September 07, 2005
Dr. Jekyll and Mrs. Hyde
To those of you (StalkerAngie, Libby) who were concerned that your heretofore simpatica blog mistress was going to spontaneously sprout a tightly coiled bun, cat-eye glasses and a birch whip, whack you sharply on the knuckles and give you a pop quiz on the blog, nah... Yesterday I was having problems with the blog’s comment function and the “test” comments were just attempts to ferret out the bug. And so far I’ve been too lazy to delete them…and now that I know that they’re actually scaring people, I’m even more inclined to keep them. (A million thanks to my very accommodating blog hostess for her help. She only had to tell an agitated me, “shush, now, and be patient” once…)
In between bouts of watching the Katrina footage on TV until our eyes welled and we felt physically ill (don’t even get us started on the images of the dogs that had to be left behind. Suffice it to say, this led to an intense emotional debate about what we would do with Frankie under the same conditions.), we had quite a few minor successes this weekend:
TMK ate a Fudgesicle without getting it stuck to her lips. Next week, how to use a knife, fork and spoon.
We biked 12 miles. (TMK said it was 10; I said 12. She said 10 a little louder, I said 12 a little louder. She said 10 even louder; I said 12 even louder. Can this marriage be saved?) I don’t think, however, that I quite have a handle on this exercise thing, judging by the fact that, at the turnaround point—the Starbuck’s at a local mall—I had a Frappuccino and a piece of lemon pound cake. The last time we rode that same route, we noted gleefully that, to reward us for our virtuousness, God had seen fit to make the way back to our starting point all downhill. This time it felt...well, you know those road signs showing the silhouette of a truck struggling up a very steep hill? I felt like that truck. After it had eaten a Thanksgiving meal. Downhill, my ass.
I taught my new amiga Courtney, TMK’s young and giggly pseudo-intern, the basics of knitting. She is a brand spanking, virginally new knitter who wants to learn how to knit specifically to make a hat for Dulaan. How cool and big-hearted is that? (Courtney, tuvo buen tiempo enseñandole a tejar. Si tiene preguntas, email me.) Do ignore the fact that I look completely snockered in the picture. I was in no way prepared to have the picture taken so I just flopped over into camera lens range and didn't have enough time to rearrange my face into something resembling sanity. The results speak for themselves. (And I know, I know: Now anyone Googling on “virgin” and “spanking” will now get my site. Sigh.)
I finished my first Dulaan hat, here modeled on the only thing that came close to working, a large coffee canister (thank God for PhotoShop’s crop function):
And the top:
This is the Turkish Hat from “Hat’s On” knit in white and coral pink Cascade 220. I love the exotic flavor of this pattern; not a Norwegian snowflake to be seen.
And I started a wee stashbuster watch cap for Dulaan.
The brim (in the middle of the picture) is done in my leftover Lorna’s Laces worsted weight in the Rainbow colorway. The top of the hat will be done in coordinating stripes, using the leftover balls of Cascade 220 shown. (Since I took this picture, I have progressed quite a bit on this hat and I’m loving it. The colors are working excellently together!)
Of course, I can’t finish today’s blog entry without addressing The Really Big News. As those of you who read Cuzzin Tom’s blog know, he has been called back to the United States by his lama and will, in fact, be flying back tomorrow (or today. Or Friday. Darn that International Date Line.) On the one hand, TMK and I are very disappointed for him; on the other, this now means that when we go to Arizona the week after next, we’ll be able to spend some quality time with the Family Monk. (What? Doesn’t every family have one?) Note that this does not in any way affect Dulaan, Dear Readers! Cuzzin Tom was The Idea Guy, and he can keep on being The Idea Guy wherever he is, so keep knitting, keep making blankets, keep sending me emails and pictures!
Some Knitting Housekeeping...
Like a lot of the other knitter-bloggers, I'm compelled to spread the word about this link.
Also, because I have the ear of so many generous knitters, I have been asked to get the word out that the deadline for the Afghans for Afghans project is near. It was originally September 16 but is now September 26.
Similarly, although, for me, the thought of knitting for more than one charity at a time is exhausting, again because I have the ear of so many generous knitters, I have had a few requests from folks to ask that, if you have the time and the inclination, to remember local American charities as well.
Lastly, Dear Reader Irina Makarow sent me this email:
“I do have a possible donation to make to Dulaan: I have 4 or so lbs of a jacob-cross fleece that has already been processed into clean roving ready to be spun. it is soft enough for outer clothing, and a nice brown grey natural color. However, time to spin the stuff just eludes me. So - here's the deal: if someone is willing to spin it up, I'll send it to them (better yet if they're in South Puget Sound could probably arrange delivery), and they can spin it up into nice medium-chunky wool that would then be further distributed to knit Dulaan items (tho I'd like some to knit a Dulaan item myself from it, seeing as this fleece has spent considerable time in my own stash and I've grown attached to it, as have the dust bunnies).
Interested persons can contact me at: olyweaver@comcast.net."
And just a note...Norma has miraculously transformed a hat into a vest. As some of you may notice, the multi-colored hat pictured here started it's life out as a vest (see 8/29 posting). So the balance of hat-to-vest ratio has been restored. TMK
Posted by: The Mysterious K on September 7, 2005 11:09 AMThe exercise "argument" made me laugh...nice to hear "old married folks" still going at it after all these years... Hee.
Ryan, can you tell me exactly where the Knit in will be? I am trying to finangle a way up there and need some basic info for motel etc.
I am SO IMPRESSED by that hat Ryan! Wow. I am so impressed. Nice job.
Posted by: Lisa in Oregon on September 7, 2005 11:13 AMwow.. so much info. I don't always find the time to get off my duff and read cuzzin tom. Blast. I know he was loving it there.
glad you 2 are enjoying your bikes. I say 11 miles and split the difference.
Posted by: anj on September 7, 2005 11:16 AMOK - jealous about the bike ride. I haven't been able to get onto a bike since the time I hit a little girl on her bike (no she's fine) and knocked her off and somehow my car insurance company got charged $60,000 for what the ambulance dudes swore was only skinned knee, and now I'm going to be quiet before I start looking like I run people down with "the Beast" while they're enjoying their Sunday bike rides.
ANYHOO - I would love to come to the Knit-In too, but don't make me knit. I have an inherent fear of knitting in front of other people..nay, other KNITTERS...for some reason. I will bring food to make up for the fact that I am some sort of fiber agorophobic.
Posted by: Libby on September 7, 2005 12:15 PMThat Turkish Hat is amazing. Thank you for listing your source so i can make a pathetic attempt to be a copycat!! :)
Posted by: Miri on September 7, 2005 12:22 PMHey there,
I love Hats On! The Turkish pattern hat is my favorite, I've knit it twice (No 1 was lost in hostel in Vancouver:(), it looks a lot different than yours, though. Did you change the pattern in the middle?
Greetings from Germany,
Julia
Wow, the Turkish hat is gorgeous. It puts my half-assed Dulaan hat (a variation of Norma's double-thick hat) to shame. But hey--I've finished one item of my 49.648351684351648351. Now, on to the next. Which will also not be anywhere near as pretty as the Turkish hat.
Posted by: Kirsten on September 7, 2005 12:34 PMAs for the Turkish hat--I've also made two--but used the cast on and bottom border in the pattern. I see you did a rib. I think the size you make makes a difference in the finshed look--I made the medium size, and, like Julia, noticed that my patterning looks a bit different than yours too. We'll have to compare notes on that.
Will we still get pictures from FIRE of the distributions? All of the knitted items should be arriving in Mongolia as we speak. Too bad Cuzzin Tom won't be there for that!
I'm with Anj on the bike mileage--split the difference at 11 and do 15 next time....
M
Posted by: Mary B on September 7, 2005 12:39 PMLisa, will email you offsite, 'kay?
Libby, at the Knit-In, you can always work on a fringed blanket instead. Surely you're not afraid to wield scissors and tie knots in front of other people, are you?
Miri, give the hat a try. It was lots of fun and goes very quickly.
Julia in Germany, as MaryB mentioned, the differences between our hats is most likely because I did the smallest size. (And, now, thinking of sizes, I've had the most ridiculously obvious realization: I could make one of these for ME! Am I focused on Dulaan or what?) Also, the fact that it's sitting on a coffee cannister probably doesn't help. ;-)
Kirsten, 48.648351684351648351 items to go! You go, girl!
Mary, I did use ribbing for the bottom. I just didn't feel like fussing with the sideways braided edge thingy of the original patterns. If I knit this pattern again, I would use a smaller needle for the ribbing.
I have my fingers crossed that we'll get pictures of the distribution in Mongolia. Meredith says they'll be taking photos...
Posted by: Ryan on September 7, 2005 01:17 PMHey there,
Enjoy your trip to AZ and your visit with The Family Monk. (We don't have one of those - I think it would cause some sort of universal law of creation to break if we did). Anyway, while you're enjoying AZ, wave at me in Tucson.
Libby: please come to the Knit in, whether you knit in public (KIP) or not. We all do a lot of eating and talking besides knitting anyway, so no one would notice. In fact, Ms. Ryan, if the truth be told, engages in so little knitting at these gatherings, we're all amazed she ever gets her projects finished. She's talking so much, you see. In fact, although it's most unladylike, we ALL can do two things at once--eat and talk. No one, that I know of, has hit the trifecta of actually knitting AND talking AND eating all at once. Mary B
Posted by: Mary B on September 7, 2005 02:16 PMWhoa, the universe does indeed seek balance. (vest/hat, hat/vest) Now I'm nervously awaiting a plague of locusts (or worse) to descend upon my house because of the comment I just left on Emma's blog. Not to mention my post of today. I'm always looking for trouble. Good thing I'm a hardened bitch, eh?
Posted by: Norma on September 7, 2005 02:16 PMMaryB, I refer to the Zud Hat I knit and almost completed on the day of our last knit-in. Harrumph.
As for the talking, knitting and eating, for this Knit-In, I think we'll assign each attendee a semi-nude houseboy to pop grapes into her mouth. We knit, we talk, the house boys pop grapes--voila! The trifecta!
Posted by: Ryan on September 7, 2005 02:24 PMSemi-nude houseboys.....grapes...knitting....being able to stalk in person...I am so walking to Washington if I have to. You will notice, of course, the order in which I put those things. Hehe. Someone's biological clock is ticking loud enough to wake the neighborhood. >.<
Lurv the hat, Blog Mistress. And personally, I think it's an adorable picture of you, but as your stalker, I am a bit biased.
Norma Dear, stop looking for trouble. There's enough in the world already. :oP
Posted by: Stalker Angie on September 7, 2005 02:55 PMWell, um, if your site shows up from a search for virgin and spanking....it's pretty far down the list....
ummmm
I think I might be scarred for life now.
Posted by: Bling! on September 7, 2005 03:08 PMAs my last act on this Mongolian journey (there will be others) I sat for an interview that will be part of a video documentary on F.I.R.E. to talk about Dulaan. And in a strange coincidence, Meredith will give me a ride to the airport since she's going to pick up her first wave of volunteers. It's a hard pill that I won't be here to personally hand out some of your lovely items. That was one of the things I had most looked forward to. But don't worry, there will be plenty of documentation.
Posted by: Cuzzin Tom on September 7, 2005 04:28 PMCuzzin Tom, safe journey!
Posted by: Norma on September 7, 2005 04:39 PMwell, ryan, i am one of those insane people. i'm knitting hats/socks/mittens for a4a as we speak, and planning a baby blanket for AC4C (a group that does a monthly project all over the us and canada), and am planning to go through my numerous books for a neat hat pattern for dulaan. hmmm. yup, lots of insanity here. and i'm working on my christmas gifts as well! wheeeee!
Posted by: minnie on September 7, 2005 07:54 PMLove the Turkish hat! May have to track down that book. Regarding the bicycle trip mileage dispute, I have one word for you: "odometer". LOL
Posted by: Denise in Kent, WA on September 8, 2005 07:24 AMDenise: We came to the same conclusion. So we have a brand new cyclometer waiting for its maiden voyage this weekend. We call it "The Arbitrator." ;-) TMK
Posted by: The Mysterious K on September 8, 2005 07:59 AMAnd, boy howdy, will we need The Arbitrator 'cuz TMK now tells me we only biked five miles round trip, not the 12 I thought. No more lemon pound cake. No more lemon pound cake. No more lemon pound cake....Ah, who'm I kidding? Lemon pound cake, here I come!
Posted by: Ryan on September 8, 2005 08:40 AMI'm not a sentimental person most of the time. OK, I can't watch commercials around major holidays because I get all teary, but when really big stuff happens I don't really cry much. The current horrors of Katrina have impacted us all, but I can't say that I've been sitting in front of my TV bawling. (Except when they show the pets - then I have to run out of the room or for the remote, whichever is closer.) Anyway, I was listening to NPR on my way home yesterday, and they were mentioning all the countries who were offering aid. For instance, Kuwait is offering 100 million dollars, and other oil-laden countries are offering similar amounts and free oil to boot. "First World" countries are offering supplies, money, personnel, etc. But you know what got me? What got me fishing for a kleenex out of the glove compartment because I was driving blind with all the tears? Mongolia has offered $50,000. Wow. Just....wow. We all know how much they need that money, and they were offering it to us, the richest country in the world. It just makes me want to cry.
Posted by: Jenn on September 8, 2005 12:03 PMWow, Jenn; what an amazing comment. It just seemed to bring all the pieces together in one fell swoop: The blog, the Dear Readers, Dulaan, Mongolia, the haves and have nots, Katrina, New Orleans, Mississippi...
So glad you posted.
Posted by: Ryan on September 8, 2005 12:58 PMJenn: The country that got me blubbering was Sri Lanka-$25,000. This is a huge deal for them because they're still digging out from the tsunami. TMK
Posted by: The Mysterious K on September 8, 2005 01:15 PMAnd today a gentleman in his 90s dropped an envelope of money off at our diplomat's office in France - just over $1000, I think. Because he was still grateful that the Americans liberated him from a concentration camp 60 years ago.
Posted by: Patti on September 8, 2005 03:14 PM