November 8, 2007 at 4:53 pm · Filed under idol, moon (rachel)
All four of us have been dead tired today, but the SYTYCD show was well worth the extra fatigue. First of all, dinner at Mader’s was most excellent (and not overly filling, because SpiritMan and I split an entree). We all chose filet mignon, and we shared a crab cake appetizer and two desserts (cherry strudel and a rich chocolate fudgy cake thingy). Our show tickets were outstanding. Moon took some terrific photos, and the dancing was every bit as good as I expected it to be.
The only down side was that a weekday concert meant we had to hightail it out of Milwaukee without trying to find the tour bus. We just didn’t have the extra hour or so to spare waiting around. As it was, we didn’t get home until 12:30 a.m. Moon still had her contacts in, Turbo wanted to sleep, and they were both borderline crabby.
Moon and I succumbed to the tour swag, though. I have to say, the merchandise was wayyy improved over last year’s. Especially the cute silhouette t-shirts of each of the top four. I bought Moon the Neil shirt and photos of both Neil and Danny, and we also picked up a show program. I’m hoping to post photos if she cooperates.
Next year, I hope they schedule Milwaukee for a weekend date.
November 7, 2007 at 11:59 am · Filed under x365
Moon put his image on a t-shirt but never imagined she’d meet him after the performance. We stood outside for ages and were rewarded with photos, smiles and conversation. Handsome and talented, but also kind and gracious, he seemed genuinely surprised to be someone’s favorite.
[I am participating in x365.]
November 6, 2007 at 10:21 pm · Filed under idol
We’re all excited because we have tickets for the So You Think You Can Dance tour stop at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee tomorrow evening. I’m taking Moon out of school early so we’ll have time for dinner at Mader’s beforehand.
What could be cooler?
November 6, 2007 at 10:09 pm · Filed under x365
Smart, creative and high strung, she had a charming way of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time — which made for stories which were fall-down funny. You would never suspect that years ago she had survived being attacked, beaten and left for dead.
[I am participating in x365.]
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November 5, 2007 at 9:41 pm · Filed under x365
In 4th grade, he looked a little like Alfred E. Newman. We hung out in high school, and he married my friend’s little sister. I ran into him at Target and wondered if he was as shocked as I was to see how much we’ve aged.
[I am participating in x365.]
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November 4, 2007 at 8:07 pm · Filed under x365
I was never happy to see him during my shift.
If someone made a mistake, his reprimand was swift.
White-haired and power-suited, he was as a king surveying his domain.
But he was really just the store manager for a failing retail chain.
[I am participating in x365.]
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November 4, 2007 at 2:41 pm · Filed under moon (rachel)
Looking pretty good in pointed ears. Halloween was fun.
Blogged with Flock
November 4, 2007 at 2:38 pm · Filed under knit/crochet
This is my latest finished project, and I made it in less than a day! It’s a Thrummed Moebius, from a kit I purchased at a buy/sell/trade site that is no longer online. I was inspired to take it out because I was itching for a project to do on big needles, but I had no idea how quickly it would go.
Of course, Moon’s master class helped. I had four hours to just sit, listen and knit.
Here’s me wearing it this morning, and a back view.
I’d have had no trouble selling it right off my back.
This project was a bit more experimental, and I wasn’t quite as thrilled with the results. But at least we have a pillow that is sturdy enough to stand up to the abuse typical for items in our home. I wanted to try shibori felting, and this was a quick, inexpensive ($12) way to do it. If I do this technique again, I’ll make sure the buttons aren’t so small they can sneak out between stitches. And I’ll check the progress more often to prevent over-shrinkage.
Right now, I have a scarf in progress, a pair of yoga pants on hold, and my ever-present blanket squares. Some people have dozens of partly-finished projects, so I don’t feel too bad about looking around for more stuff to start. Socks for sure, a sweater for maybe.
November 3, 2007 at 9:26 pm · Filed under x365
She was my friend first, but later provided a safe place for me to leave my new baby when I had to go back to work full time. During my lunch breaks, she gave me peanut butter sandwiches… a sympathetic ear…and sanity-saving reassurance.
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November 2, 2007 at 9:52 pm · Filed under x365
Backgammon and intellectualism in the school library senior year. Hours laughing and bonding over mom stories — understanding each other. Viewing his world map and marveling over his many short wave radio correspondents. Visiting him in Silicon Valley after college; feeling tenderness when he came out.
[I am participating in x365.]
November 2, 2007 at 10:51 am · Filed under knit/crochet, moon (rachel)
It’s true. Someone has come up with a pattern for a knitted Elvis. (And a knitted Gandhi, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn …)
Carol Meldrum is the author of Knitted Icons
and I have a feeling I’m going to have to get hold of this book so I can help Moon complete her goal of an Elvis-infused bedroom. Seriously, how fun is that?
Of course, I’ve got many other projects queued up first. My nephew admired the socks I made for Sister #1, so I’m going to try and make him some for his birthday. I’m already working on a scarf, I’m planning socks for SpiritMan and Moon, and I was thinking about trying to knit a sweater this month. If only I had a day every week to devote completely to knitting and only knitting. Tomorrow is Moon’s master class at Good ‘n Loud, though, so I should be able to accomplish something while I’m listening to the kids and SpiritMan rock out.
November 1, 2007 at 8:51 pm · Filed under x365
We visited her in northeast Colorado, where she had lived alone for 30 years. She was 92, and very independent. The closest big city (population 11,000) was two hours away. She quilted and embroidered until the end of her life. Her big sister was 101.
[I am participating in x365.]
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November 1, 2007 at 7:54 am · Filed under spiritual
I’m totally loving this article and the thought behind it. I already have some shrine ideas. Very sweet, just like life itself.
October 31, 2007 at 7:37 pm · Filed under x365
We got chatty while working at Goldblatt’s in high school. He had reddish hair and a penchant for horror and suspense movies. He persuaded me to see “When a Stranger Calls” with him, so we could gleefully clutch each other and scream like little girls.
[I am participating in x365.] P.S. Happy Halloween!
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October 31, 2007 at 9:22 am · Filed under knit/crochet
Here’s a recently finished project, which is now adding some personality to my cube at work. The pattern is at the MochiMochi Shop. I don’t often make toys, but I just might have to start making more because this one was so fun to put together.
My boss thought it was a sea creature, though. The suggestion was to add a lightning bolt to make the cloud more obviously a rain cloud, but I’m thinking that would be too menacing. And this little guy looks sweet and harmless, right? The kind of cloud that nourishes our plant life. Or something like that.
Now I’m finishing up a felted pillow. It shrank a little too much, but it’ll still be useful. And so sturdy, I might even put it on the sofa, where it will most certainly be squished and thrown around and left on the floor. And collect dog hair. (Okay, second thoughts now.)
October 30, 2007 at 10:17 pm · Filed under x365
Her sister had breast cancer, and she was devastated when she received her own diagnosis. But she steeled herself for a fight, so cancer didn’t stand a chance. She went through chemo, radiation and baldness. All of that is behind her. She’ll enjoy her 50s.
[I am participating in x365.]
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October 29, 2007 at 10:10 pm · Filed under x365
She broke up with her first college boyfriend — horrifically, he went to the park and shot himself in the head. Three years later, I broke an engagement. She never treated me the same after that. I wondered if the ease of my split seemed unfair.
[I am participating in x365.]
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October 28, 2007 at 9:13 pm · Filed under x365
He was my only uncle, having married my only aunt. Years later, they divorced and remarried each other. I never knew him well, just that he was a well-paid professional and an alcoholic. He died this year, chronologically young but with an aged exterior.
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October 28, 2007 at 8:33 pm · Filed under moon (rachel)
We made excellent time going to the concert — only 2 hours and 15 minutes from our house to downtown Chicago. The line outside House of Blues was quite long, because security was checking IDs and scanning everyone coming into the building. I didn’t have my ID ready when it was my turn, but the guard took one look and gave me a wristband anyway. I told him I would try not to be too offended.
So, the concert was sold out and standing room only. The kids went up toward the front, and I decided to wander around trying to find somewhere decent to hang out. My feet were tired by the end of the night. Lots of good people watching, though.
Nightwish was quite good live. The new lead singer did a great job and is a terrific performer. Moon thought the guitarist was gorgeous. All the guys have very long hair and look vaguely like vikings. The kids bought t-shirts and are planning to wear them to school tomorrow.
None of us slept on the way home. We were back by about 2 a.m. I’m totally not used to such late nights. The people of Chicago obviously are, though. As we were leaving, we saw many costumed people walking through the streets. There were many slutty girl costumes, a Shrek, and a group of penguins, among others.
October 27, 2007 at 2:55 pm · Filed under x365
She’s a wild Irish role model, a grandma in her 50s who had a shamrock tattooed on her upper arm. There’s something a bit private about her, but she always has a funny observation or dry commentary. She also plays a mean pair of spoons.
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