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Human Activities
Feb. 24th, 2011 03:57 pmHistory, to me, or even reading about a particular experience, elevates it into something mystical, crazy difficult, unrelatable and unachievable. This feeling is a lie.
Human history was made by the acts of fellow human beings, something I am constantly made aware of in my Music History class. Mozart was a great virtuoso, yes, but he also traveled in horrid conditions, got sick, played string quartets for entertainment, rebelled against his father and employer, had money problems, oh, and along the way learned a lot about and composed many kinds of music.
We can do the things older generations have done. We DO do those things still. Mozart is still played today, for instance. On a more basic level: we speak, sing, teach each other, create art, observe religious practices, create stories, and make many, many things: food, medicine, clothing, shelter.
Sometimes I am amazed at how basic life is. I realized this while I was cooking, first. We only have three main types of food: proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. We only have so many types of meat, veggies, fruits, and grains. Liquids, at their most basic level, all derive from water.
The beauty of food (and any other human activity) is when we mix these ingredients together in new/different/old ways. We can go Spartan-ly simple (fried eggs with salt and pepper), or ridiculously complex (10 ingredient omelet). We can surprise ourselves and others when we take our traditions (which were, once upon a time, innovations) and tweak them just enough to get a new experience.
If we are dedicated to a skill, we are able take something basic to the human experience and turn it into an art.
This all lead me to a question that I really like: What skills do I want to become good at? Personally, a lot of things: Teaching, music, drawing and painting, dancing, cooking, knitting/crocheting, flying, understanding people, having sex, writing, and there will be more as time progresses. This is the essence of human life, I think. Gaining skills and sharing them with others.
What do you want to become good at? What are the basic ingredients of your art?
Human history was made by the acts of fellow human beings, something I am constantly made aware of in my Music History class. Mozart was a great virtuoso, yes, but he also traveled in horrid conditions, got sick, played string quartets for entertainment, rebelled against his father and employer, had money problems, oh, and along the way learned a lot about and composed many kinds of music.
We can do the things older generations have done. We DO do those things still. Mozart is still played today, for instance. On a more basic level: we speak, sing, teach each other, create art, observe religious practices, create stories, and make many, many things: food, medicine, clothing, shelter.
Sometimes I am amazed at how basic life is. I realized this while I was cooking, first. We only have three main types of food: proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. We only have so many types of meat, veggies, fruits, and grains. Liquids, at their most basic level, all derive from water.
The beauty of food (and any other human activity) is when we mix these ingredients together in new/different/old ways. We can go Spartan-ly simple (fried eggs with salt and pepper), or ridiculously complex (10 ingredient omelet). We can surprise ourselves and others when we take our traditions (which were, once upon a time, innovations) and tweak them just enough to get a new experience.
If we are dedicated to a skill, we are able take something basic to the human experience and turn it into an art.
This all lead me to a question that I really like: What skills do I want to become good at? Personally, a lot of things: Teaching, music, drawing and painting, dancing, cooking, knitting/crocheting, flying, understanding people, having sex, writing, and there will be more as time progresses. This is the essence of human life, I think. Gaining skills and sharing them with others.
What do you want to become good at? What are the basic ingredients of your art?
Tags:
I Always Forget to Make a Title
Jun. 4th, 2010 08:03 pmIt's been so long since I posted last that I am overwhelmed by the sheer number of things I "should" write about. However, should means nothing here.
I've been knitting/crocheting a lot lately. I made two pairs of purple Mary Janes most recently. They are unusual because they are outside shoes, the soles are made from jute, from which I've made a welcome mat from before, and I had to buy the pattern, a first for me. One pair was for me, and the other for a new friend of mine who shares my name. They are very cute and fairly comfortable, but I'm picky about what shoes I wear.
Other projects have been doll scarves (once again inspired by the new friend. She's a doll collector.), doilies (more on that later), and a cardigan. The cardigan isn't done yet, since I stalled on it a few weeks back. I have everything I need to complete it: buttons, yarn, a plan; but the motivation left me at that point. Almost all the other projects I started in order to avoid it are finished, so I'll probably be going back to it soon.
I started a dress for the Renaissance Faire a few weeks ago, but I couldn't finish in time to actually wear it to the event. It's still "unfinished" and a bit too small, as well. There is a big story behind that, but I don't feel like telling it today. Hopefully, I'll finish a dress that fits me by the 21st of the month. My band is playing a Ren Faire-themed party then.
I am still teaching about fifteen students, but I've had three leave from moving away or losing interest, and the look of my schedule is changing due to summer arriving. I feel a slight twinge of "I hate change" every time the seasons switch and my schedule is rearranged.
However, summer has freed up my own teacher and I've been having regular lessons once again. Practicing, and thinking about practicing (two things that go hand in hand) is becoming habitual once more. I'm not going to be going to a music camp this summer, and I'm glad for it. I need all my energy to get ready for graduate school.
I'll also be beginning tutoring for Music Theory and History very soon. Taking it, not giving it, to be clear. That is also in preparation for grad school. There will be an entrance exam. If I don't pass it, there will be remedial classes. Ew.
My family has attended several events over the past two months. On Mother's Day we went to see my maternal grandmothers. I promised to make my great-grandmother ten 3-inch doilies during our visit, and I finished them a week ago. Now, I just have to go give them to her. I'm bad at finding time for it, unfortunately. I will, though. The doilies aren't doing me any good sitting there.
Our second event was Memorial Day. We went to Illinois to see my paternal side of the family. They were very interested in where I was going to go to school. Turns out one of my uncles lives in Ohio, about three hours from where my school is. It will be nice to go visit them when I have a weekend off. Mother also approved; she said it made her heart easier. We're looking at apartments in my town right now. I've picked one out, and we just have to call on it.
Goodness, I'm worn out. Typing isn't as easy as it was after a two month break. I'll be back, hopefully sooner than last time. I want to say I'll get in a regular schedule of posting to prepare for grad school, but summer isn't always interesting, you know? I'll likely begin posting again once I've moved in August. Can't have Mother get too lonely without me.
Until then,
Deepgreen(y)
I've been knitting/crocheting a lot lately. I made two pairs of purple Mary Janes most recently. They are unusual because they are outside shoes, the soles are made from jute, from which I've made a welcome mat from before, and I had to buy the pattern, a first for me. One pair was for me, and the other for a new friend of mine who shares my name. They are very cute and fairly comfortable, but I'm picky about what shoes I wear.
Other projects have been doll scarves (once again inspired by the new friend. She's a doll collector.), doilies (more on that later), and a cardigan. The cardigan isn't done yet, since I stalled on it a few weeks back. I have everything I need to complete it: buttons, yarn, a plan; but the motivation left me at that point. Almost all the other projects I started in order to avoid it are finished, so I'll probably be going back to it soon.
I started a dress for the Renaissance Faire a few weeks ago, but I couldn't finish in time to actually wear it to the event. It's still "unfinished" and a bit too small, as well. There is a big story behind that, but I don't feel like telling it today. Hopefully, I'll finish a dress that fits me by the 21st of the month. My band is playing a Ren Faire-themed party then.
I am still teaching about fifteen students, but I've had three leave from moving away or losing interest, and the look of my schedule is changing due to summer arriving. I feel a slight twinge of "I hate change" every time the seasons switch and my schedule is rearranged.
However, summer has freed up my own teacher and I've been having regular lessons once again. Practicing, and thinking about practicing (two things that go hand in hand) is becoming habitual once more. I'm not going to be going to a music camp this summer, and I'm glad for it. I need all my energy to get ready for graduate school.
I'll also be beginning tutoring for Music Theory and History very soon. Taking it, not giving it, to be clear. That is also in preparation for grad school. There will be an entrance exam. If I don't pass it, there will be remedial classes. Ew.
My family has attended several events over the past two months. On Mother's Day we went to see my maternal grandmothers. I promised to make my great-grandmother ten 3-inch doilies during our visit, and I finished them a week ago. Now, I just have to go give them to her. I'm bad at finding time for it, unfortunately. I will, though. The doilies aren't doing me any good sitting there.
Our second event was Memorial Day. We went to Illinois to see my paternal side of the family. They were very interested in where I was going to go to school. Turns out one of my uncles lives in Ohio, about three hours from where my school is. It will be nice to go visit them when I have a weekend off. Mother also approved; she said it made her heart easier. We're looking at apartments in my town right now. I've picked one out, and we just have to call on it.
Goodness, I'm worn out. Typing isn't as easy as it was after a two month break. I'll be back, hopefully sooner than last time. I want to say I'll get in a regular schedule of posting to prepare for grad school, but summer isn't always interesting, you know? I'll likely begin posting again once I've moved in August. Can't have Mother get too lonely without me.
Until then,
Deepgreen(y)
Cynicism, Patience, and Dancing
Apr. 25th, 2010 12:29 pmI found out during my most recent relationship that I am less than romantic, even cynical. I don't do soppy declarations, romantic settings make me laugh, and trying to get me to do either requires a lot of motivation. That said, I usually enjoy weddings. Maybe weddings aren't romantic? Hmm, no. Two people pledging their lives to each other and then having a party to celebrate, complete with age-old symbols of love (rings, vows, aphrodisiacs, cake, dancing, white dresses [that one makes my inner cynic start, though]), is pretty sappy. Maybe I just enjoy seeing my friends/family fairly happy.
I got to go to a wedding last night. A friend from childhood who I hadn't seen in eight years sent my family an invitation. Dad had to go to California, so Mom wasn't going to go, but I was determined. So determined that four of us ended up going, with me driving the lead during the hour-and-a-half journey over to Mom's old college (who saw that coming?). We got to see Mom's old dorm and part of the campus. We were also regaled with a few tales of her life during college. Now, theoretically, I knew Mom was a socialite of sorts. She was the "always cheery" one who lived in a coed dorm, had dances on the very large porch of the same, and got thrown into Theta Pond on her 21st birthday. Almost makes me envious, almost.
The wedding itself (held right near Theta Pond) was a standard one, as these things go. This is not surprising once you know about the family. They are very traditional for this part of the world. It was actually a little slow, but I have learned patience about these kind of things. I'd rather they be slow than rushed. The reception afterward was quite good. They had a very nice spread of food, and the cake was tasty. There weren't enough tables, so we had to share. We met the mother and mother-in-law of the best man. They were very sweet and complimentary towards my knitting (I brought it and refuse to be defensive), and very interested in my musical career. I have potential customers if I wish to sell my knitting. It took the wedding party quite a while to take pictures and such, so we had decided to leave by the time they got to the dancing. The best thing about having a wedding of an agemate is the music. I actually enjoyed it(!), and participated once before we left.
My knitting at the moment is an entrelac dishcloth. However, I love it so much I want to use it (that sounds wrong), so I'm extending it into an extra-long cloth I can use in the bathroom or for dishes once I move. I may also try to make a towel from the same pattern, we'll see.
My crochet at the moment (small moment of silence for me breaking the one-project-at-a-time rule) is a cardigan/bolero. I did it totally wrong at first, and had to rip back a lot. I'm now following the pattern slavishly, like a good little recipe-follower. It's going to turn out nicely, I think.
The only news left is...school. My psychology class will be over in two weeks, and I have to decide what to do for the summer. Two or three months seems like such a short time. I keep thinking I won't need an activity, but reality checks that thought almost immediately. I am a stimulation junkie. If there is nothing new going on, I get antsy.
Until next time,
Greeny
I am very, very lucky to have a confrontation-avoiding family. We have drama, it just doesn't happen during the holidays. I have heard some fairly frightening stories from others in the past couple days, and this has made me truly, well, thankful that I come from a bunch of south-westerners. Not that our avoidance of public scenes is healthy all the time, but get-togethers don't end up in shouting, drunkenness, and general disorder.
Onto other, happier, topics. We went and visited our family today, as tradition demands. Copious amounts of meat, starches, well-doctored vegetables, and pie were consumed. We also fed the mass-media glut that often happens today by going to Blockbuster and renting a movie afterwards.
It was a rather quiet day, excluding our 2-3 hours of driving. I crocheted and knit during both trips, and managed to produce a man's ring of bamboo crochet thread (I was very pleased by the final result), and two inches of a gift scarf (new project alert!). I just realized, however, that producing six feet of the thing is going to require an audio-book. This is what got me through the afghan: a 23-hour sci-fi audio-book. Stephanie Meyer's The Host, in fact. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great, either, just a slightly unusually-set, overly complicated romance novel. I wonder what I'll come up with to listen to next.
I reorganized my room a bit the last few days. I have a bookshelf again! Being able to immediately fill three shelves full of books amused and alarmed me. I only started buying books four years ago! This does not bode well for my future storage needs. In the process of clearing space for my bookcase, I had to face my knitting and crochet collection. Another rubbermaid container was bought to store the yarn (embarrassed fidgeting commences), and I still need to buy an organizer for my knitting needles. I'm wondering how exactly I bought so much stuff without really noticing until now. General apathy plus a convenient stashing place equals not enough knowledge, I think.
I will be working on using the stash until it reaches a manageable size again, and I'm also finishing some old works-in-progress. I had two that just needed ends worked in (now basically finished), and I've got three that need sewing of zippers and lining. I think I'll bring out the sewing machine tomorrow, and finish the three.
Hope to talk to you all soon,
Greeny
Onto other, happier, topics. We went and visited our family today, as tradition demands. Copious amounts of meat, starches, well-doctored vegetables, and pie were consumed. We also fed the mass-media glut that often happens today by going to Blockbuster and renting a movie afterwards.
It was a rather quiet day, excluding our 2-3 hours of driving. I crocheted and knit during both trips, and managed to produce a man's ring of bamboo crochet thread (I was very pleased by the final result), and two inches of a gift scarf (new project alert!). I just realized, however, that producing six feet of the thing is going to require an audio-book. This is what got me through the afghan: a 23-hour sci-fi audio-book. Stephanie Meyer's The Host, in fact. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great, either, just a slightly unusually-set, overly complicated romance novel. I wonder what I'll come up with to listen to next.
I reorganized my room a bit the last few days. I have a bookshelf again! Being able to immediately fill three shelves full of books amused and alarmed me. I only started buying books four years ago! This does not bode well for my future storage needs. In the process of clearing space for my bookcase, I had to face my knitting and crochet collection. Another rubbermaid container was bought to store the yarn (embarrassed fidgeting commences), and I still need to buy an organizer for my knitting needles. I'm wondering how exactly I bought so much stuff without really noticing until now. General apathy plus a convenient stashing place equals not enough knowledge, I think.
I will be working on using the stash until it reaches a manageable size again, and I'm also finishing some old works-in-progress. I had two that just needed ends worked in (now basically finished), and I've got three that need sewing of zippers and lining. I think I'll bring out the sewing machine tomorrow, and finish the three.
Hope to talk to you all soon,
Greeny
Violinist uses Guitar String, A First?
Nov. 24th, 2009 12:53 pmI am finding it interesting that life now has events I wish to blog about. Perhaps it is me, rather than the events, that has changed.
The Sunday gig was a mess, a challenge, and a victory. It certainly wasn't easy. We were dealing with a new PA system and didn't have all the correct parts at first (thank goodness for eager-to-please boyfriends/roadies). I went slightly amnesiatic and forgot to bring an amp...or extra strings. Turns out I needed both. Well, the amp was superceded by me plugging directly into the PA, and Micah saved the day by fitting me with a guitar string. I'm not sure whether this is a first in all of history, but it felt like one. All I know is that a 26 gauge guitar string is fairly close in size to a violin G string. Who knew? The whole band went to a local grill afterwards and had some pretty darn good burgers.
The afghan is 2 hours of work away from the finish line. I've done the first row of the border. It's about 620 stitches around. I believe that is the longest row I've ever done. I'm currently doing my crocheting at my violin teacher's house. I'm house-sitting, another first for me. Her cats are really fun to play with. They have very distinctive personalities, but share a lot of traits, as well. Cat nature is very strong.
I've signed up for the GRE. It is two weeks from now. In preperation, I will be going through a test prep book on the math part. The practice test I took last year gave me high marks on verbal, but I was rather bad at the math. I'm surprising myself by sticking to this college search thing; last time I was very lackadaisical.
Finally, I have a new interest to report. I've always considered myself an eclectic book reader. However, my actual mode of operation is that I'll try anything once, but I usually stick with sci-fi/fantasy, dabbling occasionally in romance, westerns, mysteries, etc. There's a new genre to add to my list: non-fiction art mysteries. I think I just like knowing that it's real (can't get unrealistic when it's historical fact) and that the mystery has been solved already, so I won't be left in suspense. Also, most writers of this genre work hard to make it comprehensible and interesting. If nothing else, I like good writing. I'm currently reading The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett. Book thieves, unofficial detectives, and oodles of book references! I'm so there.
Well, I must be off. Lunch awaits. In case I don't post again soon: Happy Thanksgiving.
Greeny
The Sunday gig was a mess, a challenge, and a victory. It certainly wasn't easy. We were dealing with a new PA system and didn't have all the correct parts at first (thank goodness for eager-to-please boyfriends/roadies). I went slightly amnesiatic and forgot to bring an amp...or extra strings. Turns out I needed both. Well, the amp was superceded by me plugging directly into the PA, and Micah saved the day by fitting me with a guitar string. I'm not sure whether this is a first in all of history, but it felt like one. All I know is that a 26 gauge guitar string is fairly close in size to a violin G string. Who knew? The whole band went to a local grill afterwards and had some pretty darn good burgers.
The afghan is 2 hours of work away from the finish line. I've done the first row of the border. It's about 620 stitches around. I believe that is the longest row I've ever done. I'm currently doing my crocheting at my violin teacher's house. I'm house-sitting, another first for me. Her cats are really fun to play with. They have very distinctive personalities, but share a lot of traits, as well. Cat nature is very strong.
I've signed up for the GRE. It is two weeks from now. In preperation, I will be going through a test prep book on the math part. The practice test I took last year gave me high marks on verbal, but I was rather bad at the math. I'm surprising myself by sticking to this college search thing; last time I was very lackadaisical.
Finally, I have a new interest to report. I've always considered myself an eclectic book reader. However, my actual mode of operation is that I'll try anything once, but I usually stick with sci-fi/fantasy, dabbling occasionally in romance, westerns, mysteries, etc. There's a new genre to add to my list: non-fiction art mysteries. I think I just like knowing that it's real (can't get unrealistic when it's historical fact) and that the mystery has been solved already, so I won't be left in suspense. Also, most writers of this genre work hard to make it comprehensible and interesting. If nothing else, I like good writing. I'm currently reading The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett. Book thieves, unofficial detectives, and oodles of book references! I'm so there.
Well, I must be off. Lunch awaits. In case I don't post again soon: Happy Thanksgiving.
Greeny
The Long and the Short of it.
Nov. 20th, 2009 11:09 amWell, I'm back again. That's all I will say about my prolonged absences. I've gotten tired of confessing/apologizing/etc.
Halloween was good. I stayed home in town for the very first time. For the past four years I've either stayed at school or gone to a party. Me and Tim ate, read, and answered the door in what used to be the office. It's a little room off the entryway that we just put french doors on. I'm using it now for teaching my one student who comes to my house.
Life is still fairly busy: I work in the mornings tutoring, wait out the afternoons, and then go teach after school gets out. Some days the afternoons are used to do accounts for dad or my workplace or go to knit/crochet. The schedule is in for some changes. My tutoring days are probably coming to an end next week. No more getting up at 6:30am! The band is still meeting, and our next gig is coming up this Sunday. We will be playing for the Route 66 run. As our keyboardist says: An audience of 7000 one at a time. I did it with them last year. It was freezing, but a lot of fun. Hopefully it won't be quite as cold this time.
I believe I mentioned that I taught my little brother how to crochet in October. We've started a new tradition of going to knit group together. I convinced him to come once, and we've done it every week since.
Big news: I've finished the squares for the afghan I started last month. I've made a start on putting it together. There are 31 sides to join up, and then the border to make. It's exciting for me to get something done relatively quickly. Tim has requested that he be a part of finishing the thing. It should come out well, as he's gotten pretty good at controlling his tension and making even stitches.
Smaller news: I've bought yarn for my next project. I'm making a scarf for my sister. This is supposedly a Christmas present, but sometimes I doubt my ability to finish things on a deadline. The yarn is silk, and I'm salivating over it. I cannot wait to start knitting it up, though I might try crocheting it. We'll see.
There's been some activity where graduate school selection is concerned. I'm finally looking into the possibilities, and I'm taking the GRE in the next two weeks. Hopefully it isn't too late to get into my chosen schools. It feels ironic that I'm finally having some success at this process when this is likely the last time I have to do it for myself.
Halloween was good. I stayed home in town for the very first time. For the past four years I've either stayed at school or gone to a party. Me and Tim ate, read, and answered the door in what used to be the office. It's a little room off the entryway that we just put french doors on. I'm using it now for teaching my one student who comes to my house.
Life is still fairly busy: I work in the mornings tutoring, wait out the afternoons, and then go teach after school gets out. Some days the afternoons are used to do accounts for dad or my workplace or go to knit/crochet. The schedule is in for some changes. My tutoring days are probably coming to an end next week. No more getting up at 6:30am! The band is still meeting, and our next gig is coming up this Sunday. We will be playing for the Route 66 run. As our keyboardist says: An audience of 7000 one at a time. I did it with them last year. It was freezing, but a lot of fun. Hopefully it won't be quite as cold this time.
I believe I mentioned that I taught my little brother how to crochet in October. We've started a new tradition of going to knit group together. I convinced him to come once, and we've done it every week since.
Big news: I've finished the squares for the afghan I started last month. I've made a start on putting it together. There are 31 sides to join up, and then the border to make. It's exciting for me to get something done relatively quickly. Tim has requested that he be a part of finishing the thing. It should come out well, as he's gotten pretty good at controlling his tension and making even stitches.
Smaller news: I've bought yarn for my next project. I'm making a scarf for my sister. This is supposedly a Christmas present, but sometimes I doubt my ability to finish things on a deadline. The yarn is silk, and I'm salivating over it. I cannot wait to start knitting it up, though I might try crocheting it. We'll see.
There's been some activity where graduate school selection is concerned. I'm finally looking into the possibilities, and I'm taking the GRE in the next two weeks. Hopefully it isn't too late to get into my chosen schools. It feels ironic that I'm finally having some success at this process when this is likely the last time I have to do it for myself.
Update no. 362
Oct. 27th, 2009 01:42 pmI'm back, and I bring news of yet another trip. My father and youngest brother and I went to Illinois last weekend for my great-uncle's 50th wedding anniversary. The trip was uncommonly quiet, as our disruptive elements (i.e. my younger extrovert sister and snarky guitar-playing brother) decided to stay home. It was pretty fun, though. I taught little bro how to crochet, and we got him started on a scarf before the end of the trip. I, having finished the baby thing, crocheted squares for an afghan. We had actually picked out the yarn and pattern at the beginning of summer, but I like the one project at a time plan. If I have to finish something before I can start the next thing, projects actually get completed. There was an enormous amount of time that gets spent on sitting and talking during these trips, so I got a lot done. After completing four squares in three days, I'm currently on square 9 of 20.
My left wrist is in a brace for the next ten days. I've had a ganglion that pops up randomly for a couple years now. This year it's been hurting and is hard rather than soft. I went to see the doctor about it. He stuck needles in my wrist to drain it, prescribed the usual antibiotic and anti-inflammatory and said to keep it splinted for ten days. It's kinda hard to play the violin, but I can crochet just fine. -sigh- Just when I was practicing again. Honestly, I don't mind as long as the pain goes away.
I'm not sure if there is much else to say. Life rolls onward until it ends.
Until next time,
Greeny
My left wrist is in a brace for the next ten days. I've had a ganglion that pops up randomly for a couple years now. This year it's been hurting and is hard rather than soft. I went to see the doctor about it. He stuck needles in my wrist to drain it, prescribed the usual antibiotic and anti-inflammatory and said to keep it splinted for ten days. It's kinda hard to play the violin, but I can crochet just fine. -sigh- Just when I was practicing again. Honestly, I don't mind as long as the pain goes away.
I'm not sure if there is much else to say. Life rolls onward until it ends.
Until next time,
Greeny
And I'm off (I'm off, I'm off)! To see the Wizard (To see the Wizard).
I love it when my head decides to make up music; it makes life much more fun. In twelve hours or so, I shall be at the airport, probably waiting in line at security or some such nonsense. I'm almost completely packed, meaning, all the really essential stuff is there and all the mostly unessential stuff is there, and now I have to find the somewhat important stuff and find a way to cram it in my already full suitcase. I have deliberately over-packed clothes-wise, because I felt so deprived in Vienna. It will not happen again! Most of it is really cute.
I managed to surprise myself. Without buying any new black clothes, I have four completely black ensembles that are reasonably fashionable (and three more that aren't, but I'm not bringing those). This leaves me slightly stunned. I knew I've been in an orchestra since I was ten, but I've only started doing the fashionable thing in the past three years. This makes me feel that I'm going to be very well dressed in a few years.
Knitting news! I have officially finished the kerchief of doom. I even uploaded pictures (I finally found my cable), but they are not on Flickr yet. I haven't edited them to look pretty because I got distracted by organizing all my photos. Soon, my pretties. Soon.
I think my next project will be...I can't decide, dang it. Either the baby thing or a pineapple doily for which I got this lovely bamboo crochet thread (soft...yum). The pineapple doily is probably more portable, which is important because I'll be traveling across the country for four hours, and it isn't fun to haul around a big project. Still, I'm totally bringing the baby thing's yarn, pattern, and needles with me (I may be horribly over-estimating my free time, but the projects I fill it with will be good stuff). Did I tell y'all (this particular use of the apostrophe comes from LiveJournal, which hates its own name) that I got yarn for the baby thing? I got yarn for the baby thing! It's wonderful soft cotton, but in two colors because I couldn't find enough in the color I originally wanted.
Now, I just have to practice violin, decide whether to bring any quartet or trio music, get a project going (I hate starting things mid-flight), and make sure I'm not leaving important stuff behind. Oh, and eat.
Send prayers for a good flight (and no lost luggage, my life is in that suitcase).
Greeny
I love it when my head decides to make up music; it makes life much more fun. In twelve hours or so, I shall be at the airport, probably waiting in line at security or some such nonsense. I'm almost completely packed, meaning, all the really essential stuff is there and all the mostly unessential stuff is there, and now I have to find the somewhat important stuff and find a way to cram it in my already full suitcase. I have deliberately over-packed clothes-wise, because I felt so deprived in Vienna. It will not happen again! Most of it is really cute.
I managed to surprise myself. Without buying any new black clothes, I have four completely black ensembles that are reasonably fashionable (and three more that aren't, but I'm not bringing those). This leaves me slightly stunned. I knew I've been in an orchestra since I was ten, but I've only started doing the fashionable thing in the past three years. This makes me feel that I'm going to be very well dressed in a few years.
Knitting news! I have officially finished the kerchief of doom. I even uploaded pictures (I finally found my cable), but they are not on Flickr yet. I haven't edited them to look pretty because I got distracted by organizing all my photos. Soon, my pretties. Soon.
I think my next project will be...I can't decide, dang it. Either the baby thing or a pineapple doily for which I got this lovely bamboo crochet thread (soft...yum). The pineapple doily is probably more portable, which is important because I'll be traveling across the country for four hours, and it isn't fun to haul around a big project. Still, I'm totally bringing the baby thing's yarn, pattern, and needles with me (I may be horribly over-estimating my free time, but the projects I fill it with will be good stuff). Did I tell y'all (this particular use of the apostrophe comes from LiveJournal, which hates its own name) that I got yarn for the baby thing? I got yarn for the baby thing! It's wonderful soft cotton, but in two colors because I couldn't find enough in the color I originally wanted.
Now, I just have to practice violin, decide whether to bring any quartet or trio music, get a project going (I hate starting things mid-flight), and make sure I'm not leaving important stuff behind. Oh, and eat.
Send prayers for a good flight (and no lost luggage, my life is in that suitcase).
Greeny
Random Happenings
Jan. 17th, 2009 09:49 amI love melodrama, at least on paper. In real life...not so much. This has nothing to do with my actual post, feel free to ignore it.
Things have gotten interesting again. The weekend finally arrived, meaning that my roommate and I had a nice girls' night in, we watched three episodes of Roswell, drank one beer each, and I started a crocheted belt. I've had plans to make this belt since December, it feels good to actually start it. Randomly, I woke up today, and had somehow managed to move my regular covers off me while keeping the uppermost layer, which I only use in winter, firmly over me. Seriously, that kind of freaks me out, am I really that smart when I'm asleep?
Nothing to say about the formation of chamber group, it's basically stalled right now. I expect things to settle into a semi-permanent shape next week. I have researched music for it, though. This pleases me.
The belt is awesome, by the way. I'm using nylon string/yarn. I actually bought some of it in Home Depot. It can be a pain to work with (the first color, a yellow-gold, actually stained my fingers orange), but it just might last forever (a constant wish/delusion I have about clothing), so I can deal.
Bye,
Greeny
Things have gotten interesting again. The weekend finally arrived, meaning that my roommate and I had a nice girls' night in, we watched three episodes of Roswell, drank one beer each, and I started a crocheted belt. I've had plans to make this belt since December, it feels good to actually start it. Randomly, I woke up today, and had somehow managed to move my regular covers off me while keeping the uppermost layer, which I only use in winter, firmly over me. Seriously, that kind of freaks me out, am I really that smart when I'm asleep?
Nothing to say about the formation of chamber group, it's basically stalled right now. I expect things to settle into a semi-permanent shape next week. I have researched music for it, though. This pleases me.
The belt is awesome, by the way. I'm using nylon string/yarn. I actually bought some of it in Home Depot. It can be a pain to work with (the first color, a yellow-gold, actually stained my fingers orange), but it just might last forever (a constant wish/delusion I have about clothing), so I can deal.
Bye,
Greeny
