Birthday wishes, knitting snafu, more roller derby, and literacy

[thrihyrne]

Firstly, 2-day-belated natal day wishes to evannichols! I hope that you had a splendid day and that you thoroughly enjoy the holiday weekend.

To my kindred spirit and dear friend persephone100, I know you're not on LJ much at all these days, and I'll sing happy birthday to you on the phone tomorrow. I definitely plan on visiting you in person again this summer!!


Well, I'm only a few inches short of finishing sleeve #1. I was looking at somebody else's picture of their cardigan when creeping sense of "oh shit" came over me. Sure enough, I looked at my sweater and I realized that while knitting from the armhole down to the wrist, I had been following my chart of the pattern from the bottom up— which is what I was supposed to do for the body of the sweater, knitted from the bottom hem up to the neck. So my flowers are pointed downwards. Surprisingly for me, I wasn't overcome by a wave of anxiety, or nausea. The truth is, the pattern is so complicated and the colors so overwhelming that unless you're a knitter and really examining it, you wouldn't know that the design was supposed to go the other way. I did debate undoing the sleeve, re-balling the yarn and starting over, but after getting my mother's opinion (and she's also a knitter), I've decided to leave the sleeve as is. It will make the sweater even more unique.


I went on a bit of a roller derby movie kick after last Sunday's bout. I watched Brutal Beauty yesterday, and then again tonight with my parents, enjoying it just as much the second time. It's a documentary about the Portland-based Rose City Rollers, and my heart broke a little bit watching it as I'd meant to go see them while I lived there. And from my last post, we know that I've had Oregon on my mind a lot of late.

I'm volunteering again for Skyline Literacy, though back on '08 I did one on one tutoring. Now they have way more people needing help with English as a second language than there are tutors for one on one sessions (they could never have enough, I suspect!), so there are classes with curricula. They don't have those classes in the summer, but they do offer informal conversation classes for people to practice their English. Apparently I'll be taking on an intermediate class, and since I have been thinking seriously about getting certified to teach English overseas, this seems like a compelling path.

Oh, and Pema Chödrön's works continue to rock my world. I checked out When Things Fall Apart from the library and will be participating in a chapter discussion over at the WFS forum. Today I had this phrase come to me, after some soul-searching: The time to live fearlessly is NOW. I'm going to try and really take that to heart and nurture the fabulousness I do have that I've been covering up for some time.

… and I may just put out a request for writing prompts. It's been far, far too long.

Comments

[mrsquizzical.livejournal.com]

i like the idea of leaving the sleeve like that on purpose. :)

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm committed to it now. ;)

[jaiden-s.livejournal.com]

I had a waiter tonight at El Rey that I know you'd have loved. Tall, burly with long red hair and a scruff red beard. Cute smile, very friendly, and a total sweetheart. If/when I see him again, I'll snap his photo. He seems to be part of the waitstaff at every restaurant in town.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Oooooh, he sounds divine!! Pictures please, yes indeed, if you can get them. :D

[brumeux77.livejournal.com]

the fabulousness I do have

Amen, my dear, amen.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

I'm just in a better place these days! It helps that I got a letter from my BF addressed to Thevina Fabulous, and I thought, "You know, she's right."

Hoping I'll be sharing said fabulousness with you in less than a week? Drop me a line when you can…

[brumeux77.livejournal.com]

You said Saturday, right? Just name the time and place and I'm at your service. (However, Mrs B and I are going on a silent retreat (1-800-TRAPPIST hallelujah!), so I will be completely AFK Tuesday through Friday. Don't expect a reply. :)

[persephone100.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU THANK YOU!! <3 <3 for your birthday wishes!! I so enjoyed hearing you sing happy birthday, too!! Your call, as always, cheered me up and made my day! This year I needed it! I know they say 'it's only a number' but it's such a big f______ number! :0

I also got your card yesterday. So sweet! Thank you so much!! <3 I look forward to seeing you this summer! I love you! ***hugs hugs hugs***

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

You're so welcome, my dear!! I know it was a big number and I'm kind of glad that the card I sent didn't deal with that at all. In fact, I'm not entirely sure that I explained why I picked it: it was both for the sentiment, but also because of the gorgeous green of the frog, since I know how much you love green.

(((massive hugs))) back atcha!

[evannichols.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the Birthday Wishes and the delightful card! Unfortunately, I'm spending the weekend with a nasty cold. I'm very disappointed in the Universe. (((hugs)))

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Oh, no!! That's no good at all. :( My icon reflects those sentiments toward the Universe, not you. Hope you feel better very soon. (((hugs)))