Apparently I have been tagged and have been trying to come up with 7 things that you don't know about me...some of them may leave you scratching your head thinking, "what was she thinking?"
1. I was the Secretary for the Dallas County Young Republicans in 1982-83.
2. My mom, brother Mike and I took the train from Baltimore to Lubbock, Texas to visit my brother Don when I was 5 years old. It was a ball running between the cars, eating and sleeping on the train and sitting in the observation car with the bubble top. It was the summer of 1957. DDT was not outlawed then and at night the trucks would drive through the neighborhoods spraying for mosquitoes. With the windows open and the attic fans going the fumes would be pulled into the house and gag us! Twitch, did someone say something about a twitch!
3. I was robbed at gun point when I lived in NYC while entering my 5th floor walk-up apt. That guy was really desperate to get my stuff cause he had to walk up 5 flights of stars to get it. He pointed a gun in my face (it was a revolver and I could see all the bullets in their chambers) and told me to go to my apt. He pulled the phone cord out of the wall, tied me up with it and made me sit in my bathtub while he loaded up my 2 suitcases with stereo, money, jewelry, etc. He told me not to move for 15 minuets and I believed him. Muy tonta!
4. My mom, brother Mike, and I were caught in a blizzard in Maryland driving home from school one day. I was 4-5 years old (kindergarten). It was a white out and Mom had to drive with her head out the driver's side window and Mike was hanging out the other window guiding her so she didn't drive off the highway. We had to abandon the car at the entrance to our neighborhood (cause the roads hadn't been plowed there yet) and walk about a mile to our house. I left my gloves in the car and probably had a mild case of frost bite by the time we got back home. My mom had to run water over my hands to unfreeze them. OMG, that process has left scares in my memories! Again muy tonta!
5. When I was a younger, single woman I went to a KVIL radio happy hour party at a new club "Elan" in Dallas. Leeza Gibbons was a local TV personality in Dallas at the time and was interviewing people in line (that's so you'll know how long ago this was). I met a guy that night. He asked me out for a date. We went to a party at a Cowboy's house. Well, how can I say this easily...it was a swap party and people were watching porn on the TVs, walking out completely naked, and swapping partners. You'll be happy to know I never took off anything, didn't touch anyone, didn't swap anything, and after a couple of beers, asked him to take me home!!!
Another muy tonta moment.
P.S. Not all blind dates are good and not all are bad. My first date with Roy was a blind date, however, we didn't meet at a bar but were introduced through a mutual friend.
6. I waited on Joe Nameth, Barbara Walters, and Robert Wagner while working at Bonwit Teller as a Christmas Elf in 1973. I followed Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman down Park Ave one spring day for a couple of blocks. I ran into John Lennon and Yoko Ono (I smiled and he smiled back) coming out of my dentist's building. Roy and I walked past Prince Phillip in London when he was getting out of his limo in Leichester Square going to the theater.
7. I had to be tutored in geometry in the 10th grade so that I could graduate. I totally didn't get it (the final grade was a D)! Now that I'm a knitter I understand and appreciate math so much more. I also wish I had learned more then. Roy is a math major -- really, really smart like my brother Mike and my nephew Mike. Roy's helped me appreciate math more now that I have to use it. Knitting is all about the math!
Well there you have it -- 7 things you may or may not have known about me. Some of them pretty stupid things too!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Christmas is coming
I can hardly believe another year has almost passed. I'm starting to panic about Christmas presents. Every year I plan to make more and more things for gifts, but I have a problem making and giving knitted things for people who look at them and respond with "oh, thanks"! ARE YOU KIDDING ME! SERIOUSLY? It's only happened a few times. I'm a quick learner here.
I am making socks for my 81 year old day this year. He asked me for a pair. I'm also making socks for a friend's mom who is a needle worker herself so she'll be happy and appreciative about getting handmade socks. I have been working on an afghan for my housekeeper -- it's about 15% done -- YIKES. I'm running out of time.
I guess the thing that's hard for me about giving hand knitted things is when people who don't make things with their hand don't get it -- how much time and effort goes into making anything by hand. If this means I have expectations and should be able to give something with no strings attached, then I'm just not there. I can buy something and/or give you a gift card or money and do that without expectations -- but when it comes from my heart and hands it's a bit harder for me to be detached.
Then it seems, there are people who don't want something that's hand made -- no matter who made it or what it is. I understand this to some degree, but there's nothing more special then to receive something that with every stitch and turn of the needles love and good thoughts are placed into the fabric created. And those thoughts and well wishes are just for you alone!
WOW that was cathartic! Gotta run -- need to keep knitting.
I am making socks for my 81 year old day this year. He asked me for a pair. I'm also making socks for a friend's mom who is a needle worker herself so she'll be happy and appreciative about getting handmade socks. I have been working on an afghan for my housekeeper -- it's about 15% done -- YIKES. I'm running out of time.
I guess the thing that's hard for me about giving hand knitted things is when people who don't make things with their hand don't get it -- how much time and effort goes into making anything by hand. If this means I have expectations and should be able to give something with no strings attached, then I'm just not there. I can buy something and/or give you a gift card or money and do that without expectations -- but when it comes from my heart and hands it's a bit harder for me to be detached.
Then it seems, there are people who don't want something that's hand made -- no matter who made it or what it is. I understand this to some degree, but there's nothing more special then to receive something that with every stitch and turn of the needles love and good thoughts are placed into the fabric created. And those thoughts and well wishes are just for you alone!
WOW that was cathartic! Gotta run -- need to keep knitting.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Hope Won
I'm so excited that Barack Obama was elected to be the 44th president of the United States of America. I am proud that our country was able to see beyond color and gender and, in my opinon pick the right person for this time in our world. There are probably people in my family who may disagree with me, but that's what's so great about this country -- we're allowed to disagree and engage in healthy debate.
He needs and deserves our prayers as he goes forward to tackle the some of the toughest issues facing us and the world. I believe he is up to the task.
Gobama!!!!!
He needs and deserves our prayers as he goes forward to tackle the some of the toughest issues facing us and the world. I believe he is up to the task.
Gobama!!!!!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
22 Days
3 weeks, 2/3 of a month, it's something you'd hear at an AA meeting, "I have 22 days today." For me it represents the number of continuous days of sleep deprivation that I've been enduring.
October, in Ajijic, is the celebration of the Virgin of the Rosary. She represents one of the (many) manifestations of the Virgin Mary. EVERY morning at 5:00am the village is startled awake to the resplendent sounds of bottle rocks exploding into the dark, QUIET, dawn. Everyone is invited (including apparently the dead) to come say the rosary at the Church.
I am aware of this event coming at the same time every year, but you just don't realize how bad it's going to be until you experience it yet again in the wee hours of October 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and so on, and so on, and so on.....
I am pretty sure I'm loosing my mind right about now.
AND what did I through into this mix this month, nothing less than having my hyper-active, ADD, sometimes demonically possessed dog, Magda spayed yesterday. She's not allowed to jump or climb stairs. Did I mention we live in a 2 story house. She wants to be held, she wants to be by my side, she wants me. Rey who, while I am writing this, is looking up at me from the floor with that "Mommy I love you and want to sit with you" look and touching my leg softly with his cold nose. Wow, some would think, "oh that's so sweet", but no, not me! I want to run far, far away and be all alone with no one or nothing wanting or expecting anything of me. Oh yeah, then there's the guilt you feel for not wanting to be there for them!
Oh and lest I forget, I also scheduled today to have the two tinacos (water tanks) on the roof cleaned and repaired. Antonio and his son are here and have to go up and down the stairs that Magda's not allowed to climb or descend. The bottom on the stair case is now barricaded with chairs, plaster urns, etc. to prevent her from climbing and thus prevents them from descending.
There is a reason God decided that I should not be a mother. I'm a great Aunt, friend, wife, sister, daughter, but not a mother. That job is not for the weak or faint of heart. My step-daughter Lauren just became a mother and my respect for her has increased exponentially. She is truly called to the position! KUDOS Lauren.
Being needed and being sleep deprived are not two things that compliment each other, for me. I don't have an ounce of anything to offer today. I'm spent. And there are 9 more days of this...
P.S. Even though the weather at this time of the year is some of the best, don't plan to visit us unless you're an early bird!
October, in Ajijic, is the celebration of the Virgin of the Rosary. She represents one of the (many) manifestations of the Virgin Mary. EVERY morning at 5:00am the village is startled awake to the resplendent sounds of bottle rocks exploding into the dark, QUIET, dawn. Everyone is invited (including apparently the dead) to come say the rosary at the Church.
I am aware of this event coming at the same time every year, but you just don't realize how bad it's going to be until you experience it yet again in the wee hours of October 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and so on, and so on, and so on.....
I am pretty sure I'm loosing my mind right about now.
AND what did I through into this mix this month, nothing less than having my hyper-active, ADD, sometimes demonically possessed dog, Magda spayed yesterday. She's not allowed to jump or climb stairs. Did I mention we live in a 2 story house. She wants to be held, she wants to be by my side, she wants me. Rey who, while I am writing this, is looking up at me from the floor with that "Mommy I love you and want to sit with you" look and touching my leg softly with his cold nose. Wow, some would think, "oh that's so sweet", but no, not me! I want to run far, far away and be all alone with no one or nothing wanting or expecting anything of me. Oh yeah, then there's the guilt you feel for not wanting to be there for them!
Oh and lest I forget, I also scheduled today to have the two tinacos (water tanks) on the roof cleaned and repaired. Antonio and his son are here and have to go up and down the stairs that Magda's not allowed to climb or descend. The bottom on the stair case is now barricaded with chairs, plaster urns, etc. to prevent her from climbing and thus prevents them from descending.
There is a reason God decided that I should not be a mother. I'm a great Aunt, friend, wife, sister, daughter, but not a mother. That job is not for the weak or faint of heart. My step-daughter Lauren just became a mother and my respect for her has increased exponentially. She is truly called to the position! KUDOS Lauren.
Being needed and being sleep deprived are not two things that compliment each other, for me. I don't have an ounce of anything to offer today. I'm spent. And there are 9 more days of this...
P.S. Even though the weather at this time of the year is some of the best, don't plan to visit us unless you're an early bird!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
I did it!
OMG --- I finally figured out how to move pictures around in my blogs! HAPPY DANCE!
And I figured out how to retrieve posts from the drafts place and edit them and post them, without having to cut and past to another posting! Two new things in one day! WOOHOO!
Now I can get back to working on the sock yarn blanket. Andale pues!
And I figured out how to retrieve posts from the drafts place and edit them and post them, without having to cut and past to another posting! Two new things in one day! WOOHOO!
Now I can get back to working on the sock yarn blanket. Andale pues!
Not your grandma's granny square
Sock Yarn Blanket Project
The first tier I'm so excited I'm about to burst. Got lots to say...thinking of cute quips and lead ins about this project I started on Sunday to use up bits of leftover sock yarn. I found this pattern on Ravelry, and I'm sorry I don't remember where, but I put it in my queue 'cause it was so different.
It's called "Sock Yarn Blanket." A young mother, Shelly Kang, has posted all the details on her blog, The Heathen Housewife. She wrote this about 2 years ago in the wee hours of the morning in between breast feedings, cooking for her growing family, and knitting (she's an incredible knitter -- I wish I had her talent!)
When I was younger, I used to make granny square blankets with my leftover yarn from crocheting. Remember the movie, Like Water for Chocolate, the young woman in that movie kept crocheting a long, long thingie while she was grieving. The end of the movie is her walking down a long road with this thing following behind her for miles. At that time in my life, I too was crocheting to deal with some recent grief in my life. Now that I'm a knitter and have learned to make mitered squares, which in my opinion are much cooler looking than granny squares, I decided to make a mitered square blanket.
I have collected an amazing stash of sock yarn, much to the chagrin of my sweet husband. Now I have something to do with this stash. Have to admit though, I'm feeling guilty not making socks with some these Opal, Koigu, Cherry Tree Hill, Lorna's Laces yarns 'cause they are so beautiful.
I am a collector. Ask Roy...... I have in the past collected bears, angels, rocks, crystals, coffee mugs, watermelon stuff, shoes, silver jewelry, and most recently yarns. I have a lot of stuff! I have a lot of yarn! I love yarn! I have yarn that I don't even know what to make with it, but it's sooo beautiful and that's why I wanted it. I have been blessed to have the means to have lots of stuff and especially yarn.
So now I'm making something with these socks yarns that I've collected. Hope this puts a smile on my DH's face.
A few of my favorite things!Friday, October 10, 2008
Magda
Magda's working on her tan today
Our not so Beverly Hill's chihuahua -- isn't she a cutie! 
The view from my chair! The house across the street is Bruno Mariscol's. He's a painter and musician here in Ajijic. He also designed the "logo" with the word Ajijic that looks like a fish. His store in on Colon and he sells tequila, t-shirts, stickers for your car, y mas! I have a little sticker of a dog that is the word Ajijic. Oh yeah, here's another look at the beautifully trimmed avocado tree!
Just another beautiful day in Ajijic.
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