Somewhat Random Ramblings
Heya Lili
Yeah, I was pretty happy about that. I did a stupid thing, though. I mailed the bracelet before the money made it to my paypal account. I gave it a week then started panicking a little. Not too much, after all we're not talking big bucks here but still... Finally got it all straightened out and, in retrospect, it was a lot easier than it would have been had I been on my own. The etsy people answered me right away. The pay pal people have yet to respond to my inquiry. So some internet people you can count on and others ... well...
Speaking of the dubious internet vendors, I couldn't find a place on fred flare to vote either. Yes, I was considering voting for myself. Mercenary I know, but hey as the saying goes "faint heart never won fair lady" or fair contest either I suppose. I'll probably end up sending them a polite little email asking about the voting et al. I'll consider it a game - will they or won't they respond? Oooo. So very cynical. ;-)
It's not people per se that comment on my crochet - just family. I always consider it a bit excessive to refer to them as "people". They are much more formidable than any other person because they know so very much more about what truly irritates me. I love my family, but they are insane. I make allowances for their "objective" observations and comments. Just like they make allowances for my eccentricities and nonconformity. I hope. :-)
The pen thing would tick me off too. I really can't stand being told what to do or that what I'm doing is wrong because it isn't the usual way. If it works, who cares? If I know the person I usually say something like "what's it to you?" or 'You're the only one it seems to bother". I became much happier in life when I started accepting that things like that are more about the person making the comment than the person being commented on. Or as I like to say (to myself of course) Screw you, pal! :-D Ahh. I'm so enlightened and civilized.
Hmm. Interesting question about the bus. It really would depend on my mood. There are days I'm very chirpy and cheerful and I'd offer the info by starting a conversation about knitting in general - how long I've been knitting, how about you? I learned from my grandmother - who taught you? do you mind if I share a tip with you , there's an easier way - etc. This is the way a woman at the pool told me how I could change my stroke so I wouldn't strain my neck as I swam. It was very kind and helpful I thought. Of course, there are other days I seem to wall off the world and can't bear to speak with anyone at all. Even in the most crowded of situations I stay entrenched behind the battlements of my emotional siege tower. I guess it depends on my emotional strength at the time. When I'm happy, everything seems possible and proper and my confidence is high. On "storm days" even an odd fleeting glance from a complete stranger across the parking lot can devastate me. Wow. I sound pretty stable don't I? I think that may have been the influence of the pressure of grad school though (that was the last time I was regularly on a bus). Currently, I'd probably have tried to bother the poor woman. Americans are funny that way. We're opinionated and a little pushy but a little unpredictable. Some of us respond well to things and are called sociable and others don't respond well at all and are called private or reserved (or occaisionally, if they get mean - jerks). What a thought provoking question. Thanks for asking.
Oh I loved the fat cat especially the different colored paw. Adorable. I love cats but I also thought the work on that was beautiful. That was one of the Japanese ones, right? Sooo cute. What did you do about the dog? I was thinking you could have gone for an artfully trimmed doggie look - like a poodle or some terriers. Interesting dilemma - how to salvage a project when you come up short on material. I tend to do it the other way around (not too terribly surprising, eh?) - get one skein too many for a project and then I'm stuck with one skein of a stranded color and dye lot. Well there are one skein projects out there but I'd have to go look for them... Just too lazy.
I understand what you mean about that girly flowery fringe. The other day I picked up a crochet magazine that is linked somehow to the Crochet Guild of America and started to laugh. The fashions were all so... party girl - short and extremely form fitting. That has just never been my life style. At least most of them were in nice colors - black, silver, rich earth tones. But some of them were just too flouncy - too girly girl. Pink eyelash yarn fringe on an otherwise interesting tube/poncho/shrug type garment. Blah.
Walking and crocheting is more productive and calming than jogging through a crowded park and it is much more pleasant than watching people argue with their invisible friends. If someone gives you a funny look, throw them a kiss. Or better yet ask your invisible friend in a loud, clear voice what to do about it.
Ahh catalogs. Welcome to the drug pushers of the crochet addict. Everything looks so much fun and I want to start each project now. Dangerous things, but I can't live without them. It's like Winnie the Pooh when he's stuck in Rabbit's tree and wants to eat more honey - "I promise I won't eat any - I just want to taste it." I'll just look this catalog for a little while... good luck.
Does your balcony have a nice view? Ours looks out on four lanes of road and a ridiculously large drugstore and its lovely parking lot. At least there is a nice tree to block part of that view. The weather is still nice here but it will start to get hot soon. Texas hot - where you have to drive the car fast or the tires will melt from the heat collecting on the surface of the road. Hmm. It is suppossed to rain tomorrow. Sounds like a good time to be on my porch. Hmmm.
Well I'd better get going. It's 3 am and the two new kittens we received last Saturday are finally asleep. Maybe I can finally sneak off to bed withouth them jumping on my bare feet with their sharp little claws.
Always
Ceci
