Not much knitting in this post, or in my life, right now

Wow, I just found out that I'm ugly. At least according to an ad by some Minnesota Republicans, who think that all Republican women are good looking, and all Democratic women are not, with Dem. pictures displayed to the the tune of "Who Let the Dogs Out?".  Kathy Ireland, who refuses to be categorized as Republican or Democrat, was furious about this ad, because 1)it labeled her as Republican, and 2) it was disgusting. Apparently, the pictures of Democratic women were manipulated, unlike the pics of the Republican women.

The ad's been out there for a few days, but I haven't heard any one from the Republican party denounce it. Shame on them.

I don't mind being labeled a Democrat (I am one), and I frankly don't care what some crazy Republicans in Minnesota think of my appearance. I do care, however, that something as crazy and as offensive as this ad goes unnoticed by the party that it represents.  And I care greatly that the state of political discourse in this country has sunk to the level of using appearance as relevant to anything. I've already been depressed by the low level of intelligence being displayed by many people in the news. (A note to some of them ~ Hawaii is a state in the US, folks. Like Kansas. Or even Minnesota)(Another note to some more of them: Religion is a private affair, and no one is entitled to demand of another what religion, if any, he or she practices. And being a Christian isn't a requirement for any job in our government, anyway.)

I don't think Obama walks on water. I don't agree with all his policies. I think he should do more to alleviate the crushing effects of the current economic recession. I think he's way off on education.  I do support the health care program, however. I'm a teacher, and I see all too often the results of not having health insurance ~ kids with poor health, but no help in getting better unless that kid gets so sick it's life-threatening, and then it's just a trip to the ER, a one-shot chance at a cure. Missed days of school, poor attention (it's hard to pay attention in class if you feel lousy), and, of course, the spread of anything that child has that's contagious to every other student in class ~ and to me. Universal health care is a necessity.  Lack of insurance wastes lives.

I also don't demonize all Republicans. However, I have to admit, I am disgusted by the brand of politics the Republicans seem to be playing lately. Block every move by Obama. Use deception and fear to motivate votes.  Lie, and then lie about lying. Never admit you were wrong.  Change your story, and then question the intelligence of anyone who calls you on that change. Use a double standard ~ you can do no wrong, but if a Democrat does what you're doing, castigate him for being a) lazy b) a spendthrift c) a tax-and-spend demon.

So far, the Republicans have chosen to bash Hispanics and women ~ who's next? Oh, wait, I forgot, they also routinely bash gay people. And Muslims. I can hardly wait to see who's next.

Okay, so there hasn't been any knitting content in this post. That could be because I've finished the baby blanket, haven't started anything new, and I don't have a camera that works to take pictures of said blanket.  And, then, today is the first day below 100 degrees this week, and knitting in 107 heat (I don't have AC at home) is sort of a masochist's heaven, so I haven't been inspired to knit anything. I had to force myself to finish the blanket, because it's due tomorrow. If it hadn't been, it would be languishing in it's bag, too.

I've also been busy setting up my classroom for the new school year that begins next week. Tuesday for the kids, Monday for me. So far, I have 34 kids scheduled for my class. Theoretically, I can have one more, although in practice I could end up with 37 or 38, depending on enrollment. At least, I don't believe this new prinicpal we have would let us stay over the limit, unlike the previous principal.  I taught one year with 37 kids. Don't let anyone tell you class size doesn't matter. It matters a lot. 35 is too many ~ more than that is just a nightmare.  This year, thankfully, I have a straight 5th grade class. Last year, it was a combo, 4th and 5th. Under the current CA standards, combo classes are impossible. Each grade level's standards consume a full year of instruction. How can anyone expect one teacher to teach two full years of standards in the same time as it takes to teach one year's worth? I was glad to see that CA did adopt the Common Core standards, however. They're much easier to meet than our current ones, and much more developmentally appropriate for the students. They won't, however, be in place this year, or probably not even next year. And our district can't implement them on their own, since the state test, which is required under NCLB, is still using the old CA standards. Still, it gives me something to look forward to, someday.

A little of this, a little of that

A new fan has made a huge difference in the temperature in my home. I've almost finished the baby blanket, well in time for next Saturday's shower. Now I'll need to find a box or bag to fit it in, so I can wrap it up for the shower.

As for why blogging has declined so much, many people say it's because Facebook and Ravelry have become the places to post, instead of on blogs. That's discouraging. I am a member of both, but don't post much to either place. I much prefer blogging.  I hope others come back to blogging once the weather cools and people begin fall/holiday knitting.

Both my cameras are not working due to low batteries and my inability to find my battery chargers. Nikon cameras don't use regular batteries, so I have to either buy specialty batteries or their battery chargers. (My cameras use different batteries/chargers) I can't afford to buy new ones until October, so I'm hoping I'll find them soon. I usually take pictures of all my students on the first day of school (and next to the last day). I use the first day pictures to label places I display student work And I can't take any pictures of my knitting projects until I find/buy a battery charger. Guess I'll stock up on extra batteries once I'm back to work and getting paid (October 1st). I really, really need to find those chargers!

I've been watching the news, with all the flooding in Pakistan and China, and the much warmer weather we've been having all over the eastern US, and wondering when people will realize that global warming is real and happening now. Today, a reporter for the NYTimes was writing about the Arctic melting so much faster, and the water warming so much more than usual. He claims it will make it harder for the Arctic to freeze next year.  There go our polar bears. And I worry about the whales, too. They rely on the much colder Arctic waters for food. If the water is warm, what will happen to their food source? We need to start working on the problem now, not when it's too late. (Soapbox moment ended)

I'm going in late to work on my classroom today, taking care of some personal stuff this morning. One of those things is to begin organizing my stash today. It's all over the apartment, in containers, plastic bags, knitting bags, etc. I'm not sure I even know what is in my stash, so it's time to organize. Won't happen fast, though. I have an enormous stash! I was browsing Ravelry and came across their "Flash your Stash" thread. I love what some people have done to organize their stashes. One woman has a woodworker DH, and he built her these incredible cabinets for her yarn collection. I am sooooo jealous!  Since I don't have a woodworker, much less a DH, I'm thinking IKEA for me. Again, though, that's in the planning stages until income resumes. But once I've gotten my stash altogether, I can at least figure out what I'll need to house it all. And I can work on the plan until then, anyway.

I also bit the bullit, and began going through all my knitting magazines, tearing out the patterns/articles I want to keep, and discarding the rest. I have to admit, I had to wonder why I bought some of those mags, because in some of them, I couldn't find a single article, pattern, or even an ad that I wanted or would even consider keeping. Obviously, I need to do a better job of scanning the mags in the bookstore before I buy them. Especially now, when the price of those mags has reached the same level as a book. I don't mind paying that for a magazine that has patterns and articles I will use, but for ones that don't? What was I thinking?

The Heat is On

Well, knitting is on hold for a little while. The weather's getting progressively hotter (over 100 today), and my one and only fan died last night ~ just too late to run out for a replacement, of course. So, once the stores open today, I'm off to find a fan ~ no easy job, actually. Fans disappear from stores once the heat climbs into the 90s, and it's been there for almost a week now, so the pickings will be slim, I'm sure.

I couldn't sleep much with the heat ~ one thing about SoCal weather is that it truly doesn't cool off much at night. It was still in the 80s at 10 pm last night. It's 66 right now, just after 5 am.  So, I gave up the attempt around 2:30(75 degrees), and tried to do some knitting on the baby blanket. Somehow, having a large amount of blanket in my lap just didn't work for me this morning. But hey, at least I know it will keep the baby warm this winter!

As I've been catching up on blog readings, I've noticed that quite a few folks have either stopped posting at all, or are posting much less often.  Are blogs fading out? Are people just too busy trying to keep a roof over their heads in this dismal economy to blog? Is it just the weather? Will we see an upsurge in posting once it finally cools off?

I'm still knitting

the baby blanket. It's gotten summery at last here in SoCal, and I've begun working in my classroom to get ready for the start of school on August 31st, so I've slowed down. I really only have another 5 or 6 inches to go, and I have more than a week to finish, so I'm sure I'll be done with it in time. The heat, however, makes it hard to pick up a lapful of blanket to work on in the afternoon. I've taken to getting up in the very early am to work on it, when it's as cool as it's going to get.

I never made it back to pick up more of the Michael's yarn for a cardi, but that's okay. I have a huge stash, and I'm sure I'll be inspired by something from it for a new cardigan. And I've gotten all those lovely yarns from Elann to play with, as well as some yarns I got on EBay, so I just gave the Michael's yarn a pass.

I did cast on for the sweater out of the Vogue Knits Early Fall, using USDK. Yikes, using 3s! They're so tiny for a sweater project. It was almost scary using them. And the thought of using tiny needles for a long sleeved pullover made me, ummm, wince. That's a lot of knitting time devoted to this project. Good thing I really love the sweater, and the yarn. One thing it's made me do, too, is schedule one of the big-needle cardigans from that same issue as the next thing on my list. Maybe I'll start that one after the blanket is done, and I've gotten the pattern memorized in the USDK sweater. It will provide relief for my hands, switching to the big needles and back to the little needles.

Anyway, I'm off to knit a few more rows of the blanket, and then head into my classroom for a few hours.  Enjoy your weekend!

Another Elann Great Buy!

Elann is having another Sample Pack sale, this time on light-weight yarns. Cashmere! Silk! 6 skeins for $18. I've worked with the baby cashmere and baby silk ~ they are incredibly soft and lovely to work with. I keep telling myself that I promised myself no more yarn buying until November, but some of the colors are sooo luscious! But I'm going to be disciplined and exercise my will power. For the rest of you, you have until August 19th to grab some of this delicious yarn.  (I am so dreading what must be coming next ~ the Chunky Yarn Sample Pack. I do love chunky yarns. I'm not going to look. I am not going to look. I am not...)

Quick Update

I made a mistake in my earlier post today. The KnitOne CrochetToo yarn isn't for a free Elann pattern, it's for #23 in the Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2010 magazine. (#22 is on my list, too! As are the 3 Lutz & Patmos chunky cardigans. For once, a VK I'll keep for more than the articles!)

Progress, and a diversion

I've managed to knit almost 15 inches on the baby blanket, and I do really like the look of it. Unfortunately, late last night (or early this morning, since it was long after midnight), I ran into a problem. A missing stitch. Not one I can easily just add back in, but one I can't find where it went missing. So I have to rip back until I have all the stitches. All 126 of them. And I just couldn't face it.

While I was out buying the yarn for this baby blanket, I ran across a Michael's brand yarn called Loops & Threads. They had a really bulky warm cream yarn that I bought a skein of to try out. It's acrylic, which I don't knit often, but this yarn feels incredibly soft, and being machine washable and dryable does appeal to me. So, last night while I was feeling very frustrated with the blanket, I tried out this yarn.

And this afternoon I have 18 inches of a moss-stitch cardigan front on my needles. No pattern, just something in my head I'm working out as I go. (Does anyone else do that?) I love the nubby look of the moss stitch, and this yarn really accents that nubbiness. Of course, now I'll have to go back to Michael's and get more yarn, praying that they 1) have the same dyelot and 2)that they have enough yarn for the whole cardigan.

Like I really need to buy more yarn. But then, I didn't buy any for nearly a year or so, so maybe it's okay. I just seem to be making up for lost time rather rapidly. I've also been to Elann a couple (3?) times in the last week or so, and bought some lovely yarns.  I got 13 skins of a Knit One Crochet Too USDK  (that's the pattern I'm making, too)yarn in a gorgeous shade of wine. I'll be using that to make one of the free patterns I found on their site. And I went back a day or two later to get Elann's Bamboo Fusion for a Maddy Laine pattern. They are having a full bag sale on the Fusion, just $18.15 for a bag of 10 50g skeins! I also picked up some of their Pegasus, as well, for a cute little cropped cardi I want to make. And a day later, when I only meant to look through their free patterns (honestly!), they were offering a sample (6 skeins) of their mid-weight house yarns for only $15, so I got one of those, too, in lovely shades of purple.

I don't actually feel guilty for buying yarn. It lasts forever, and if I don't knit it today, there's always tomorrow. Or next year, or whenever. It's just that it's August. August and September are my "no unnecessary buying" months. As a teacher, I don't get paid between July 1st and October 1st, so these are lean months.  This is so not the month to get bitten by the yarn acquisition bug! So, I'm promising myself that once I get enough of the bulky cream yarn to finish the cardigan, I'm not buying anymore yarn until November. (October's check is always spent before it actually gets here, so...)  Moral support welcome!

Wow, two posts in two days!

Just a quick update. The 4th time was the charm, after all. Yay! I'm about 4 inches in on the blanket now, and it's whizzing along. Plenty of time to finish before the baby shower! (Yes, I'm so relieved to be able to say that, after the tough time I had getting started on this baby blanket!)

I just looked at the First Fall issue of Knitty, and I've downloaded the pattern for Victoria. I'll be shopping my stash for this one, but I really like the look of it. And it's not like I'm in a hurry for it ~ SoCal doesn't need cardigans until maybe December. Although, it's been a pretty cool summer, temperature-wise. Mostly 70s and 80s, with a few 90+, and even fewer (maybe 3?) that reached 3-digits. Odd, really. Maybe the weather is saving up the really hot days until school starts up again. September is usually warm, often hot, so we'll see.

Anyway, back to the baby blanket.

I'm back! Again!

It's been more than a year since I last posted, and I did some blog reading today and found out I'm not alone in being missing for so long. Several of my regular reads have been "missing" longer than I have! What have we all been doing??

As for me, I had a really tough year at work, a combo class of 35 4th and 5th graders who hadn't learned their social graces yet. It was a long, difficult road to success in June, I tell ya.

Anyway, I'm finally recovered from that year, and I've started knitting again. (I was so frazzled most of the year that I even stopped buying yarn!) But, the daughter of a friend is having a baby, and I decided I was going to knit her son-to-be a nice little blanket.

I found a pattern I liked in Love of Knitting magazine, summer '09, found some yarn I liked at Michael's, a chunky color-spattered really soft yarn, washable of course, and started in. And restarted. And restarted.  I tell ya, it made me crazy! It seems such a simple pattern, but I consistently messed up 3 times.

Thank goodness I started this project very early. The shower isn't until August 28th, so I have time, but I just never expected to have this much trouble with such a simple knit. This must be revenge of the Yarn gods for abandoning them for a year!

Maybe the 4th time is the charm? I'm about to find out, once I finish this post. Oh, and eat dinner. I had so much trouble with Blogger today, it took me hours just to get to this blog. Another consequence for dropping out for a year, huh? Anyway, I'll be posting more regularly, although I make no promises. School starts up again on August 30th, so who knows?

It's good to be back!