Fascist Code

Some software isn't worth the spit it takes to hold it together!

Christmas Knitting

I think I'm all finished with the required knitting for this December 25th!

CL's 2 scarves are done - I just have to finish blocking one of them.

I've made over 2 doz. hats for the Adopt-a-Child program at church. I wish I could say that I used up a lot of my stash making them, but I did buy 2 skeins of Red Heart Flecks Super Saver in Coffee and Aran and a Caron Simply Soft in forest green to make some of the hats. I had frogged a shawl and I used up that yarn for some of the girls' hats.

I finished my third Dr. Who scarf Sunday morning - fringe and all. It's for my manicurist. She's listened to me suffer through the first two iterations so I figured she deserved one of her own - since she really liked them. I think she'll be surprised when I give it to her on Saturday. Just need to get some baking done for the gal who cuts my hair. I think I can make some of Mom's cherry cakes between now and then; I have the oatmeal cookies all made; and I can throw a pan of shortbread together one night as well. Ooooh, when can I make the datenut bread?

I'm requesting all of this Friday off. I was originally only going to be out in the morning for a check up at Lahey; but, I really would like some time to do some errands and get everything together. I've ordered a Christmas ornament that needs to be picked up at the Crate and Barrel in Burlington. Fortunately, it's just down the road from Lahey. Haven't been to that mall in YEARS! I may get sucked into cruising the mall for a little while.

I'm working on 2 baby blankets at this point. One baby is due in February and one is due in April. Both are boys.

In the meantime - with any extra yarn (some folks would consider my stash extra; to us knitters, it's a necessity - like oxygen!) I will be working on pocket prayer shawls for the Troops' mailing in May. Last time we did 309. Can we surpass that number this time. Note to self - remind my knitsters that they should be working on them as well.

I hope to start teaching myself how to knit socks. I'm not so sure that I would wear them - I'm not a big sock person; however, I do know several people who might appreciate a pair. I'm starting with lightweight sock yarn. I think it calls for size 2 needles. I always thought those were for show!

I'm Bewildered

The other night when I got home from work, there was a message on my phone from my minister wanting to know if I'd like the carolers to stop by my house on Sunday afternoon. They were trying to line up stops and thought I would enjoy it.

NOW - DON'T GET ME WRONG! I'd love to have them stop by. But as I finished listening to Jon's message I thought to myself, "Have I gotten that old?" and "I used to be one of the carolers!"

It is thoughtful and definitely appreciated.

And I'm Here Because?

Let's see if I have this straight.

According to one person here I don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to computers even though I worked with them for over 20 years. This person, however, worked for a computer house for a few years and now writes and composes music.

Another person feels strongly that my associate's degree isn't worth the paper it's written on even though I've managed to work as an executive secretary, an assistant registrar, a 6" fab line coordinator, a customer support rep, a corporate trainer, a QA specialist, and spent 14 months in the Pentagon supporting the h/w and s/w for my company.

The last one thinks that printing an envelope from her computer is a skill she doesn't need to know because it is so far beneath her, but I'm fully suited to handle that task. Meanwhile, her only contribution to a meeting is grunts in all the appropriate places. She does, of course, excel at verbal regurgitation!

Why am I here? Oh, and while I think of it: why would someone knowingly buy and/or wear a perfume that smells like furniture polish?

1134 AND COUNTING

It would be so nice if folks knew the difference between accusing and asking!

Wouldn't it be nice if people knocked on a closed door before entering?

Why am I under the gun if they can't plan ahead?

I can't be sorry if you feel overburdened but you keep adding things to your plate.

You can con your spouse into waiting on you hand and foot, but I AM NOT your lackey!

If you insist on working out, plan on a shower and NOT a whole bottle of stinking perfume!

Why should I schedule my life around someone else's stupidity?

Demeaning me because you don't want to do something is unprofessional.

Just some random thoughts.

Paying for Patterns

Why do I have such a hard time paying for a knitting pattern? Unlike my sister* and other people I know who (as my father used to say) wouldn't spend a nickel to see an earthquake, I tend to open my wallet probably more than I should. HOWEVER, spending money for a single knitting pattern just goes against my grain!

I do have to admit that I have many books with many knitting patterns in them; I have even begun a collection of the Debbie Macomber pattern books. But, to plunk down $6.49 for a pattern just doesn't seem right. And, yes, I understand the concept of intellectual property, et al. I could - if I had the time - reverse engineer a knitted item and figure it out. I just don't have the time to do it. I could probably even design/make one - IF I HAD THE TIME. Unfortunately, I don't have the amount of time I need to do these things.

If anybody cares....

*In later years, this has changed. She is now quite generous. But when we were growing up.......

We'll miss you, Mary

I am so sad today. Mary Travers passed away yesterday. Her voice will live in my head forever.

I cannot believe the impact her passing is having on me.

I have listened to and loved PP&M for more years than I can remember. I'm sure that I was introduced to them one summer at SLCC - not a bad thing. I can remember sitting through a drizzle in the Yale Bowl watching and listening to them - swaying to "Day is Done" for over 10 minutes. I saw them again at "Great Woods" up here in Massachusetts. They were always so vibrant and strong. I watched every special they produced for TV.

Whenever I heard "Jet Plane" I had to stop for just a minute. It brought back so many memories. Her voice would call me back home.

I loved their sincerity; I admired the respect that had for each other and for whomever they interacted with; I so enjoyed their sense of humor; AND, I was green with envy over their voices, harmonic capabilities, and their amazing talent with a guitar! They used chords I could NEVER master. My hand just wasn't meant to bend that way!

Five months ago I got tickets to see them in Worcester. They were on what I considered a "farewell" tour, though it wasn't billed as such. I got in touch with Sunshine and we arranged to meet for this event. She drove up from Ct. I wove my way down Rt. 9 into the maze of Worcester streets. Dinner that evening was "interesting" but the newly renovated theatre was an amazing setting. The audience was a sea of aging baby boomers/hippies/folkies. Some had aged better than others. Some never aged - including their outfits! Except for a few grandchildren accompanying their grandparents, there probably wasn't anyone under 50 in the sold-out audience.

Then the curtain opened. There they sat. ...as they said - "in their living room". Their usual pose - Mary in the middle, Noel Paul on the left and Peter on the right. I closed my eyes. I was back in the Yale Bowl; I was replaying my 1700 Album for the 10th time; I was singing at the top of my lungs watching one of their specials on TV. Time had been gentle. Peter and Paul were a lot grayer but with less to be gray. Mary's long straight blond hair was now still very blond but very short. She sat in a wheelchair. And, she sported - as Peter said - "new jewelry" - plastic tubing connected to an oxygen container on the back of her chair. All the effects of her leukemia and its treatments. But, even with the oxygen, she could still belt out those songs.

This concert was even more special than the previous ones. This one - despite the size of the audience - was much more intimate and special. We did feel like we were sitting in their living room. We heard funny anecdotes. We listened to and sang along with many of the old standards and even some newer ones. We even listened as they continued professing their political beliefs. {Ed. note: This is where PP&M and I took divergent paths; however, I respect their right to express their thoughts.)

I remember feeling content yet sad during the concert. I felt joy and nostalgia. I shed a couple tears, but I also laughed out loud. All I know is I did not want that evening to end. And, even as we all slowly left the theatre after their standing ovation, we all seemed to leave with a heavy foot and sadness. Maybe we all knew it would be the last time we would see them all together. Maybe we were trying to remember that last harmonic note. Maybe we missed them doing "Goodnight, Irene".

So, Mary,

- I loved your voice
- I envied your singing partners
- I envied your straight blond hair
- I prayed when I heard about your illness
- I later understood your gratitude for a donor
- I gasped when I saw your short hair and new "jewelry"
- I pray you are at peace and have already taken your place in God's choir
- I know you will be missed by not only me but others more dear
- I want to thank you for sharing and caring like you did

God bless you, Mary Travers. You done good! "I hate to wake you up so say goodbye."

Love,
Sheryn