Don’t they look like leafless tree trunks?

When we got out of the car, we split up with me going south to check out the river’s tide while hubby went straight for the lookout deck. I have this weird obsession with tides, ever since I took a navigational class to improve kayaking skills. On my way to the path leading close to the river, I vaguely noticed a lone seagull.

As it was a bit blustery, overcast and high tide, we didn’t stay too long to explore down the rocks. Went back to the car and when the car doors closed, the lone seagull approached us. It stopped about 3-4 feet and just stared. That could mean one thing. It wanted handouts.

Hubby and I discussed this development a bit; mentioned to him I had popcorn. However, the popcorn bag was in the trunk and I was feeling lazy to get out and get it. Finally, after what seemed like a minute or two, decided to get the bag of that precious goodie. Trunk popped. I stepped out and as I did, noticed that several feet away, say about 50 feet, in a grassy area sat about 30-40 seagulls and other little black birds. Nonchalant and napping most probably.

Once the trunk opened and I started searching, that lone bird in slow motion opened its beak. A second delay later, came out the AHHHRRRRK! AHHHRRRK! sounds. Mind you, I don’t think it even saw what I was getting. But when those sounds came out of that bird, from my peripheral vision flickered a movement from the 30-40 seagulls and little black birds. Grabbed the bag, slammed the trunk shut, ran to the passenger side of the car. Trunk to passenger side only takes a few steps, but those birds beat me to it. Barely.

As I closed the door, hubby asked, “What did you do? I heard its cry.” I said, “I did nothing! Go, Go, Go!” We must have looked like criminals trying to drive away with a loot, away from all sorts of cops pursuing us.

The funny thing is, I figured to distract them from us I cracked open the window a bit and started throwing out popcorn. Some birds were right at the window, collided with other birds in pursuit of the loot. As we looked out the back window, there was chaos of birds and feathers. I must have emptied out a ziploc-full of CHEESY, DELICIOUS POPCORN…popcorn meant to be eaten at a movie theater we were planning to see later on.

MORAL OF THE STORY:
1) I believe that flying is incredible. It’s a faster means of traveling.
2) Birds are no idiots! Don’t look them in the eye as they can read minds and body language.
3) I was not meant to have popcorn. Incentive to see a movie forgotten.

Truth is, Facebook has taken ahold of a chunk of the little time I have alloted between job, home, workouts, play and knitting. My problem is, if one iota of tasks from my to-do list gets neglected, I neglect the rest since obsessive/compulsive coupled with perfectionist attitude gets me all unglued.

Now that Spring is here with more sunshine ushered in, I actually am angry that it is finally here. Usually, I look forward to Spring. This time around, all there is are the tons of chores spring-cleaning brings and waiting for me to accomplish.

Deep inside, I’m rebelling. Rebelling from years of doing chores, being all-perfect and well-organized. All I want is to do nothing, except read, knit, dance and eat. And the urge to do nothing but fun stuffs go against the mantra from growing up Catholic: idle hands are the devil’s workshop (something to that effect).

With all this stupid turmoil within me, I’m psycho-analysing this as some kind of depression. I fear depression. How could it be depression when I’m actually functioning? Am I just overwhelmed with the tasks I have at hand? Should I hire someone to help me clean around?

Do you see this dilemma I have? Do people go through such rut I’m going through, when life at the moment is actually all hunky dory? Why miserable when other people are actually having real physical hardship in their lives compared to mine? Am I going nuts seriously analyzing absolutely superficial nothings? Have I been afflicted with reality-tv syndrome of creating fluff over nothing?

Well, writing these feelings down actually made me feel a little better and sillier. I will now stop whining and go on with the everyday life. Every Springtime is a renewal. So really, I just dumped all the cr*pped-out feelings here and now ready to move on.

Happy Spring Everyone!

2010 Knit In Progress #2
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lanaloft, Colors Celery & Purple Iris, 100% Mothproofed Wool, Worsted
Laura Aylor‘s ever-so popular Lizard Ridge Afghan
Needle Size: Size 9
Start Date: Mid-February 2010
Target Finish Date: November 2010
Special Note:

• This is the 2nd Lizard Ridge afghan I’m doing. The first one was such joy to make, albeit a long time in the making. For this 2nd one, instead of knitting 30 blocks of Noro, I’m opting for Lanaloft Wool and just one continuous row after the other, interchanging solid color with a variegated one.
• Lanaloft is slightly thicker than Noro. A size 9 needle will make the afghan wider and longer, which is what I wanted. This way, it will totally cover the queen-sized bed.
• Having to start in February will give me ample time to finish up before the intended recipient’s birthday (my husband’s) in December.

 

2010 Knit In Progress #1
Berroco Alpaca, Color #6293, 50/50 Alpaca/Wool 
Sublime #607 Book for Sublime Cashmerino  
Needle Size to gauge: Size 4,  Size 32/34
Start Date: Late January 2010
Target Finish Date: Mid-February 2010
Special Note: 

• I love the look of this coat, rather loose. It would go well with pencil jeans or tights. I love tights.
• Although the pattern is calling for a specific yarn, Sublime extra fine merino wool, I couldn’t find it at my LYS
• Hopefully, I can finish this in less than 2-3 weeks. The back side is already done and it only took me 4 days. Yeah, laugh….4 days is really pushing it, especially if it’s being done on my lunch breaks. I’m really making a sweat here.

Knit In Progress #9
Berroco Touche, Color #7965, 50/50 Cotton/Rayon 
Sage Cardigan, design by Lily Go
Needle Size to gauge: Size 4 and 6, for Size Small
Start Date: Early December 2009
Target Finish Date: Mid-January 2010
Special Note: 

• This project is test-knitted for Lily. I have previously done a test project for Lily Go, and I find her designs appealing.
• Since crochet isn’t my forte, I will swap with a knit-edge design on the sleeves instead.
• The details on photo below does not show holes yet (project will have to be blocked to appreciate design); and since yarn color is a bit on the dark side, I lightened up the tone of photo, again, to appreciate the details.

This project is the last of the 2009 projects, even if it had not been finished. I already have a 2010 project cooking in the oven, so to speak.

At the close end of 2009, I discovered Face Book! And so, the beginning of a bad addiction started.

Let me assure you, with a built-in guilt from years of being Catholic, I’d never stray too far from a project such as my blog, or my knitting, or anything that is dear to my heart. I’m still productive, but a bit spread-out-thin at the moment.

So to compensate, let me give you a treat for the eyes. Just click here. Trust me, it has something close and related to yarn, providers of yarn at least.

The ‘star’ is actually a bit literal. He’s into quantum electrodynamics, theoretical physics, and nuclear engineering to name a few. 

What? You thought I saw a Hollywood star? I’m a NERD pig and always has been. I’d be more attracted to people who can tell me about science, the universe, multidimensional worlds, human mind, etc. Even religion. 

Anyhoo, he’s name is Freeman Dyson. 

I went to a free lecture the University of Oregon Physics department organized, with Dyson talking about IMAGINED WORLDS. 

Thinking, who would come to such lecture? So I took my time and got to the auditorium 5 minutes before the lecture. Panic and regret ensued. As I entered the building, there were people already waiting to get into the auditorium. I knew the guy was BIG in the field of science, but I underestimated how many people really are into quantum theory, mathematics, etc. 

I persevered and went inside anyway. Now, this is where the ‘small’ person comes in handy. I squeezed myself in and got a very good spot; only it’s going to be standing for the whole duration. From where I stood, people were everywhere sitting in the aisle, just so they can hear Freeman Dyson talk. 

On to the lecture itself….Mr. Dyson (or should it be Dr. Dyson?) presented himself well. He was humorous without trying. He was asked about the Orion Project that he, along with S. Ulum (it was his idea) and T. Taylor started; and realized it wasn’t going to go through so he got out of the project. The project itself is ongoing. 

The talk about string theory and heretics stuck out for me. As well as religion, atheists and scientists. His joke on string theory is that it’s a science without equipment ~ rather cheap. And one doesn’t have to be a scientist to understand string theory, which comes to no surprise that there are as many string theorists around than needed. What I like about his stance on heretics. Heretics are needed to get different ideas out, it gets questions sought out and solutions to be found. You can also tell that he’s soft on religion (my opinion, of course). In other words, religion and science go hand in hand. Never isolated from each other. It’s the opposite I’m leaning on. 

When he was asked questions about religion, he (again, my observation) stumbled for words. Or maybe, he was finding words that would not incite negative reaction from the crowd. But then, he is known to NOT be afraid to state his opinion contrary to popular persuasion. 

The intrigue was on the topic of populating comets. He had this concept of planting a bioengineered plant that could grow in bubbles/clusters that would initiate its own greenhouse atmosphere. Comets, as it is, have less gravitational pull than earth or other planets. With less gravity, the plants/trees can grow with no bound. In turn, these comets would sustain human colonies. Comets are quite smaller than planets; can be sustained faster, easier than planets. This is just a concept. He did realize that it would take years for man, in this current state of space conquest technology, to be able to travel millions upon millions of light years to be able to reach these comets. 

He was asked what country in the future would have the stronghold or the power that the U.S. has in this current time. CHINA. He went on to say that Spain, during its drive to conquer the world, took 150 years before it went down, just like Rome. Then it was England. At the current time and most recent, is the U.S.A. So, the United States still has quite a ways to go. After the U.S. global dominance, China would come next; that is, if it doesn’t do itself in first, in blunders. Everyone laughed. 

I know this blog entry seems boring. But as a lay person, with tremendous yearning for physics, quantum theories, etc. I’m now realizing WHAT I want to be when I grow up. Unfortunately, I’m beyond half a century. So now, I can only enjoy these lectures and keep reading about these things and envy those whose minds blow me away. And so, I will try to talk about such subjects. Subjects that give rise to questions, lots of them and in the process the hunger for answers will follow. 

My only disappointment: the men in the audience and in the panel outnumbered women. But glad to see a couple of middle school-aged children who stuck around till the end of the lecture.

As for me, there’ll be NO turkey  :(

For they all……..

…got away from me.

Knit In Progress #8
Malabrigo Azul Profundo #150, 100% Merino Wool 
Cable Beanie, design by Marianne Garrison (LYS)
Needle Size to gauge: Size 8 One Size Only
Start Date: Mid-November
Target Finish Date: Ongoing, until I get bored with it
Special Note: Hat is tight-fitting. The cable design is very simple to follow. Malabrigo Yarns are incredibly soft.

There’s this cache of these brimmed beanies and Button Hats for Christmas gifts and winter knitting that I’m building. Also included would be fingerless and closed mittens. Scarves included.