Uh, I Feel Sick

That's what my mom says whenever she is presented with something she doesn't agree with or doesn't want to do. It's always said in good humor. But really right now, I feel sick. A little queasiness to the tummy right now. I don't know if it's the bbq I just ate or the Thai food I had for lunch, but I'm not feeling so good.

Maybe it's that I just cast on the Tulip Jacket and I used the incorrect cast-on method and it looks crap. So I've totally undone the first 8 rows. Ripping back never feels good. Monsieur G is once again on the Xbox, testing out the new John Woo video game. I don't think there are enough bullets in all of America to account for all of the shots in this game, but I'm not so into the shooter games anyway.

So I'm in the craft room again procrastinating when I should be working on the book. I've made some good progress in the last couple of days. Now I'm working on two full-size projects at the same time -including an entirely *new* one. Monsieur G wants to see more physical proof, actually writing of the book. How convenient that our printer is out of ink!

But still I'm hoping that I'll spend a sizeable amount of time tomorrow going through the submission guidelines and typing out my official responses.

Otherwise this Sunday was rather uneventful. It took me most of the morning and early afternoon to boot up the old brain. I found a way to watch season 4 of Kath and Kim and got caught up on Flight of the Conchords. hardy har har.

Maybe I'll procrastinate some more tomorrow and take some knitting photos. But for now I'm on a roll on a story I want to write about knitting geeks.

GG

Long Saturday

It's 10:53pm. I'm hiding out in the craft room whilst the husband and his friends play zombie video games. I'm too tired to knit, too tired even to watch a movie (a pile of recent romantic comedies no less), but somehow I'm not too tired to stretch the laptop to the end of my fingertips and rattle out a few words.

The firewood order for winter arrived today. I know it's August, but if I wait until November to get firewood it will be too wet and too expensive. Now I have well-seasoned pine, walnut and oak kicking it in my garage. Loading the firewood in the garage was easy work, especially with all the help from my friends. I can't believe I even considered hiring someone to assist. I may not even be sore tomorrow. It makes me wish it was October already and raining so that I could knit in front of the fire.

Had lunch with my fellow firewood friends. A lunch of toasted bagels and cream cheese. I was on a total carb overload, which I probably why I required a nap in the middle of the afternoon. After the nap I went Target, the French store and hung out with the only local friend I have with kids and it was an eye-opening experience. In a good way. I am blown away with everything she and her husband are doing and how well behaved and pleasant their kids are. Makes me want to become a parent tomorrow. I know it's not all shopping and slurpees, but I'm inspired nonetheless. Some people say that a person becomes 80% less interesting when they have kids. But J and J prove that wrong 1000 times over.

I'm sleepy, maybe I'll turn down the lights and watch Catch and Release.

GG


So tired, tired of waiting, tired of waiting for you...

Crazy Week and It's Not Over Yet

In the space of one day a good friend died of skin cancer, another good friend gave birth and I found out that my brother's having a baby girl.

All of this stuff has only started to hit me now, a day later. I can't stop crying. I love the bittersweetness. The sharp pain of tragedy with hope for the future. It's all one and the same thing. One leads to the other. Despite the tears I feel more whole and comforted by the universe's consistency. Though I doubt that it's a comfort to those who are more directly affected.

This evening I felt drawn to more earthly comforts. I bought the Once movie soundtrack which makes me want to see the movie even more and elicited full-out sobbing on the drive home. I also got When Harry Met Sally on dvd, because I used to own it on VHS and I haven't had a video player in years. It was like watching it for the first time all over again. I even cried at the end.

I feel a lot better now.

GG

(cue the Rentals)
Oh sweetness, I need some tenderness, tend-er-ness

This Is More Like It

I've had my head in the clouds for the last couple of weeks. Change is imminent and I've been acting out like a toddler still learning the meaning of the word no. But that's all over and I've become more disciplined again.

Finished another pattern for the book today. Searched out and found a new piece of furniture off Craigslist and got it for less then half the value. Fingers crossed that I'll be able to fit it into my car.

and.

I'm cleaning the craft room. This time it's messy from actual use, a nice change of pace for me.

But that's not all folks. I also went out and socialized, taking coffee with my knitting partner-in-crime Izzytart. I'm going to have to do that more often. It keeps me motivated knowing I have to get a whole bunch of stuff done before I can go and meet up with Izzy.

The strangest thing happened today too.

I got a false start getting out the door for coffee. I had to put gas in my car, but once I got to the gas station, I found that I had forgotten my wallet. Instead of berating myself I wondered what the universe had in store for me since I had made such a stupid mistake. Then driving down the 101 towards Izzy's work, I realized I was superbly early, so I turned around and went to Barnes and Noble to pick up the new issue of Interweave and Craft. I stopped by the craft section to see if any new titles were out and found a man perusing a knitting book who wasn't Warren of Marin Fiber Arts fame. I wanted to pester the man, but didn't want to disturb his knitting book reverie. So I grabbed my magazines and headed to the counter where a nice middle aged gentlemen rang me up. Gazing upon my purchases he looked at me over his glasses and said "Knitter aye?" (all Canadian style) and I nodded and smiled. He got a knowing gleam in his eye and admitted, almost sheepishly.

"I'm a knitting widow"

It was the highlight of my day. I wish I had recorded it, the way he described his partner's knitting habit. It was full of respect and awe, an appreciation of the peace that fulfills her when she knits. I hope whoever that lady is knows what a lovely partner she has. He even went so far as to say that I should submit my knitting book to Interweave Press. And he even knew who that was.

I'm back on the horse. Giddee up m.f.

GG

The End of the World Is Near

My husband asked me to play tennis with him.

I went, I played.

I actually enjoyed myself.

GG

Isotope Rocks

If only I could spend every Saturday morning hanging out in the city with a coffee from Bluebottle and new comics at Isotope. I could, but the knitting book would never get finished and I would always be broke.

It was lovely hanging out with beergeek and izzytart. They make the ride to the city enjoyable even with bridge traffic. They maximize the German engineering of their Spaghetti Monstered Bug. One keeps an eye out for traffic calling out blind spots while the otherdrives, veering around unsuspecting drivers of questionably engineered vehicles, cursing all the way.

Plus they are the best comic book enablers, giving you the inside dish on every writer and artist. Also many thanks to James for putting aside some things for me -your email got stuck in my stupid yahoo junk mail folder.

I ended up getting: Faker #2, Fables trade #4 (which made izzytart gush with nostalgia), Glister the new Andi Watson (!!!), and Lucifer trade #3.

I reread Faker #1 before reading Faker #2 and enjoyed it way more the second time around. The first time it seemed like a bunch of whiney college kids, but on second read the subtle hints of the story peeked out and I appreciated it much more. Faker #2 did not disappoint -it's funny and disturbing, can't wait for #3.

Now I'm working on the Fables trade, which I have a feeling will break my heart. I still have a bunch of stuff to read from the last time I bought comics, but I'm getting a feel for what stuff I really love to read.

thanks again to beergeek and izzytart for breaking in another geek.

GG

Now this is what I call a Friday night.

An Indian Feast of Lamb Korma, Mango Chutney and Naan, plus lots of leftovers for Sat. lunch.

And The Elder Scrolls IV on the Xbox.

yum.

and tomorrow morning a trip to Isotope with Izzytart and Beergeek!!!! Yay!!!

I am very spoiled indeed.

GG

Wasn't I Talking About This With Someone???

BE KIND REWIND
yay for new Michel Gondry.

And there's a new Wes Anderson movie coming...... even if it does star Adrien Brody.

GG

On A Lighter Note

I've been hiding this information for quite some time. I've let it slip here and there, but I can officially announce that:

In the Simpsons Movie, I am the sound of Marge Simpson's knitting.

Those short clickity clacks are my doing.

It's my small claim to fame.

GG

Marie Antoinette Syndrome

Hung out in the city again last night. I'm envious of all of the old houses, the public transportation, the walking distance to everything, and the endless possibilities.

Past fantasies. Forgotten realities. I'm taking so much for granted it's just silly. I'm learning more and more what a ridiculous woman I am in the face of change. How I take perfectly good opportunities and ruin them with weakness.

I should be strapped to a chair in front of a computer getting all of the real work done, instead of distracting myself constantly. I need a non-internet connected computer. Or to be stuck in a shack in the middle of Oregon with a generator, camp stove, paper, and pen. I am so undisciplined.

But this ennui is a temporary place setting for what is soon to come, swiftly and without warning.

I hope that I will be stronger for it.

GG

The Fog Persists

Spent the morning at the Weeds-like suburban mall.

After window shopping every store, I plopped myself down in an Adirondak chair that was situated in front of a gated fire pit. Seriously, a fire pit at a shopping mall, in August. It's called living in Marin County. I should just take these things for granted like everybody else.

Some people would have read the paper. I read a graphic novel. Slow News Day by Andi Watson. More satisfying than a beer on an Australian beach that was.

As lucky as I get to be lounging around on a Monday, there are some people who are not so lucky. As much as I support the troops in Iraq and as much as I don't blame them for the mess our government has gotten us into, I'm still pissed off that we're in Iraq and there's seemingly nothing we can do about it. At least until this bozo gets booted out of office, if we manage to elect a pro-phased-pullout president.

So I'm going to see a documentary. And I'm going to write to my political representatives and I'm going to research future protests. (why don't we protest more often in this country? We're not angry enough and we are too easily distracted, and it doesn't help that our news outlets ignore what's going on in the real world and instead scare us all with sensational bullshit, bloody hell I have to go overseas to get real news these days).

so yeah if anyone wants to go see this documentary let me know.

Sunday Catch Up

It is cold and foggy today. Seems more like March than August. But that's good because I've been watching a strange documentary about Japanese host and hostess club called The Great Happiness Space. It follows an Osaka host club and it's lady patrons. Oddly enough, the hostess club is in the same district where I stayed back in May. It's called Minami, in case you speak Japanese well enough to find these places.

Here are some photos to refresh your memory:
This is Minami in the daytime, when everyone who actually lives there is hungover.




Also here are some photos from my latest trip in Vancouver. They're kind of boring because really I was just there to hang out and be silly. But still Vancouver is a beautiful city.




This one is taken from the outdoor cafe at the Vancouver Gallery. They had a great exhibit featuring artists from impressionism all the way to surrealism. My favorite was the huge hallway of Rodin sculptures. I always tear up at the Age of Bronze.




I'm a sucker for the color of leaves in the sunlight. I'm going to save this photo for the next time I want to dye my hair red.

And let me introduce you to a movie star of tomorrow, my pal Lucy:








and one last little thing.
I was lounging in the backyard of one of Gabrielle's neighbors when a tiny little pinecone landed on my knee.
I wanted to take it home with me, but really what the hell am I going to do with one teeny pinecone, so I took a photo of it instead.





So what did we learn on our trip to Vancouver?
#1: Beer and wine do not mix

GG

General Silliness

Yes I'm still in Vancouver.

Sometimes it's nice to get away from your significant other. I know he's doing fine without me. He's finally found an Xbox Elite, which means I'll probably never see him again. However it's been months since I've traveled without him and being without him for a few days I've realized one really important role he plays in my life that I've totally forgotten.

He's a good drinking partner. Every now and than if we're tying one on (and this is pretty rare) Luke sometimes has the foresight to know when it's a good time to stop. And he's always right, even if I feel fine (or perhaps very good) just after I stop I realize that one more drink would have ruined the evening.

Boy do I wish he was here Saturday night. It was painful, it was embarrassing, it was enough to make me want to quit for good.

All I can say is that there have been worse incidents. But this one ranks in the top 3 of ridiculously bad drunken behavior. It was one of those times when you really didn't see it coming, but as soon as you stood up the party was over.

Thankfully my friends are forgiving, but they won't ever let me live this one down.

c'est la vie.

GG

Midsummer Notes

Feist's album The Reminder is my favorite album of the year with Guster's Ganging Up on the Sun second. Both cds are on repeat. It's been so long since any music has meant so much to me.

I finished the phoenix socks (hand dyed schaffer Anne) and promptly (I think within 5 minutes) cast on another pair with Pagewood farm's hand dyed.

Progress on the book continues. We have 3 full sized projects written out and completed. Does anyone know where I can get a large quantity of Rowan Denim for cheap???

I'm about to go to Vancouver to hang out with one of my best friends. It's nice to get out on my own for a bit.

So far this is the best summer I've had since 2001. Loving every minute.

GG

Choices

It is Friday night.

Having just made a delicious pasta and some delicious Sav blanc from New Zealand I am faced with a quandry.

Do I:

work on the book

redo my character sheet

or read the trades I have of Lucifer to prepare for the Mike Carey Party at Isotope

??????

Party on Wayne.

Summer Thinking

One of my pet peeves is living your life knowing that you're not appreciating it to it's fullest. We get so involved in what we're trying to achieve that we forget to experience life. To combat this, sometimes I stop myself in the middle of a moment. I try to hold on to it and acknowledge what's going on.

There are a few times where I've stopped myself like this.
1) the first time I saw Paris
2) the first time I saw my husband.
3) the Radiohead concert in July 2001.
4) The first time I saw Pulp Fiction
5) The moment I won a trip to Paris on the radio
6) Walking down the aisle at my wedding
7) The first time I saw Van Gogh's self portrait at the Musee d'Orsay (I wept)
8) The first time I went to the Musee du Picasso
9) NYE 2005/2006 Sydney
10) When I first met my inlaws in Sydney
11) My first swim on an Australian beach
12) Anytime I hear the Smashing Pumpkins song Drown.
13) The evening after I found out my grandmother died.
14) Walking in the rain after finding out that Kurt Cobain died.

These are the things I hold onto when things suck.

My goal this summer is to have as many moments like this as possible.

I don't have kids yet. I don't own a house. I've eschewed as much responsibility as I possibly could this summer. The result is more time to watch movies, to listen to new music to read books, and (lest Mr. G think I'm wasting my time) work on a book. I'm spending more time in my office, which even in its unorganized state reminds me of my teenage bedroom, where I spent countless hours writing and painting. I'm hoping to regain the quiet focus I had at that time, though it's difficult now with the endless distraction of the Internets.

It's amazingly easy to take it all for granted. Sometimes we forget what we have and get greedy, especially when the inevitable greener grass makes a random appearance. I could be making more money, I could have gone into film, I could have traveled Europe. I will entertain any possibility with my endless imagination. Sometimes I spend too much time there and real life becomes a blur. But no matter the choices you make, there are always choices that you left behind and you left them behind for a reason. That's the part we often forget.

For instance I always regretted that I didn't do better in school. As a student I did everything except school work, I thought that knowledge should come naturally, and that I was too smart to have to actually do the work. It was very arrogant, and I felt badly that I didn't live up to my potential, but the bottom line is that I didn't want to succeed in school. I had choices and I did what I wanted. Once I understood that I didn't feel bad about it anymore.

I am one of those crazy people sees the good side to anything and the possibility of everything. But the truth is that optimistic people are that way because there are often situations in one's life that border on unbearable. It's easier to embrace the possible than to drown yourself in the obstacles. This can make relationships difficult because you are loath to acknowledge difficulties. Or you laugh in the face of other people's pain. And thus people don't take you seriously, or you inadvertently offend them.

So what have we achieved this summer?
1) a better appreciation of films
2) going to a lot of shows
3) a lot more writing
4) productive knitting
5) some self reflection
6) new friends

I wonder where we'll be come fall...

GG

iHOT

I played with an iphone today.

It seems like a more complicated version of my motorola razr. It's bad enough I spend so much time on my laptop do I really want to be glued to the internets constantly?

Yes. More so for the on hand google maps application than for anything else. Though they would be more helpful for me if it went worldwide.

I'm just going to wait until next year when they've worked out all the bugs.

Though I'm still disappointed that they went with CingulaRATT. Spying bastards.

I really have to wonder what kind of benefits did ATT offer apple to get on their network?

I'm a little scared to ask...

GG

One of Those Reality Whacking You Upside The Head Moments

The last couple of weeks have been rather strange for me. For one thing I haven't been jetting off to one location to another. I haven't seen an airport security checkpoint in over 21 days. For another thing, old friends keep popping back into my life, making me get out of the house. And then I'm meeting all these new people from work. This adds up to my routine being all broken up.

Anyhoo I was eating my lunch today and reading Knitscene and I realized that for the first time in months I had thought about something other than knitting. I had gone dancing, gone to parties, had conversations. Then flipping through the patterns in the magazine, I realized all the projects inside were crap, or at least unappealing to me. Then I was sitting on the couch watching the English Patient and by the end of the movie I realized that I hadn't knit a single round on my sock.

In short I had a private intervention and realized that I've been knitting too much. I forgot that there are other things that I enjoy doing.

This is a problem because I'm supposed to be writing a knitting book.

This isn't to say that knitting is bad, or that I'm quitting. There just needs to be a balance.

Downside to the dancing

The big hangover. It took me all day to recover.

I can't believe I knitted a celtic plait in this condition.

GG

dancin', dancin' dancin'!

For the first time in 5 years I came home from a club at an ungodly hour.

I've fallen in love with San Francisco all over again.

GG