Short

Honestly, some days I think that it's not worth it to try and take care of yourself. I had called my doctor's office the other day, and because he always responds quickly, he called in a prescription for me, in an attempt to forestall things getting worse. Fortunately, the reason I called him is pretty well taken care of, thank you very much. Unfortunately, the medicine has made me feel pretty awful. I'm glad that I'm nearly done taking it!

But it just doesn't seem fair. Such is life.

OK, on to other things. First of all, I got a haircut the other day. I tried a new place, and was really very pleased. I got a haircut that I like, and it was cheaper than the place I had been going (which was cheaper than my original place, which got deep-sixed when I was unemployed). When I was finished, the stylist told me that I looked "Chic and European" (what? I didn't before???), and the salon owner said, "You look like Jean Seberg."

(Oh my God - is it me, or is it Jean Seberg???)

I don't have a picture of me with my new haircut, but truly, I look pretty much just like this. (To quote Gilbert & Sullivan, "In the dusk with the light behind her.")

Well, except I don't, really. I do have a very short haircut, that looked like that when I left the salon. (I don't do well in the heat, and in my current job, there is no air-conditioning, so the shorter the better, as far as I'm concerned.) I'm still getting used to it though, so the past few days, I've looked more like this:

(Please note: this really isn't me.)

But I'll figure it out, I'm sure ... and in the meantime, I am more comfortable. And in the summer, that's what it all boils down to for me.

In other news, I've just started a new knitting project (for me!), the Eyelet Cardigan from Blue Sky Alpacas yarn. This is Blue Sky Cotton, in the colorway Pickle:

(Smooshed together on a needle - it really does have an eyelet pattern when spread out ...)

It's a cropped (short) cardigan, but I plan to add a little bit of length to mine. I do like it, and have looked around on Ravelry to see what other people have done, what they had to say about the pattern, etc. I took inspiration from some others who have said they always knit a sleeve as a swatch - what a good idea! I even thought ahead enough to print out the errata.

I know, go figure ...

Penitentiary Life, Week 15

Last week at work was particularly interesting, for two very different reasons.

For one thing, I was kissed by Ewan McGregor. He asked first, like a real gentleman.

He was waiting in the Gatehouse (i.e., the entrance) of Eastern State with his mother, since his older brother and his father were taking the tour and were scheduled to be finished within a few minutes after his arrival. His mother was very nice, and was telling me about their visit to the States from Scotland, how much they were enjoying it, and how nice people were treating them. (Always nice to hear that a visitor from abroad is forming a good impression.) She said Ewan was a family name, and that for a while, they'd considered calling him something else, but decided it was silly to worry that people would tease him. Man, was he cute! Then when his father and brother came out, and they were all ready to leave, he asked if he could give me a kiss.

Are you jealous yet? I thought so.

Oh ... did I mention that he was two years old and in a stroller?**

That was fun!

***

The other thing is more serious, but something that has really had me thinking. Last week, a family with grown sons was touring through the penitentiary, and one of them asked me where the electric chair was, because he wanted to sit in it. I told him that although there was a Death Row, there was no electric chair, since there were no executions at Eastern State. He was really disappointed. Then he said to me, "This is my last day to do anything fun, since tomorrow I leave for Iraq for 18 months. I was really hoping to sit in the electric chair."

OK, the electric chair part is not what made me think. The part about it being his last day home before going to Iraq was what stuck with me. Because he is the third person since I've started working there who has been visiting right before they leave for Iraq. And each time that's made me wonder if something like that was going on in my life - or the life of a family member - if I would want to spend my last day touring the penitentiary.

On the one hand, I would guess that it's good to have a specific activity to occupy your mind, so you don't drive yourself crazy thinking of what could/might happen once you are there. But on the other hand, I'm not sure I would be completely focused on visiting a historic site. This could be largely because I am, at heart, a true chicken. (Plus, I would likely be the worse person on earth to be in any branch of the military, being sent anywhere, in any capacity.) So I am not the best judge of this.

But I will admit that it fascinates me, and though I would never come out and ask someone why they were choosing to spend their last day at home that way - it is after all, none of my business - I would love to know the answer.


**(Children under seven are not permitted - a city of Philadelphia code - so people with young children either have to come back another time, or figure out who visits when.)

Beachy

You may recall that a couple of weeks ago and last weekend, we spent part of a day at the shore. We usually go to Avalon, New Jersey, which is not that far away, and is relatively quiet as beach towns go. Both days we were fortunate, because the weather was perfect and the other beachgoers were enjoying themselves while managing not to bug everyone else.

As much as I love going to the beach, I spent most of the time under the beach umbrella:

Besides the book I took along, I also got started on Jaywalker Sock #2:

(The Tim is holding it here - I don't have "man hands" like on that "Seinfeld" episode!)

You may remember that I started Sock #1 in 2007, when we were on vacation at Virginia Beach, and just finished it last month. Anyway, I had lots of beach knitting time as well as some time knitting at home, and now I have a pair:

They aren't perfect, but I'm happy with how they turned out, and I will probably try this pattern again, since once you get the hang of it, it's not as complicated as it seems. The best part?

They fit perfectly! I have christened these "Beachy Jaywalkers." (BTW, this picture shows more of the true colors in the yarn.) For those who are interested, here are the details:

Pattern: Jaywalker by Grumperina (Ravelry link)

Yarn: Black Bunny Fibers Handpainted Superwash Merino Classic; colorway Blue Agate

Needles: US 2

Started: September 2007. Completed: July 7, 2009.

Changes: None. I'm lucky I managed to finish the pattern as written - I wasn't about to try to do anything additional/different! Melanie asked me if the fit was a problem, as she has read it is for other people. I haven't worn them for a whole day yet, but when I tried them on, I didn't see any problem with the fit. That's just my experience so far, though. I'll let you know if I decide otherwise once I test them.

In other sock knitting news, I think I have figured out Judy's Magic Cast-on for toe-up socks! By following the illustrations and instructions in Wendy's book, I got it to work after practicing on big needles with big yarn, so I'm hoping I can "translate" it to actual sock yarn.

Now I can decide what to knit next without feeling like I'm letting too many things languish - hooray!

Wow ... only 10??

This week, the topic for 10 on Tuesday is:

10 Things That Turn You Off About People

If there were only ten (or even fewer things) ... oh well, here you go.

1. People who use their cell phones all of the time. Nothing is more annoying than being in the middle of a conversation with someone, when they stop to take a call. Or when you are around someone who never ever stops talking on their cell phone. It would be difficult to convince me that those calls are all absolutely necessary.

2. People with no sense of humor. I don't even care if it's a lame sense of humor, it's better than none at all.

3. Self-righteous people. It seems to me that if you have to tell me how good/moral/generous/whatever you are, you are all of those for the wrong reasons.

4. Liars. Do you really need a reason for this one?

5. People who don't like animals. I understand people who don't want to own an animal, or are ambivalent, but I steer clear of anyone who doesn't like animals at all.

6. Inconsiderate/unkind people. Everyone has feelings, and no one likes to have them hurt or dismissed.

7. Snobs. See second part of #4 ...

8. Know-it-alls. Brings my mockery mode into overdrive.

9. Preachy people. Doesn't matter if it's preaching about religion, lifestyle, food choices, etc. If you start preaching at me, I stop listening. I'll generally ask if I'm curious about something.

10. People who refuse to believe that you would really and truly like to be left alone. Just because they don't want to spend time alone, they shouldn't assume that it's a problem for everyone.

Now I must sign off, as I have a phone call from one of my really famous friends so they can tell me about all of the wonderful things they have done for mankind today ...

June Book Report

OK, here is my latest attempt at giving you my thoughts on books I have read in the past month. This time kids, I'm going to direct you to a link on Goodreads, and see how that goes.

Let me know what you think. Do you like: a) two-part reports (like the ones for April 2009), b) one long post with all books listed (a la May 2009), c) links to Goodreads, d) none of the above, or e) who cares please just leave me alone? I would appreciate your thoughts.

Now, on to those books!

Where Are You Now, by Mary Higgins Clark.

Sister Age, by M.F.K. Fisher.**

A Passionate Man, by Joanna Trollope.**

The Piano Tuner, by Daniel Mason.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, by Katherine Howe.** (ARE)

Paula, by Isabel Allende.

Miss Brill, by Katherine Mansfield.

The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold.

Lesley Castle, by Jane Austen.

The Last Days of Dogtown, by Anita Diamant.

Knitting: A Novel, by Anne Bartlett.

In the Kitchen, by Monica Ali.** (ARE)

Grace [Eventually]: Thoughts on Faith, by Anne Lamott.

Cranford, by Elizabeth Gaskell.

Casting Off, by Nicole R. Dickson.** (ARE)

The Case of the Missing Servant: Vish Puri, Most Private Investigator, by Tarquin Hall. ** [ARE]

Any titles marked with double asterisks (**) are ones that I would be happy to pass along to anyone who is interested, just leave a comment and let me know which title(s) you would like. As usual, if there are several people interested in a book, I'll do a random drawing. (Please note that some of them are Advanced Reader's Editions [marked ARE], if that makes a difference to you.)

I'll choose names/let people know on Friday, July 10.

And that's it for tonight!