May 10, 2006
Marital Strife
I am excited that you are excited that Dulaan is going to continue into 2007. The one person who is not so excited? TMK.
When I found out that F.I.R.E. wanted to continue the project, I, of course, called TMK prontissimo to let her know. The conversation went something like this:
Me: Hi! Get this! F.I.R.E. wants us to do Dulaan for another year!
TMK: (Silence)
Me: So? What do you think?
TMK: (Muffled sigh.)
Me: Ooookay; whaaaat’s wrong?
TMK: Um…
Me: What is it?!
TMK (teetering on the brink of petulance but knowing better than to go there): Um…When am I going to get some new socks?
Interpretation: Because of Dulaan, I’ve waited patiently all year for a new pair of hand-knit socks and, in the meantime, thanks to some yarn sent to you by that wascally wabbit Norma, I’ve discovered Koigu so, since then, I’ve been waiting specifically for a pair of Koigu socks, all under the assumption that, come July, Dulaan would end and you would immediately slap some Koigu on some needles and churn out my long-awaited pair of socks, and now you tell me Dulaan is going to continue and you’re going to keep knitting like a madwoman for Mongolian children and I might not get some Koigu socks? I. Don’t. Think. So. Woman.
So, to keep peace in the family, I’ve promised TMK I would knit her some socks during the (actually nonexistent but don’t tell her) time between the end of Dulaan ’06 and the beginning of Dulaan ’07. She only has, what, five pairs already? But none of Koigu, and that seems to be the main issue that her attorney will be bringing to the table.
Speaking of socks, remember how I finished Cuzzin Tom’s Buddhist-Monk-Robe-Saffron socks way back in August of 2005? I mailed them to him right after I kitchenered the second toe, cross my heart. Okay, maybe a leetle later. Okay, maybe after he came back to the States. Okay…well…last week. And here, finally, is a picture of the world’s longest socks on the world’s longest feet.
Cuzzin Tom reports that the Buddhist nuns at the spiritual center are jealous of the socks. I’ve introduced friction and dissension into a contemplative, compassionate order—my work is done.
That, and I have a sinking feeling that he’s too polite to tell me that he doesn’t even wear saffron robes, only maroon, but what the hell. Maroon and saffron make for a spiffy color combination.
TGD (The Gory Details): Saffron-colored WoolPak, Evelyn Clark/FiberTrends Railroad Rib sock pattern.
The “Name That Province” Challenge continues to yank my naïve state-centered rug out from under me. First, I figgered I’d get a thumbs-up from just the 50 states...until the Canadians started in with, “What are we? Chopped liver?” so the Canadian provinces and territories were duly added. And now Cuzzin Sarah, Cuzzin Tom’s sister, has reminded me that I neglected to include our 51st “state,” which is actually a district, Washington D.C. Anyone from D.C. knitting for Dulaan and close enough to mailing a box for me to move D.C. to the “Done” column?
And are there any more states, provinces, territories, districts, cantons, commonwealths, kingdoms, principalities, dominions, enclaves, or colonies that I need to add? Speak now or forever hold your peace.
I’m thrilled to report that we have some very promising activity in Alaska and Hawaii. Eva, who seems to have a covert job that involves travel to deepest, darkest Alaska and deepest, darkest Canada, is doing her best to get something knit in and mailed from The Final Frontier, even if, apparently, she has to call in some Mafia-type favors to get it done.
Frustratingly, she also has plans to go to Nunavut, but not until 2007. So close yet so far away. Literally and figuratively.
I also received an email from knitter Connie Severin who lives in Waipahu, Hawaii, saying that Kathryn Kienholz (is that you, Kathy the Tax Accountant?) had contacted her about our mad scramble to reel in at least one item from every state. And Connie is ON it, baybee!
Speaking of people who are ON it, baybee, a shout out to Lee Ann for already getting Vogue Knitting’s buy-in on a blurb to let their readers know the Dulaan Project will continue. Smooches and hugs to you, Lee Ann!
you should know that I've established contact with not one but two of my nunavut connections..will be going to a pot luck where a whole family of nunavutians will be.
the ocd nature of the conversation will be amusing to my friends who are introducing me to their family
Posted by: JenH on May 10, 2006 08:36 AMHey, if it starts getting close to the deadline, and you don't have anything from Georgia yet then I will drive up there and knit a 48 stitch hat for you!
Actually, now I'm kind of hoping that you won't get anyone from Georgia, because that sounds like fun. A daytrip to, say, Savannah, some yarn (isn't there a yarn store there?), some tea. Sounds good.
Posted by: annmarie on May 10, 2006 08:48 AMI want to thank you for the flurry of Canadian-learning activity on your blog recently. Yesterday I was arguing good-naturedly with some SnB friends from Canada, and teasing that they complain that Americans don't know Canada when they didn't know Montana bordered the province they grew up in, and one of them said, "Oh YEAH? I bet you can't even name 6 provinces!" And then I DID (seven, actually), and two territories to boot. (Cuz I started off by shouting NUNAVUT!)
Yeehaw, I win!
Carrie, that's awesome!
Though I'm Canadian, my normal response to another Canadian who's complaining about Americans' lack of geographical knowledge is usually "What's the capital of Missouri?" Heh.
Promote all learning!
Posted by: Amy S. on May 10, 2006 10:23 AMPuerto Rico? Guam? *ducks and runs*
Posted by: moiraeknits on May 10, 2006 10:53 AMAHEM. *Previously* I held the title of "World's Longest Feet," esp. when they grew to that size when I was, like, 11. But now I'm all grown up (and out) and they're a very proportional size 12. The championship belt is now being worn by...lessee, what is he? Second Cuzzin? Anyway, Cuzzin Sarah's son George, who was just such a cute li'l munchkin not so long ago, and now is a hulking 6'7" and his feet are, get this, size 16. I mean, what is that, like a sheep and a half? Per sock?
And Cuz, you've been watching too many Kung Fu re-runs or something. I've been in nothing but maroon robes for 13 years, including every single day that you visited me in Arizona. Maybe I just blended into Sedona's red rocks, I dunno. But saffron shirts? Yes. So the combo is perfect. In fact, I liked them so much, I wore them all day yesterday, late spring weather or no.
Now, can we hear from the U.S. Virgin Islands or American Samoa?
Oh, and is anybody in Nunavut lobbying to change the name to Allavut, or at least Somavut?
Posted by: Cuzzin Tom on May 10, 2006 11:32 AMWith regard to TMK and her socks--you know the old proverb: Knit a woman a pair of socks and she's good till they wear out, but teach her to knit and she'll have socks for a lifetime. Mary B
Posted by: Mary B on May 10, 2006 12:05 PMPlease don't forget the Northern Marianas, either.
Posted by: Annie on May 10, 2006 12:17 PMI've finished a pair of mittens and have at least two more pairs planned, so please add me to the brigade list again this year ~ Thanks!
Posted by: Maggi on May 10, 2006 12:45 PMLet us know what plain old American states are still on the "not yet" list, Ryan, so we can all start calling in favors!
Posted by: MaryB in Richmond on May 10, 2006 12:53 PMYeah, Connie in Hawaii! Yup, that was me that contacted her. Our politics may be 180 degrees apart (at least), but she's still an official Good Guy.
I just started my 4th hat. If you didn't already have Minnesota and Wisconsin covered, they'd be taken care of by my slowbutsteady knitting.
At least TMK lets you knit socks for her! My husband and 2 sons all refuse my hand-knitted goodness, claiming -- get thus! -- they prefer the 6-to-a-pack white cotton ones from Wally World! Hmmmph. For the record, they also refuse sweaters, vests, hats, mittens, scarves, and pretty much anything else I could make them. Husband and #1 son are way too hot-blooded to wear anything knitted, let alone anything knitted out of wool. #2 son is way too fashion-conscious to allow anything not from Ye Olde Trendy Mall Store to adorn his body. I'm making up for their rejection by knitting for #1's girlfriend, who has trouble staying warm. (How's that for a personal attribute guaranteed to make the attributee appeal to a knitter?)
Posted by: KathytTA on May 10, 2006 01:20 PMI didnt know about the map-- I unfortunately just missed my chance to get my friend to send Dulaan something from Mexico, which HEY no one has even mentioned yet. Oh well.
Posted by: emily on May 10, 2006 02:52 PMYay! The magic is back! Yay TMK! *gasp*! She hasn't made you the socks with the Koigu yet? She'd better make you the damn socks. And why don't you go over and tell Harlot how it's DONE?! (the "save-my-info" magic, not the knitting. I think she gets that already.) :)
Posted by: Norma on May 10, 2006 06:09 PMLots of Koigu left dahlinks, lots.....!!!!!!
Posted by: Linda "K" on May 10, 2006 09:31 PMCould be worse. At least socks are small and TMK will accept socks in colors other than black, dark grey, or navy blue. *mutter* (I'm doomed to knit large, plain acrylic sweaters of black or near-black for my husband. I persist because he loves them. I envy those with spouses who are not color-averse.)
Well, I plan on making a slew of mittens for Dulaan 2007. That's a mighty worthy goal to get me off my tush and whipping out kid-sized Latvian mittens, I think. Woot!
Posted by: Melanie on May 11, 2006 10:53 AM