August 16, 2004
The Art of Inertia
Ta’ heck with the athletes; it’s my body that’s not going to survive the Olympics!
This weekend was an insane combination of hour upon hour of complete inertia—the kind that leaves a permanent butt-print in your couch—punctuated by moments of exhausting, sweaty, heart-pounding activity. Take Saturday, for example. For most of the day, you would have found me in front of the TV watching swimming, gymnastics, cycling, dressage, ping pong, rowing, weightlifting, and any other sport that even mildly piqued my interest. However, when my viewing choices were reduced to beach volleyball (blech), boxing (double blech), or basketball (triple blech), you would have found me smack in the middle of the dye garden with a pitchfork, wrestling out of the ground 8-foot-tall hollyhocks with obscenely huge and tenacious roots. Sunday, same old, same old, but this time my “surprise your body by actually getting up” activity was pruning a very tall bush with dull pruners. I ended up torturing more branches than I actually cut. You know how that is: You take a big manly swipe at the branches, engaging every fiber of your middle-aged triceps and biceps, and just end up with a juicy, fibrous mess of half-broken twigs. More fun than a person should be allowed to have!
Our other excitement was a visit by this handsome fella. Anyone have a clue what kind of moth it is? It's about 1.5"-2" long in real life.
Knitting Knews
Here is a (very dark) photo of the finished pillow, still in the round. I gotta say, I look at it sometimes and say, “I knit that?!”
A large portion of my knitting energy continues to be devoted to getting the presentation ready for Wednesday. Tonight, a run-through with the above-and-beyond-helpful Karen, her laptop and her overhead projector. Karen, you rock!
Rebecca, Rose, looking forward to seeing you at Guild!
wish I lived closer. I'd goto your guild meeting to cheer you on.
Posted by: anj on August 16, 2004 01:04 PMMadam, that is one Whitelined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata) and a fine specimen it is, too. They are typically a desert moth and are among the largest flying insects of the deserts, with adult wingspans exceeding 5 inches. They love primroses. Anywho, before anyone says "Ryan has herself one smart stalker!!", I looked it up in google. It's amazing what you can find if you're real inventive with descriptions.
The pillow is looking mahvelous dahling. Simply mahvelous.So whenever you wanna knit up a set and send em to Texas for a road trip....I'll be here to play gracious hostess. It's no trouble at all. Really.
Oh and Ryan hun, how could you not watch the beach volleyball....did you not see the Australian men's team??? Eye candy. Major eye candy.
Hope everyone has a great day!!!
Posted by: Stalker Angie on August 16, 2004 02:47 PMAnj, thanks for the supportive thoughts, allbethey (?) long-distance.
Angie, I am SO impressed. You are spot-on with that moth ID. The presence of this guy tells TMK and me that there is something weird going on here because of the super-hot summer we've had. In all the twenty or so years I've lived here, I've never seen a grasshopper and now they're all over the place. And now you tell us we--who live in one of the wettest places around--have been graced with the presence of a DESERT moth! They must all be winging their way over from the desert country on the east side of the mountains.
Posted by: Ryan on August 16, 2004 04:25 PMThat's one lovely pillow, my dear! Don't you like how the former "busyness" of the halfway done piece has resolved into a great pattern?
And that's one lovely moth photo! Don't you want to design a Fair Isle based on those colors and patterns?
Good luck on Wednesday--wish I could be there.
Posted by: Janine on August 16, 2004 07:15 PMbeautiful knitting!
Posted by: vanessa on August 17, 2004 04:11 AMWhoa! Great knitting on that pillow Ryan! What a nice job....look at how far you've come! I haven't got to watch as much Olympic TV as I would have liked, but have seen a little. Makes me think of you. :) L
Posted by: Lisa in Oregon on August 17, 2004 06:30 AMHey G-friend - when it doubt, start a NEW project. The point is to be knitting at all times, and when you have an "Idowanna" moment about all your almost finished items, knit anything that might seem mindless or fun. I'm guessing you feel a mild discontent because you're not knitting, am I right? Yet at the same time you dowanna interact with all those fiddly bits of projects in hand. Just make your hands happy and start something. A wacky headband will do.
FYI - I was really looking forward to supporting you at the Guild presentation, but Browser's radiation has been changed from tonight to Wednesday and I have to be there. So far the tumors are shrinking but if something goes wrong and I'm not there.....nuff said. I know that Mary B will be there for both of us.
Love,
Linda "K"
Posted by: Linda "K" on August 17, 2004 11:43 AM