Signs of Spring

Two weeks ago I was packing for a quilt retreat. I spent 3 lovely days at a camp near Elderon working on several unfinished objects. I got a lot accomplished and learned so much from the other quilters. These women are hardcore; they do it all and do it well. It was a huge help to learn new tricks and push through some sticky spots and uncertainty. I still have plenty of finishing to do, though! These are two of the projects I was working on. I will do updates when they're all done. Yes, they will be all done.

I had a message from work when I got home. I was called back and had to hit the ground running. I was expecting to work during my co worker's maternity leave, but it came sooner than I thought. Mom and baby are doing fine. I am doing okay now myself, things being all about me of course, but I never worked this much for this company when I was a "regular." They are unusually busy right now. So I hope I can squirrel away some cash for the next slow season, whenever that is.

The weather has been fantastic. I know, we need rain, but I am very happy about the warmth. I have even started walking at the arboretum again. Today was my 3rd trip, and I saw my first snake of the year. I thought I had a little more time. It was a tiny garter snake lying still at the edge of the path. This time I didn't jump or scream; I started talking baby talk to it. I was worried about the poor little thing. I prodded it with a stick and it rolled over and played dead. Well, I think it was playing. I lifted it into the grass off the path, so it would have a fighting chance. I hope it's okay. I am a little concerned that I have such compassion for a snake. We'll see how I feel the next time one slithers across my path.

And now Easter has come. A wonderful season, a wonderful love I can't wrap my head around. Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!

March Madness

My bracket stinks.


I should tell you that I know nothing about basketball. I never, ever watch it unless I go to somebody's kid's high school game. So the state of my bracket should come as no surprise.


A few years ago, I was presented with an empty bracket by the man I would later marry. I didn't know what to make of it. "I don't know anything about basketball," I pleaded. "Just guess," he said. "Everybody just guesses." That year my bracket stank (stunk?), too. And the year after that. But one bright and shining March, I think it was 2007, I won. The whole thing. I defeated all the friends, relatives and coworkers who actually knew what was going on. Some of them even studied for this! And they were beaten by a girl and her dumb, random luck. It was a lovely thing.


In the last two years I have come close, top four or five, but I haven't won again. Statistically, I have had my lifetime share of big dumb luck moments. So unless I actually learn something about this sport, and probably even if I do, I will never win again. But I will fill out that stupid bracket every year. I had a little taste of victory and I liked it. You just never know.

Ouch, Thinking is Hard

Okay, I don't know about spiritual growth yet, but I am seeing some very strange things in my life without spider solitaire. I seem to have stopped wandering in here to play, but I find myself casting about for substitutes. I have been showing up at the frig more than usual. I'm watching boring and silly things on TV which I would not normally tolerate. I am surfing the web for just about anything. Hey, I tell myself, I like knitting, I'll search for free patterns online! So I spend an hour looking at sweaters although I don't especially want to knit one (did find two nice ones in spite of myself).

I have done some productive things around the house as well as a little good reading, but I am surprised how hard I work trying to distract myself from thinking. I have the gift of time to work through my ongoing midlife/career/creative crisis and I am avoiding it. The puzzle games are more fun because if you persevere you can solve them. Get the Right Answer. There are no guarantees like that in life. Maybe I'm afraid I'll find a problem I don't want to solve, or a solution I'd rather not implement.

Lent

It's Ash Wednesday today. I grew up in a small church that didn't follow the church year very closely, only really celebrating Easter and Christmas. I remember one year our Sunday School teacher actually lit an advent wreath and told us what each candle meant. I thought it was positively exotic. So during my life I have been all over the map with how I observe Lent, or how I don't. I seem to have settled somewhere in the middle. Jack is giving up chocolate, among other things. Every year he gives up chocolate, his favorite treat. So every year I am mildly annoyed that he loses weight just by giving up this one little thing for a few weeks. I guess he must eat A LOT of chocolate.

I decided to give up computer games this year. Today alone has been enlightening. I should have counted every time I wandered into this room and sat down in this chair only to remember I can't do what I came here for. So I check my email again and leave. Why do you think I am even writing this now? I came in here again for my spider solitaire fix and thought I might as well do something. Just imagine the trouble I can get into with all the time I'm going to save! I did actual housework today. Maybe this will help me out of my winter funk. I'm not sure what any of this has to do with Lent. My initial intent was to be a better steward of my time, we'll see if I experience any spiritual growth or just have cleaner floors.

Football

I grew up in western Wisconsin.

I do not like the team across the river.

This is the happiest day of my life.

Well, top 5, at least.

Winter blahs

Christmas is over, and as of last weekend I am also done with Christmas parties. It was time. However, it is still winter. I used to like winter, many years ago, before I had my own driveway. That robbed it of all charm. I am trying to be proactive this year, so I'm brainstorming things to do to get through another winter. My list so far:

Take vitamin D. I don't know if it helps, but it's supposed to, so at least there may be some placebo effect.

Knit.

See how many socks you can wear on each foot.

Turn on all the lights.

Complain.

Wear fingerless gloves in the house. It keeps your hands warmer and makes you feel bohemian.

If the sun comes out, sit in the window like a cat.

Whine.

Exercise. Yell at the mean lady in the workout DVD. She likes it; it validates her.

Drink lots of coffee. It makes you feel so much happier.

Clean something. If you need inspiration, watch that show about hoarders.

Read something that doesn't require much thought.

Watch 24 and be glad Jack Bauer is not mad at you.

Mope.

Watch American Idol. Imagine that Jack Bauer is a guest judge.

Start a blog post. Decide it's going nowhere and delete it.

Start another post. Leave computer, allowing husband to accidentally delete it.

Spend quality time trying to figure out where your post went.

You may watch Martha, but if you find yourself jotting down a recipe, it is time to back away.

Research the cost of living in Arizona.

Grumble.

Finish the basement. Winter will fly by, as the project will seem to take several years. Oh, right, it is taking several years.

Try to remember that you do, after all, have a home and are therefore rich compared to much of the world. Maybe a little less complaining would be okay. Make a nice cup of tea and get over yourself.

A little progress

I did manage to get some socks done the other week. Not all of them, but I finished two pairs plus one sock. I finally dominated that lace pattern, so there. Yes, it is long, but I wanted to use up the yarn. And yes, it is stretchy.

I love the fact that it has been "unseasonably warm" the past couple weeks. What a lovely phrase. After an entire year of unseasonably cool, I am all for this. I don't care about a white Christmas, I just want the warm. I know it probably won't last another week, so I will have to enjoy it while I can.