Happy Birthday, My Little M&M

I got to experience the beginning of a new life today. Little M&M was born by cesarian to one of my best friends around noon, weighing in at over 8 pounds and 21 inches (I'm off, I know... he was bigger than both of those... forgive me!).

We're so excited to see him. We've been waiting so long.

These are the moments that life is about, the moments that keep us alive. The utter joy on my friends' faces as they held their baby was almost too much to bear. I love them both, and the love that they have for their child is amazing. How do we do this? How do we hold such a capacity to love?

I think about my parents, about being a parent. There is such risk involved. And the world is really such a crappy little place. Even as M&M was born today, I hear on the radio about the government in Burma preparing to "deal with" the protests of the peaceful buddhist monks. The unbalanced state of healthcare in this country (lucky for Milo he wasn't born too poor). The inmates claiming that lethal injection is "cruel and unusual." These things, too, occupy my thoughts, alongside M&M's appearance.

And yet, I can't bring myself to agree with friends that have said it's irresponsible to bring a child into this world. I can't quite believe that we are that far gone.

I stood outside this evening and I thought about us humans. I thought about little M&M and the power in the choice his parents made to bring him into this world. I thought about the beautiful weather today. I considered this birth of a million opportunities.

It doesn't really matter, I think, the way things turn out. It's not worth worrying about because we do have these things: we have birth, we have beauty, we have absolute truths, and we have love. I believe that life is worth living anyway, despite the shitty bits. It's hard to defend this position. It's hard to say oh well, and live.

But there is so much beauty to be had. There is so much joy to share. I saw it all in the faces of my friends as they held their new child, and I was reminded again to get up, to go on, to embrace the future.

Thanks, little M&M. We all owe you so much already, after your very few hours here with us.

Where I've Been (A Vacation of Sorts)

Last weekend I went to the Monolith Festival in Red Rocks, Colorado. I saw tons and tons of great bands, and had a fabulous time with my friend R and her boyfriend.

I did knit, too. (What is vacation without a knitting bag?) I took a sock:

I think my friends thought it was a bit odd to be sitting in the parking lot before a festival knitting. But there were a lot of odd people there anyway. (After all, there was a Flaming Lips concert.)

Inspired by the Yarn Harlot, the sock and I went camping and I took a sock picture:


And just to share with the world the reason I don't usually photograph myself camping:

Fun is not always beautiful.

Hmmm....

What do you think?



I have been wanting a new tattoo... :-)

Skull

I finished my first crocheted object this morning (up to this point, it's just been embellishments)!



I'm sorry it's so blurry, but it was very very hard to photograph. It's very small, maybe a couple of inches from cap to jawbone... Yes, it's a skull. Why not? I'm calling him Yorick (cliche, yes, but fun nevertheless).

If you want to make one, go here, where the creator posted her pattern. Hers looks way better than mine. And the photo is not blurry. Here is one spinning in 3D. I really like the giant skull crocheted out of nautical rope on the right, too.

(And coming soon, very soon.... socks!)

As I lay here...

I have just finished with a long hot bath. I have worked a lot of hours this week. I will work a lot of hours next week.

I am knitting a familiar sock pattern in bright colors. I am wearing handknit socks and striped pajama pants. I am reading a book about a class full of special needs children.

I am eating leftovers.

I am alone, except for the dog and cats.

I am happy.

Why do I try so hard when this is all it takes?

Looky What I Got!

I had a terrible weekend, despite the fact that I had one of my best friends visiting and everyone came back into town. I had a migraine Friday and missed work, thereby getting even more behind (who knew it was possible?), then I was just Ms. Bad Mood Saturday and Sunday. I picked fights, I cried, I slept too much.

THEN, Sunday night I remembered that it was Labor Day (!) and I didn't have to go to work on Monday. This perked me up a bit. I knit. I read. I pet the dog, despite her decision to eat another pillow. Saturday night four of us went to the drive-in and sat in the back of my car while eating terrible fried food.

I knew life was okay again because I heard Bob Dylan sing "Lay, Lady, Lay" on my way home. This, to me, is a sign of good things.

I had a wonderful time with my dearest F all weekend, and was sad to see her leave Monday afternoon.

And THEN, and THEN... I walked in Monday evening and there was a package for me! I hadn't looked in the mailbox all weekend, but there was a box addressed to me. And inside?

Yay! Hogwarts socks! Thanks so much, Gina! I love my new socks. They fit perfectly:


They are very comfy. I wore them to work on Wednesday with my purple scrubs and I was very happy. I even showed them off to my co-workers, who were also very impressed. I love the mismatched heels and toes! I feel very honored to have received such a fantastic package, which was so well put together. In addition to socks to showcase my "house pride," it had fun Hogwarts candy "from the trolly," stitch markers "designed by goblins" (I can't wait to use them on my first lace project...), and TWO sets of Clover Takumi Bamboo premium double-pointed-needles "bewitched with a special kitchener charm"! Yay!!! I'm so excited... now I can cast on for more socks (oh dear, say my family and friends).

I really am so thankful to Gina for the great pick-up she gave me with this wonderful package. I am smiling now as I look at my socks...clean again. My first sock swap... what a great experience!