December 31, 2007

1. The devil owns a yarn shop in Vienna. (Note to self: good name for an album)  I was not the only person seduced by the siren song of a sale into purchasing many non sale items.  My fellow shoppers and I bemoaned our fate as we stood in line.  At one point, upon hearing that the tweed yarn was only (ONLY!) $5, I and another woman reached out and fondled the said yarn of the woman between us.  It was quite shocking.  I believe I spent my disposable income for the month, so If I should, during the next month, wish to go out to eat, please remind me that I should just go knit something.  (ok, sushi, just once.)
2. I was inspired to try a felt bucket purse, using some yarn I already have.  Typing “knit felt bucket purse lamb’s pride bulky” did give some results, but not what I was looking for, so I have jumped in without pattern.  I am probably making it too small, as during the felting process it shrinks, so I am prepared, instead of a bucket purse, to have a bucket glasses case.
3. I always get chilly in the evening during the winter, so I have a scarf on.  Keeping my neck warm seems to help, though my nose is still cold.  I am not sure why, since the temperature says it is 70 in here, and my nose isn’t cold in the summer when it is 70.
4. I was listening to the radio this morning.  I’d like Diane Rehm’s job.
5. I would also like to write lovely children’s stories, have a passionate hand holding with a suitor, and take tea every day. (I just finished watching “Miss Potter.”)

December 30, 2007

1. I was a vestry greeter today and did a fine job of saying hello to people I know, but also greeted two groups of people who were new, and engaged them in conversation.  Hooray!  Being vestry greeter is not the most torturous thing there is, but it is close.  I exaggerate of course, but I am constantly worried that I am going to greet, as a stranger, someone who has been going there for 400 years.  More or less.
2. Occasionally my Netflix picks flounder.  I’ve been sitting on City Lights for some time, and probably would have mailed it back already, but the envelope is missing.  This means sometimes  I return to Blockbuster and stock up for a movie marathon. I’ve got Stomp the Yard, Waitress, The Last Legion, and Miss Potter.
3. Uniquities, a fab yarn store is having a sale tomorrow, and I may wander out there, even though my stash is heavy…but dayum, I do love me some yarn.  I think my coffee sleeve period is waning, and I am ready to try some more complex knitting for a while.  Much like Picasso and his “blue” period, I am ready to get crazy on my yarn.  I did see this book last night at Barnes and Noble, and a little felting fun could be in the offing.
4. Lasagna is a magical food.  You put hard cold ingredients together in a stack and when it cooks it blends into wonderment.  I have a very large lasagna on my hands right now, because my teaching team, for various reasons bagged out on me for dinner tonight.  One forgot, (he has a lot on his mind right now, going through his first holiday after his dad died) one just got back from a trip and is exhausted, and one has a house full of sick people.  Those all sound like legitimate excuses, right?  Oh god, they hate me don’t they.  No, I feel pretty confident that they don’t.  Somewhat…confident….
5. I’ve been very patiently entering my coke bottle caps into “My Coke Rewards” online, and rather than going for the occasional coupon, I have sunk all my points into entering the sweepstakes for a 42 inch flat screen TV.  I am just hoping that perhaps I am the only person on the planet that is dumb enough to actually enter the numbers from the stupid caps, and so am a lock to win.

December 29, 2007

1. I went to a movie today.  National Treasure 2.  Not bad, though there was for me some confusion about the Ed Harris character.  Was he a bad guy, or just along for plot development?  I got a coupon for free popcorn AND there was a cartoon before the movie, so it was a pretty exciting time.  Also, at the concession counter there was a guy who looked exactly like Raj from the old TV show, “What’s Happening.”
2. My breakfast party this morning was very nice.  I have really nice friends and family, and I am not just saying that because some of them read this blog.  I did have to retreat to the kitchen occasionally, but I tried to be a good conversational partner.  I realized my fallback is to talk about myself, which is pretty weak.  Paul is really good at kick starting conversations, and getting people to talk about themselves, or various interesting topics. I need to follow how he does that.
3. I went to the book store after the movie.  I wanted to buy the short story for “I am Legend,” which I did.  As I was walking through the store, I saw Joel Osteen’s big face looking out at me, and the title of his book was “Become a Better You.”  I found something about that very galling. For one, I am not  into his whole prosperity gospel thing. But I think the main thing is that title.  I know I have weaknesses, but it seems entirely presumptuous that he is telling me and everyone in the book store that we need mending. Or maybe he is very well intentioned and is simply, like Dr. Phil and Oprah, wanting to share some good advice. Or maybe they are being presumptuous too.  I guess I can’t quite put my finger on it, but that title struck me bad the moment I saw it.  I showed him though, in addition to I am Legend, I also bought “Bright Lights, Big Ass” which looks very promising.  (This same author also wrote “Bitter is the New Black”  and if that doesn’t sound like the title of a self improvement tome, I don’t know what is.)
4. New England is behind in the 3rd quarter.  Though I don’t follow football much, I have noticed all the Patriot hoopla, which makes me amused, because I remember in the 80s, that they stunk.  Circle of Life, don’t you know.
5. For the party I made the Egg Casserole and Coffee cake that are both in my family cookbook.  The food and the cookbook received much praise.  It has not only recipes, but family pictures and a genealogy.  I am glad that people like looking at it, and it really is a labor of love from my aunt.  It was nice to be reminded of that by others admiration.

December 28, 2007

1. I love it when Violet curls up next to me in a furry circle.
2. Saw “I am Legend.”  Not sure how I feel about it, and I asked myself in the middle “Now, why did I want to see this?”  It was pretty scary, but there is something that intrigues me in movies that show a radically altered world.  Will Smith was very good.  I hope I don’t have nightmares.
3. Pretty much ready for my breakfast party tomorrow.  My goal, actually converse with people, not hide in the kitchen.
4. The eye doctor said my eyes are still pretty irritated and prescribed some medicine, and I am still to stay out of the contacts and be glasses only.  He thinks it happened because the new contact lenses I switched to have been found to cause irritation with the solution I use.  (Or I hope that is it.  I might have told him the wrong solution, and then where does that leave us?)

December 27, 2007

1. I really would like it if I could stop waking up at 5 AM during vacation.  By 8 PM I am beat.
2. The fact that I haven’t been exercising and eating right could be adding to the beatness.
3. Suddenly I feel like this blog is dumb.  I feel like my writing is getting too brisk.
4. AB and I went to the Portrait Gallery today.  This was good, but museums are so physically exhausting.  It’s like I have no bones after a while.  I feel like lying down to rest in the hallway.  I think this is because my brain in processing all sorts of input, but my body is moving at a snails pace.  This combination combines to equal big tired Eleanor.  I think since I live so near, I should take lots of little trips to the museums, just concentrating on one or two things, rather than a day trip trying to see everything.  This would definitely mean going down town more than once a quarter of course, but the idea has promise.
5. Good news to get through the writers strike.  PBS is going to show The Complete Jane Austen starting in the middle of January.  Six Jane Austen movies.  Hello!  This could really liven up Sunday nights.

December 26, 2007

1. This was a quiet day.  Coffee with AB, cleaning up my upstairs room, actually made progress for once, and a nice visit with my Mommy and Daddy.
2. I don’t really converse with my mom and dad that often.  my mother more than my father, but usually on a few topics, like family and church.  This was an interesting wide ranging conversation: movies, Oklahoma politics, saints, traditionally black universities, etc.
3. A rainy dark day.  Wish I had a fireplace.
4. Interesting article in the post about teaching math in the lower grades.  how long will it be until elementary grades are taught in courses, by multiple teachers, like high school and middle are taught.  Maybe that is good.  I wonder what the reason is for having one teacher?  A carrying on of the one room schoolhouse?  A need for familiarity?  Much as I can’t stand (understand) math, it is interesting that there are specialized teachers for music and art, but not for the other subjects.  I don’t know how I feel overall about the issue of rigor.  Some things are best absorbed young, but are students losing their childhood and becoming achievement obsessed?
5. I am just this very moment inspired to have a breakfast party at my house this weekend.  Festive, no?  If you are reading this blog and you actually know me, email me, and I’ll provide details!

December 25, 2007

1. I like the idea of a big gathering of friends or family at Christmas, where I would have a fireplace, and hang mismatched socks for stockings, like I see in the holiday magazines.
2. Along these lines, I’d like to have a Christmas dinner, or really any dinner that I wouldn’t invite anyone in advance, but gather up people just before.  Strangers from church, people from the coffee shop, anyone.
3. I had Christmas eve with Paul’s family, Christmas morning with my parents and Christmas dinner at the Berry’s.  It was all really nice.  I’m full of food and Christmas cheer, and ready for bed!
4. But first Paul and I need to exchange presents.  I made one (not a coffee sleeve!) for Paul.  I have been imagining this project for months and I am really pleased with the way it turned out.
5. Happy Christmas from the English, Merry Christmas from the Americans.  I favor Happy Christmas, but to use it seems pretentious.  Happy instead of Merry feels more calm and an internal feeling of joy, whereas Merry has a certain ”must party” attitude. 

December 22, 2007

1. Here is the inner commentary when I get my eyebrows waxed:  “La-la-la-la-la.” “La-la-la-la-la.” “La-la-MOTHERF—–!” ”La-la-la-la-la.” 
2. When I get my nails done there is a moment that is very soothing when the lady massages my hands.  Then she starts punching me.  Seriously.  She balls up her fist and punches up and down my arm.  This is fine at first, but then it gets a little painful. “La-la-la OW!  OW!  OW!”
3. Other than my morning of pain and beauty, I had some very successful shopping.  Kudos to the small independent shops in the DelRay neighborhood.  8 Hands Round and A Show of Hands came up big winners. 
4. Quite a contrast to my beer shopping last night.  The socializing was nice, but there were too many people in the lines and the things caught my eye were more “because I have to get a gift” than things that were meaningful or needed.  So I bought something for me.  It was a sandwich.
5. I’ve sorted through my teacher loot, and it is all pretty awesome, but my favorite gift is an apple.  A real genuine red edible apple.  Iconic and tasty, all at once.

December 21, 2007

1. We have begin the annual Christmas Tetris Tournament in my room.  While the volleyball tourney goes on upstairs, some of my Tetris boys come and hook up the playstation to the projector and we have single elimination game.  You can come and sign up on the list on the board, and every time someone loses, person steps in to play the winner.
2. After Tetris time ends at two, I’ll offer some crafts.  I brought stamps and stickers and paper, so people can make cards and gift tags.  Not sure if I will get many takers, the draw of the socialization in the halls is strong.
3. Went to see the 8th vs 7th grade volleyball game.  The 8th grade won!  Hooray!  In a little while the teachers will start playing each class.  I’ll watch a little, but not play.  I had a tragic finger dislocation when playing volleyball is high school, and have never gone back.  Also, I stink.  I mean, I might go in for a few ceremonial hits, but not if I can avoid it. I am a little worried there aren’t enough teachers.  There seems to be a drain of teachers from the building during these hours.  Even though classes are cancelled for Volleyball, I don’t think people should be bailing out.
4. Eye appointment today.  I am having a hard time with the glasses and still have red eyes with the contacts.
5. I’ll go for my eye appointment at Pentagon city and scheduled it to coincide with “Beer Shopping.”  Jay and his friends invented this.  You have a beer, buy a present, repeat as needed.

December 20, 2007

1. Not that I am counting or anything, but this year is shaping up to be a bountiful teacher gift year.  Nice hand lotions, some more treats, more Starbucks.  I really don’t expect these things, so it is a nice surprise!
2. I went to the weigh in not intending to stay, but the receptionist talked me into it, and I am glad.  It was fun, and I found out that there will be a 5:30 meeting starting in January, which is great timing.  I’m a little sorry to not see some of the fun 7:15 people, and there is a solid group of knitters in that group, but I was not staying for the meeting often enough because it was late, that the cool people weren’t really a factor.  Maybe I can establish a 5:30 knitting corner.
3. Oh, and in the midst of the week of constant food I lost 2 1/2 pounds.  Hello!
4. During the holiday it will be great to have a chance to go through my mail and email and get caught up.
5. Must hit the sweat shop tonight to make some coffee sleeves for my team.  When I am making them for someone I know, they strike me as a lame gift.  I don’t have that feeling when I am making them for strangers.  I guess because a person who is buying one has sized it up and made a choice, while my friends are stuck with it!