woo-hoo!

    The first item in my checklist this morning was a doozie! So I wrote out what I thought the info I found meant, what I thought the fix was and sent it to my supervisor... I was right, and got a "Good job!"     Let's hope I don't lose it with an "Uh-oh!" this afternoon! Everyone have a good day.

driving pleasures

    One of the major adjustments in going back to work is getting up and out of the house so early. Even when I had 8AM classes, I didn't get up until 630AM. Now, I'm getting up at 530AM (before DH) to be at work before 730AM -- including time to pick up coffee, of course.     The good news is that, at least for right now, I enjoy beautiful sunrises and sunsets, like the one tonight: looking west looking east     I am sorry the photos are so blurry; I just wanted to give a little hint of how pretty it was this evening -- after a day that began quite stormy. Of course, I had to be walking around campus in-processing all morning! I did manage to get a few other important errands done as well.     So far, so good with the job duties, too. Now to get past that overwhelming mid-afternoon sleepiness!     Speaking of being sleepy... I won't be up too long tonight either, but I would like to get a few inches on the WWII scarf. December 10th will be here lickety-split. And my blue socks are crying for me to return to them.

progress

    7th day on the job and I finally got to do something beside read manuals. I probably spend to much time on each entry overthinking, but it was going faster at the end of the day. Tomorrow my supervisor will go over what I did and we'll see just how badly I messed it up.     The best part is that I do not feel so sleepy tonight... of course, it IS early yet.     A couple days ago I started my scarf for Knit Your Bit. Mine is navy and cream: 18 stitches wide, 4 rows of each color. The cream yarn is Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool; the navy is Berella/Spinrite Banff, a bulky merino. I using the LB double-stranded.     My thesis due date has been postponed. Now to finish my Mesoamerican religion paper before graduation! For now though, it's laundry and supper.

getting paid for this? cool

    First, I hope everyone exercised their right to vote today -- but only on issues/folks they knew something about. Doesn't make much sense to poke around in the dark, eh?     I'm still reading about bibliographic control, and trying to stay awake, and not getting those nagging little things accomplished that everyone has to take care of on new job. My work email still isn't set up. I thought they would do it this afternoon (I had a problem, well, I didn't really, but I thought I had a problem concerning the password for my student account), but they didn't. Unfortunately, discovering that I didn't have a problem involved walking halfway across campus (after first going to where I thought the tech service office was only to learn it had moved). Then I walked just as far to get lunch (and back to work). And then, to the other side of campus after work to deliver an application form. Plus climbing up and down the stairs three times each way.     I'm not really complaining, really. I have been missing the walking I would get to do on campus going to classes. This was just not a great day to do so much of it, as I did not sleep well last night after all.     On a (very) positive note, the welcome meeting with the department head was pleasant and helpful. My co-workers are friendly and helpful. And my workspace is shaping up. I take a few personal things each day. And this afternoon I rearranged the computer setup. The department head said I could have whatever kind of keyboard and mouse I need -- I was very glad to hear that as I was hunting up my old trackball this morning without success. And I loved my old IBM Natural Elite, so I'm hoping they can find me something comparable. Now if I can just figure out how to adjust the keyboard tray!     When I couldn't sleep early this morning, I worked on the blue/green sock. I have stopped working on the light/dark green one until I get the remaining yarn weighed, but I wish I had thought to bury the ends of the gold scarf! Oh well, Scarlet, tomorrow is another day.     Pictures. I need some pictures on my workstation walls. OH! Everyone remarks on the Tibet photo I use as my computer background. It is so peaceful. Very meditative. Although I used an UDLA background while I was in Mexico this summer, as soon as I returned, the Drigung valley went back up.     Even though I am too tired, I know I must go get something to eat. I must make sure it is not something that is going to keep me awake tonight, though. I will be glad to move from sitting and reading to actually doing work. My hands and elbows are aching -- which reminds me: I need to wash my Hand-eze gloves. Both pair are embarrassingly dirty!     It's always something. Thank goodness, cause as Methos said, "The alternative is unthinkable."

easy day

    No real surprises on the job today. One of the ladies gave me a thorough tour of all the library offices and introduced me to just about everyone on staff. Many I knew already, but most were new to me. The rest of the day I spent reading the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 2nd Edition. Thank goodness I was indulging in caffeine today. Seattle Drip is (sort of) on my way to work, then I treated myself to a Diet Coke at lunch and walked out with a huge Go-Cup to boot. I stopped drinking it early enough that I don't think it will keep me awake, or awaken me from sleep. Getting up at 5:30am will do that to ya!     I did managed a few rows on the green sock tonight while I waited for Son#2 to get out of guitar class. I need to do some weighing of sock and remaining yarn, then do some figuring. Here's a try-on shot:     Sorry it is so washed out. The yarn is pale and the room is dark. At least you get Nero's "moon-glow" eyes, in honor of the full moon.     That's it for tonight. Maybe I'll stumble to the back room and see if I can find my navy and cream wools for Knit Your Bit.

anticipating change

    Tomorrow begins a new phase of life for me as I return to work. I'm looking forward to everything but the getting up early. And so, I am heading to bed much earlier than I would choose. First I wanted to post that if the scarf pattern at the Knit Your Bit website is a little to plain for you, perhaps this one in the new issue of MagKnits would be more to your liking. I've got navy and cream wool yarns (always partial to the Navy boys anyway), and think I'll try out this one myself.     And to apologize for not getting the photos made and uploaded; I have been quite the lazy-daisy today. The day sort of just slipped away -- though the two and a half hour nap might have a little something to do with it, eh?

knit your bit

My DH and I were just wondering the other day [oops! Rissa reminds me in the comments that it was she and not my DH & I!] how the WWII museum had fared since Katrina, then yesterday I saw this in Creative Knitting magazine's newsletter: National WWII Museum Sponsors Knitting Effort "The National World War II Museum in New Orleans has introduced a national, grass-roots program, the Knit Your Bit campaign, that coordinates donated, hand-knitted scarves for WWII veterans in appreciation of their service to our country. Knitters can donate completed scarves which will then be distributed to individual veterans through V.A. Hospitals and other veterans' organizations. "The program will continue through the winter into 2007, but scarves sent to the Museum by December 10, 2006, will be distributed to veterans as holiday gifts this year. Every knitter that donates a scarf will receive a certificate of participation. "For more information, go to their website where you will find a simple scarf pattern that can be downloaded. Two color combinations are recommended: khaki green with cream stripes, or navy blue with cream stripes." (button added to sidebar)

a last hurrah

    I feel like I've been in a whirlwind for the past three days, but a fun and somehow peaceful whirlwind. I had a great time going to the TVR meeting in Huntsville with Rissa--by way of Birmingham's Superior Grill & Knit Nouveau, then home by way of Little Barn. Topped off with a lovely evening of Mediterranean/Lebanese food and Mid-Eastern dancing last night, some bargain clothes shopping and delicious lunch today, it was perfect 'girls only' mini-vacation. The only thing missing was Lisa, and Rissa's DH was good company at meals last night and today.     While at the knit shop in Birmingham, I discovered an affinity to Artyarns products. Seemed like every skein that caught my eye was by Artyarns. However, I don't think I overindulged. I only bought two skeins each of two sock yarns: Brown Sheep's Wildfoote in Columbine (SY16, much prettier in person) and Artyarns' Ultramerino4 in 132 (a blue and turquoise colorway). Oops! I forgot about the ball of JaggerSpun Zephyr in White, a a 50/50 Tussah silk & merino blend.     Late this afternoon, Rissa gave me my first spinning lesson. Well, actually, in spindling. The spindle is so cute and small, and if I concentrate on the sequence of steps I can actually manage to do it! I doubt I'll get a lot of time to practice this week, but the Harvest Festival is this weekend, and I'll get to do some more then for certain. (Rissa posted a photo of me spinning on her blog.) I think that it will be a real treat to be able to sit and spin with the women in Tibet on our trip next May. Maybe they will get a kick out of it, too!     As for my own knitting... I ran out of yarn for the meditation scarf while in Richmond last week, but I finished it just a day or so after I returned home -- well, except for those darned tails! I managed to get the (short-row) heel turned on that green Senso sock,* as well as break one of Lisa's Brittany 0s while I was working on the ribbed leg! One of my bamboo 0s had been broken this summer either when the TSA searched my checked bag or later as a result of their repacking. Whichever it was, I didn't notice it was broken until I got home from Mexico because I never even worked on the sock while I was gone. So... while I was at Knit Nouveau, I bought new size 0 bamboo needles, and two Inox circulars in size 0 too. Now the green sock is on the two circulars, and coming along nicely. (I'll post a photo tomorrow; just too sleepy tonight to drag it and the camera out.)     While I was in Virginia, I took time to rent a car and drive to DC to visit two friends. One toted me to a yarn shop, The Yarn Barn where I bought a beautiful skein of Lana Grossa Meilenweit Mega Boots Stretch in color 704, a blue and green colorway. I worked a short-row toe and really like the way it knits and looks. Then I set is aside and tried to concentrate on the green sock (and my EGA class stitching--which I'll try to remember to talk about tomorrow). Now, though, I have got to go to bed; I can hardly hold open my eyes! *Seems I never posted about this sock before, even though I knew I took photos of it. Turns out that the photo is of the sock before I tore it back to the toe and then worked a different pattern for the body of the sock. So, no-can link to picture or blog entry.

fiber art/needle work tag

    I'm home from Richmond and had a wonderful time, despite having some terrible things happen to me. But, there was nothing to be done to change things, so one must trudge along. Especially since some great things happened, too, not the least of which was getting the phone call offering me the job for which I interviewed the Friday morning before we left for Seminar! Job starts in a week -- am I crazy to be excited?? Probably.     I took the last spot in Rissa's challenge: "the first five people to respond to the challenge via comments on this blog will get a small piece of fiber art from me [...] The catch is, you also have to make the same sort of offer in a post on your own blog. That means, this is not an exchange, you do not have to send me anything in return, but you must try to pay it forward though your own blog."     My contribution to those who do the same in response to my challenge will either be something beaded or knitted, or something that is both! So give shout-out in my comments and then pass along the challenge on your blog.

tail clippings

    Here's the first batch:     The two red scarves and one pair of socks are officially Finished Objects! More would have been done today, but I had to tinker & reknit ™ the cuff on the socks -- all while battling warm temperatures. Okay. Hot flashes.     The double-rib cuff on size 2s (that the rest of the sock was knitted with) gaped badly. So out came the double-rib tubular cast-off, the ribbing, and the size 1 DPs. The result is much more pleasing to my eye and foot.     And since it is the first completed pair of hand-knitted socks I have made for myself, you get a goofy photo of said foots. Presenting my Jaywalker socks, knit with Sockotta by Plymouth (without a color number on the band):     Because I made another pair of socks with this ball of yarn, I made them short socks. Actually, both pair are short; I like them that way.     And Brickle likes the red scarves; he's laying atop both of them! B - U - S - Y     B - U - S - Y   day tomorrow!

tails and more tails!

    Here are some finished items which only need to have their tails buried in order to be truly finished: the two red scarves, two pairs of socks, and four pairs of short toe socks. I forgot to put the pair of my Knit-to-Fit Yoga Mitts (pattern to be posted soon, I hope) in the pile. Sorry.     The red scarves should be done by Friday, and the others will go along for the ride to Richmond. Maybe if I am only doing tails while talking I can keep from having to tinker & reknit ™ so much. Maybe, too, I'll have the Meditation Scarf knitting completed and the tails done by then.     Traveling with me will also be the Swallowtail Shawl, a couple pairs of socks, a book or three, my laptop . . . hope I remember to pack my embroidery supplies! Today I'm doing laundry, sorting clothes, organizing outfits with jewelry and other essentials. I'm very excited to be going to seminar again. It has been six years since I have been, and that long since I have seen some of my EGA friends. Oh! I have a job interview on Friday . . . please think good thoughts for me? The timing seems perfect.

not sleepy yet

2AM and I'm not sleepy yet. Boy, I hate it when this happens. So, I'm reading blogs. Found this on ChicKnits: 48 Things You Could Care Less About 1. FIRST NAME? Cynthia Sue 2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My father's sister, Billy Sue. Like Bonne Marie, I was to have been named after Bonnie Blue Butler (Gone with the Wind--Mom had seen it about 20 times by the time I was born... that would be in the theater), i.e., Bonnie Sue. But my parents were worried it would up set my grandmother as her daughter, my father's sister, had recently died (through hospital negligence). So, my dad came up with Cynthia to go-with. 3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Beats me. I tend to forget those kinds of things... except when I wake up from a dream about my Mom and I'm crying. Now that's reall crying. Otherwise, I'm usually crying during movies or TV or sappy Hallmark commercials. 4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Most of the time. Except when I'm taking notes in class. My husband likes the way I make a 'star' with the T-Z of our last name. What amazes me is that sometimes my handwriting looks like my mom's and sometimes like my dad's. 5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? People still eat lunchmeat? Ewwww. 6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Probably not. I'm way too needy. 7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Sort of... but not online. My OneNote folder does keep growing and growing. 8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? No. Lost them when I was a litle girl, after many many bouts with tonsilitis. And I'm one of those weird cases who never got the promised ice cream cause I was so sick. 9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? If I did, it would most likely be the last thing I did. 10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Sugar Pops, no, Captain Crunch. But I can't eat it now (and haven't for years anyway), so my new favorite is Basic 4. 11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Huh? You are supposed to tie shoes? 12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Only if I forget to use deodorant. 13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? French Vanilla. 14. SHOE SIZE? Six and a half, usually. And a little on the wide side. 15. RED OR PINK? Red... a "sea of red" 16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My chin. 17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Whom? My mom, of course. 18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Absofreakinglutely not. 19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Aqua, turquoise-yellow-pink striped, white. 20. LAST THING YOU ATE? Dry roasted peanuts. 21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? NYPD Blue, the external fan for my laptop and the A/C. 22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Periwinkle. 23. FAVORITE SMELL? Chocolate Chip Cookies baking. 24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Bellsouth DSL Fast Access Tech Support. 25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Everything in the face. 26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON YOU STOLE THIS FROM? Like the blog, like the patterns, probably would like the person in RL. 27. FAVORITE DRINK? Peach on the Beach (Appleton Rum) 28. FAVORITE SPORT? Drag Racing -- go John Force! 29. EYE COLOR? Blue 30. HAT SIZE? No idea and too lazy to measure. 31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Never been able to get a pair that work in both eyes, so only glasses for this ol' gal. 32. FAVORITE FOOD? All the carbs I can not longer eat?? Italian, Mexican, New Orleanian fares are favs, but sometimes nothing beats plain comfort food from a Mom's kitchen. 33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Neither; sad endings. 35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter in the south, spring everywhere else. 36. HUGS OR KISSES? Kisses, if we are talking Hershey, hugs, if we are talking husbands -- which is no slight to his kisses, of course. 37. FAVORITE DESSERT? GOOD pecan pie,warm with French Vanilla ice cream, of course (that would be puh-KAHN, puh-leez-uh). 38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Rissa & Lisa. 39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? God. 40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? See the sidebar, it might be up-to-date. 41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? A pen, three tiny batteries for my laser-pointer pen, and a 10-centavos coin from my trip to Mexico. 42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? CSI: Miami 43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? My husband laughing, my son's laughing, bluebirds and mockingbirds. 44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? Beatles. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Out-of-country: Puebla, Mexico; in-country, Kauai, Hawaii. 46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? Failing to follow-through on my brillian ideas. 47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Florida -- unlike most of the people living there! 48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Snagged from Chicknits blog. Now I'm sleepy. Just have to get this yellow furball off my lap.

10,000 blessings

    At about 4AM, I woke up with a compelling need to, well, okay, go to the bathroom, but also to get a specific yarn from my spare room and start another of the cabled scarves -- only with three cables instead of only two. Although I can't now remember, there was some reason why I needed to do this.     I grabbed the yarn and cast on, but it seemed much too loose and so I dropped down two needle sizes (US 7) and began again. I worked on it through the morning as we went to appointments, and as I knitted, I began to repeat the Great Mantra (calming when my DH is fussing about stupid drivers, highway construction, etc.) I started wondering what size a piece of knitting would have to be to make 10,000 repetitions. Thus was born my Meditation Scarf.

    Now, I can't share the pattern I use, because it is simply an adaptation of the cabled scarf in Leigh Radford's One Skein (pages 32, 35-36). Increasing the number of cables from two to three, for me, represents the Three Jewels (refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha), as well as the Three Poisons (greed, anger, ignorance) we all strive to overcome. However, all you need is a 40 stitch width for 250 rows to make your 10,000 stitches/repetitions. Every 25 rows will be 1000 stitches/repetitions.
The background on my laptop is a beautiful valley in Tibet.     And speaking of Tibet, EVERYONE needs to see this short video of what Chinese soldiers are doing to Tibetans! How can our country continue to do business with this government?!? How can the world even consider taking the Olympics there in two years?!? How can we as a country justify not responding to this kind of atrocity?!?     I'm heading back to the scarf . . . a long nap as the consequence of my early morning compulsion, so I'll be awake awhile longer tonight.

the day flew by

    It is hard to believe that it is not even 6pm. I've had such a busy day. It didn't start out so well: I left the house with my hair still wet, planning to get a hair cut. But I forgot Jason takes off on Mondays. So I looked pretty scruffy all day. And OMG! It is so steamy-warm here in MS today! Stormy, overcast, and WIN-DEE! Which didn't help my unstyled hair.     Major event today was a doctor's appointment. He wanted to follow up on the results of my blood tests from last month, specifically because, while my blood glucose seems to be in good control, my cholesterol has not come down like he had hope. The total was 231, the LDL was 160, and the HDL was 53. High cholesterol with diabetes increases my risk of heart complications, so he wants those high numbers lower. My HDL has always been good, but I worry about it now that I am pre-menopausal, so it was comforting to see that still in the good range. Other good news with regard to cholesterol, is that both kidney and liver functions are very good. So, he put me on Vytorin in a two-prong attack that is also less risky for side effects, and I'm to come back in three months. The office had a starter pack that got me a 30-day supply for free today from the pharmacy.     I actually didn't see him except when I was leaving. He has a new NP in the office, and she did the work up, consulting with him. I like her. It has been a while since he has had an NP. He had a really good PA for a while, but she left for other pastures. I have missed her.     I did my grocery shopping while waiting for the prescription, then went by the library, the bank and paid bills on my way home. I forgot to pick up the pictures before I left WM, and unfortunately there wasn't time for a pedicure/manicure. Perhaps tomorrow: dental appointments for us both, eye exam for DH.     The best news from the blood tests though was that my AC1 was 5.9% ! That is down from 8.7% in July. And my blood glucose this morning after eating was 95. He got me one of the Accu-Chek monitors the company provides and wrote me a script for the strips. I got home early enough to get the mail-order form and all my new/renewed scripts in the mail this afternoon.     DH arrived home just as I was walking back to the house from putting the mail out, we brought in the groceries and then, both of us hungry, headed to town. We had a quick and early dinner and are home, and it is not even 6pm. Sort of feels strange. Now, I hope to relax, watch a bit of TV, and work on my Swallowtail Shawl tonight.     I stitched on it driving to Bogalusa on Sunday for lunch, and tinked it on the ride home. I stitched while waiting to be called at the doctor's, then tinked it while I waited in the exam room! I just can't seem to make much progress with the Misti Alpace. I was zoomin' with the fingering weight wool, so it's frustrating.

red scarves

    The knitting on the two red scarves was finished yesterday; one on the ride to Jackson, the other on the ride home. It took all evening tonight to do the grafting. I had plenty of yarn, so it was a stupid idea waste of time to work both cable sections and then graft, especially since it wasn't simply stockinette, or k1p1 ribbing, but k2p2 ribbing joining the cable. I meant to do one row of k2p2 at the end of the cable, but forgot, so the grafting as "wonky." Fortunately, ribbing is very forgiving as it pulls together the knit stitches and hides the purls.     The detail of the cable pattern shows up best with the solid red one:     (This one may go to a Tibetan monk who will be visiting one of my professors in November.)     The weekend was wonderful. Good food, good friends, and good shopping! Not as exciting, however, as my sister's weekend on the Big Island of Hawaii -- she got a bit shook up today, but is okay and I think had her lights and water back by this afternoon.

sisterhood

    I forgot to make my BCA post last Saturday, and will be out of town tomorrow, so I'm posting a double-header now (and photos of my red scarves later tonight, promise!). Somewhere I came across, on someone's blog probably, a link to Lisa Loyd's Sister Scarves. These are really beautiful, and I hope to make them soon, keeping one for myself and giving one away.     Though I have highlighted a couple of organizations/companies with special promotions for BCA in past posts, I thought I would just point you to the whole list at the Susan G. Komen Foundation site: October Partner Programs. Something there for every interest and pocketbook.     And, of course, I am again reminding myself to call the clinic for a mammogram. I am overdue.

you know you've been

knitting too much...     when the only reason you watch "Judging Amy" is to see what Maxine (Tyne Daly) is going to be knitting during each episode. (She's a thrower, by the way.)     At the end of one episode today, Maxine and Amy are sitting in the back yard at night and Amy asks, "You can see to do that in the dark?" "As long as I don't look at it in the light" she replies. Later she remarks that she "knits badly."     The two red scarves are half-finished. Photos tomorrow, er, later today. And speaking of scarves, go see this one Stephanie just finished from her handspun.

startitis³

Yikes!     I've come down with a severe case of startitis. In the past 24 hours, I cast-on for a scarf in the same yarns I made the pink hat for Think Pink (though I might get it finished by the deadline, it won't be in Sydney's hands by the 15th). a 5-hour baby sweater for a young friend in other pink yarns, and two Wool-Ease scarves for the Red Scarf Project.     This is in addition to the wool scarf I have started on some size 10s in Debbie Bliss Merino Aran to use as a practice piece to teach knitting,     And the Swallowtail Shawl, which I cast-on the day after the MistiAlpaca arrived. I would be half-way through the pattern repeats of the Lace Bud pattern 2, but I foolishly tried to knit on it while I was with #1Son at the bank and car dealership yesterday buying his new used car. Time to tinker & reknit™     I have knitted lace patterns often in the past, but I have never actually knitted with lace-weight yarn before. I am finding it a bit tricky. It is so light, it is still at the whim of the circular needle. I'm using bamboo, at least, so it isn't so slippery as if I was using metal. I have to pay just a bit more attention so the stitches don't slip away, but with every pattern repeat it gets better, and I get back into the swing of the pattern. I wish I had started the dark red one though, instead of the grey... and as much as I want to finish it and wear it, I dread the blocking.     That's all for now.. it's a cool, beautiful day. Well, okay, it's overcast, but that's why it's so cool. Fine with me. The birds are singing and I have a quiet house for stitching. I think the neighborhood dogs are all sleeping, and the trains have quite running until later in the day....... TV is off and I am content keeping my own self company.

in the pink

    It's just a little warm in the house today, but not so warm that I want to close the windows and turn on the A/C. So, as my hands tend to be the warmest part of my body, it's been less pleasant to knit today.     The project I have been working on for the last week or so has involved a good bit of Tubular cast-off, i.e, grafting, i.e., Kitchener Stitch -- due to having to rework some ending ribbing several times. (Removing grafting is a pain, isn't it??) So, before doing the last bit on this project, I decided this morning to graft the Sidewinder hat I finished before we went to Saint Augustine for our anniversary.     It is slow going. I'm reading blogs as I work it. My hands get sweaty, and I put it down. NOW, I have just realized that although the edge is stockinette (first six stitches) the rest is garter, and I've been grafting on the wrong side to boot! So, the fuzzy yarn I have used, which has been a pain every time I have had to tink'r & r'knit™ and while I was doing the short-rows, is now a blessing in disguise.     The hat is for me, the grafting row will be to the inside, and looks fine right-side out.... that's the rational part of me it trying to control the compulsive part of me that wants to tink'r & r'knit™ it by telling me, "One more stitch, keep stitching. One more stitch, keep stitching."     Doing this grafting, I have found a way to check my place. To make it more like the Tubular Cast-off which I have been doing for DAYS, I put all the live stitches for the seam onto one needle rather than two. So, if the second stitch on the left needle is from the "back needle" stitches, I know that I am in the purl-purl portion of the sequence. If the second stitch on the left needle is a "front needle" stitch, I know that I am in the knit-knit part of the sequence. If my sequence doesn't match up with the stitch placement, I know I made a mistake somewhere a few stitches back. This has been helpful working with this fuzzy, and flimsy yarn as the "back" stitch sometimes seems to disappear and I have actually worked the second and third stitches on the needle together by mistake.     Nice day, considering I've stayed in all day. Hubby is switching between the NASCAR race and XM radio on the dish, old country/western stuff. Windows are open, birds and critters making noise, cats are happy.    ETA: Seam is finished: (I hate the way I look in hats.)     I know the "sidewinder" pattern is lost in the fluff, and the novelty yarn I used in it too, but I had it, I wanted a pink hat, and viola!

going pink

    Well, it's not a total conversion. In fact, it looks pretty sorry -- I'm not so good at deciphering CSS -- but I'm making an effort to go Pink for October. I tried to keep the pink moderate, so as not to make anyone ill looking at a Pepto-Bismol blog for 24 more days!     It was my intention to post a month's worth of little goodies, like I did in this post, but being in Florida for the first couple days of the month gave me a late start and I decided I would just "post pink" each Saturday. How fortuitous that I should stumble across Matthew's site, mentioned above, tonight!     Here's one even I can enjoy, at least a little:
Crunch for the Cure     I love the Garden Salsa variety -- and a one-ounce portion is just perfect for a tuna & salad lunch. Satisfies my carb/fat craving at a small cost. Sasha loves to lick the seasoning off your fingers:
Our Sugar & Spice Princess.

Saint Augustine Photos

I've put some of the photos I took with the digital in an album here. I don't know how to change the order, and they uploaded in the reverse order that I intended for them to be. I'll add more when we get DH's film developed. Here's the welcome sign, coming into Mississippi, that we saw on the way home: Part of me wonders about the person who came up with the slogan, another about the people who approved it. Cynthia

tag, I'm it

5 Weird Things About Me

Rissa said, "That leaves me to tag someone, so I will tag those poor souls who know me in real life; Cynthia, Lisa, and Karin. I know you girls are reading this…so now you are tagged! I figure that if they are friends with me, you know they have to be a little off center." (Emphasis mine.)

Hmmm. I think that's a compliment. Not sure these are so very weird, but...

1. I have a bridge phobia which probably stems from recurring nightmares I had as a child of going off the end of a drawbridge in a car.

2. When I find an author I like, I want to read EVERYTHING they have written and order of publication.

3. I am too lazy to cook, but I collect cookbooks. This goes hand-in-hand with watching the Food Channel. Oddly, I also hate to clean house, but I don't collect books about that!

4. I love to buy gifts, but I hate to package them up to mail off. I have Christmas presents in my dining room from last year for relatives in MD.

5. I don't like long phone conversations any more. Used to talk for hours with friends and relatives. Now they probably all think I hate them cause I never call people unless I really need to talk to them about something. On the other hand, I can waste all day chatting online.

My blog-buddies have all been tagged except one, but if anyone reading this wants to play along, consider yourself tagged! Let me know in the comments, please. Cynthia

once a beadaholic

always a beadaholic.     There were three listings for bead shops in the Saint Augustine yellow pages, only one of them still in business, Yo Ho Ho Beads, right in the Old Spanish Quarter. Really nice woman. I was sorely tempted by some of her finished pieces. But, only succumbed to the purchase pictured above. These treasures came from a shop by the center of town, Cool Beads. The shop was not listed in the yellow pages, but had ads in the tourist brochures. Poor man. The city is tearing up the street in front of his shop and his business was suffering already. They had only been working on the street for a week, but it will be at least three more weeks before the road is open again. Beadaholics will still search him out, but his curious foot traffic and impulse buyers has dried up for now. At least it is the slow, off-season -- then again, that actually makes it worse.     I believe most of the above are stone, not glass. The wavy purple and shell-shaped green are definitely glass. I usually buy odd numbers of beads, and only buy two of something when I am planning earrings, or end embellishment. The two silver items on the far left are end/bead caps. And the strand of turquoise is for a neckpiece to go with a pendant I bought in Mexico this summer.     If I could ever get myself organized, I could get some beading done! So many passions, so little time. Cynthia

25 & 5

    Yesterday was our 25th wedding anniversary. Today we returned home from a quick celebratory trip to one of our favorite places, Saint Augustine, FL.     It was supposed to be a surprise for my husband. We had talked several months ago about going, then dropped it. Last Thursday, I checked reservations again, and rooms were still available. I really wanted to suprise DH... but a series of interruptions (albeit pleasant) and delays on Friday kept me from getting everything done that needed to be done. So, later that evening, I had to tell him the plan. We finished packing, went to bed early and were on our way east by 8am on Saturday.     I am notorious for falling asleep on long drives, but I actually managed to stay awake for the trip. I knitted almost the entire way. We arrived early in the evening, before sunset. When it was time to leave this morning, we were both considering staying another day -- so we got on the road quickly! On the ride home, I slept more than knitted.     We had good food and good weather. We wandered through the historical district and drove along the ocean. We met wonderful peeople, both locals and visitors. We did a bit of sightseeing and some shopping, though not as much as we'd have liked as many of the stores and restaurants were closed on Monday. It is the "off" season, but there were still too many people around on Saturday night and Sunday morning to suit us!     The hotel where we stayed has been bought by the people who also own the Hilton just a block away, so we may not be able to afford to stay there next time. They are planning major renovations. We love it because it is right on the bay and very reasonably priced. A simple place, but convenient.     I'm a bit of a rare bird: a Florida native. My family moved to Maryland when I was 14, but part of me has always hoped to live there again. When I was a little girl, we sang this song in school: I want to wake up in the morning where the orange blossoms grow. Where the sun comes creepin' through my window peepin, and the songbirds sing "Hello!" I want to wander through the orange groves... (forget this line) so I'll make my home in Florida, where the orange blossoms grow.     The "&5" in the title? I gained five pounds. Oh, well. Back to work. Speaking of work. There's another library job posted. Won't get it, but I applied anyway. Cyn

lessons

    It was great fun to spend the past two weekends with our friends in Jackson. Sometimes I really wish we lived nearer to them. And then we have days here when we really love living in a small town. I guess it all comes down to people.     Hubby worked most of Saturday and had one more yard to do on Sunday, but the day began with an early storm, so he suggested we go do our shopping (which had been on the schedule for after he finished). I learned two lessons:         1) NEVER go to Wal-Mart or Sam's after Sunday morning church services end;         2) Original plans are often best.     I have a tendency toward panic attacks in some crowded situations. Not all. For example, I could be on a crowded bus in Mexico, no problem. Perhaps it is just when there is movement around me, or when *I* need to be moving and can't?? I don't know. I just know it happens most frequently in WM when there are lots of people shopping.     Sweet hubby doesn't understand, but is sympathetic, as usual. And honestly, he was right when he observed that it didn't really seem that crowded to him. So, I don't know what was going on yesterday, I just got the groceries as fast as possible, did my best to avoid congested aisles and got the heck out of there. In Sam's, where we actually went first, I saw a continual flow of people coming into the store as I waited at the entrance while hubby to parked the truck. I told him I didn't want to shop, just get the water and leave. Fortunately it is at the front of the store AND near the bathrooms, ironically. So I guess I was already 'primed' when we went next door to WM.     Which brings me to lesson 2. If we hadn't changed our plan -- and in fact, he probably could have done the mowing in the morning -- we would not only have missed the church crowd (violating their "Sabbath"*), but we would have eaten at the Chinese buffet instead of having Sunday brunch at O'Charley's. What I ordered did not agree with me, and I had to order something else. Of course, hubby remarked he would have eaten too much at the buffet, so for him it worked out well even though his eggs were burned. Okay, not burned, but way overdone!     This morning I finally got 'on the mat' and learned another lesson: my arms are too short for my body. More importantly, yoga is very hard on my wrists.     Two weeks ago I started weekly yoga lessons at the community college across the street (missed the first class because I went on the wrong day). I have also been recording Namaste Yoga off the FitTV channel, though I haven't watched but one of them thoroughly. I will copy them to VHS, removing the commercial breaks, and then, I think, to DVD. On Sunday, I picked up two DVDs at Ross Dress for Less: Crunch - The Perfect Yoga Workout: The Joy of Yoga & Fat-Burning Yoga with Sara Ivanhoe and Baron Baptiste's Journey into Power: Power Vinyasa Yoga, Level 1     I have watched them both and really like the presentors and the routines. They sure do make it look easy! However, when I tried to work along today, I discovered it all looks much easier than it is. Like I said, my arms are too short for some of the hand placements. My leg muscles are way too tight for my heels to reach the floor in, for example, Downward Facing Dog. BUT, even though I couldn't do the whole thing -- once my hands gave out, I fast-forwarded to the poses that didn't involved placing weight on the hands -- I did feel good when I was done.     Now I'm taping off the Namaste episodes (and wearing my HandEze gloves). Some of the routine have NO poses placing weight on the hands! I will try one of those tomorrow. I also draggged out my mid-eastern dance videos. I thought I only had one, Goddess Workout with Dolphina, but I also have her Introduction to Belly Dance. I'm thinking that doing a yoga routine three mornings a week (only two until my class ends in three more weeks though) and dance two days a week will make up for not getting the exercise I used to walking around on campus and at work in the library.     I've joined both the Swallowtail KAls, but haven't yet gotten back to my own knitting of it. The short toe socks are still distracting me (as is catching up on reading the list of blogs in my Favorites folder). The Yellow-Pink-Orange ball of Sockotta I am using now is self-striping, where the blue-purple-green colorway just pooled. When I started the second sock with the YPO, I didn't move to the correct place in the color sequence. So, of course, now I have to make another two socks, each matching the color sequence of the two already completed. Being gone so long yesterday, and reading blogs so much, I only finished one of them. I'm about ready to cast on for the fourth sock in the YPO colorway as soon as I finish this post. Then perhaps later today I will get to the Swallowtail... I heard from the seller yesterday by email, and my Misti Alpaca is on it's way. Maybe I can finish this shawl and be ready to start another when it arrives. Cyn *I know true Sabbath is Saturday, and that Christians don't observe it like Jews, but many Christians DO erroneously call Sunday the Sabbath, and most believe at least to some extent that it is wrong to work on Sunday. To my mind, there is something just a little inconsistent and contradictory if you are shopping (or eating out) on Sunday and you believe it is sinful work on Sunday. YMMV

my 1st KAL

    I was wasting time tonight, clicking through an old folder of blog links (and finding about half of them gone) when I found, on Bronx Girl Knits, a link to a knit-a-long for the shawl I began last week. Actually there are two KALs -- I read through all the posts for each, but not all the comments.     I doubled-checked my own blog and discovered I had not mentioned beginning this project. Sorry.     It's the Swallowtail shawl in the current issue (Fall 2006) of IKnits by Evelyn A. Clark. While I await the arrival of the called-for yarn, Misti Alpaca, I started one with some lace-weight natural wool on a cone which I bought a couple years ago. The knitting, like anything that grows by eight stitches every two rows, goes fast at first. Now it is 200+ and going a bit slower.     It's funny that yarn isn't here yet. I bought the Regia Stretch from the same lady, and the alpaca should have been on its way a couple days later. Perhaps my email didn't go through.     A few days ago I set the shawl aside to work on the short toe socks. (Also, I had finished the small amount of yarn on one cone and begun working from the much larger full cone.) Working on the third pair today. I'll finish the one I started on the way to supper tonight, then work some more on the shawl again tomorrow. Oh! And I mistakenly stated that Sockotta was cotton. Well, it is, partly. It is a 40% cotton, 45% wool, 15% nylon blend.     Thesis? What thesis?? Cyn

let red be the color of warmth

    Several years ago an online friend of mine told me how for one month every year she dedicates herself to charity knitting. It's not that she doesn't do charity knitting any other time of the year, but for one month everything she knits is for charity. (I believe she did this in January.)     What got me thinking about this was my blog reading yesterday. One of the links in my blogroll is to "Knitting for Change." Another is sweet Mary Anne's "Miss Woolly Knits." On these two blogs I found entries about and links to the Red Scarf Project. Thinking it had to do with either the American Heart Association's Go Red or the National Health Institute's Red Dress initiatives, I checked it out. But it isn't about that kind of heart disease.     This is an outreach project of the Orphan Foundation of America for college students who have "aged out" of foster care. Specifically these scarves are to be included in care packages for the students at Valentine's. If you are a Lily Chin fan, you'll find she is part of this project and has created this pattern. (A Google search for red scarf project patterns turns up more patterns.)     Stopping by Mossy Cottage Knits yesterday as well, I discovered that the Dulann Project 2007 has just launched. This one is close to my heart, as it goes hand-in-hand with my own effort, KniTibet -- soon to be relaunched.     You'll see that the sidebar has been updated to include buttons for these two worthy projects. Cyn

tgif

    For two reasons:     1) Took the GRE today, so that is finally done and off my mind. I didn't do great, but I didn't do so badly either. Verbal: 610 and Quantitative: 670.     2) Through the grapevine I discovered both jobs at the library have been filled (from within). So, it's back to watching the job postings. At least I won't worry about "time off" for Seminar.     I finished another pair of short toe socks while I was waiting for Son#2 to get out of class. These work up very fast and I should soon have the number of pairs I want for Christmas gifts.     Our cool weather got warmer yesterday and today. About noon yesterday I had to close the windows and turn on the A/C again. Maybe the first day of Autumn will bring back the cooler temps.     more later, probably, Cyn

blessings

    It was nearly dusk when I arrived home from yoga class this evening. The sunlight was warm and as I got out of the truck, I saw again the spider lilies my sweet hubby had pointed out to me last night. I grabbed the digital camera and took some pictures. On my way back into the house, I noticed the white ginger was also blooming. Then looking around to see if there were any other flowers blooming, I caught sight of one of my favorites, Rose of Sharon (or Althea). So, here are a few beauties of nature, in keeping with my mood following a strenuous class.


Namaste, Cyn

triple play

    I've always been a big fan of Half.com. I buy most of my textbooks and often other books through it. In August I purchased four textbooks and two other non-fiction books, all from different sellers. Only ONE book ever arrived. The no-ship sellers never responded to email inquiries. Today I logged on to file claims and learned two distressing facts:     1) Only one claim may be filed per month, and only three total by any buyer -- forever (unless there are some kinds of special circumstances, upon which they don't elaborate). Oh, and of course, you only have 60 days from purchase to file said claim, and you can't file a claim until 30 days after purchase. "You do the math."     2) Three of the four sellers (the fourth purchase is only $6 but these three are for textbooks and total over $200) and no longer registered members of eBay/Half.com! That tells me there's probably nothing they will be able to do for me anyway.     This is really the first time I recall being burned by a half.com seller in all the years I have shopped there. And now four times in a single month!     So, first I emailed Half.com customer service. But I don't really expect to receive any help. Then I called the bank to ask how to file a dispute. They said once the dispute is filed, they will "temporarily" credit the amount back to me, but depending up on the investigation, that amount could be debited again. Oh joy.     Happy Thursday! Cyn (who is taking the GRE tomorrow morning at 8:30CDT)

finally! knitting content & photos

    One of the things I like best about living in the South is wearing sandals and flip-flops for much more of the year than when I lived in Maryland. I don't know if I was always like this or if it is the material flip-flops are made from now, but often they hurt my feet. They rub the skin between my toes and under the straps. So, when Rissa showed me these (it's a PDF so give it a moment to download), I knew I had to make them.     This first attempt is not with the recommended yarn, but with Sockotta. The called-for yarn is Regia Stretch, a wool blend; Sockotta is cotton.     I will probably undo the bind off row of the toes and do it a little tighter. It sort of flairs out. Next pair I will make the big toe part a couple of rows longer.     In the meantime, I ordered some Regia Stretch... but now that I have it I am not sure I will use it for these! It is such a yummy yarn, I want it for regular socks. Cyn

yoplait & lean cuisine for komen

    I picked up a little magazine today in Wal-Mart which I'd never seen before, called All You. Curiously there was a big section on diabetes (which wasn't noted on the cover). Also, inside was this ad:     I've never been able to develop a taste for yogurt (except for the frozen kind), but I do like to support breast cancer research. The fine print of the ad is probably difficult to read, so just click on the photo to go to the webpage with the details. This collection effort runs until December 31st, and the pink lid containers were supposed to start showing up in stores on September 1st.     Lean Cuisine is also doing a donation-per-package-sold promotion. (Again, just click on the photo for details.) Cyn

TOO early for all this!

A little housekeeping first. About the LC's Current Reads in my sidebar. Have removed Missing Mary and the Kirkegaard Anthology because I dropped the classes for which they were required. Malinche, however, I stopped reading. I may be wrong, but it seems her timeline is all screwed up and I just can't get past it. I *know* it is fiction, but when you claim things to be well-researched and factually-based and they are obviously messed up . . . uh . . . hm . . . that's the argument critics take with DaVinci Code, isn't it? Hm. Perhaps I'll reconsider. Just as well, I only have two new ones to add anyway: a book I bought at MS Pagan Pride day last Saturday, by Rama Berch, Yoga in Every Moment: Contemplations of a Yogi in the Midst of Life, and Mood Cure by Julia Ross. Dr. Ross also wrote Diet Cure, which my sister gave me a few years ago. Both are excellent resources for looking at how manipulating brain chemistry through nutritional supplements can affect our behavior and physiology.     As of last night, I had a whopping 73 participants in my sleep study! That's about 25 more in the last day. I'll be logging those and churning out the emails for the second phase all morning -- should have done it last night instead of reading blogs and knitting! But as my husband was about, oh, 5 hours later coming home from work than I expected him, my mind was just a little preoccupied with other matters. Like being aggravated. And hungry. But mostly worried as I knew they were working in Chalmette.     At least Brickle comes to sit by me when the Big Guy is not home at night. The knitting? Well, I'm doing the last round on the knitting tote; then I'll seam the bottom and add the handles to finish. I also added another section on a Sidewinder hat of pink Kiss and NoBo novelty yarns -- that's AFTER I pulled out the best part of a (if not the whole) 12-row section because I lost my place and can't "read" the knitting because of the fluffy Kiss yarn! I am making this one a bit bigger than the others I have made for KniTibet. This one is for me as it is all acrylic (we need wool for KniTibet hats, scarves and gloves).     Speaking of Tibet, I read a wonderful column from the Syndey Morning Herald earlier today. But I can't find a link on the newspaper website, so the only way I could share it would be to cut-and-paste it into my blog. Not a good idea. I'll keep trying to find it online. I would like to share it.     Time to run hubby to work, Cyn

new hope?

    Late this evening, I checked the job postings at the university. I usually do this a couple times a week, and almost always on Mondays. I'm guessing that the last day I looked was last Wednesday, because tonight there are two new postings for positions at the library. One was listed last Thursday and the other was posted today. I immediately applied for both, wrote my former supervisor to find out who the supervisors are (and hopefully she will provide other juicy details), and now... well, now I'm in anticipation mode.     So, cross your fingers or say a prayer -- not so much for getting the job as for IF I get the job being able to have off the week of Seminar for which I have already paid, and for the trip to Tibet next May for which I paid TODAY my non-refundable deposit! Cyn

strays

    Every once in a while these odd thoughts come to me: I wish there was an option on blogs to invert the order of the posts. You go to a new blog, you scroll to the bottom and then work your way up. Not a big deal, but an invert option would be nice. Cyn

prattle

    Didn't go with Son#2 on Friday. However, Monday or Tuesday I will have to go to campus to collect my letters of recommendation for TWU, and be sure the ones for USM are forwarded on time.     I pulled a real "old woman's" trick: showed up on Friday at 4:30 for my first yoga class, which was actually on Thursday!     Came to Jackson for EGA by myself this month. Roofers are supposed to come this week, and hubby wants to get the prickly bushes trimmed back and the yard mowed, and all the other yards mowed that he is behind on (because he didn't do them last weekend or yesterday). Regardless, it was a nice drive. I have been a bit blue the latter part of this week. I am going to have to be very careful about light and activity to keep from getting depressed. On the way to Jackson, I seemed to revive a bit, even getting a couple of ideas for needlework projects.     So, here I am, relaxing with friends. Same friends as a year ago, but, thankfully in a very different situation. Interestingly, gas prices have dropped to just about what it was pre-Katrina. Cyn

not all play

    Tonight I worked out the last of the details and got all the links setup to unveil my little sleep study. My advisor let me know yesterday that he had received final approval from the IRB. So, I made the final updates to the survey, to the listing and to the website and clicked that "display" option to add my survey to the schedule. Now we'll see how long and how many students are willing to participate.     Earlier today I ran errands, including getting a LOT of blood drawn for some medical tests. I thought just A1C and lipids, but I was wrong. There was a whole slew of them, including thyroid. So, I should know next week whether he will keep me on the Glucophage. Tonight, I have done some knitting on the tote bag; I will be at the half-way point before I go to bed (shortly). Tomorrow, I have a set of DVD's ("Lost Civilizations") to watch that are overdue to the library. Friday is Son#2's short day, so I think I will ride with him to the university, return my overdues, and check with my other 'recommenders' to see if their letters are ready for me to pick up.     And, in case anyone is wondering, no, I did not prepare supper tonight. Unless tearing open a package of tuna and mixing in some mayo counts! Cyn P.S.   Any one who wants the following hair dye, drop me an email--trading for wool yarn for KniTibet would be nice. I tried a lighter shade this last time I colored and am happier with it, so I have these left from bargain shopping: L'oreal Superior Preference 4A Dark Ash Brown - Cooler L'oreal Superior Preference 5AM Medium Amber Brown Revlon ColorSilk 41 Medium Brown (I have two of these) Clairol Nice & Easy Root Touch-up #4 Dark Brown Clairol Loving Care Color Creme 82 Dark Warm Brown The first four are "Level 3, Permanent Haircolor" and the last is "Level 1, Lasts 6-12 Shampoos."

the deed is done

    For better or worse, I made major changes in my current life today. I dropped all my classes except for the one hour for my honors thesis. I had to jump through a couple of hoops to make it happen, but (at this point) it is all settled.     About a week ago I discovered I would need to do about five substitutions/corrections to meet the degree requirements for the second major. I discussed it briefly with my 'mentor' and advisor at the university on Tuesday. While talking with him, he returned my sandalwood Buddhist rosary, which he had carried with him to Tibet where it was blessed in the Jokang Temple in Lhasa. When I took hold of it from him--I know this is going to sound so hokey--I got this odd feeling. A feeling of change, of needing to re-evalute, and I remember thinking this, but not really knowing to what the feeling to change would apply. It was a very calming feeling though.     Over the next couple days, several things happened... I don't remember exactly what happened on what day. I pulled out all the paperwork to apply for the changes to meet the new degree plan. I realized it would be weeks before I would know if the substitutions were accepted, and by then, it could be too late to drop the classes. Even more important, I realized on Friday that academic penalty for dropping was NOT the most important consideration at the moment: financial penalty WAS. According to the catalog, the deadline was 10 days following the beginning of the semester. That is tomorrow!     I began to question myself seriously as to how I was going to manage to accomplish all I would need to do over the next few months, and I also forced myself to ask why I wanted the second major. And other than the love I have for the subject matter, and how compelling I find the study of it, there really is NO reason for me to pursue the second major. It would benefit me little if any, and if I failed to make an A in each class, it could be actually cost me GPA points, and my latin designation at graduation.     I emailed two of my most trusted friends for advice. After detailing everything, I basically asked them whether they could find a reason for me NOT to drop, if they could discover something in my reasoning that I had overlooked. Neither did. By the time I heard from them both, I felt my decision was made and I felt very calm and confident it was the right thing to do... and today I did it.     The only really bad/sad part is that because I am no longer a full-time student, I can not work at the library. It was difficult to tell my supervisors, but they were both very understanding and supportive.     So, I'm sort of a home-body again. I will most likely have to go to campus once a week for a meeting with my thesis advisor, but otherwise, I'm cut loose until December. I expect to have some "post-partum" effects, and have already warned family to be patient... I feel a little lost over holidays from class as it is. (Or rather, has been.) Oh! One set of letters of recommendation for gradschool, sealed and delivered to me today... three more to go. And I will be taking the GRE in early October.
Just cause I wanted to post a picture.     In other news, I tried again this afternoon, unsuccessfully, to find Theresa's new shop. I will just have to email her for specific directions. I picked up the blue #5 pearl cotton (and a fresh skein of the same shade of cotton floss) for my seminar piece at Hobby Lobby. They didn't have #8 in DMC415 and I don't know if what I have will be enough. I'll look for it in Jackson. Or maybe email the teacher to see if a full ball is required.     I think I'll knit a bit tonight, and maybe start on the outlining for the seminar piece. Gosh, I haven't really worked on canvas for years!     Supper for me tonight will probably be tuna, cheese, and crackers. Hubby had a "big sandwich" late in the day because he thought he was going to have to work late. That's something else that will be changing: being home, I will feel like I should prepare supper. Oh joy. But then, "feel like" doesn't mean "will." Lordy, I am SO lazy! Cyn [who seems to be stuck for the present at 154 lbs, for those who might be curious]

after 371 days

Today did not exactly end as I expected . . .     We had not yet seen Pirates of the Caribbean (2) and when I checked the listings while at work yesterday, it was no longer showing during the afternoons in H'burg, but it was in G'port. So we made a plan to go down there today. Son#1 came along. Great, fun flick. Then we went to Applebee's. Not sure about hubby & son, but my supper was really good and it was the fastest I have ever been served in an Applebee's!     The unexpected happened when we left the restaurant. Hubby turned not left, toward home, but right, heading toward the beach. My heart sank. He did ask me if I wanted him to turn around, but I said it was okay. He wanted to see for himself. He's been over south of New Orleans (Hopedale), where there is nothing left, he's been in Chalmette, where there is nothing left... he wanted to drive by Beach Road over to Bay Saint Louis. (Well, you can't get to BSL any more from Beach Road, duh. I think we knew that, but had forgotten.)     As so many others have noted, it is almost impossible to know where you are, to know even where things *used* to be. When we got to the USMMGCC, I was truly shocked at the amount of missing buildings. To see empty lot after empty lot, where the grandest and the simplest of beach homes used to stand, and only a very few with even a FEMA trailer sitting upon either sandy ground or bare slab, even fewer rebuilt or even signs of rebuilding...     There is no way to express the sadness and regret, most of all for the lost memories. It's the same feeling I had in 1989, when I came to MS to visit my parents and see the new house they were building where my grandparents home had stood. I was very happy for them, and the new house was great, but at one point I had to excuse myself. I walked around the end of the fence, hidden from everyone and cried my eyes out. What I felt, however, is infinitesimal to what the people of the Gulf Coast have had to endure.     To write about something else now seems thoughtless. Cyn

oh what a beautiful morning

    For the first time (that I recall) since I returned from Mexico, the warm sunshine has been accompanied by not hot air and wind, but cool. It actually felt a bit refreshing this morning at 7am when I left for work/school. And even during the heat of the day the breeze was cool. Tonight the temperature has dropped to the low 70s. I am so ready for the beautiful fall southern weather to arrive!     This morning I submitted my application to the School of Library & Information Science at USM for the masters program. I have one more section of the online application to submit to the Grad Studies office and I will have that finished. The requests for letters of submission were delivered today as well. As soon as the envelopes are ready for me to pick up, I'll be sending off the application to TWU. That online application is already finished but needs to be officially submitted. Then all that is left to do is take the GRE.     However, the paperwork to resolve the degree requirement issues for my RELBA is just beginning. I have about 5 or 6 weeks to determine whether I can drop classes or will be able to finish for the second major.     Needless to say, I am a little bummed. I seem to recall a post back in the spring about waiting for the other shoe to drop... at the moment, no enthusiasm for classwork, stitching or much else either. But, "this too shall pass." Cyn

reclaiming identity

"Cynclair" is an online identity which I had for a good many years in the '90s. It is a reference to My Captain, Jeffery Sinclair of Babylon 5. I don't remember how I lost it, but an "Old Friend" lamented the change at the time. B5 was over & I felt I had moved on, but now I am missing the nick, so the first step to reclaim it is re-establishing my blog under http://cynclair.blogspot.com . I think I will try to get my other IDs back to it as well. Cyn

grrrroan

Sigh.     My dear advisor doesn't come to campus on Tuesday. I must wait one more day to find out if I can even begin to resolve the issues with the RELBA. S'okay. I'm trying not to worry. The good news today is that three of the four people I have asked (haven't asked the fourth yet) to write letters of recommendation for grad school for me have said yes... and very enthusiastically so.     I do hope that a research carrel becomes available soon. I didn't realize I would have so much free time on campus this semester or I would have applied earlier. I think I am third on the wait list.     The question of the day is... do I embarass myself by writing to the program director of our Spanish in Mexico program to inquire as to how my grade was determined? That B brought down my GPA a bit, and what I really want to know is why the quiz portion of my grade in one class is 13/30! The email address I have for our teacher in Mexico bounces, so my only way to contact her is through the PD.... I just don't know if I should bother. One the one hand, I'm happy to have survived the course and gotten a B. BUT, on the other hand, if the quiz grade is only half what it should be, I probably actually have an A. AND, what if I only make B's this semester in my Philosophy (Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Freud, Marx, Tolsoy, Dostoyevsky, OH MY!) and Judaism classes? If my GPS falls below 3.5 I won't graduate with high honors and all my thesis work will be for naught. GAWD! I sound like I'm 20 years old. Why the heck does it matter so much to me??     I think I need to knit a bit tonight.... and that's something else I need/want to do: set up some knit sessions on campus for KniTibet. I should probably go to the Amnesty International meeting Thursday. I'm hoping to get one or two one campus organizations to sponsor the drive for caps & scarves & mittens. LC

disappointments loom

#1 trouble meeting requirements for the religion major.     Well, I thought I had checked and double-checked, but it turns out I am a couple courses short of the core requirements for College of Arts & Letters. Now if I'm very lucky, I can wrangle the substitutions, but there's a REAL good chance that I'll come up two courses short. #2 false advertising.     Ever since my friend, Laura (in DC), wrote that she is buying a Toyota Prius and I then saw the MPG, I've been toying with the idea of checking them out. Then yesterday, driving home from Sunday dinner, hubby says, "Maybe what I should do is buy you that car and I'll drive the truck." Well, what he was talking about is a cute little blue convertible PT Cruiser at the local Chrysler dealership. But I told him if he was really serious about buying a car, we ought to look at something with better gas mileage. Of course the PT is about $5K less than the Prius.     So, last night I got online and found the local Toyota dealers and checked for Prius in stock. Bunches came up, so today I drove over to the lot on my break and lo, and behold -- NOT ONE Prius!     First, the salesman acts like no, there aren't any listings online. Then he says they are what are coming in to dealerships all over the area. THEN he says that those are all sold. BY.NOW.I'M.GETTING.PISSED.     Which is it? Available or sold?? I do not like to be given the run-around. I do not being treated like I am stupid. And I do not being lied to. "Guess you aren't going to sell a car, then." As I was getting in the car to leave, he asked, almost as an afterthought, if I wanted him to find out when one was due in. "No, if you can't be any more honest than that on the website, I'll just buy something else."     Then, my son was admonishing me for "yelling" at the salesman -- which I wasn't-- for blaming the salesman for something that wasn't his fault -- which I wasn't... it is Toyota's fault, but at that moment he was the representative of the company and that's part of the job to take the flack for what the company does. AND beside, I was very nice.     You have to wonder if it (buying a vehicle to save on gas) is really fiscally sound anyway: car payment (AND interest), insurance, tag registration,(and in MS) ad valorum tax. There goes your savings at the gas pumps for how many weeks? Years??? So, Laura, good luck with your purchase. I think TPTB are telling me it's not the right vehicle or not the right time. LC p.s. To be fair, I went back to the website () just now. The (only four now) Prius are marked as "available," and the footnote indicates that "A status of 'Available' means the vehicle is available to the dealership from a virtual pool of vehicles, but is not on the lot. Please contact the dealership to confirm vehicle availability." So WHY didn't the salesman know that??

sunday nights

    Ah... Sunday night before a new week of classes. For some people it is despressing, for me, at least tonight, it's a calm feeling. Weekend has been busy. I finally have the survey for my thesis study uploaded and ready for the student participant. I only await the IRB approval to release it.     Most people who know me, know that my two favorite types of food are Mexican and Italian. Unfortunately, Friday night, the meatballs and spaghetti did NOT agree with me. By 6am, I was hugging the toilet. So, I doubt I'll have a taste for Italian for a good while.     Seems I spent the weekend well, but can't make much of a tally to show for it. Most importantly, the list of To-Do's for tomorrow. I can't believe this is the LAST episode of Deadwood. LC

gonna love these no-class fridays

    I can hardly hold my eyes open, but I've had a very productive day and evening. I wrote a page for the MSNA newsletter, updated both my resume and my personal statement/essay for grad school applications, and... ta-dah... got my sleep study survey uploaded to the internet! It is ready to go as soon as I get the final okay from IRB.     Unfortunately no stitching or knitting of any kind, but I did get side-tracked in my Needle Arts magazines for a while this afternoon. With all the years of beading and knitting, I forget sometimes how much I love embroidery. So many things to take pleasure in, so little time. G'nite, LC

won't do. won't do!

    Thursday is my short day; home by one o'clock. Even though I was in bed before ten last night, I was extremely drowsy driving home and went directly to the couch to nap. It is now half past five, and I am just waking up! This will NOT do at all.     Neither will spending too much time on the computer, so.... "later, tater!" LC

remember the magic mirror?

    Today was the first day of the new semester, and even though I did not have classes, #2Son did, and I had errands to take care of on campus so I drove him. It was a good choice, as my errands each took longer than expected, i.e., there wouldn't be enough time to do them on a day when I do have classes. But the best thing was seeing people I know. I felt a little like Miss Nancy from Romper Room: "I see Susan, and Paula, and JohnL,
and Diana, and Jeremiah, and Dan, and Cody,
and Halima, and Cathy, and Patrick, and Walter."     The errands were all concerning graduation and grad school. I've changed my primary major from psychology to religion, so I can "walk" for the religion degree. As for grad school, I think my heart wants to go to TWU, but I'll probably end up at USM. According to the information I received today in the mail from TWU, you have to have already been accepted at TWU before submitting for financial aid (not that it makes much sense... I'm hoping it only means they won't award it until then).     I have exactly 72 days to complete (the final draft) my thesis! I am afraid this semester is going to pass much too quickly. LC

learn-a-bit, knit-a-bit

    School is about to begin, and along with all the other things running willy-nilly in my feeble little brain is KniTibet. I need to review everything I wrote last year about the project, confirm it all and get the website updated. I am hoping to get some sponsorship from one or two of the student organizations, and to start a "lessons for contribution" program on or just-off campus.     So, along that vein, last night I cast-on for a prototype hooded scarf. During lunch Tuesday, a friend mentioned a very simple style hooded scarf that she crochets. I got to thinking that perhaps this would be a good idea for the children. Only one item to keep up with, but which serves multiple purposes, not the least of which would be as a teaching tool.     I'm not a big fan of seamed up hats (just a personal preference... silly me; I'd rather wrangle with double-points). My idea is to start off with the simplest of cast-ons and garter stitch (on straight needles), then add some patterning with purl stitches. That would teach not just the purl stitch, but practice at "reading" one's knitting and perhaps using markers. If the hood needs to be (and I think it will) a bit wider that the scarf, viola, increasing. Then they can either learn decreasing and continue in the pattern and then the garter border to the end, or perhaps set that piece aside, make a second just like it and learn to kitchner. I have been making tapes of the Knitty Gritty shows, so I could cue up some of those demonstrations if we met in the media library.     I have some Debbie Bliss Merino Aran that I bought on sale at San Antonio several years ago. But, with our limited access to (reasonably priced) wool around here, they may end up with Lion Brand's Fisherman wool. The white will be pretty bland, but it could always be dyed later for another learning experience.     Well, just some ponderings when, of course, I should have my mind on other matters.     Oh! And to anyone who has written to me through the KniTibet address, my sincerest apologies. I just today stumbled across the password and regained access to the account. Between Hurricane Katrina and the cancellation of our planned 2006 trip to Tibet, I certainly dropped the needles and the stitches on this one. But I am confident it will be successful in the end. LC

baby's got 'em

    What's the best thing about losing weight? My doctor, of course, would say my improved (current and future) health, but we all KNOW that it's B U Y I N G     N E W     C L O T H E S ! ! !     Except.... when the your new skirts (purchased just two weeks ago and not even worn because you didn't shaved your legs) are now too big? Don't throw out those 12s, Rissa -- I may fit into them yet!     So, what's a girl to do?? Buy new shoes, of course! ¿Estamos bailando todavía?     I need a fancy pair of shoes for the EGA banquets, and I think these will do nicely. When I was trying them on for the second time, this sweet young girl told me they looked very pretty on my feet... bless her little heart! I just *had* to buy them after that. I do already have a red dress, but I'd really like to find something a bit fancier. Or maybe just fancy-up the one I have. Still a good many weeks to figure out that one. It's a good-news-bad-news kind of situation as far as wanting to keep losing weight and wanting to fit the clothes I have recently bought!     Good news from the doctor today. Glucose was 81, BP was 127/81. He wants to do a fasting blood test for cholesterol to see if treating the diabetes has lowered it. At the same time he will check the AC1 for the past three months. I'll do that one day next week -- he said there was no reason to "stick" me twice.     So much for my day. Now I want to knit just a bit and then go to bed. Gotta start getting some more sleep. Those 8am workdays are going to be starting much too soon. LC

150 things, done and undone

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink -- there were only two of us though. 02. Swam with wild dolphins -- before it was "In" and not in an artificial environment. 03. Climbed a mountain 04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive 05. Been inside the Great Pyramid 06. Held a tarantula 07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone 08. Said 'I love you' and meant it 09. Hugged a tree 10. Bungee jumped 11. Visited Paris 12. Watched a lightning storm at sea 13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise -- many times! 14. Seen the Northern Lights << this one's on my do before I die list 15. Gone to a huge sports game -- Superbowl II - Green Bay Packers and Oakland Raiders with my dad. 16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa 17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables -- hubby grew; I ate. 18. Touched an iceberg 19. Slept under the stars 20. Changed a baby's diaper 21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon 22. Watched a meteor shower 23. Gotten drunk on champagne 24. Given more than you can afford to charity 25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope. 26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment 27. Had a food fight 28. Bet on a winning horse 29. Asked out a stranger 30. Had a snowball fight 31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly could 32. Held a lamb 33. Seen a total eclipse 34. Ridden a roller coaster 35. Hit a home run 36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking 37. Adopted an accent for an entire day 38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment -- many times! 39. Had two hard drives for your computer 40. Visited all 50 states << only 39, so far 41. Taken care of someone who was shit faced 42. Had amazing friends 43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country 44. Watched wild whales 45. Stolen a sign 46. Backpacked in Europe 47. Taken a road-trip 48. Gone rock climbing 49. Midnight walk on the beach 50. Gone sky diving 51. Visited Ireland 52. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love 53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them 54. Visited Japan 55. Milked a cow 56. Alphabetized your cds 57. Pretended to be a superhero 58. Sung karaoke 59. Lounged around in bed all day 60. Posed nude in front of strangers 61. Gone scuba diving 62. Kissed in the rain 63. Played in the mud 64. Played in the rain 65. Gone to a drive-in theater 66. Visited the Great Wall of China 67. Started a business 68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken 69. Toured ancient sites. 70. Taken a martial arts class 71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight 72. Gotten married 73. Been in a movie 74. Crashed a party 75. Gotten divorced 76. Gone without food for 5 days 77. Made cookies from scratch 78. Won first prize in a costume contest 79. Ridden a gondola in Venice 80. Gotten a tattoo 81. Gone white water rafting 82. Been on television news programs as an "expert" 83. Got flowers for no reason 84. Performed on stage 85. Been to Las Vegas 86. Recorded music 87. Eaten shark 88. Had a one-night stand 89. Gone to Thailand 90. Bought a house 91. Been in a combat zone 92. Buried one/both of your parents 93. Been on a cruise ship 94. Spoken more than one language fluently 95. Performed in Rocky Horror 96. Raised children. -- should be "raising children" cause it never ends. 97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour 98. Created and named your own constellation of stars 99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country 100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over 101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge 102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking 103. Had plastic surgery 104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived. 105. Wrote articles for a large publication 106. Lost over 100 pounds 107. Held someone while they were having a flashback 108. Piloted an airplane 109. Petted a stingray 110. Broken someone's heart 111. Helped an animal give birth 112. Won money on a T.V. game show 113. Broken a bone 114. Gone on an African photo safari 115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced 116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol 117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild 118. Ridden a horse 119. Had major surgery 120. Had a snake as a pet 121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon 122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours 123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states 124. Visited all 7 continents 125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days 126. Eaten kangaroo meat 127. Eaten sushi 128. Had your picture in the newspaper 129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about 130. Gone back to school 131. Parasailed 132. Petted a cockroach 133. Eaten fried green tomatoes 134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey 135. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read 136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating 137. Skipped all your school reunions 138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language 139. Been elected to public office 140. Written your own computer language 141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream 142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care 143. Built your own PC from parts 144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you 145. Had a booth at a street fair 146: Dyed your hair 147: Been a DJ 148: Shaved your head 149: Caused a car accident 150: Saved someone's life

katrina on my mind

    As the one-year anniversary of Katrina approaches, I find myself thinking about it a lot. Perhaps most people around here are doing the same, I don't know. Although I have not yet been able to bring myself to return to the Coast, I spent two days last week at the APA convention in downtown New Orleans.     There is an eerie (not scarey, eerie) atmosphere there, which is really difficult to explain. Very few people are on the streets, even fewer working and hardly any vehicles. We left downtown at 6pm on Friday night and did not hit a bit of traffice until we were east of Chalmette! Many places downtown are still closed -- as is nearly everything east of New Orleans. Some businesses are gone entirely (like Nawlin's Cookery), but we drove out Dauphine on our way out of town Friday and it was good to see some familar places open, and in the same places (like Mulates, The Central Grocery and Cafe du Monde -- although we personally don't care for the beignets at the latter). There are also new and unfamiliar shops and restaurants. There are also lots of dumpsters for the debris as clean-up and remodeling continues.     On Thursday evening we drove out toward the lake (Pontchartrain) to see how badly Joe's Crab Shack had been hit. Nothing appears to have been done yet towards reopening the restaurant. The road along the shore is damaged in several places. The high water marks are still quite visible on most of the houses along the boulevard. FEMA trailers and dumpsters sit on many properties. It is sad to see, but at least they have something to rebuild from... the MS Gulf Coast is not so fortunate. I have heard more than one person say that it doesn't look as if anything has been done at all on the Coast, as if Katrina hit just recently and not almost 12 months ago.     Wednesday night I saw a "coffee-table" book of Katrina pictures that I really want to buy. One of the reason is that there are many more photos of the MS coast in this one and not just NOLA like most of the ones I have seen previously.     And for those who might have missed the news, the Beau Rivage resort has chosen the anniversary as their reopening. Whenever the Coast is rebuilt it will have an even more different face than the new New Orleans seems to be getting... I imagine only hotels and casinos in their future, not houses. LC

more feline weirdness

from my cats... Nero likes to chew on the little flip-flops they put on your feet after you get a pedicure. Last week I bought a pair of regular flip-flops at Walgreens, but they were make of the same kind of foam as the pedicure flippies. I accidentally left them in the living room on Thursday night. Then I didn't notice when I put them on Friday morning, but he had chewed the heels of one and the toes of the other overnight. Looked really charming at the APA convention that day! Sasha is a true female: she loves sweets and especially chocolate. Now,I know that you aren't supposed to give cats and dogs chocolate, but every time someone has any kind of sugary treat she comes running. She knows the sound of a Hershey kiss being unwrapped, or any other candy wrapper. And, as I mentioned before, she loves to play with the ball of foil. She will drag candy wrappers out of the trash basket in the living room to play with, and she especially likes the shiny mylar kind. We love to watch her 'dance' with her toy. Their water bowl used to be in the kitchen, beside the food bowls -- of which there has to be two so they don't fight. However, it was moved to the laundry room because they kept spilling it onto the kitchen. Before we moved it though, we had gotten in the habit of putting ice cubes in it whenever we got ice out of the fridge (that's not what started the playing/spilling of the water though). As funny as it was to see them play with the ice cube, it is even funnuier now when they come running to the kitchen whenever someone gets ice out of the fridge. Poor babies. LC

toys: how cats and kids are alike

    We have three (indoor) cats -- only one of which we would consider psychologically normal -- and each one has a favorite toy. Not a store-bought toy, however, or even a lovely handmade one like the felted ball someone sweet made for them. No, they like best a few things that most anyone would have around the house.     Sasha likes balls of paper, in particular, balls of foil candy wrappers. Brickle like string, especially shoe strings. For Nero is has been straws, but now we have discovered something that he just goes nuts over: red laser light.     We discovered this a few months ago, but recently #1Son bought some kind of flashlight with a laser. Shine it on the floor, furniture or wall, and Nero is chasing it with the energy of a manic kitten. #1Son lets him play with the laser every night when he gets home from work, and now Nero also turns with anticipation whenever #1Son comes into the living room from anywhere else in the house at practically any time of the day or night. Tonight we even caught him sitting looking at the flashlight on the end table. I've got to try to get at least a few seconds of video of these antics.     So just like with children, we have often spent money on toys, but they (our cats at least) alway seem to have more fun playing with the packaging! LC, asleep at the keyboard

prodigal one returns

    Today I returned to work in the library. Unfortunately not as a full-time employee, but in my former position as a student assistant. It was a long day (longer than I used to work at one stretch), but it was nice to be back. There are fewer patrons over intersission/break, of course, so I can ease back into the routine. There have been a lot of changes in the last 5 months with regard to what is in our area, so I have things to learn -- most everything is the same though. My supervisor(s) are such wonderful ladies. I really missed them.     I want to knit, but I have so many things to do... It is already 9:00pm, though, and I am very tired. So, perhaps just a few rows while I wind down and ponder what items on my never-ending to-do list have the highest priority for tomorrow. And Deadwood has just begun, so I'll be up at least an hour. LC

more matters of size

ooo! ooo! ooo!     Now tonight I am really excited.     We went down the road to Home Depot tonight (did I ever mention how much I despise HD??) to get carpet padding. They didn't have any carpet padding and the carpet wasn't where the greeter at the door even said it was and the woman sitting in the 'design' area ignored us while, as per usual, all the HD employees deftly disappeared. I hate HD like most people hate WM.     Needless to say we left, intending to go all 25 miles back up the interstate to home, plus the 50 more north to the Lowe's (did I ever mention that I live one-half to one-full hour from any decent shopping??). However, I suggested that we could go to Lowe's tomorrow night and hit Hudson's tonight while we were close. No one EVER has to twist hubby's arm to go to Hudson's! Boy, am I glad we chose the latter!     There were very few women's clothes, but what was there worked out wonderfully for me. Most people seem to leave the silks and wools, and I love to snatch them up off the 75-80% racks. Tonight I scored a pair of beautiful red silk "grasscloth" (with silk lining) slacks... size 12s... no elastic waistband... no stretch fabric... that fit perfectly!! Two 3/4-length sleeve cardigans and two silk tops completed my clothing purchases.     As for hubby's cache, well, Rissa... neither Ben or Rodger can "go to Hudson's any more."     Now, to go try on those slacks for hubby's approval. >>wink-wink<< LC