7February2010
Posted by Holly under: Travel.
I have a late night flight out of the UK. I am taking the eldest on a cruise for her birthday. We are meeting in Dubai tomorrow and boarding the Brilliance of the Seas on the Royal Caribbean Lines.
This is a week of warmer weather and a break from the cold and damp of both the UK and Germany.
I have clothes, I have knitting, I have my camera and I have the laptop. Don’t know if I will be on line but I hope so.
And yes, it might seem like a lot of extra weight to haul along the laptop just to be able to send off a few emails with photos. But please consider; if I want to relax in the evenings, I have unwatched episodes of Star Trek Voyager and CSI…..
5February2010
Posted by proseknitic under: home.
It was months ago when I discovered the leak staining the ceiling of the utility room. It took a few months more before I was finally able to convince Modern Housing that I needed someone to look at the mess, then repair it.
After four reschedules do to bad weather and their lousy scheduling, the plumber showed up this morning. Ready (are you ready for this?) to replace the float.
I kid you not. I showed him the problem, he remembered the issue from when he had come out to shut the water off. He called in and argued with the people for fifteen minutes before they finally agreed that, yes, he should take out the toilet, just like the surveyor asked.
We have no clue about the float – I have called five times about the mistake. I keep being told they will fix it. Never mind, do not underestimate the ability of a bureaucracy to perpetuate an error.
finally - bare boards
leaving the throne on its own outside since I vetoed it resting next to the tub..
behind the house
The joiners arrived just before 1400. Their work order said (and I quote)
replace a floor board
They looked, pulled up the linoleum and two hours later were here -
not just "a" floor board
Obviously it was too late for them to finish. Having it open to dry out for a few days is also a good idea. Perhaps the three sorts of molds and fungus which had been gracing the floor and air will not be happy.
They will be back Tuesday week.
I think knitting is much better for me than worrying about the next disaster
4February2010
Posted by Holly under: Knitting; family.
Knitting is fun, knitting is great. Unlike life, Knitting gives you do-overs.
About five of them so far today. Same project, third yarn, second set of needles. Not counting a change on the way I am doing the edges.
Then, I took a good look at my yarn and changed pattern which was perfectly fine since the stitch count a few rows in matched a couple of other lovely choices in, Wrapped in Comfort. You know Alison, right? SpinDyeKnit Alison?
Any way – now headed to BigFoot
a few rows, more than a few stitches
Video
Borrowed Season 1 of Monk from the library.
Meanwhile
The Mole is back at school in Rochester for the duration of the week and all of next while I am out of country. He is not thrilled, but looks to have it under control for the moment. Meanwhile, he has started to study US History and US Government on his own since the GED exam is one option out of the current stalemate. If anyone knows what their local High School is specifically using for 11-12th Grade textbooks, I would really appreciate recommendations.
I counted it up: grades 1-2 in Wuerzburg, 3-4 in Muenchen, 5 (three schools in Heidelberg with the last also being the location for grades 6-8). 9-10 in Stuttgart. 11 in DSL with a switch to Rochester mid year, last.
Makes it 8 schools for 13 years of education (yes, it adds up. grade 5 x 2). Not exactly continuity of education.
Week at a time, I guess.
Ms Soprano went to 7 different schools and Ms Maus only 5.
3February2010
Posted by Holly under: Knitting.
Mostly pictures – few words, just to catch you up to date on the other Lotus Blossom I knit in CA.
Lotus Blossom in Scarlet
Blocking
looking better
Scarlet Lotus Blossom detail
and while I was at it – I took another shawl – Twinings that had been languishing since the end of August
almost 2 meters Blocked
close up detail
and it really looks lovely drapped
2February2010
Posted by Holly under: Books & Tapes; Prose.
We have all studied literature in school. Defined by me as that portion of writing in prose in which a point/commentary is delivered through the expression of the story.
Fiction on the other hand, is all about the story.
The difference is the writer’s intent. Not what professors of language, literature or social analysis decide later, but what the author intended in the first place.
For example, it is fairly clear that Jonathan Swift and Mark Twain were using the medium of storytelling to provide commentary on their societies. Both have even commented so in non-fiction essays.
Similarly, in genre fiction there is little question in most people’s minds that mystery stories are all about solving the puzzle and romance is about relationships.
That leaves Science Fiction – which is about some kind of future – based on technology rather than magic. The wisdom about 30-40 years ago was that authors wrote their vision of the future. Meaning that science was going to lead to outbound travel while really not fixing much of anything with the people involved. Postulations of doom and gloom abounded.
What was also noticeable were the characters – present day attitudes superimposed on future science. Makes as much sense as an enlighted man of the 13th century expressing 21st century US views about the roles of men and women in society.
And then along comes Ursula Le Guin with The Left Hand of Darkness portraying a society different in concept from the known and accepted in her time. If you need a summary, perhaps you want to detour to Wikipedia or an excellent discussion of gender roles in science fiction and society by Rebecca Rass.
I originally read Left Hand of Darkness in 1969 when it was first published and was stunned by the book, the thought and the society portrayed. It is not an action adventure which was what I had quietly assumed was most science fiction (see Andre Norton, Robert Heinlein, James Blish……..) but a thoughtful portrayal of what was certainly alien to someone fighting basic gender discrimination in school.
Since this is the first one on my Classics of SciFi List, I am still decided how to approach the commentary. Assume that you will hear once to several times about each book since I am as interested in how they strike me now as when I first read them.
Perhaps that is my definition of classic – a book that keeps appearing fresh with each re-reading.
.
1February2010
Posted by Holly under: Books & Tapes; Knitting.
Smart name from Raverlry last year right about this time.
What better way to deal with the mid-winter doldrums than to knit a nice vest?
Rather than something complicated, fine yarn and fiddly, I decided to choose an easy, fast pattern. In fact, Drops #115-24, a cabled top looked to be right about my speed.
Purchased a few years ago, I have this bag of Shakespeare by Artful Yarns, 100% wool in a lovely combination of blues and purples
Color #5
Casting on 95 stitches (yes, that is around. Total number that 95!) on size 8.00 needles to set up the pattern before moving up to 9.00 needles with two strands held together
cables plus ribbing
it has not taken long to get three balls (135 yards each worked from inside and outside) into the project.
not quite to the underarm, but close.
I am rather pleased to think that I will shortly have a nice warm vest.
I did look through other’s projects: Nicole knit a lovely version without sleeves, as did Katharaina. Then there is Donna’s (which is located here on her old blog) which I hope she ports everything over from Blogspot as she has such a nice collection of pictures and finished things.
There were another three or so finished vests, but none of the rest have projects that seem to be posted outside of Ravelry.
Audio Books
The Mercedes Coffin – Faye Kellerman. A Peter Decker & Rina Lazarus mystery, this was one of several downloaded from iTunes a few months back when they had books on sale ($6.95 seemed like a really good deal).
I read it (library book( when first released in hardback) and enjoyed it then. It is holding up well on listening, the reader is a pretty gruff sounding guy which seems to suit the story well.
on other fronts
By the simple expedient of heading into London, the Mole managed to avoid returning to school this afternoon.
On return, we had a serious conversation about what comes next. He is a good kid, knows that the budget is not unlimited (school year prepaid) and that transferring schools – except to mean mom’s – is not likely.
No one really lost their temper and we will talk on the way to Croughton in the morning.
31January2010
Posted by Holly under: home.
I started this morning with great intentions. I would clean and organize while listening to podcasts and audiobooks. Household chores do have to be done.
Butl, cleaning the bedroom is boring and requires me to decide what to do with all the miscellaneous stuff as well as admitting that things are out of control. Tackling the living room falls into the same category – right now it looks fine on the surface…
Laundry was a possibility, blocking the two shawls I uncovered would have been a great idea, not burning my dinner under the broiler because I forgot about the hash brown patties…
I have to be completely honest here. I have an infinite ability to start things. Whether it is knitting, sewing, reading books, or initiating a clean-up campaign, I (mostly) do not find it difficult to start. But seeing it all the way to the end? Now that is another story. I find endings not always pleasant.
On a better day, I can use the excuse of having “stuff.” After all, as should be obvious to all right thinking adults, having a place for everything and things in those places means it is hard to make progress on anything.
Out of sight means out of mind.
If projects, books, papers, are visible then it becomes easier to prioritize which should lead to finishing of those items under work.
It is a great theory. Unfortunately it conflicts with the known phenomena of becoming overwhelmed when there is too much to do. Assuming, of course, that I am going to enjoy finishing things; and there in lies the rub.
The solutions to this problem are many fold; the hardest of which is to just go ahead and complete up all those books, projects, papers, phone calls, vouchers, claim forms……
Another option, which seems to be the one favoured by many knitters, is to start something new when everything under way just does not seem right.
All of which lead to the decision to plan a new vest for the Vest-uary Group on Ravelry. Drops pattern 115-24 knit from double stranded worsted weight yarn I already have on hand. It should go rapidly on size 9.00 mm needles, ignoring the sweater for Ms Maus lacking only the front, the quick steek needed on a cardigan, a couple of items meant for the frog pond and a real desire to knit another shawl.
Tomorrow I will go to work, be good, make a list of due-outs, and work down that list. Leaving aside dropping off the car for service, taking the Mole back to school and attending about three meetings…..
30January2010
Posted by Holly under: family.
Having never been a teen aged boy, I have absolutely no clue what goes on in their heads. Besides the gender issue, my adolescence was worlds and distance from his.
I can tell you that the Mole is brilliant; other people tell me that he is bright, polite, well spoken and charming to have around. He goes out of his way to help others; I wish he would help himself a bit more.
All the moves we have made due to jobs over the years have not been kind to him. Unlike the social butterflyness of the girls, he takes longer to fit in, find friends and his place in that difficult location called a peer group.
This is his last year of secondary school and he is not a happy camper. Neither of us have a good clue as to what is next on his horizon. He tells me that he wants medicine - Paediatrics in specific. Switching from European schools systems’ of educating to the US multiple choice test is difficult at best and extremely challenging.
As a parent, I think we always want the best for our children. Unfortunately, it is not possible to take away all the bumps and bruises of growing and learning. That is probably as it should. But on many days communications can be a real challenge.
Should I just settle for a moderately clean room?
28January2010
Posted by Holly under: Travel.
The good thing about out of town visitors is that you can get to places otherwise not on the daily commuting trail.
Guarding the river bridge
Ostensibly, the visit to Bath was a detour for lunch on the way to a nearby Casern where an afternoon meeting was scheduled.
In reality, I think it was because of a desire on the part of the group to have lunch here -
Sally Lunn's - complete with bread
Lunch was delicious, the meeting was productive and I got to drive home.
26January2010
Posted by Holly under: Knitting; military.
Certainly you remember Robbie Burns and sing a song from one of his poems every New Years.
Being in the UK, it is easy to join the tradition of celebration when his birthday rolls around every year. This marked my third (and last) Burns Night celebration at the Mess.
Altho there were about the same number of people as last year, someone got a bit more creative with the seating, making up five tables of 9-10 diners rather than a head table with long lines down the sides. It made for much more congenial conversation at dinner.
I had managed to complete another Lotus Blossom Shawl, never mind that I blocked it last night. Note, blocking board propped up against a register leads to rapidly drying shawl.
Lotus Blossom
tossing it over a fancy white blouse, floor length plaid skirt and country dance away the evening.
Shawl – Lotus Blossom from Fiddlesticks Knitting. Three skeins of Louet Gems in Pewter knit on 3.75 mm needles. Started in SF and finished up a few days ago.
18January2010
Posted by Holly under: Travel.
From SF to Frankfurt
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taking off
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end of first flight
16January2010
Posted by Holly under: Books & Tapes; Knitting; Travel.
Managing a wander up Oxford Street early this morning.. well, early apparently for Berkeley. Not even joggers out and about at 0730 on a Saturday morning, just homeless blockaded into doorways by their laden carts.
I was looking for Beth-El and the 0830 Minyan. Having the address was good, the building is not signed. Held in their smaller Beit Am, the group and folding chairs felt more welcoming than many of the formal, decades established Shabbas services, complemented by a locally produced prayer book designed for all levels of Hebrew ability and vision.
Sliding out before the Torah study, the walk back to the hotel is downhill. Hill direction can be terribly important when you are on the edge of the foothills. Having a house seven blocks from Shul is good. Would be much better if those seven blocks were not straight up hill…
Friends
Feeling truly fortunate, I spent a lovely afternoon with Ruth (aka the Scrabblequeen). I also met her husband, one of those great guys willing to take a Saturday afternoon and wander a section of Solano so that we could visit.
Part of the plan had been to visit Stash. Well, it seems that they had moved. No sign in the window of the old location. We wandered through other shops and books stores, totally missing looking up the street from where we had lunch. Stash, as it turns out, was just around the corner.
Tea, Chai and knitting were also in order for the afternoon. Ruth’s current sweater project has a lovely look and feel and she is such a warm and welcoming person. There are those times when you can feel awkward meeting someone who you know only through email. Both yesterday with Alison and today with Ruth it was sitting down with old friends, picking up threads of conversation like no time had passed at all.
Wanting to read old science fiction/fantasy classics, I was facing a dilemma. Few of the books I will be re-reading are currently in publication and rarely in hardback, eliminating the library as a source for the books. I probably have most of them, somewhere in a book box.
But then there are used books stores and I found:
- The Lefthand of Darkness – Ursula Le Guinn
- Dune – Frank Herbert
- More than Human – Theodore Sturgeon
- Cities in Flight – James Bliss
- Foundation – Isaac Asimov
I still have to track down:
- Strange in a Strange Land – Robert Heinlein
- Way Station – Clifford Simak
- Canticle for Leibowitz – Walter M Miller
What is on your reading list?
15January2010
Posted by Holly under: Fiber; Travel.
First, the good news:
I had a great time visiting with AlisonH. We met at a lovely coffee shop, enjoyed cocoa and talked for hours. She is one of those people who looks just like her blog picture, only younger.
So there I was, on a friendship high when I trucked back to the hotel. Meeting up with the DH, we went to see our new house.
Guess what? There is a basic difference in communication styles and perspectives between men and women. Guys can see the positive and figure that the rest will work out. Me? When I say that I want a house I can live in for the rest of my life, that is what I mean. A house that is accessible and safe. Not one that is up on top of a hill, with a drive that I can’t manage, with stairways, paths out side and stairs all over the place inside. Not a house that, had I been along on the house hunting trip, would not have been worth getting out of the car.
Back to my knitting. I love him, he is still alive and I am done throwing up.
13January2010
Posted by Holly under: Uncategorized.
nor am I completely confused. Again, just behind with a number of drafts built up while I try to sort out photo issues.
Meanwhile, this note is coming to you from the Marine Memorial Club & Hotel in San Francisco. It is Jan, therefore JP Morgan has its Medical Technology annual meeting. Smaller every year, I think they would rather pay themselves bonuses than fund this conference which is not at all cheap.
Anyway, expect to see a bit in the next couple of days.
-H
10January2010
Posted by Holly under: Travel.
Canadian Mountains
Golden Gate
Golden Gate, second pass
Yerba Buena
Ignoring weather and the minimal delays in arriving at the airport and flight take off, I had a wonderful flight. Seats were comfortable, I could listen to my audio books and knit. The food was even edible (note, sometimes there is real silverware!)
7January2010
Posted by Holly under: home.
Just in case there was any question in your mind, we have had snow.
From my office window
bowing down with the weight of snow
Now, being originally from Minnesota, I really don’t understand why this has been viewed as such a big deal. Shovel a bit, put on appropriate clothing and go to work.
Those who routinely wear utility uniforms do not seem to have a problem with the concept. On the other hand, the idea seems to be a bit foreign to the group that I think of as the “skirt and pantyhose brigade.”
2January2010
Posted by Holly under: Travel.
Took the girls out for a bit of history. Oldest ancient burial site on the plains, probably in the UK.
Salibury Hill
the burial mound
hiking the area
And for those of you who like references – go here!
27December2009
Posted by Holly under: Books & Tapes.
Whether or not you are a fan of New Year’s Resolutions, the fact remains that many of us make them and few managed to keep up the good effort for more than a few days to weeks.
Then along comes an idea that is just made for signing up and actually completing. The Flashback Challenge, started by Aarti, a young Chicago book lover, is based on a Robertson Davies (you know, the Canadian novelist, author, journalist, professor) quote -
A truly great book should be read in youth, again in maturity and once more in old age, as a fine building should be seen by morning light, at noon and by moonlight.
The Challenge is simple – go, sign up, and commit yourself to re-reading somewhere between 3-12 books from earlier times in your life. If really ambitious, there is nothing stopping you from reading more. Three books in a year, that is not an overwhelming number. You don’t even have to decide which books right now. Read during the year. If you have energy, you could even use each as the subject for a blog post; you could right a review.
I haven’t decided which books yet, but I am going to re-read classic children’s literature and what I consider true early classics of SF/Fan. Perhaps a bit of Louisa May Alcott, Mark Twain or Kenneth Grahame (if your mind just went blank - Wind in the Willows was first published in 1908). Then there are the books I read as they were being published in my childhood and early teens by Andre Norton, Clifford Simak, Theodore Sturgeon, Robert Heinlein, Frank Herbert, Walter M Miller, and Ursula Le Guin.
Yes, there are a lot of new and very interesting books being published. Perhaps by doing this and writing about it someone else will become interested in a particular book. It couldn’t hurt.
And you know what is really special about my plan? It is totally and completely vampire romance free…….
25December2009
Posted by Holly under: Travel.
They finally arrived from the US this morning after an overnight flight on British Airways from BWI, Ms Soprano and one of her friends from school. Looking a bit tired around the edges, they napped for a good portion of the day. Their luggage arrived without difficulty.
On the way home received a call from the DH. Luggage located. Still at the distro point near Heathrow.
After dropping the girls at the house (see above) and picking up the DH (claim slips are really important) we merrily followed the GPS lady around, over, beside and through all sorts of places on the back side of Heathrow that I had never imagined. We found Rico’s. The nice man there found our luggage.
We drove home. Everything was still there five days later. The Maus had all her things plus new underwear, cosmetics and two Bench outfits to the good. My DH was just relieved to see his good running shoes.
And me? I am going to celebrate by turning on the heat!
23December2009
Posted by Holly under: Knitting; home.
They are getting rather brave, the red foxes who live on Camp. Other than vanishing whenever I grab the camera, mid day I see them in the back garden. They appear and disappear along the road at night like red-eyed demons peering out from the fog.
The number of ducks and geese seems to be reduced from what I remember last year. It might be the foxes, or just the burst of cold weather that has put ice on the pond.
More of the hats and scarves
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Breckenridge Scarf
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Cloche
and Ms Maus and I are watching NCIS.
21December2009
Posted by Holly under: Travel.
and why are we not surprised?
the DH made more than a few calls to the Airport, the station manager and Lufthansa.
I took the Maus shopping. She had not left much here (meaning not much useful) and the ability to change bits of clothing might be considered quite important by most of us.
Continuing on the generation of feltable hats and matching scarves (not to be felted).
20December2009
Posted by proseknitic under: Knitting; Travel.
As most of you who live on the east coast are aware, there has been a bit of snow.
And then there was the cold in Germany. So cold (well, not by Canadian or Minnesota standards) that a track cracked. Of course, Ms Maus and DH were on their way to the Frankfurt airport via ICE when this occurred. What is normally a 45 minute train trip turned into more than two hours. First they sat, then the train had to go back to Mannheim to change tracks before proceding to the airport.
Only the fact that their flight was delayed meant that they came in last night.
You can not trust the on-line listings about plane departures, please trust me. If a plane has closed its doors, it has departed even though it has not taken off. Explains why a slightly more than one hour journey with a departure time from Frankfurt of 1750 arrives in London at 2107; lets not forget the hour time change.
Two hours later, they are still waiting for luggage. 30 minutes after that, DH forces the station manager to come clean and make an announcement. It seems like there is a slight problem. Baggage handlers are on strike and luggage is not going to be unloaded tonight. Meanwhile, a number of the hire cars have departed assuming that they have just missed their passengers.
Obviously, the Mole and I gave up hanging in the waiting zone by 2000 (for a 1915 pickup) and had parked in the short term parking.
We arrived home after midnight, putting the early morning departure for Edinburgh on hold. Probably indefinitely.
Meanwhile,
Cloche
I was able to finish up la cloche sans peur (Brunswick Impressions – one strand of wool and one of mohair held together on size 13 US needles) which now needs ends woven in and a trip through the washing machine. The designer is Alicia Weisberg-Roberts (both links are Ravelry).
Next, I started a variation of Breckenridge from French-Press Knits
Breckenridge
out of the same yarn combination. The cable crossing is going to be more subtle given the mohair, but I am happy.
Both patterns are well written and fast to knit. Something to be said for instant gratification after knitting kilometers of 3.00 needle garter stitch.
19December2009
Posted by proseknitic under: computers.
Feeling sad? Feeling lonely? Don’t get enough SPAM?
Well I have a solution, a secret, that I am wiling to share with you for free.
That is right, no money now and no money later. To get almost unlimited SPAM for your blog just follow my easy instructions.
Place the word “Russian” in the title of your post. Like magic, you will receive increased comments in your SPAM filter. Not just for a few days, mind you, but lasting for weeks. I am sure that the entertainment value would be even greater if I could actually read Russian. Perhaps it is better that I am spared some of the scurrilous comments. It is definitely a way of being assured that your blog is being picked up by some search engine or another.
You could experiment, go one better. Put the word “penis” in a blog title. The resulting viagra SPAM could send your count to a new high.
Now back to regular insanity and knitting.
18December2009
Posted by Holly under: Jewish Life; Knitting; family.
On this, the last night of Hanukkah which just happens to fall on the 18th this year,
all alight
I found food for thought provided in dialog about the difference between spirituality and religion. Although this particular discussion is Judaic in its grounding, I think it may well resonate in several other faiths. It hinges around what is for self and what is for others: self-interest vs obligation. See what you think.
Probably more importantly Ms Soprano
(lifted from her blog)
turns 21 today. A milestone she celebrated at school last night (along with a sleep in this morning). If you feel like adding greeting to her inbox – you can find her at ninadoyneATt-onlineDOTde. She might not have a clue as to who you are, but she does have a good sense of humor. I get to rescue her from Heathrow on Sunday morning, provide BA does not go on strike or the airport close.
The Mole is home from school. Kent received the brunt of the latest UK Snow storm. The boarding school sent them all out the door three hours early to make sure that they were on their way before the trains stopped running. My phone had completely gone on the fritz, so we were unable to reach each other. As a competent soon to be adult, he managed to get himself home from the train station. Being a guy, he doesn’t seem to need all that much.
ice, trees
and lightly coated
Minimal knitting progress today, but more planned this evening on the baby cardigan. Yet another day has passed without the little Ms putting in her appearance so it leaves me a bit closer to being finished. Cat, I think does have the right of it. New little ones need their hind-paws as well as their heads kept warm. I have also been admiring the lovely baby things just knit by Lankakomero – see those socks at the end of the post? All those bright Finnish knitters can’t be wrong. Of course, since my ability to figure out a Finnish pattern is almost non-existent, I am grateful for all the wonderful photos. I can figure out the pattern from the photos…
17December2009
Posted by Holly under: Jewish Life; Knitting; home.
Beautiful to see, even displaying its art on my car windshield
and on the sides, rear windows and body of the car
Yes, it was cold. Below freezing for more than a few minutes with patches of ice on the drive, black ice on the road and a few bruises on me for not paying attention.
Seventh Night
at home, finally after a conference call kept me till close to 2000.
The advantage to conference calls over, let us say, video conferences, should be obvious. Multi-tasking should be possible and progress can be made on baby sweaters. The little dear has not yet arrived, so I might just have a few days.
more than half way
I weighed the remaining yarn and have more than enough to finish and make a matching hat. I suppose socks should be in order too?
