You call me bitter, but I prefer "tangy".

I broke the display of my cell phone. I have no directory, no photos, no texts. It's like a (GASP) OLD FASHIONED PRINCESS PHONE. I don't know who's called until I pick it up and say hello. Or I get my messages.

I think I may try to keep it like this for a week before I pay the deductable on my phone insurance and get a replacement. I wonder if it will make me a calmer person.

Technology is letting me down:
Computer: Kaput
Phone: Half Kaput

I've been battling a bit of the blues. I have lots of work, but I'm caught in that no-where land between "the work is done and the payment for said work has arrived:. Very discouraging."

On a cheery note: I went and pruned the fruit trees on the commons between my cottage and my landlord's house because I wanted them pruned properly for a change: Healthy trees AND lots of cherries, plums, figs, pears, and apples. Purely self interest... I harvest more fruit than anyone else. The new landlady was so happy with my work, she gave me this month's rent in exchange! How cool is that? I went and pruned the ornamental trees in her yard as a thank you.

My thoughts go out to those on the East Coast. The weather in Portland, Oregon has been glorious!

Ok, I'm back at the gym 4 times a week. Good for me: After months of paying gym membership and procrastinating, I'm finally there.

So, I'm working out the upper body, dressed in shorts and t-shirt and this guy comes up to me and says "What did you do to your calf?" I looked down expecting to see blood like I had gashed myself on a machine and not noticed it..

No, he was pointing out that the outside of my lower leg was totally ripped, not to mention that I have big legs. He of course, being the "muscles on a stick" build: BREATHTAKING upper body, but no lower body to mention.

I bike, I ride horses, and I dance...the latter about 18 hours a week: My second favorite cardio.

That last comment went right over his head, poor boy.

I should have been born rich.

A client gave me a post dated cheque (hopefully by accident)...which screwed up my account as I didn't catch it but the bank did. Wells Fargo was pretty decent about it, covered everything, and cut any overdrafts in half.

I've deposited a bunch of cheques, but they don't clear my account until tomorrow. It's temporarily the pits. BUT, as Lisa...my client who's family had ONE HOUR to pack-up all the belongings they could carry and escape from Nazi Germany into Switzerland used to say....

"May that be the worst thing to happen to you in your ENTIRE LIFE."

My thoughts and prayers go out to those who have it worse than I.

Much love, y'all,
Bob

One year ago this morning. I said goodbye to my gelding, Howard, and buried him on the farm. I no longer ache with missing him. The closest way to describe it is there's still a hole in my heart, but the skin around it has healed. Today, I just feel empty.

On a cheerier note: I got a contract to teach 4-5th graders at a public school~ I'm teaching dance, swing specifically, with one of two female dance teacher-friends. I'm really enjoying it, inspite of having to get up at 6 am. That last fact makes me feel surprisingly adult. I'm not the most structured of people, so having somewhere I HAVE to be early in the morning is really good for me.

I miss reading your all's journals. Hopefully, with my next paycheck, I'm buying a new or refurbished laptop.

Bob

I have the opportunity to help teach 5th graders swing dance with some other friend, dance instructors, but in order to do that, I have to submit this daunting form proving that I have a clear criminal record (I do, outside of the odd traffic violation) and go get fingerprinted. The cost to get fingerprinted is more than I have available in my budget and I have to do it this week. GRRRR>


I'm just feeling a little fed up.

On the plus side, I did manage to replace the starter in my truck myself. Basically easy, outside of the inaccessability problem. And also on a bright note, I saw a man who looked amazingly like theoctothorpe dressed head to toe in full motorcycle leathers, so that brightened my day quite a bit.

That's all.

Off to work.

My laptop (a freebee from a friend because it was obsolete about 8 years ago) finally shit the bed. I'm sending this out from the computer at the knit store I frequent. So, let's sum up, shall we:

Truck: Needs starter repaired and some electrical.
Phone: Acting like it's haunted by evil spirits. Today it wouldn't let me use my camera.
Laptop: Ded.

However, I'm biking about 10+ miles a day and my waistline is shrinking, and I'm saving a fortune on gas. My postings will be few and far inbetweenish for a little while, but I'm thinking of y'all.

BTW: New NY resolution. I'm knitting a hat a day for the month of Jan, and if that isn't too strenuous, I'm going to try to do it for the entire year. 365 hats. Won't that be fun. When all is said and done, I'll sell them on Etsy or something.

Pictures soon, I promise...just as soon as my recalcitrant phone posts them to my flickr acct.

Mwah!

My phone, a Nokia flip phone, has mysteriously dropped all trace of several random contacts. Their info has completely disappeared and it makes no sense whatsoever. Their text messages are still listed there under their names, but when I go to the phone's directory, they aren't anywhere listed.

Anyone have any ideas? This phone hasn't been out of my presence. No one did this as a prank.

Gordon Lightfoot, for some reason, always makes me think of Canada. Most specifically the coastal prairies of British Colombia. He's not Canadian, is he? Oh wait, Born in Orilla, Ontario!!!! Google gave me the answer. He's Canadian! He sounds Canadian...Most specifically, Canada in the 70's.

Remember the rude lady in the coffeeshop from the other day? Today, I was in the same coffeeshop with 3 gals watching me knit. Why?


Quote one gal:


"You're the FASTEST knitter I've EVER SEEN! It's like your hands are pooping fabric!" LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!


ROFLMAO!!!!!

A woman commented in a "stage whisper" behind me that, and I QUOTE:

"I'd be embarrassed if my boys wanted to learn how to knit." (I'm knitting a hat to pass the time while my slow computer loads pages).

I turned around, knitting in hand, looked her in the eye, and said... "Excuse me...are you FROM PORTLAND?"

"No, she said, Salt Lake City."

I then said, "I would be VERY EMBARRASSED to have a MOTHER so intolerant and closed minded she would object to her son's learning to knit. Fortunately, I was graced with the mother I have."

They moved tables and shortly thereafter left. I hope moths attack her woolens!

Poor Meryl Streep: She probably had to kiss Stanly Tucci a lot in making this movie. Poor baby, I feel SOOOOO sorry for her. NOT!

I found it really charming, but who knew that Julia Child was getting so much sweet sweet loving at home? Then again, if Paul Child looked anything like Stanly Tucci, in her shoes I would be "OH GOOD, YOU'RE HOME, GET NEKKID!)"

Seems like just yesterday I was sitting in this exact window seat at World Cup Coffee on NW Glisan, watching the sky grow dark at 2:15pm and the snow just started to come swirling down. And down, and down, and down. Actually, it was what? Dec 30th? All trace of snow is gone. I wore my biking windbreaker (reflective bright yellow) and a medium weight sweater. I was SWEATING LIKE A STUCK PIG! IT MUST BE 50+ DEGREES OUT THERE!!! No trace of the snow that 3 days ago, made my bus get stuck, me wipe my bike out on a hidden snow covered train track, or stay in the house for the last 2-3 days. Portland winters: Crazy. All of PDX seems to be out enjoying the fine weather. Bikes, pedestrians, dogs abound. Everyone seems quite content.

On this fine day, my mare is inside, and I feel guilty: she should be outside enjoying this weather with the other mares in the paddock, but as it was raining off and on when I left this morning (at 7 am, mind you) I couldn't be assured of her health and comfort. I had an early morning meeting with a client for whom I will be seaming and finishing a sweater. Very nice gal. Hopefully she wasn't shocked by my biking appearance. (And NO, I was NOT dressed in spandex).

I have discovered the very pleasant realization that it's just as fast to get around "near town" Portland by bike as by car, and parking is far easier. Who knew? (Plenty, obviously...we're supposed to be the most bike friendly city) but it was a revelation to me.

Cheers, everybody.

My rent is paid.
My phone won't be cut off.
My heat/electric won't be turned off.
My mare's board is paid and I have plenty of food for her.
I even managed to cover my obnoxious monthly payoff on a credit card.
I have a webpage and logo being designed.

Could it possibly be that this next year will start in a very good place? That would be wonderful.

I'm going to bike the hour home now. I feel like I've actually gotten something done.

In the words of Gomer Pyle:

WHAHLLL AHHHHLLL BEEEEEEYA!

This has been a most unusual Christmas. Not unusual in that I didn't celebrate it. (I didn't, outside of some extra quality time with my mare and my annual playing of "A Chanticleer Christmas" that I videoed off the TV several years ago. (A fellow I "dated" was in Chanticleer at the time, so it's always a joy to see him, and text him that I'm watching him on TV yet again and Merry Christmas!). I stayed at home...the truck's starter having gone out and me with enough money to pay for the neccessities (rent, insurance, electicity, phone) but not enough for a new starter...so, I'm biking and bussing it in until next paycheck. Yesterday I biked about 30 miles (I thanke thee, Gawd, for thy sheepe and it's woolle, that which kept me warme.) Today the buses are running (no island service on Sunday), so I'm only biking half that. Pair that with my eating far more healthily (no wheat...lots of fruit, chicken, veg, and lean dairy), I'm feeling thinner already. I was actually quite stunned how easy the biking was. I guess the endless dancing has really kept the legs in shape and the stamina up.

I finished the last repair on the table, so will be advertising my services for more. In the meanwhile, I'm "filling the stores" with lovely hats, mittens, cowls, scarves, etc. We still have a lot of winter ahead of us.

A little bit of my recent yarn work in the last 2 weeks:




Soon to come:
The retailoring of the violet wood-silk puffy sleeved monster.
The fabulous super bulky reversable knitmileofdoom hat.

Can I reclaim that, or is it beyond redemption?

It's been in the news, the stealing and recovery of the metal sign over the gate at Auschwitz, "ARBEIT MACHT FREI" (work makes free or work sets you free) which of course, was a HUGE lie, in that case.


On the other-hand... work that one loves, can set them free. The creativity of making garments and fixing those of others has really been rewarding....thus Yarn work makes you free. Not that I'd use it as my motto. Just a mental pondering.

Germany... I have such weird feelings toward that country. I love the language, the country is beautiful, and the people I know are wonderful... How can such things have such a horrid history.

Portland was buried under snow, and then ice. I took the kids out into a little paddock, and we had photos taken.

My last Christmas with the Fuzzbuzz. (Howard). Inspite of watching UP last night, and weeping copiously, the tears aren't so close to the surface as they were last year, or the first 6months of last year.

What a year this has been. I am VERY ready to bid 2009 adieu.

Rest well, dear friend. Love you lots.


Miss you more.

Got the DVD yesterday to watch. I know it's supposed to be wonderful and heart-lifting, but it made me cry and depressed the crap out of me.

Oh yeah, and I set my toaster on fire. Corn tortillas do not warm in the toaster. They burn in the toaster... and produce amazingly big flames. The toaster is fine. I was a little freaked out to say the least, to turn around and see foot tall flames shooting out the top of the toaster. I used to warm flour tortillas in the time so didn't think anything of it.

That phrase in personal ads makes me laugh and shake my head.

I want to put in a personal ad for a:

"Big Muscley guy who's secure enough in himself to cut up and act grrrly and giggly when warranted. A sense of humour is one of the sexiest things a man can possess."

One of my most favorite photographs of all time is former IML, Bo Ladeshevska, in a strapless pink latex ballgown with a lace-up corseted back. I'll see if I can find a picture of it. It brings me GREAT JOY.

I'm sitting in my usual sunny corner of the coffee shop...feeling pretty pumped from the gym...computer in front of me, wearing old faded worn gardening jeans, a flannel shirt, big hiking boots, I need a shave... I am hand sewing the seam allowance down on a violet wool-silk tweed ladies cardigan that I retailored last night.

I is a contradiction in terms.