So, we came all the way to San Diego to go to Macy’s to buy a bag that looks like our Lemon!

So, now that the life has calmed down, the tornado of thoughts that swirled through my head has settled, and the dust is clearing.

And, now I remember what the point of my cultural graffiti post (see below – what the heck was my point?) was going to be – it was supposed to be a book review singing the praises of Let the Great World Spin, by Colum McCann, easily the best book I read this year.  Oh yeah, that’s what I really wanted to talk about . . .

And what does Let the Great World Spin have to do with cultural graffiti, my theory about spray painting crap on top of art (Sea Monsters swimming in Bath in Jane Austen), or crap on top of crap (Matt Damon’s endless voiceover in The Informant) as the case may be – Let the Great World Spin is a richly layered novel, that dispenses with gimmicks and writer tricks, creating a story set in 1974 that easily could be lifted and transposed onto 2009 – timelessness isn’t a trick, it’s writing that transcends – lifting the subtance above the story, rather than burying it under guck.

Let the Great World Spin takes place during the course of one day in 1974, when Philip Petit danced and romped joyously on a tightrope strung between the Twin Towers, with intersecting stories of the lives of ordinary people – drug addled prostitutes, mothers mourning sons, an immigrant priest, among others – who all experience a moment that makes them extraordinary.  And this moment — whether it be a moment of love or loss -  is a moment brimming with extraordinary humanity.  This story, that draws from Watergate, Vietnam, and the counterculture of the 70’s, is a mirror of our younger, American selves – it’s about how the past informs the present, and as Esquire Magazine put it, it’s “the first great 9/11 novel,” and tells us more about that day, than any book that actually tries to describe that day or strives to tell a 9/11 story. 

Anyway, so I must thank Oprah – you are now forgiven for those disgusting Turkey burgers – Oprah spread the word about this book through a free e-book giveaway (love my Kindle!!!!), and after the Turkey burgers, it would have to be free, because Oprah endorsements had gone sour for me.  Oprah, you are redeemed, because this book was truly a gift.

Tags: book review, Colum McCann, let the great world spin

What can I say? Sigh – a picture IS worth a thousand words.  Isn’t my husband handsome!

As anyone who attempts to follow this blog knows, my posts may trickle off for no reason, or a good reason, or something in between.  This particular hole in in the blog was due solely to lack of time, and then technical difficulties.  The last three weeks have been crazy.  Not only did I manage to put a wedding together, I was on trial for 2 straight weeks, and without going into detail, it was a nightmare. 

In the midst of this perfect storm of obligations, I was writing blog posts in my head – but, unfortunately, what was in my head was never realized “on paper.”  When I finally did find time to write, it turned out that my website had been hacked, and Dreamhost had moved all of my files into a temporary, unpublished folder.  I got this long, involved email from Dreamhost about how to find the corrupted files, update software, etc., but really, in the middle of trying a shooting case that seemed to drag on into eternity, making ridiculous wedding favors, and counting the days that my wedding dress wasn’t in (it came in the week before the wedding – just when it was supposed to, but nervewracking nonetheless), I was flumoxed.  So, after the wedding, I wrote Dreamhost a rather pathetic email about how inept I am at anything other than one button installing, and they graciously fixed my problems.  Thank you Dreamhost!

Anyway, here are some of the blog posts I thought about writing, but never did -

1.  Cultural Graffiti – Joe and I saw The Informant when it came out (that will tell you how long ago I started writing in my head, and not regurgitating on the computer).  I had a total eggheady post planned about the new trend in art, literature, movies, whatever, to graffiti on top of original material.  In the Informant, there’s a rather dull, straightforward corporate espionage thriller that is falling flat on the bottom, and then, there’s a running internal monologue that Matt Damon’s character is having with himself superimposed on top in the form of a voice over.  Instead of being able to craft a tongue-in-cheek movie with just the primary script, the director failed so miserably that in order for people to get it, he had to carve open his main characters brain in order for us to get that the guy was really a bungling sociopath.  And then there’s the new fascination with Jane Austen and Vampires, and Jane Austen and Sea Monsters.  I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about this desire to put crap on top of art (or in the case of  The Informant, crap on top of crap), and, since I never wrote the post, I’ll guess I’ll figure out my final thoughts on the subject some day.

2.  Dancing with the Stars – I can’t even begin to tell you how incensed I was about Tom DeLay buffooning around in our Stars and Stripes on national television.  I wanted to write to the show so they could change his introduction from “former congressman” to” disgraced former congressman.”  His prancing around in tights and liederhosen is just another sign of our nation’s call to tackiness.  It is no wonder that Serena Williams told a line judge that she was going to shove a ball down her f-ing throat, that our President was called a liar by a heckler in a joint session of Congress, that Kanye West crashed the stage at the Grammy’s.  If we can collectively support an indicted, but not yet tried, thief in a ridiculous ballroom dancing competition which gives Japanese game shows a run for their money, really . . . we have to start asking when we draw the line between entertainment and offense. 

3.  My wedding shawl.  So, um, yeah – Brad Lidge failed miserably in his one closing appearance at the World Series, and I failed to close the handknit accessory of my wedding ensemble.  Sort of.  I started out knitting Miralda’s Triangle, as you will recall, but my original idea had been to knit something worsted since the wedding was November 1.  So, when Ysolda’s capelet, Emily, came out, I totally switched up, put aside the fingering weight shawl, bought some Manos silk blend, and knit this.

I was so excited – perfect, I thought.

And then I tried it on with the dress –

And, as you can see, I’m not wearing it.  It didn’t match – at all.  The color was completely wrong.  How could I go wrong with cream, I thought?  But, I did.  Sigh.  So, I thought about reknitting it, with a whiter yarn, I thought about the new Manos Rittenhouse blend, a yummy, smooth merino, but I only had a week until the wedding, I was still on trial, and I had another case to try in the middle of the one I was already trying – so I just gave up, gave in.  And, it was fine – it was  a warm day.

4.  And, to end the suspense for all – it being a warm day, no hose!  And no one said a word . . .

And see, you can’t even tell!

Tags: wedding knitting shawl dancing

On Sunday, during her whirlwind romp through Philadelphia, Kate Davies stopped by Rosie’s Yarn Cellar for pastries and chat. 

And, with her, she brought the original Paper Dolls (much shorter than the pattern – definitely inspiring me to rip the bottom our of mine, since I used two different dyelots of cream), and another Paper Doll incarnation –

Sweet colors!  Every time I see a different version of this sweater, I feel this pull to knit another one . . . but then I realize that’s silly – although, the beret version would be sweet . . .

And, she also brought the original Owls sweater – if it weren’t almost 80 degrees, I would have tried it on! 

Anyway, I just had time to say hi, knit a few rows, and dash off to Michael’s to buy stuff to make wedding favors.  Does this post seemed rushed – that’s the way everything is these days.  Everytime I think everything is done, I remember something else I have to do.  I was in Macy’s after court this morning, and I noticed some crystal earrings – uch, have to get a hair doo-hickey for the back of my hair.  Then later, I was telling someone about our stupid favors, and I that made me think about the tables, and I remembered that I hadn’t forwarded our table placecard list to the printers – gar!  All is well, though, I have plenty of time — 25 days, two homicide trials, 2 Springsteen concerts, and one Them Crooked Vultures Show to go!

I really took it on the chin this week.

Literally.

On Wednesday, day two of the case I tried this week, I walked in the courthouse, stood in the ridiculously long security line, put my bag on the conveyor belt, and walked through the metal detector.  I went back around the metal detector to retrieve my bag, and the next thing I knew, wham!  I got socked in the chin by the sheriff.  The Sheriff was trying to help a guy in a wheelchair navigate through the crowd, and instead of pointing with his pointy finger, he pointed with a fist – and whack! 

And people think I should be afraid of my clients . . . sheesh.

Happy Birthday Lemon!  You were a year old last week, and now, big girl, it’s time to go up the stairs!  That’s right – up those curvy, narrow, slick hardwood stairs.  Go on!  Look, treats on every stair!   You can do it!

Nope.  Not doing it.  Not for any doggone treat.  Nope, not me.  See that treat there – that’s for a crazy dog – that’s who that treat is for – I’m not crazy – not going up those stairs – not no how.  I’ll stand here all day.  Watch me. 

Sigh – and we did – she’s just not going, our girl.  Luckily, she’s only 20 lbs – it’s not too much of a workout to carry her up and down our stupid trinity stairs.

Anyway, I thought it was time to get those disgusting burgers off the front “page” post, and have a little Lemontime.   And, for some more fun – I added a new widget to the sidebar – Doodl!  So, doodl away! I’m always happy to help you in any form of procrastination that I can!

I don’t know how sound it was for the cattle industry to sue Oprah – it was so long ago, I don’t remember what their “beef” was (groan! I know), nor what she had done to insult our cow population.

But, I do know that the turkeys have a new enemy — Sarah Palin move over – Oprah is the new turkey slayer, and to add insult to injury, she’s promoting the worst, the most “fowl” (groan! again!) recipe ever!

Donald Trump – you’re fired.  Your Mar -a-Lago Turkey Burger is simply disgusting.

Just look at it!

Those big chunks? Not onion – apples. This mixture of chutney, apples, tabasco and pepper raised my eyebrow, but I thought  well, if Oprah knows anything, Oprah knows food – and I mixed up a batch over the weekend.

Blech! 

Oprah – first, you unleashed Dr. Phil on the world with your cow poke lawsuit, and now  Major Grey’s chutney and ground turkey meat are being misused all over the country, to form patties not worthy of my puppy — and, hard enough, but too ugly to be a door stop.  Even cheese couldn’t save this inedible disaster.

And now, you’ve sent Dr. Phil to Philly to mess with our cheesesteak.  Damn you Oprah – just go back to your own fridge!

Tags: cooking, food, recipe

While Brad Lidge did pitch on Saturday, and while the Phils did win, I’d hardly say Lidge is back, giving up 2 runs, so in my book of scorekeeping, I’m not giving him the “save,” I’m giving him the “he didn’t blow it.”  And, like Brad, I didn’t blow it this weekend either – as I made it through the cast on, the edging chart, and the bottom border of the next chart – ta da!

I’m not quite in the “save” column, and we’ll see if I get the “win” in the end (well, regardless of  whether I finish the shawl I get the win – I get to marry Joe!), but the knitting was painless, and I’ll go so far as to say easy, and the Canopy is soft and squishy to work with.

And, like Lidge, up there alone on the mound, lace knitting is a solitary endeavor – I must go it alone!  But, there is something you can help me with.

Something I’ve been struggling with in my mind for days.

Something that could have long reaching ramifications.

The question is upon us -

To hose or not to hose? that is the question.

This is a question that has plagued the modern woman for at least a decade, as we’ve thrown out our traditional knee-length business suit, and opted for the pantsuit, the pencil skirt suit, and thrown away the nylons, the hose.  Not quite the same freeing effect as disposal of the crinolin, the hoop skirt, the corset, or the girdle – but empowering and much more comfortable nonetheless.  Cinnamon toast legs no more!

Pantyhose were invented in 1959 to replace stockings.  No longer did you have two separate toasty legs, held up by a garter belt, but you now had a yeast infection inducing all-in-one – yeah!  And who do we have to thank for the control top – as Patrick Swayze would say (sigh – RIP Patrick), “thank you Julie Newmar,” – yes, Catwoman is apparently responsible for shoving us into a sausage casing.  Not that there is such a thing as a comfortable pantyhose – the underwear portion either gives you a wedgy, or it’s down at your knees, the toe bunches up and gets stuck in your shoe – and after it inevitable runs, its never fun to pull them off once you’ve glued them back together with clear nailpolish.

Obviously, I couldn’t be clearer about my feelings about pantyhose.  However, at our wedding, I don’t have the luxury of a pant suit, nor a full length gown that will hide my legs.  I’m wearing a tea length dress (can’t show you!!), with an ivory, closed to shoe – giving myself the option of to hose or not to hose. 

A November wedding – my tan will have faded. Potentially very cold (also, potentially sweat inducingly very warm).  Not the greatest shaver (but, do shaving errors look worse under a hose?).  But can I really get married with a naked leg, without hose?  This just doesn’t seem right either.

So, what do you think, to hose or not to hose?

Tags: Knitting, knitting lace wedding shoe pantyhose hose, lace, panthose, shoes, Wedding