As many of you know, I write (duh.. bloggie be a hint, eh?).
I've decided once again to join NaNoWriMo this year. (the server has been busy today with folks signing up for tomorrow, keep trying!)
NaNoWriMo stands for:
NAtional
NOvel
WRIting
MOnth
or, November.
I signed up last year and didn't make much progress. I had a friend who signed up, and TRIPLED the amount of words needed.
I feel more prepared this year, and will use it for free-association or journal writing or for jotting down and expanding a few ideas rather than a novel per se. By the end of the month or (fingers crossed) the middle of the month I hope to be working on a specific novel, but I want to kind of sneak up on it :-}
I have a strong tendency to edit while I write. This stops me in my tracks when I feel the need to make a decision on which direction the plot will twist.
I am Libra with Libra rising, and, as advertised, it takes a very long time for me to choose among possibilities if I let myself wallow in the choices as I want to. Heck, it used to take me 15-20 minutes to decide on which pair of socks to wear, before I narrowed the choices to two, and wore one of each pair. (Yes, I was an odd child, but happy)
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
Up Up and Away!
Up Up and Away in my beautiful Chevy Van!
The hand controls and motorized seat are safely installed, and the van arrived in the driveway on Saturday (thanks to our friend Mick).
I'm starting small, those hand controls can be tricky. It is possible to brake and accelerate simultaneously. This means I can still peel rubber should the occasion seem appropriate, but it makes for a hairy ride should someone pull out unexpectedly and you push down (accelerate) instead of away (braking). I practiced for about half an hour in the library parking lot before driving on the road. I took Oscar to supper :-}
I'll drive again on Wednesday. I want to see how my stomach muscles respond before driving too far.
Anyway, I can go do stuff again!!!!!
The hand controls and motorized seat are safely installed, and the van arrived in the driveway on Saturday (thanks to our friend Mick).
I'm starting small, those hand controls can be tricky. It is possible to brake and accelerate simultaneously. This means I can still peel rubber should the occasion seem appropriate, but it makes for a hairy ride should someone pull out unexpectedly and you push down (accelerate) instead of away (braking). I practiced for about half an hour in the library parking lot before driving on the road. I took Oscar to supper :-}
I'll drive again on Wednesday. I want to see how my stomach muscles respond before driving too far.
Anyway, I can go do stuff again!!!!!
Sunday, October 29, 2006
More silken hugs
I found a pattern I loved on knitty.com under the knittyspin section called the SHEEPWRAP.
As is usual, I adapted the pattern, this time to make a lacy shawl for my friend Jacqui in New Jersey. Its out of the same Interlacements Silk Wool fiber I used for David's hug, but the colorway is deeper sharper purples and greens :-} Because of the loose garterstitch, the drape is fantastic. I hope she will be able to use it for fancy dress, or to wrap 'round her head and neck on chilly Jersey nights.
As is usual, I adapted the pattern, this time to make a lacy shawl for my friend Jacqui in New Jersey. Its out of the same Interlacements Silk Wool fiber I used for David's hug, but the colorway is deeper sharper purples and greens :-} Because of the loose garterstitch, the drape is fantastic. I hope she will be able to use it for fancy dress, or to wrap 'round her head and neck on chilly Jersey nights.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Surviving the Winter - Repetitive Motion
One method to ease the depression and anxiety of Seasonal Effective Disorder is to adopt some sort of repetitive motion. I'm sure most of you have heard about the soothing effects of repetitive motion. It's been news in knitting lately. It also pertains to crafts like macrame, crocheting, hand stitching and weaving.
In folklore, spinning often produces an altered state where some women see visions of the present, past and future, so the idea of the effects of repetitive motion on brain chemistry have been around a very long time.
People who live with chronic pain like cluster headaches often pace or rub their scalps or perform "various (almost autistic looking) physical motions"(click link to see full article) in response to the pain. I wonder if the serotonin-raising effects of the repetitive motions in some way help alleviate the pain, even a little?
Heck, any parent knows a rocking chair has a good chance of soothing a fretful baby. Its funny how science sometimes takes awhile to catch up with folk wisdom, eh?
Even things like jiggling a leg, drumming your fingers or other annoying habits may have a positive effect on your mood when you are feeling down or anxious. If you work in a crowded office environment, it may be considerate of your coworkers to adopt a less intrusive method, say tapping only your big toe, chewing gum, or rubbing your thumb with your forefinger.
I'm certain many of us have already been doing something like this, but it may help to do it consciously, to reduce depression and anxiety this winter. If, like me, you like to have some resulting product or more tangible benefit, you could take up knitting or sanding wood for a home improvement project. Or kneading bread, digging holes in the backyard.... typing.... wood chopping..... swimming... dancing....
In folklore, spinning often produces an altered state where some women see visions of the present, past and future, so the idea of the effects of repetitive motion on brain chemistry have been around a very long time.
People who live with chronic pain like cluster headaches often pace or rub their scalps or perform "various (almost autistic looking) physical motions"(click link to see full article) in response to the pain. I wonder if the serotonin-raising effects of the repetitive motions in some way help alleviate the pain, even a little?
Heck, any parent knows a rocking chair has a good chance of soothing a fretful baby. Its funny how science sometimes takes awhile to catch up with folk wisdom, eh?
Even things like jiggling a leg, drumming your fingers or other annoying habits may have a positive effect on your mood when you are feeling down or anxious. If you work in a crowded office environment, it may be considerate of your coworkers to adopt a less intrusive method, say tapping only your big toe, chewing gum, or rubbing your thumb with your forefinger.
I'm certain many of us have already been doing something like this, but it may help to do it consciously, to reduce depression and anxiety this winter. If, like me, you like to have some resulting product or more tangible benefit, you could take up knitting or sanding wood for a home improvement project. Or kneading bread, digging holes in the backyard.... typing.... wood chopping..... swimming... dancing....
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Clearing Space
My beloved Sis-in-law Lynn is having a declutter day and my reply to her blog post made it clear I have a lot to say on this subject :-}
Especially now that we are making this house a easy as possible for the wheelchair to navigate, we are again hyper aware of anything that doesn't have a place to live. We've been in declutter mode for years now and I don't see the basic habits changing ever again. Our move from an 1800 square foot house with full basement to a basement-less 850 sq ft house made decluttering a survival trait :-} When we go shopping, we never buy anything if we don't know precisely how it will be used, and where it will live in the house with us.
Some thoughts:
Decluttering is one of the best things any of us can do for ourselves and I think its especially important for artists. Having a visible work environment without inert matter helps creativity flourish. By inert matter, I mean anything that has no relevance to our lives as we live them in the moment.
Clutter isn’t about stuff per se, but about the stuff we don’t use. The stuff that merely exists without contributing to our lives in a positive way. A room 75% filled with stuff isn't necessarily cluttered, provided the stuff enhances living int he room. A collage artist's studio would likely look very cluttered to someone else, but for that person,having the media she uses to create all out in view may be essential to her working process, thus, its not clutter.
In my experience, it was very hard in the beginning to make the decisions about keeping and not keeping, but the more often we asked ourselves the question, the easier the answers became. Its wonderful that if you can do this on a regular basis. VERY healthy and freeing.
Decluttering clothes is the easiest for me, I think because it is so wonderful to think of the garment being loved and appreciated by the next owner instead of languishing in the prison of my closet, unused, unloved. Who knows what adventure awaits that skirt, that sweater? What paths will those shoes walk after I set them free?
Books are easier to donate than most other things. Most libraries have a friends organation who either run a used bookstore on library premeses or have periodic used book sales to support the library.
Kitchenalia can be donated to organizations like Goodwill, or the Salvation Army.
Sometimes however you have to grit your teeth and just throw something away. Yes, you could refurbish that stool, provided you find three more legs and learn to do upholstery, but if its been in your life for more than 6 months and you've yet to take the first step toward making it whole again, its time to give it a peaceful ending. Put it out of your misery and out to the curb.
Especially now that we are making this house a easy as possible for the wheelchair to navigate, we are again hyper aware of anything that doesn't have a place to live. We've been in declutter mode for years now and I don't see the basic habits changing ever again. Our move from an 1800 square foot house with full basement to a basement-less 850 sq ft house made decluttering a survival trait :-} When we go shopping, we never buy anything if we don't know precisely how it will be used, and where it will live in the house with us.
Some thoughts:
Decluttering is one of the best things any of us can do for ourselves and I think its especially important for artists. Having a visible work environment without inert matter helps creativity flourish. By inert matter, I mean anything that has no relevance to our lives as we live them in the moment.
Clutter isn’t about stuff per se, but about the stuff we don’t use. The stuff that merely exists without contributing to our lives in a positive way. A room 75% filled with stuff isn't necessarily cluttered, provided the stuff enhances living int he room. A collage artist's studio would likely look very cluttered to someone else, but for that person,having the media she uses to create all out in view may be essential to her working process, thus, its not clutter.
In my experience, it was very hard in the beginning to make the decisions about keeping and not keeping, but the more often we asked ourselves the question, the easier the answers became. Its wonderful that if you can do this on a regular basis. VERY healthy and freeing.
Decluttering clothes is the easiest for me, I think because it is so wonderful to think of the garment being loved and appreciated by the next owner instead of languishing in the prison of my closet, unused, unloved. Who knows what adventure awaits that skirt, that sweater? What paths will those shoes walk after I set them free?
Books are easier to donate than most other things. Most libraries have a friends organation who either run a used bookstore on library premeses or have periodic used book sales to support the library.
Kitchenalia can be donated to organizations like Goodwill, or the Salvation Army.
Sometimes however you have to grit your teeth and just throw something away. Yes, you could refurbish that stool, provided you find three more legs and learn to do upholstery, but if its been in your life for more than 6 months and you've yet to take the first step toward making it whole again, its time to give it a peaceful ending. Put it out of your misery and out to the curb.
Lovely Lovely day
It was grey outside, It even sleeted a bit, but Oscar and I didn't let that stop us. We had been planning this adventure for a month or so now. We visited a local cider mill and bought some apples, cider, and a few doughnuts. The best part was the journey there and back. We took the least-traveled roads we could find, and thought about where we might build a universal designed home later on.
I grew up way out in the country and miss it terribly. It sometimes feels like I never take a deep breath until I get out where I can see fields and trees. Today was wonderful. Oscar, bless him, stopped whenever we found a place I might want to snap a photo, and we drove and talked and just enjoyed each other for hours. :-}
Photos, in no particular order:
Me with a goofy hat at the cider mill, modeling a beautifully useful bag designed especially for me by my friend Ysabeau the Artist (see her blog to the right)
A shot of one of the country roads we travelled today
A lovely little creek wending through a field. You can see some work horses in teh way way background.
The official greeter at the cider mill, he was a little shy, and hid behind a rock when I opened the car door.
I grew up way out in the country and miss it terribly. It sometimes feels like I never take a deep breath until I get out where I can see fields and trees. Today was wonderful. Oscar, bless him, stopped whenever we found a place I might want to snap a photo, and we drove and talked and just enjoyed each other for hours. :-}
Photos, in no particular order:
Me with a goofy hat at the cider mill, modeling a beautifully useful bag designed especially for me by my friend Ysabeau the Artist (see her blog to the right)
A shot of one of the country roads we travelled today
A lovely little creek wending through a field. You can see some work horses in teh way way background.
The official greeter at the cider mill, he was a little shy, and hid behind a rock when I opened the car door.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Past Life Investigation
I've been watching a new show on History Channel International called 'Past Life Investigation' (web page for the network is HERE )
People who may or may not (mostly they do not) believe in reincarnation are asked to take part in a session of past life regression via hypnosis. Then the host/researcher of the program looks into information revealed during the session to see if what the subect 'remembered' under hypnosis has any connection to history/geography/public record. THEN comes the best part. The researcher flies the subject to the location revealed during the regression.
Fascinating stuff, not only the idea of reincarnation, but the way pinpointing a single non-famous person for historical research can illuminate the time and place that person lived.
The debut program brought us to the seamy side of 1920s Chicago, and to late 19th century Dublin. The second to a tiny town along the northern border of India during the 1930s.
One of the things I like best about the program is the researcher never states that anything about reincarnation is proven by the data collected during regressions. She doesn't present the parallels found as evidence or draw any firm conclusions about reincarnation. She gathers the info together then leaves it up to the viewers to decide for themselves.
Those whose hobby or passion is 'debunking woo woo stuff' would find many ways to try and explain the parallels between the information obtained under hypnosis and historical events and people. Myself, I prefer to believe there's something in it. Occam's Razor, after all states the the simplest hypothesis is most likey accurate (paraphrased).
This is supported by my own experience. When I was about 6 years old, I could identify some herbs by their common names and knew what they were good for without having been taught or studying them in a book. The memory that springs to mind most clearly was seeing plaintain growing in the yard and KNOWING it was called plaintain and that it was good for excema. (I had horrible excema as a kid; image of plantain HERE ).
So, I personally believe that memories from past lives exist, and feel no burning need to justify my belief, but its nice to know I'm not alone.
It is also fascinating to learn about others' experiences and to learn about history on a smaller scale than, say, the conquests of Rome.
People who may or may not (mostly they do not) believe in reincarnation are asked to take part in a session of past life regression via hypnosis. Then the host/researcher of the program looks into information revealed during the session to see if what the subect 'remembered' under hypnosis has any connection to history/geography/public record. THEN comes the best part. The researcher flies the subject to the location revealed during the regression.
Fascinating stuff, not only the idea of reincarnation, but the way pinpointing a single non-famous person for historical research can illuminate the time and place that person lived.
The debut program brought us to the seamy side of 1920s Chicago, and to late 19th century Dublin. The second to a tiny town along the northern border of India during the 1930s.
One of the things I like best about the program is the researcher never states that anything about reincarnation is proven by the data collected during regressions. She doesn't present the parallels found as evidence or draw any firm conclusions about reincarnation. She gathers the info together then leaves it up to the viewers to decide for themselves.
Those whose hobby or passion is 'debunking woo woo stuff' would find many ways to try and explain the parallels between the information obtained under hypnosis and historical events and people. Myself, I prefer to believe there's something in it. Occam's Razor, after all states the the simplest hypothesis is most likey accurate (paraphrased).
This is supported by my own experience. When I was about 6 years old, I could identify some herbs by their common names and knew what they were good for without having been taught or studying them in a book. The memory that springs to mind most clearly was seeing plaintain growing in the yard and KNOWING it was called plaintain and that it was good for excema. (I had horrible excema as a kid; image of plantain HERE ).
So, I personally believe that memories from past lives exist, and feel no burning need to justify my belief, but its nice to know I'm not alone.
It is also fascinating to learn about others' experiences and to learn about history on a smaller scale than, say, the conquests of Rome.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Last Gasp of Summer
Despite the frigid temps and the falling leaves and the tender nature of the plant, my Pineapple Sage is blooming defiantly. The buds on the Monk's Hood are getting fatter, but have yet to burst. Even one more warm day may do the trick, but in the meantime, here's a last glimpse of summer from my garden this week.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Happy Toes Ensemble
Michigan winters tend to be grey most days. Oscar and I both have S.A.D., so this is not something we take for granted. I'm planning a post full of tips to help with this stuff, but for now I wanted to show you one of the tools in my arsenal. Rae of Rae's Yarn Boutique sent me some 'Socks that Rock' yarn as a thank you for knitting something for her. The colors were so bright that just petting the yarn made me feel more cheerful, so I decided to make a pair of socks from Lynn's Colorjoy First Time toe-up sock pattern adjusted for my odd feet to wear during gloomy Michigan days.
Then I decided to make a pair of wristwarmers, as my wrists are MUCH closer to my eyes :-} I used Lynn's knit to fit wristwarmer design, adapted for my chunky thumb pads.
Then I had yarn left and I wanted to make more modular-knit triangles and I was playing with an idea of a hat with just the top in triangles, the rest knit in stockinette... so the rest of the yarn went for that. The hat is edged with yarn as soft as a baby alpaca's butt... And you know something? It really does cheer me up to wear them.
If I wear ONLY my happy toes ensemble, it cheers up Oscar no end too. ;-}
Then I decided to make a pair of wristwarmers, as my wrists are MUCH closer to my eyes :-} I used Lynn's knit to fit wristwarmer design, adapted for my chunky thumb pads.
Then I had yarn left and I wanted to make more modular-knit triangles and I was playing with an idea of a hat with just the top in triangles, the rest knit in stockinette... so the rest of the yarn went for that. The hat is edged with yarn as soft as a baby alpaca's butt... And you know something? It really does cheer me up to wear them.
If I wear ONLY my happy toes ensemble, it cheers up Oscar no end too. ;-}
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
LEAVES!!!!!
When the time comes that we move to a drier/warmer place, I will miss the fall. It's one of my favorite seasons, and not just because my birthday happens then :-}
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
crawling out of the cave
Blech...
You ever have a time when you are sick, but you refuse to admit it, or are so busy coping with the basics that need to be done that you don't notice?
I have been working hard on becoming self-aware of my physical condition re my arthritis and my adhesion complications. My pain threshold is high enough that it takes conscious effort to notice BEFORE the major damage hits I've been on my feet or sitting upright too long. I guess the same holds true for cold symptoms.
I thought on Saturday I had worse allergy symptoms and double the body aches, and an ear infection, when really I was just fighting a cold. I finally glommed on to the obvious when the sore throat showed up. Sheesh. I feel a bit dim.
We do feel better. Oscar had the same cold, so we babied ourselves for 24 hours (high-garlic chicken soup and rest) and it kicked it in the butt. We had to postpone a family get together, but that was better than sharing the germs, I think. I am grateful it could be postponed, instead of cancelled.
I've been working on a blessing/gift for a sick friend, but didn't want to put my less-than-well energies into it, so its been sitting idle. ( Blessed Be! He's getting better! ) Now that we're better it will be finished soon, and I can send it off. Its too wide for a scarf, too short for a shawl, so its simply our love knitted up into a hug. Oscar let instinct guide him as he chose the fiber. Its a luscious wool/silk blend, 'Tokyo' by Interlacements in beautiful shades of green-purple-blue-grey. The repetitive movements are a wonderful way to work our love for David into the stitches. I am using a pair of antique bakelite needles that look and feel like amber. It feels wonderful to knit this way.
You ever have a time when you are sick, but you refuse to admit it, or are so busy coping with the basics that need to be done that you don't notice?
I have been working hard on becoming self-aware of my physical condition re my arthritis and my adhesion complications. My pain threshold is high enough that it takes conscious effort to notice BEFORE the major damage hits I've been on my feet or sitting upright too long. I guess the same holds true for cold symptoms.
I thought on Saturday I had worse allergy symptoms and double the body aches, and an ear infection, when really I was just fighting a cold. I finally glommed on to the obvious when the sore throat showed up. Sheesh. I feel a bit dim.
We do feel better. Oscar had the same cold, so we babied ourselves for 24 hours (high-garlic chicken soup and rest) and it kicked it in the butt. We had to postpone a family get together, but that was better than sharing the germs, I think. I am grateful it could be postponed, instead of cancelled.
I've been working on a blessing/gift for a sick friend, but didn't want to put my less-than-well energies into it, so its been sitting idle. ( Blessed Be! He's getting better! ) Now that we're better it will be finished soon, and I can send it off. Its too wide for a scarf, too short for a shawl, so its simply our love knitted up into a hug. Oscar let instinct guide him as he chose the fiber. Its a luscious wool/silk blend, 'Tokyo' by Interlacements in beautiful shades of green-purple-blue-grey. The repetitive movements are a wonderful way to work our love for David into the stitches. I am using a pair of antique bakelite needles that look and feel like amber. It feels wonderful to knit this way.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Produce Station
There's a small store/fresh produce market in Ann Arbor that I used to stop at every few weeks. Today we happened to be nearby, and I remembered that right about now they'd have some lovely Michigan Fall produce available. It turns out Oscar had never been there, so I had the double pleasure of sharing it with him. We found some of my favorite variety of apple there, Honey Crisp. They taste like apples are SUPPOSED to taste. I grew up out in the country and those freshly waxed sawdust-textured yellow and gold 'delicious' apples aren't worth the chew. Each apple is so huge that one of them with a bit of sharp cheddar cheese makes a filling meal. I also found some lovely velvety fragrant peaches. I don't trust a peach that has no scent. It can't be anywhere near ready to eat yet. (My, I am opinionated today, eh?)
They also carry unusual groceries inside. We found some Mexican chocolate, the brittle kind that turns to sweet rubble when you nibble on it. I ground some with my coffee beans and its brewing as I type. What a lovely cinnamony chocolately presence in the house! I'll add a dollop of cream and a small plop of vanilla-infused rum... yummmmmmmmm
They also carry unusual groceries inside. We found some Mexican chocolate, the brittle kind that turns to sweet rubble when you nibble on it. I ground some with my coffee beans and its brewing as I type. What a lovely cinnamony chocolately presence in the house! I'll add a dollop of cream and a small plop of vanilla-infused rum... yummmmmmmmm
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Birthday
My birthday was Friday, and Oscar has made this year a lovely celebration.
He found a wonderful gift. A complete interlocking set of circular needles that I can put together in whichever way a pattern demands. He also drove me home to see my folks, where I taught my neice Amanda the rudiments of knitting and had a lovely long chat with my cousin Penny Nichols, just back from a summer spent studying grasshoppers in Montana. To top it off, tonight AND tomorrow night we are going to folk music events (more about those later)
More than New Year's, my birthday is the beginning of the next year of my life. For me it's a time for contemplation of things to change, and things to keep. This year, the HUGE change is that by the end of the month, for the first time in 4 years, I will be driving again! I will be keeping the new behavior patterns that stopped the cycle of overdoing and recovery. This means I am currently planing 1-3 excursions per week, and not more than 3. One will of course be to the recreation center for swimming!!!!!!! The taxi service was good to have, but the 1-2 hour wait at each end combined with the exercise was wreaking havoc with my abdomen. Its only a 20 minute drive :-}
A second excursion will be midweek to buy fresh produce, with a stop at the local library bookshop to replenish stock for my ebay business. Shopping only once a week it was hard to have some types of fresh salad and fruits. I should also be able to take all but 1 or 2 major shopping trips per month off Oscar's task list. I can't wrestle the multitude of spring water around, but I can pick up the weekly fresh stuff, and, once the kitchen is set up again, can begin to buy fresh fish to cook for dinner.
The third excursion will happen when I'm having a good week, and will be used to connect somehow with old friends, and new. There are loads of activities going on, at the local library, and with the theater group I used to belong to. I will need to be careful not to overcommit, but I crave that connection again.
(photo is a spice bush from Bonsai House)
He found a wonderful gift. A complete interlocking set of circular needles that I can put together in whichever way a pattern demands. He also drove me home to see my folks, where I taught my neice Amanda the rudiments of knitting and had a lovely long chat with my cousin Penny Nichols, just back from a summer spent studying grasshoppers in Montana. To top it off, tonight AND tomorrow night we are going to folk music events (more about those later)
More than New Year's, my birthday is the beginning of the next year of my life. For me it's a time for contemplation of things to change, and things to keep. This year, the HUGE change is that by the end of the month, for the first time in 4 years, I will be driving again! I will be keeping the new behavior patterns that stopped the cycle of overdoing and recovery. This means I am currently planing 1-3 excursions per week, and not more than 3. One will of course be to the recreation center for swimming!!!!!!! The taxi service was good to have, but the 1-2 hour wait at each end combined with the exercise was wreaking havoc with my abdomen. Its only a 20 minute drive :-}
A second excursion will be midweek to buy fresh produce, with a stop at the local library bookshop to replenish stock for my ebay business. Shopping only once a week it was hard to have some types of fresh salad and fruits. I should also be able to take all but 1 or 2 major shopping trips per month off Oscar's task list. I can't wrestle the multitude of spring water around, but I can pick up the weekly fresh stuff, and, once the kitchen is set up again, can begin to buy fresh fish to cook for dinner.
The third excursion will happen when I'm having a good week, and will be used to connect somehow with old friends, and new. There are loads of activities going on, at the local library, and with the theater group I used to belong to. I will need to be careful not to overcommit, but I crave that connection again.
(photo is a spice bush from Bonsai House)
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