A Clean Day

Well, actually most of today was a "dirty day," but that title seemed a bit, um, dirty...

My old place is CLEAN and NEAT and ready for a new person. I have mixed feelings about that. I guess you always do.

I had a great day with my Mommy today. She was so much help with EVERYTHING, from keeping me sane to cleaning out the oven. And she left me with a fully stocked pantry. She deserves an award of some kind. A REALLY big one.

Robinson Crusoe

Why am I enjoying a story about an 18th Century man stranded on a desert island? Why would I be fascinated with him? I don't even like him, really...

Ah. Classic Literature. "Lit-r-ture" in a snobby British accent, I say.

Knitting Group Tonight

I love these women. I love how we sit in a circle together, and how we laugh. I love that women have been doing this for CENTURIES, together just like this. Or alone just like me at home. I feel connected that way. Centuries of prayer and thread and everything.

I just need to learn how to spin wool into yarn. I know how to feed and care for the sheep. (well, goats?) So I need to learn to shear, then card, then spin and color and then I will be able to make a sweater completely. I think that might be satisfying...

But it is satisfying, too, to sort through our shawls this evening and give this extra shawl to this person on our prayer list, to assign a shawl to be made for that person, to sit and find time to INTENTIONALLY care about someone particular. There's not much time for that now-a-days.

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On an entirely different note: I'm reading Robinson Crusoe and its really racist. Hmmm....should this be a banned book? Of course I don't believe in banning books, especially this one, sometimes considered the "first novel." But it's tough. We'll see how it plays out...

A Note on Comments

I know that there has been some trouble with leaving me "comments" on my postings. I changed some settings. So try again! But e-mail me too, so that I can check if they are showing up. If you post and then re-load the page, you should be able to see your comment then. If not, I have NO IDEA, and will e-mail the website to see what's up.

Because, truly, what's the point of having a blog if others can't comment on it? Then I might as well keep a diary and force everyone to read it. Or something. (Well, I'm tired. And a little lack-lustered.)

After a LONG absence...

Well my computer's broken. BROKEN. Like there's a little blinking question mark. Apparently the darn thing has lost its hard drive. (How do you LOSE a hard drive?) I should be motivated to fix this. Instead I feel like giving up the Internet entirely. I've gone without a phone. I've gone without TV. Heck, I've gone without a computer, too.

But I'm addicted! I can't check all the blogs I read...those knitting sites...environmental news...church politics... I didn't realize how much time I spend on the Internet. (But evidently my friends did. Faries asked me how I was surviving without it. Not well, Faries. Not well.)

Linda moves next week. :-( My love goes with her and the hope that she will be happy in her new place, with lots of peace and quiet. (Or noise if she wants! It's up to her.) I hope living alone is GREAT... and a wink goes with that. At least there will be no Roxie to poop in the path to the dumpster. Good luck, Linda!

ROXIE UPDATE: No pillows eated at the new house yet. No shoes eaten. Roxie has managed to accumulate one ball of barbed grass in her ear, one major ear infection, hundreds of ticks and fleas, and a new leash. Not to mention lots of new friends at the vet's office. I wonder if they have caller ID. I wonder if they have to cast lots on who will answer the phone next. I just give them my name and Roxie's name now. I don't bother with the greeting. They probably already know. I feel like the panicky mother. I shall never be able to have children. One broken bone and I will, seriously, drop DEAD.

KNITTING UPDATE: Well, I have been productive here. Everything's finished on the fun fur and black shawl except the fringe, and it finally has a recipient (the same person that I started it for, but I thought wouldn't want it--she likes it!). I hope that I can get it blessed tomorrow. (My cue to quit typing and go work on it...I'm ignoring the urge.) I actually have the baby blanket FINISHED and ready to deliver. Of course, the baby should be about ready to WALK by now, but at least he'll be warm. I also helped Danielle make a fuzzy blue-and-white hat on the Nifty Knitter. I've started two more projects, too: Tricia's pink shawl and a purple chenille blanket. On the NON-KNITTING CRAFT FRONT: I've started the mural on the wall in my new bedroom (Mom's visit this weekend will speed that process, hopefully). I have painted two silly girly pictures for the bathroom or somewhere else where fluffiness is acceptable (powder room? we don't have one). I helped Carlyn start a quilt.

I seem to be on an art boom. I'm glad. I think I might even sit down to write a story. I read before bed last night. I really don't have THAT much free time. Maybe Roxie's illness is making me stay home more. Maybe I'm losing friends. Oh well. Active hands are happy hands. Or something like that.

I've written several days worth of posts here, so that I should have caught up.

Peter, Paul, and Mary Make a Point Again

If you could somehow
Pack up your sorrows
And give them all to me,
You would lose them
I know how to use them
Give them all to me.

I know how to use other people's sorrows, but my own seem overwhelming. Why? That doesn't make sense.

I guess since it's 2:30am, I ought to go to bed. I mean, an acne infomercial is on TV. And it's even the one WITHOUT Jessica Simpson. Roxie's snoring. But after going to a move, I'm a bit wired.

And I don't want to go to bed and have to start another day. Today's been good. Can't I just stick with one day?

Un-Packing is WORSE Than Packing

"A place for everything and everything in its place."

Not so! Too bad I'm not living by myself. I think I could live with piles on the floor.

I did get my pictures hung in my room, so I'm feeling good about that tiny thing. And the bookshelf is filled, and the bathroom is done.

No more yarn! No more books! Ever! (OK, well maybe LESS yarn, LESS books.)

And the Cat Came Back...

We thought she was a goner, but:
THE CAT CAME BACK!!!

As Dad and I were moving today, the cat I tried to save and then got upset about because I didn't and was a bad animal lover, CAME BACK! She had on a pink flea collar. So she has a home! Or at least a people. She hung out in the back yard meowing at us all day, following us in and out of the back house, in and out of the alley, in and out of the gate. When we left, she was hanging out under the trampoline. I guess Roxie's absence made her come back for a little more loving.

I'm so glad that my interference didn't kill her, and I'd like to think, that, MAYBE, my interference has something to do with her plumpness and her pink flea collar. Hopefully.

Maybe good intententions aren't always bad.

Bumper Sticker

Too bad closed minds don't come with closed mouths.


And a little bitty note:
I'M MOVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


A picture of the puppy Rebecca found today (so cute!):


I think dogs do show up when they think you need them, not when you want them, and not necessarily when YOU think you need them.

Purple Dreams Await Me

I have a purple room awaiting me (as of last night), and oh I'm so happy! And I move on July 4th.

Hooray! I'm moving from the numbered streets to a lettered street. Movin on up?

A Less Noble Post

I painted last night and today. I made a painting of Roxie and one for Carlyn's room. I didn't remember how much I liked to paint, or how long it takes.

Someone told me last night that I spend too much time with my dog, and that I am far too obsessed with her. That person is right. But I don't want to change. Roxie's my crazy little beacon of love.

What's Really Important Isn't My Aching Foot

It's been a good day. I saw a stupid silly movie that I think may have helped change something in my head (in a good way) and had a long talk with Carlyn.

I don't know what to do with my life, or if I can do much of anything. But, I figure, I can love.

I'm not good at walking straight (hence the sprained ankle) or at running or at looking beautiful or eating well or laughing daintily, but I think I might be good at loving people.

And that's an OK talent to have, I think, even if it is a small little talent.

I'm going to keep practicing. I want to be the best at loving people. I want my heart to be open wide and let everyone walk in, because it's true: there's always enough to go around. I know this because there have always been so many people to love me. I can almost feel all of their arms around me right now. The best way I can love them back is to wrap my arms around someone else -- around as many someone elses as I can.

So what does my job matter, really? Or where I live? Or when I graduate?

I just need to get up in the morning, let Roxie out, and love myself first. Then I can conquer everyone else.