Life interrupts

This past Friday, I became a statistic… I was assaulted, basically (in my opinion)  because I didn’t ‘mind my own business’ .  I saw a person go into a yard, where I knew he didn’t belong, and asked what he needed there… his answer was he was seeing friends…  Because I knew the people at the house, I asked who he was going to see… and was told… “ummm well I’m sick…“ My feeling then was ‘this is not a good thing’!  When I asked him further, he stated – “if you don’t like it, call someone”… so I called the local police. And as I was speaking to the police, he came running at me, and knocked me down.  I now have a lovely blackening eye, and found out last night that I have a broken collar bone.

The local police were there within in minutes… and I was told that my face was bleeding, which didn’t really surprise me, as it was scraped… and was asked if I wanted to go get checked out… my thought was, it is now almost 6 a.m. and I have to be at work at 8… there is no way that I can be in and out of the e.r. within 2 hours.  I declined, and the officer looked at me rather strangely, and I said, ‘if need be, I will get checked out later, how ever, I am it at work… If I don’t show up, things don’t get done’.  He then asked me if I was sure that I would be o.k., and I said… I have to be.

Last night while I was at E. R. I had an assistant ask me if she needed to call Adult Protective Services for me… which very much touched me… and as I explained to her, the only person at home was me… and that I wasn’t into using a sock and orange to make it look as if I had been beaten up for sympathy!

The venture last night took about 4 ½ hours, but it could have been lots worse, and although I am battered and bruised, I am and will be fine!

Before you ask me...

the answer is no...

No I do not want to go out with you
No it is none of your business how long its been since I was with someone
No I don't care if I look like your ex-wife
No I don't care if I look like your ex-girlfriend
No it doesn't matter how young you are - and how old I am
No I don't care if you have "11 inches"

more importantly

I do not want to be given 1 (or more) of four "gifties" Herpes, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, or Aids... Sharing these is not caring... thanks any way!

Why would you ask that of me?

Freedom

This past Sunday, was the 4th of July… the celebration of the beginnings of my country’s freedom.

The Declaration of Independence begins with: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Granted, this was written by men more than 200 years ago, but, I got to thinking about the things that I take for granted, little things, like being able to wear jeans and a t-shirt to work, instead of a dress and nylons….

Being able to pick a name for my child instead of being told that it the name had to be either feminine or masculine… and a prescribed name for a girl or boy, no gender neutral names…

Being able to drive myself to a get together, rather than relying upon my father uncle, brother, or other male family member to take me…

Being able to travel unaccompanied to my place of employment…

Being able to work in a profession that is of my choosing, rather than that of my families…

Being able to talk to my customers…

Being able to vote…

Being able to …

What I think the reasoning behind the various attacks on ‘us’ and on the U.S. is people may be looking at us and saying that because they can’t do xyz, that we shouldn’t be able to do it either. It is said that misery loves company, and people who are hurting want others to share the hurt… I can understand that… I try to not impose my hurt on others but sometimes I do rant and rave beyond a bit… That said, I don’t go out and say – you did xyz to me so you will have to pay back. Or you did xyz to my friend and I am going to retaliate.

I very much value the freedom that I take so much for granted.

The Uninsured...

You see this face? This is the face of the un-insured in America.

You see this face? This is the face of a woman who earns too much money (at $1600.00 a month) because this is the face of a single woman who has no dependents, and no insurance.

You see this face? This is the face of a woman who has to decide, if she pays the phone bill, and the mortgage, or goes to a clinic and sits for 2 or 3 hours to see a clinic Dr. for 5 minutes to get a prescription, and has to pay $60.00 (at a sliding scale clinic) for that privilege.

This is my face. I am a single adult woman aged 55, with no dependents (under the age of 18), who earns $1600.00 a month. And can’t afford insurance as it stands now.

Catch 22

 I LOVE my job, but right now I don't really like it... 10 days ago I told my boss I needed certified tickets... a week ago, they were supposed to be ordered... today I found out that they hadn't been ordered, as they need $400.00, which "we don't have"... catch 22, I can't bring in cash if I don't have tickets, I can't get tickets with out the cash... I took over $450.00 in petty cash... here is hoping that in about 2 weeks I have tickets.

Changes...

Yes I've been quiet for a while...

Lets see... I've changed guilds at faire, I'm now working with St. Ives which portrays the middle / merchant class at faire, At Ives, I am working with the Bell, which is a house of 'negotiable affection'...My character there is 'Nursey' (think of the nurse from Romeo and Juliet, or Shakespeare in Love...) It has indeed been a lot of fun playing there!  I'm still a part of St. Cuthberts, but will be active with them mostly at Casa De Fruita...

 

And... I've started my 5th year at the scale... May 2nd was my jobeversery... I was hired at the scale May 2nd 2006... my goodness how time flies when you are having fun! 

I've started a 'not yet named' scarf, using Merino lace weight... the pattern is interesting, and there have been a lot of stops and starts, and re-starts... I've also done several other scarves, hats and socks... (can't forget the socks!!)

I've had another birthday, I'm now 58, and as a friend of mine put it, although I can get senior discounts, middle age is 10 years away...

Stitches!

Last Friday, (Feb. 26th) I did something very very rare, and took a day off from work... and 4 friends, Cindy, Kate, Tina, Victoria and I went to San Jose, CA for Stitches west!!!

WOW... Oh my, It was for me like being in a candy store, and toy store for the first time ever!  My first thought was to get over to see my friends Ba, and Karen, at Royal Hare.. then I relaxed and said 'oh my'... as I looked around! 

There were classes of all types, both ones that you had to sign up for far in advance which were approx. 2ish hours long, and ones that were 30 minutes and quick 'how-to's'.  Saturday, when we went in one of the first things I saw was a woman teaching a technique called knit one below, which I had seen mentioned but hadn't seen it done, I hadn't tried doing it... The woman who was demonstrating it works with Knitting Universe, and was showing a technique from the book "knit one below",  which of course was something that due to good advertising placement, I purchased... along with the Great American Afghan, and and the Great American Aran Afghan.... Both of which I had been wanting for several years!

I was oh so tempted by needles, hooks, fiber and yarns... I did buy 1 hook, a bone crochet hook that I can use at faire, and I bought 3 pairs of socks... that I have to make!  One is in Peppermint Mocha, a delicious colorway from Lorna's Laces, one is in a lovely 'pastel colorway, from a company called yuppy threads, and the other is a beautiful pumpkin blend from forever.  Both of which I got from DBNY (if you click on the link, and then in the search bar type in yuppy, or forever, it will bring up the yarns... and can be seen below!)

On Sunday, when we got to the convention center there were 2 ladies with Alpacas!!!

All in all it was a grand relaxing weekend, and I plan on going back next year!

Dye Day at La Crescenta

Last week, my buddy Jamie contacted me, and asked if I'd like to join him at Griffin Dye Works workshop for classes which included dying yarn, fabric, and fiber...Sure says I...

And this is what we / I did...

The fiber that looks kinda like cotton candy was done with cochineal, and indigo, both of which were nearly exhausted, then I did a chain with a gold into cochineal  into pale indigo, the the solid indigo, and then the indigo into gold, with a 'white' centering... I had 2 skeins of yarn and 2 hanks of rovings approx 1 oz each that I had fun dying...

Griffin Dye Works can be found 'here'...

Christmas Continued!

This past weekend I got to go to the Pantages Theater in L. A. I'd never been there before... and I plan on going back a time or three in the not too distant future (hopefully)

For Christmas my daughter got me a ticket to see Riverdance... I've seen specials via television and video... but hadn't seen it live... It was incredible!

In addition to seeing it, I got to see one of the dancers at the stage gate and get an autograph... which was neat... and wouldn't have happened if I hadn't of been getting a souvenir dvd and coffee cup!

After my daughter picked me up, we went home, napped for a bit... then went to P.F Changs in Anaheim for dinner... she had a gift card, and the food was grand!

Sunday was mostly a lazy morning, followed by a run to Target so she could spend another gift card, and then off to the Santa Ana train station... by the time we got there it was almost train time (we thought) but the train was late... and I had my usual worry worry... oh dear did I miss my train thoughts... and the thought that I'd have to call my step-daughter and say... ooops I missed the train, I'm coming in at 7:30 instead of 5:30... but yay Metrolink, it made up the time, and I was actually early getting to the home station!

When I got in the car my step daughter handed me this... it had been decided that I need the pattern and to make a 'few'...

All in all it was a very relaxing and enjoyable weekend! Then when we started home... the rains started... but I have a beautiful scarf to help keep me warm, a nice hat for my head... a warm coat, galoshes, and umbrella to sort of keep me dry...

Life is good

2K10

Here already?!

Almost a week into the new year... and yea... its a new year. I started - and finished a beanie style hat that will go to a friend who I ride the bus with, for her daughter... this past weekend, nice way to start a year - finishing a project!




I'm starting another project today, a pair of toe up socks... one of the networking sites that I am on has a 'please try my pattern' listing... and these sounded interesting... (same site, had the beanie)

Christmas was quiet, which is good, spent it with my daughter, and her best friend, (who I call my step daughter) and I think that all the gifties that were exchanged were well appreciated by their recipients! I know that I am appreciating all of mine!


New Years eve was nice, spent a part of it with friends, enjoying sushi at a small restaurant close to where we have our knit-togethers, and it was a 'blue-moon' meaning that we had 2 full moons in one month... quite a way to end a year!



I hope all of my cyber friends and family had a good Christmas, and quiet New Years... and that this year is better for everyone than last year was... it is pretty much a universal opinion that last year 'sucked'... Here is hoping the new one is better!