I'm With the Star

I only tonight discovered something interesting. Of all Jessica's favorite musicians, the only ones that I've listened to regularly are R.E.M. and Moby. So tonight since I'm on the computer, I decided to open her songs she saved here. I found that I cannot listen to Ben Lee without becoming very sad. I'm listening to Elliot Smith and doing okay with it. Maybe it's because when she was with me, Jess played more Ben than Elliot. Or maybe because I was with her when she met Ben. Or something. I don't know, but thought I was sort of past that point.

in the service of the muse

Last week Z and I flew to Georgia for Thanksgiving, since T was deer hunting in Indiana. I had expected crowded airports and long waits, but the trip was actually the same as usual. No problems at all. Instead of the faithful Holiday Inn in Athens, we had to stay at the new Hilton Garden Inn. It's a great location, smack-dab downtown. Our room had a fridge and microwave, so we made our own breakfast every morning.

I could go on about the entire trip, but I feel like writing about the highlight. RY had taken some of Jessica's lyrics and composed melodies for them. Thursday night we went to her apartment and she played one for us. Nighttime Sunglasses. These were the lyrics that I could most easily imagine actually being a song, and R did a brilliant job of matching them to a melody. I can't wait for her to do the others and actually make a recording.

We sat in her apartment and she played guitar to accompany herself as she sang Jessica's words. I looked over and saw tears glistening in LG's eyes. Z's eyes were filling up as well. Me? I was just so pleased that one of Jessica's dreams was actually coming true.

R had prepared another song, but the lyrics were sad so I didn't want Z to have to listen, since it was apparent that the experience was very emotional for her.

Then yesterday I started thinking, wondering what Jessica would have thought of R's treatment of her song. Would she have been pleased? Would she have thought it wasn't "rock" enough? I simply cannot know; she was very unpredictable about such things. I think she would have wanted to work with R to get the song just the way she wanted it. But we'll never know. And that's okay.

drive across the county line

I got down and dirty at the Texas Motor Speedway this past Saturday. My friend BS came down from OK with her season tickets to the NASCAR. Saturday Z went with her to the race, had a good time. It turned out that the sneaky little thing hadn't mentioned to us that Saturday was her birthday! T and I took her out to dinner at a Romanian Food Festival where she promptly ordered hot honeyed brandy, which turned out to be very very strong! We both enjoyed the hot honeyed wine though, while T had Romanian beer. The food was good, different, interesting: cabbage rolls, something sauerkrautish with meat, weird sausage, a polenta-like dish that B thought was bland but that I liked very much. We brought home a pound cake with sour cherries in it for Sunday's breakfast.

Sunday B & I headed out early to the race; got caught in some traffic on I-35W so it took us a while to get there. It rained a bit as we were arriving, but they got out the jet engines and dried the track so the race wasn't too late starting. It was a typical race - spin-outs, wall-crashes, a blown engine and a blown tire. B's favorite driver, Tony Stewart, totally dominated the race and then won, so it was a nice birthday treat for her.

She and I always have a good time together, and we went ahead and planned another adventure while she was here. In February, we'll fly to Chicago for a Josh Ritter concert! No, she has not become a stalker! B's never been to Chicago and wants to see it, so this seemed a perfect opportunity. *smirk*

when I wear it she crosses my mind

In looking back, I see that I have mentioned my Afghan hat project, but not explained it. So:
a few months ago (May? April?) I decided that I wanted to take up crocheting again. I knew that I'd end up making things that I couldn't use, so had to figure out what I could make that someone else could use. After trial and error, I figured out how to crochet hats. Beanies. Skull caps. Whatever one wants to call them.

So, I started crocheting every night and was soon able to make at least one hat per evening, while watching an hour-long TV show. I had been checking out the anysoldier.com website and found a sailor stationed in Afghanistan who wanted caps for Afghani children, so I've been sending them to him. Lost count, but I've made and sent over 100, for sure.

Crocheting has been therapeutic: keeps hands busy so I can't nibble while watching TV; provides stimulation via colors, textures, motion; soothes and relaxes; provides a useful item for someone.

Some of my online pals asked for hats for themselves so I made and sent them some. Then there were suggestions that I make and send hats to people I admire. Hence the previous reference to alpaca yarn for a hat for Josh Ritter. I mailed the hat to him, hmmm, in late-ish October. Saturday, I received a thank-you note in the mail. Rarely do we see hand-addressed envelopes in the mailbox, since it's usually full of bills and junk mail, so I noticed immediately that there was a personal letter for me. When I saw the return address, I was shocked. "JR" at a post office box in Idaho. Inside was a lovely card with a quote from William Morris on the front: "Believe me, if we want art to begin at home, as it must, we must clear our houses of troublesome superfluities that are forever in our way, conventional comforts that are no real comforts, and do but make work for servants and doctors. If you want a golden rule that will fit everybody, this is it: HAVE NOTHING IN YOUR HOUSES THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW TO BE USEFUL, OR BELIEVE TO BE BEAUTIFUL."

The gracious note read, in part "Thank you so much for the beautiful letter and the (very) beautiful hat. It's gorgeous, and that's a word I rarely use. I'm profoundly proud and happy that my music has found you." Finally, "Until I see you again, I hope music keeps you as warm as your hat is keeping me!" A charming and kind note from someone whose mother has taught him well.

watch the decline from a hazy distance

So, what have I done? A coworker has to make a blog for a class she's taking, and I blithely said "Oh, you can look at mine" before stopping to think. Not that it matters. It was just kind of nice to pretend anonymity here. But it's okay.

What's been going on?

Friday night I went to my first-ever ice hockey game, Dallas Stars defeated by Detroit Redwings. It was kinda fun - better than watching hockey on tv, no doubt. Was with a group of ten, including AA and SS from work. On the way home, AA said something that pretty much confirmed a suspicion that I had had, disappointingly (sort of), about someone else at work. Overall, it was interesting to hear some talk about various people from work. I don't get to network much, being in the library all day.

Things are not going smoothly for Z, so now I'm spending energy fretting about her. I don't know the solution. Don't know what to do or say or suggest. Some things defy reason and logic, they just are what they are.

Sometimes it all seems too hard. I was thinking about that yesterday, about how I felt in 2004.

This blog entry is going downhill fast. Enough. Never mind.

Stinky Cheese Author

Thursday night I went up to Denton with two of the Culture Club kids to meet author Jon Scieszka. I was tired and didn't think I wanted to go, but I'm very glad I went. Scieszka was entertaining: hysterically funny at times, inspiring at times, definitely interesting. He was happy to sign Z's copy of The Stinky Cheese Man. I also enjoyed visiting with the students who went along. The young man noticed my IRS Years CD and knew what it was!!! He said he likes R.E.M., mentioned his favorite album. Wow. I knew he was a cool kid. On the way to Denton we listened to the Belle and Sebastian CD he had brought; talked about music.

I've been really tired this past week. Going back after the break was hard, always is, but I didn't expect to feel this wiped out. I slept in a bit this morning at least, so won't start the week too tired, I hope. Had no big events going on this weekend, so just visited with friends, did some housewifely tasks, went shopping.

Interesting to hear from people who have discovered this blog. I haven't mentioned it to any school folk yet. May. May not.

the bonnet wears a wire albatross

Crud but it's hard going back to work after a week off. In addition, we're all mourning because this is the last year we get our beloved Fall Break.

So I've been overwhelmingly sleepy this week and not able to force myself to go to bed early. Too many things to do, not enough time to do them. Want to read, crochet, post, read, play. Oh well.

Too tired to write a long blog this time. Just wanted to moan a bit about the misery of work. Hubby and I both need to retire. Wish that were a possibility.

This afternoon I attended a baby shower for an expectant new grandmother. Great fun, a bunch of 40 & 50 year old ladies oohing and ahhing over baby things. I didn't get my gift made in time, so sat at the shower crocheting ruffles on both ends of a prefolded diaper to make a burp cloth. It was fun, a conversation item, and provided the opportunity to talk about my hat project. One of the ladies mentioned that her church sponsors an orphanage in Kenya, at a fairly high altitude, and the kids wear little knitted skullcaps or short beanies. So, if I lose my contact in Afghanistan, I can make hats for the Kenyan orphans. They're required to shave their heads, girls and boys alike, so need little hats for warmth. Sounds like a fun project.

Off, perchance to bed. Perchance to dream.

but sweetness follows

Friday: B & I went to a nice yarn shop; found gorgeous alpaca yarn, got teal to make a hat for JMS, other yarns to make hats for friends. Did some shopping, running around. Went to dinner at Applebee's in Irving. Got to Nokia Center by 8 p.m., found our seats - good ones! Completely enjoyed Josh's set; only about 35 minutes, since he was the support act. Dang, he sounded great. After his set, we went to lobby to buy CD for BS and tshirt for me (brown short-sleeve with starling on the front). Went to ladies room, came out and spotted Josh near the sales area, talking to some women. Got into line behind two other gals who were waiting to talk to him.

When our turn came, we told him how much we enjoyed his songs. I explained about learning of him from AM in Ireland. B told him about us seeing him at SXSW last March. He totally gave us his undivided attention, just as he had done for the people before us. What an amazing young man. He signed B's CD, posed for pictures with me. It was just a beautiful evening.

Saturday: went back to the yarn shop for dark green alpaca yarn to make a hat for Josh. I'm now an alpaca addict. That yarn is soooo soft. Also did more running around with B; went to lunch at Thai Tina. T has gone to Chicago til Tuesday, business.

dogging the scene

What a Fall Break I had. Very busy, some fun, some pain, some amazing things to see and hear.

Chronologically:

Monday: met EW for dinner - sushi, very good. Went over to the new Borders store just to browse a bit. A good evening. She brought me some yarn for my Afghan hat project, which was very very sweet and generous of her.

Tuesday: rain in the early morning, then went with AQ to the great State Fair of Texas. Since it had been raining, not many people were there yet. We got a perfect parking spot on the street just across from the main gate. Immediately got ears of corns to munch on. Went to the pig races, then hung out in the childrens barnyard patting adorable animals. Went through the Food & Fiber Building - saw Elsie and Beauregard. Bought emu oil soap. Ate cotton candy. Ate a gordita.

Wednesday: Went to the dentist at 7 a.m. for tooth extraction. T drove me there and back; I remember very little, thanks to the medication. Slept the rest of the morning, messed around online in the afternoon, took pain med.

Thursday: BS came down for the Wilco concert! HG was supposed to come but was unavoidably detained due to stupidity/carelessness on her part. B & I made lovely sandwiches and soup for dinner, headed out to Will Rogers Auditorium. Arrived to find a sea of twenty-somethings clutching Miller Lite bottles. Went inside - opening band was playing but no one was listening, they were all wandering around drinking and talking as if they were at a frat party rather than a concert. Wilco took the stage - crowd stood for the entire show, lots of shouting, singing. the four guys beside us were smashed, apparently, kept shouting "Jeff Tweeeeeddddyyyyyyy" and "Jeff Tweeeeeedy is a godddddddd", dancing, and singing way too loudly. Had a good time anyway.

her earlier incarnations

Girl Scout Party


It's mid-October, just about, and thoughts turn to Halloween, which brings many memories. The year when I was very small and dragged my paper treat bag on the damp ground, resulting in a hole through which most of my candy trickled out. When we got home and discovered that, my brother actually shared his goodies with me. I was very very young, so I do not know if he was generous or merely under duress. I think I was a clown that year; Mom often dressed us as clowns when we were small - she had made the costumes and of course they were baggy so we could keep wearing them for a while, and then I could wear my brother's, so I probably was a clown for even longer.

And Halloweens with my girls. Jessica's first Halloween was so warm - I had made a little overall thing from grey velour with a mouse embroidered on the bib part, and she had a pink checked shirt to go under it, but it was too warm for the shirt so she just wore the overalls and I painted whiskers on her face. Such a simple little mouse, and that was only the beginning of year upon year of Halloween costumes. I remember a 4-year-old witch with a green face; Thing 1 from The Cat in the Hat; a Popple; Mrs. Potts from Beauty and the Beast; a clown, of course; Rose from Titanic; this continued on for years and years, because even when she was too old to go out, she dressed up to stay home and hand out the treats.

speed it up a notch

Last night cousin C came over to visit. We went to a new store, looked around some, brought barbecue home for dinner and ate with TX. I kept thinking he would go to bed so she and I could visit, but no, he stayed up the entire time she was there. I know she enjoys him and it was good for him to socialize, but selfishly, I wanted some time with her to myself. I feel better about it today, looking back on it, because he doesn't talk to my friends often enough.

That over to the left is the two of us a couple years ago, around Easter. We used to have time to be partners in crime together, but now she has grandchildren and weekends are spent with them, often. I wish we could get together more often.

I'm looking forward to this Fall Break week and am sorry it's the last one we'll get to have. Stupid state legislators, forcing us toward a uniform start date. I'm in favor of local desires taking precedence. Anyway, I have plans to clean out the fridge and some cabinets. I want to scan some pictures, and transfer Family Treemaker data from the old computer to this one; also transfer scanned pix off the old one.

Here I am

Okay, after having pretty much given up previous blog attempts, I'm starting over here. No links to anything associated with my job. Freedom to write what I feel. It could get ugly. It could get funny. So, this is the beginning. This may be messy as I figure out how to upload and post pictures, but I'll get it straight sooner or later.