Janine on August 13, 2004 02:12 PMTheory 3: You are saving the ending of projects so you will have several things to complete during The Games so you can have your very own gold medal moments. You can't fool us. We know.
And yes, the dinner sounds yummy!!! And now I have the olympic theme music going through my head...*sigh*
Good luck with your presentation. I so wish I could stalk...errr be there. I'm sure you'll be a smashing hit!!
Hope everyone has a great day!
Posted by: Stalker Angie on August 13, 2004 02:39 PMjust finished watching the openings.. Sue and I talked about you while we ate our own olympic dinner (london broil, corn, and asparaguys) we both did respective artwork while watching (I finished my beaded scarf, sue is starting to learn pastels)
tell TMK she'd hate my apt. i don't have the AC set low (rarely on at all) but when I take a shower it kicks on. and I can't live without a hot shower.
dawn staley carried the us flag.. a philly native!! and allen irverson was there too. philly got due props.
and I understand your knitting dilemna.. I have KAI at the end of projects... knit another itam.. the love of the new item always carries me far, far away from the ugly old don't want to knit it anymore item. what I do is strand myself on finishing island and I don't allow myself to pick anything new up until I get the old stuff done. I finished 5 things one weekend b'c I put myself on a train to upstate NY and back. (and started 2 new ones!!)
good luck.. with all that olympic knitting coming up, you'll be busy.
Posted by: anj on August 13, 2004 09:36 PM"Too funny?" you say? Too funny? Why the hell have *I* had *my* rice-cooker bubbling and spewing forth steam *inside* for gawdsake? The woman is brilliant and you obviously don't appreciate her genius nearly enough. I'm going into the garage now to locate the orange extension cord. Doh.
Posted by: Kit on August 14, 2004 07:14 PMI will be there to cheer you on! I have been procrastinating on finishing two sweaters... Must be the heat. Perhaps I will be motivated to finish these by Wed.
See you then!!
Posted by: Rose on August 15, 2004 09:12 PMRyan! How exciting! One can't miss a presentation by you! I'll be there with my exclamation marks and all!!!!!
Posted by: Rebecca on August 16, 2004 09:14 AM