June 26, 2006
Narcotics Are Not Your Friends
I am sincerely hoping that the effects of the anaesthesia—which a nurse said can scramble the synapses of one’s brain for a considerable while—and the effects of the painkillers wear off soon, since last night I dreamt that, while I was on sick leave, my company demoted me to a taco maker—which is particularly curious since it’s a software company and has never, in anyone’s wildest imaginings, been a fast food joint—and that TMK left me and was dating…a goose. Yes, a goose. I dare any dream interpreters out there to make sense of these quasi-hallucinations about crispy-shelled Mexican food products and a big, fat, white farm bird who lives life on the risqué side. Needless to say, in said dream, I was Not Having a Good Day.
Because I'm too skeptical of human nature to believe that such arrangements can play out fairly and equitably, I’ve never joined any of the online knitting exchanges such as Secret Pal, Better Pal, or Random Acts of Kindness—but that doesn’t mean I don’t, illogically, lust after every package of fiber, chocolate and books I stumble across on the blogs of the people who are participating. More proof that I’m the worst sort of Princess: Not a joiner but still infused with an overblown sense of entitlement. Ach.
However, this week, Mary Lee, she of Ohio and of the fleece-blanket-making, physically and mentally challenged children, blessed me with a completely unexpected and “unofficial” RAOK, a “get well” box chock full of wonderful treasures! Oh, frabjous day!
Chocolate: The way to a woman’s heart, especially when it’s Toblerone and especially when said woman has just lost her partner to a goose. What can I say? Mary Lee knows me. And she knows that chocolate is the ultimate panacea. Fortunately, it is the type of medicine that needs to be taken internally.
Three gifts in one: (1) A beautiful, scarlet-red bag, embroidered all over with gold thread...
...containing (2) one skein of white and one skein of white-and-dark-pastel variegated Peaches & Cream cotton and (3) a dishcloth pattern. This is going straight on to the needles as soon as I finish the Never-Ending Guidepost Sweater for which I’m designing a (startlingly complicated) cuff.
The book “Designing Knitwear” by Deborah Newton which hasn’t been more than five feet from me since I received it.
But the chocolate, the bag, the yarn, the pattern and the book all paled in comparison to the one thing in the box that no Better Pal or RAOK participant could ever hope to receive—this year's photographs of Mary Lee’s “kids” making their 2006 Dulaan blankets. The photos are astoundingly moving and Mary Lee’s captions put both TMK and me right over the edge emotionally. As soon as we can, we will get these photos scanned and then both the photos and the captions posted to the blog. These images are killer. Cuzzin, stock up on the Kleenex.
Mary Lee, thank you so much for my lovely surprise!!!!
Elsewhere in our fiber lives, this sweater has been transferred from Rebecca, who knit it, to TMK, who is going to sew the buttons on.
The story behind this sweater is this: At the last Dulaan Knit-In, a generous Dulaan supporter brought a large bag of yummy, kwality yarns to the party to donate to the cause. TMK saw a skein she particularly liked and immediately snagged it. (I think if she had been a dog, she would’ve peed on it.) However, she also immediately realized the one minor flaw in her scheme: She doesn’t knit. Hasn't. Doesn't. Won't. So she duly but sadly put the yarn back in the bag.
Rebecca, who had observed this little drama, then took the yarn and said that she would knit a sweater for Dulaan on TMK's behalf if TMK agreed to sew the buttons on. And that’s exactly how things are playing out: Rebecca knit the sweater, she brought it by this week, and today TMK bought these warm, brown, round cuties to finish it off.
So, anyone out there who thinks our Dulaan number has gone up since the last time, raise your hand.
You’re not going to believe this, Brigadiers:
6,154!!!!!
1,636 items over our goal with 1 week to go. I feel faint.
Ahem.
That little deal with TMK and the yarn? Totally adorable.
And Toblerone? YUM.MY. Makes me want to have a handblender tossed in my abdomen just so someone will send me some. Maybe instead I should just go buy my own.
Dulaan knitters rock. I can't wait to see those pics.
Here's hoping that the anaesthesia half-life produces some *good* dreams in the next couple of days!
Posted by: Becca on June 26, 2006 01:39 PMWho needs a down comforter in this heat? I say let Frankie keep it -- for now, anyway.
That sweater Rebecca made is adorable. I can definitely see why TMK liked the yarn so much!
As far as the wacky dream goes, I think you've (a) got a deep seated craving for Mexican food, and (b) been called a Silly Goose once too often. ;-P~
Posted by: Denise in Kent, WA on June 26, 2006 01:45 PMAhem!
SHE IS ADORABLE. Tell her she's my favorite corgi. Well full blood corgi anyway. :)
Posted by: Bling! on June 26, 2006 01:59 PMI have this to say about that number:
holy
CRAP!!!!
Holycrapholycrapholycrapholycrap. I can't even believe it.
Posted by: Norma on June 26, 2006 02:09 PMHi Ryan,
Reporting that we mailed off two more loads of stuffed animals for FIREMongolia! Mary appreciated your Rah Rah reaction to parting with former fuzzy bedmates.
Healing thoughts coming your way.
Love
yr Cuzzin sarah
Posted by: Cuzzin Sarah on June 26, 2006 02:13 PMIn a week where not much has made me feel good, that number makes me feel FABULOUS. Thanks, Ryan!!!
Posted by: Lee Ann on June 26, 2006 02:33 PMAdd 21 more items for Dulaan mailed from Oak Park, IL this afternoon. (15 pairs of mittens, 4 hats and 2 neck gaiters)
Posted by: Jennifer on June 26, 2006 02:41 PMThat 10,000 number somebody was tossing around isn't looking too far-fetched now, is it? Mary B
Posted by: Mary B on June 26, 2006 03:17 PMGood god. Dulaan knitters are, indeed, astonishing.
As are you. And, um, the goose (the tale of which made me gigglesnort in quite an unladylike manner. Yes, ~me~, unladylike!)
Posted by: Rabbitch on June 26, 2006 03:49 PMMmm, tacos...and can we start calling TMK Leda?
I wonder how Mary Lee feels about the fact that there's a Buddhist monk who's hopelessly in love with her? But for all the right reasons. Scan! Scan! Scan! My tissues are deployed.
That number...cuz, did you ever for a moment imagine?
Posted by: Cuzzin Tom on June 26, 2006 03:59 PMGeez, I hope you don't have to deal with too many more bad dreams Ryan - that bites! Of course you probably didn't have anything to worry about as the goose likely was old, illiterate, tone-deaf and honked with a lisp.
The Dulaan number has me awash which doesn't happen very often and which I admit to even LESS often. Man - I'm going to make a huge poster of the final figures and put where I can derive motivation and inspiration throughout the next year. By God, I'm ready to go for that 100,000!
Posted by: Robbyn on June 26, 2006 04:46 PMyay! The number is outstanding and the pictures of the children is inspiring! I shall start on my next year projects as soon as I finish the current project.
Posted by: Isela on June 27, 2006 12:22 AMYou're so entirely welcome. And as of this past Sunday, there's a Part 2 to all of this that you. will. not. believe!! Be excited. Be very excited! I'll email all about it when I can get my head around it. Oh, and Cuzzin Tom...I'm all a-flutter (in only the most appropriate way, of course!)
Posted by: marylee on June 27, 2006 03:11 AMI sent out my box yesterday (priority mail, 2 days to arrival, or so the post office said) with 10 items. I'm so smug about it all (get over yourself already, I keep telling myself) that I posted pix of my items on Yahoo photos (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kmkatt/album?.dir=709d&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos). Next year I'll start earlier; actually, I've already got a little girl's sweater on the needles.
Ryan, you and CT and Dulaan are force to be reckoned with! Go, knitters!
Posted by: kmkat on June 27, 2006 09:57 AMOh! I love the buttons! They do the sweater justice!
Posted by: Rebecca on June 27, 2006 01:13 PMI KNEW you'd never get that comforter back! Hey, that anesthesia thing? I had memory trouble for like 8 "what was I saying" weeks!
Posted by: Bonney on June 27, 2006 01:48 PMI think you can safely say blame the strange dreams on the left-over anesthetics. That's the only explanation. The Dulaan numbers? Absolutely stunning. But then I remember that we knitters are wonderful people. Glad to hear you are feeling better and better. Come fall, you'll be in fine form to wrestle that comforter away from the Frankie.
Posted by: Carol on June 27, 2006 01:54 PMMine went out yesterday priority mail from Hawaii. Hope it's there on time!
Posted by: Connie on June 27, 2006 04:48 PMI sent in my 17 items and have 1-1/2 for the '07 box. I'll send a photo of the '06 layout as soon as I get the film developed and on a disc (my digi-cam died an ignoble death in a muddy ski slope parking lot with my sister and kids all standing around it looking guilty. Medical intervention will be tried but I don't have high hopes for success. My geeky engineer husband has already done his best).
Posted by: Tish on June 28, 2006 12:08 PMOHMYGAWD!
The Dulaan number is thrilling! Way to go, little missy patient! You spurred us on & inspired us.
Plus you made us believe that the goal could be reached & in this case, reached over, if you will.
Keep healing honey bun.
XOXO
That's a down comforter? Clearly Frankie is keeping that goose away from TMK. . .
Posted by: Elizabeth D on June 28, 2006 04:48 PM