Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Turn and face the strange.
Don't want to be a richer man,
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes…

Just gonna have to be a different man,
Time may change me.
But I can't trace time.

I spend a lot of time in front of a computer screen and run across some pretty useful (and some useless) information on the Internet. One day I read a ‘tweet’ talking about a project called ‘Knit-a-Year’. I was intrigued. The instructions were easy; cast on some stitches, knit at least two rows every day using a color that fits your mood or feelings that day. You could journal or blog, as a kind of documentation of your feelings. I chose to blog.

When I told people about the project, more often than not I got a blank stare. Why would you want to do that? What is it for? What are you going to do with it? There were a few who thought that it was a fun, interesting and even cool idea. I guess, on the whole, it’s a little ‘out there‘ for the average person, especially if the person doesn’t knit or worse, isn’t creative.

I started on April 1, 2010. I finished on March 31, 2011. I made it through the whole year! As I look back on the year I ask myself some questions. Why did I do it? Why did I stick with it? Why did I bother to finish? What did I learn? What now?

I chose to participate in this project because I thought it sounded interesting. As is often sometimes the case, I didn’t follow the instructions exactly. I can call it creative license. Yeah, that sounds good. Instead of one long continuous strip, I chose to break mine into ‘seasons’. I have four strips, one for spring, April through June, summer, July through September, fall, October through December, and winter, January through March. It doesn’t quiet go along with the seasons but it’s close. The stitch the original project called for curls in on itself. The result would be a very long skinny tube. That didn’t appeal to me at the time so I made mine wider and chose a stitch that would create a flat fabric.

I never found this project to be a chore. At first I made it a point, no matter what, to knit on it each day. But I travel for my job and carrying a bunch of different yarn with me didn’t work. I wanted to stay with the spirit of the project and choose something that portrayed my mood at that time. So I couldn’t pack some red, yellow, green, etc., because I might not have felt red, yellow or green during the time I was gone. Instead I would record how I felt then pick the yarn when I got home. If I did have a color in mind I’d make a note of it as well. I would usually knit when I was alone, at night after everyone went to bed. It was a peaceful time and I could think (or worry) about whatever crossed my mind.

Perhaps the hardest thing was to find the yarn I wanted to use. I have quite a bit of yarn. Probably too much, depending on who you ask! At the house we did some rearranging and I got some cabinets to store all the yarn in. To get it from the upstairs room to the downstairs room required putting it in boxes, bags, or whatever was available. Some of it is unpacked but quite a lot isn’t. I’d want a certain yarn and wouldn’t know where it had been packed. That frustrated me. In the beginning I decided I was not going to duplicate the yarn used. I could have done that easily. But the packing and not being able to find things plus trying to keep up with what had been used changed my mind. Instead I made sure that each strip never had repeats of the same yarn.

The journaling was optional. At first I went into a lot of detail about why I chose the yarn for that day, what it was, and why. Later I cut some of the detail. I decided to write a blog and as I wrote sometimes I wrote too much before I even got to the knitayear. That part was for me anyway. I didn’t figure too many people really cared why I chose purple boucle or not! I did find out I enjoyed the writing and will continue to blog.

Here are some interesting observations I made during the year and after completing the strips. • The first strip is the longest but the last strip is not the shortest. The shortest one would be ‘fall’, with Thanksgiving and Christmas included. I think it was a time thing and I just didn’t add as much on each day because there were a lot of other things going on.
• I tend to be influenced by the color of the season. The fall strip, especially at the beginning had a lot of oranges and browns. There’s a block that’s got a lot of red and green and white in it. The spring strip had a lot of bright colors, cheerful, which reminded me of spring.
• The same color didn’t mean the same mood. For instance there were times I used blue when I was happy and times when I was sad. For the most part though, if it was really a bad day there’s probably some really dark yarn, like black or brown included. I couldn’t really determine a ‘happy’ color except that it was bright.
• I like variegated yarn. That means it’s one strand with different colors. I can’t help it. When I look at yarn those jump out at me. I think maybe it’s to do with holding my attention. When the colors change it keeps things interesting.
• I like bright colors. It doesn’t seem to be a particular bright color because I have a lot of all of them except possibly yellow. My mother always told my sister and I we couldn’t wear yellow so I shy away from it. Turns out it was her who didn’t like and couldn’t wear yellow but I was already conditioned!
• I like texture. I have a lot of novelty yarn, fun furs and the like left over from the scarf rage a few years ago. But I also have a lot of ribbon, thick and thin and boucle yarns.
• I don’t make socks but I like sock yarn. There are beautiful colors in sock yarn. The knitayear didn’t always capture the changing colors because it was such a short section of knitting.
• Looking back, if I had left the strip as a tube I could have wound it into some kind of rug. Oh well.

Overall I’m glad I participated and after thousands of stitches I’m pleased I completed this project. I got personal satisfaction from it. I know for sure that I can stick to something and get it done, especially if it is important to me. I enjoyed the time I had to set aside to think about the day. I might even do it again, or something similar anyway. If I do I’ll plan a bit more. Maybe make something specific that was big and would take a lot of time. At one time there was talk by the originator of the project, of an international display of some sort. If that comes about I will take part.

I’m still not sure what I’ll do with the strips. I could use the strips around the top of the wall as a border or just hang them on the wall as some kind of weird art. Or I might just put them in a box and stick it somewhere so it can be thrown out when I die! I could sew them together and put them across the bottom of the king size bed like hotels do with that little piece of cloth. I’m not sure how well that would go over! I’ll just hang on to them until I decide.

Color is an important part of our lives. What we choose is not random, even though putting it all together, side by side every day looks abstract. Color holds individual meaning to us. The colors we choose give personal insight about what is going on inside, our innermost feelings and emotions. That’s really what the knitayear was about. Knitting was just the way I chose to express it.

Still don't know what I was waiting for,
And my time was running wild.
A million dead-end streets and
Every time I thought I'd got it made.
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
So I turned myself to face me.
But I've never caught a glimpse
Of how the others must see the faker.
I'm much too fast to take that test.
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes

Raise Your Glass

Right right, turn off the lights,

We're gonna lose our minds tonight,

What's the dealio?

Drinking and knitting seem to go hand in hand. The only problem, unless you use a straw, is that you have to quit knitting to take a drink!

When I say drink, I don’t mean it has to be alcohol. Some like to have their cup of coffee when they knit. Others like to knit with tea at their side. Some do prefer something a little stronger, or maybe in some cases a bit more relaxing. Wine is a favorite, any color, any kind. Beer is a standard too, especially for some of us West Texas girls. Some even prefer something a little stronger. I’ve heard about a yarntini and a knittini someone had at a party once but I don’t know what the ingredients were. But don’t worry. Friends don’t let friends knit drunk!

It is fairly well known, especially with those having experience of the stronger flavored beverages that keeping the knitting simple works best. It’s no fun to figure out the next day, after two or three hours of knitting and visiting the night before, that you’re horribly off count. Chart knitting is also not recommended as it’s easy enough to get off line without drinking anything but water! Add a little alcohol and, well, it could make the picture not so pretty!

I’m a radio junkie. I listen all the time when I’m driving. Since I already told you it’s not safe to knit and drive. I’m a channel changer. I like all kinds of music; country, pop, rock. Well, I like all kinds of songs in those genres! Anyway, lately there has been a catchy song that I keep hearing. It’s by an artist called Pink, stylized as P!nk. I’m finding I really like a lot of her songs. What I don’t like is that there is always (I think) a ‘clean’ and a ‘dirty’ version. I don’t see the point in that at all. But it’s her choice and she gives me a choice too.

I tried to find out if P!nk is a knitter. I couldn’t find anything but I doubt it since she’s very active in PETA and actually did a video against the purchase of wool. If you do watch the video be forewarned it’s a bit graphic. It might give you something to think about. However, it’s possible she could still be a knitter. There are many non-animal fiber choices to knit with.

Okay, back to the song. I don’t know what made me think of it, except for the fact she says nitty gritty and my ears hear KNITTY gritty. Also there was the time at WHIBSIB (my Texas girls knitting retreat) that our group had a great time just saying ‘drink’ when we wanted, and we all took a swig of our wine or whatever the choice was. Anyway, I’ve ‘re-written’, and I’m not saying well, P!nk’s song to suit knitting. So now, with full apologies to P!nk, here it is.

If you’ve not heard her song, play the video on YouTube but sing the knitting words. Do this in the privacy of your home so nobody will think you’ve lost it!
 

Raise Your Glass (Knitting Version)

Right right turn on the lights

We gonna wind our yarn tonight

It’s no big dealio.

I love when it’s not too tough

Now it’s time. Turn the radio up.

Let’s knit to rock and roll.

Yarny stasher, needle grabber,

Call me up if you’re a knitter,

Don’t drop stitches,

Try it lacey,

Knit delirious...

So raise your glass if all your stitches

Are laying the right way.

All my knit sistahs, 

we will never be, never be

Anything but proud

And Knitty gritty, rosy little cheeks.

Won’t you slip one, and purl one, and

Raise your glass!

Just slip one and purl one and

Raise your glass!

Wham bam knitting’s glam

What kind of stitch don’t you understand?

Wish you’d just rip out (rippit already).

Can’t stop coming up short

I should be looking at this chart

My count is off right now (it’s so off right now).

Yarny stasher, needle grabber,

Call me up if you’re a knitter,

Don’t drop stitches,

Try it lacey,

Knit delirious…

So raise your glass if all your stitches

Are laying the right way.

All my knit sistahs, 

We will never be, never be

Anything but proud

And Knitty gritty, 

rosy little cheeks.

Won’t you slip one, and purl one, and

Raise your glass!

Just knit one and purl one and

Raise your glass!

Just slip one and purl one

Raise your Glass!

Won’t you slip one, and purl one, and

Raise your glass!

Just slip one and purl one and

Raise your Glass!

Oh darn my glass is empty...

that sucks!

So if your knitting is so cool (I mean...)

And your needles are your tools (needles are your tools)

You can choose another yarn

You can cast on, you can cast on

Knit it on your own…

So raise your (oh yarn!)

So raise your glass if all your stitches

Are laying the right way

All my knit sistahs,

We will never be, never be

Anything but proud

And Knitty gritty, rosy little cheeks

Won’t you slip one, and purl one, and

Raise your glass

Just slip one and purl one

Won’t you slip one and purl one and

Raise your glass

With me

Just slip one and purl one

Raise your glass…with me

Now go get your needles and your yarn. Or grab that project you’re working on now. Fill your glass. Get comfy. Knit one and purl one. And slip one and purl one. And raise your glass! Enjoy!

So if you're too school for cool,

And you're treated like a fool,

You can choose to let it go

We can always, we can always,

Party on our own

Where has March gone? Blown away somewhere if you’re out here! I read recently that time seems to pass more quickly when you are older because in childhood, experiences are novel and distinct but in adulthood each passing year converts some of this experience into automatic routine which we hardly note at all, the days and weeks smooth themselves out in recollection, and the years grow hollow and collapse. (William James).  Day 357 of knitayear is March 23. I have a meeting in San Angelo, about 120 or so miles away from work. They were kind at least and start it a little later so I don’t have to leave the house at, as my friend puts it, the butt-crack of dawn! It’s a nice drive and I saw a few wildflowers. The meeting is interesting, and relevant, which is unusual! I stopped for StarBucks on the way home and since Michaels is sort of in the area went by and scored on the dollar aisle! Some were $3.00 to $5.00 but all good, regardless! I chose green boucle that has multi color strips woven through it for the day. Day 358, March 24, is another meeting, at work this time. I am just the host for a local school district. I facilitate and get supplies, etc., and listen to the dialogue. If they practice what they preach after the meeting it could really be good for the kids. And that is what the whole education business is supposed to be about! I choose light green wool that has pink, purple and blue woven through it. March 25, day 359, and only six more days after today of the knitayear. Kind of sad in a way. It’s a slow day at work, not many people there. After work a friend and I decided to get a pedicure. It’s the first one of the season for me. Sandal season that is! It was fun and it’s amazing how much better it can make you feel. Even pretty! I choose pink yarn with a little silver sparkle for today. Day 360, March 26, is Saturday. So many things to do but I haven’t done them yet! I have to go to Austin tomorrow so will wash and pack for that trip. It’s a change of schedule but won’t be bad. Alan wants to do Atkins. I don’t but if I’m cooking I guess I will be too. Maybe it will work and I’ll lose weight. Maybe! I choose blue fancy fur for today. Now I’ve got to get busy. First I think maybe I’ll get something to drink. You don’t have to be knitting to raise your glass, right?

To date for this strip

Won't you come on and come on and raise your glass,

Just come on and come on and raise your glass.

Won't you come on and come on and raise your glass,

Just come on and come on and raise your glass!

When I’m Sixty-Four

When I get older, losing my hair, many years from now,

Will you still be sending me a valentine, birthday greetings, bottle of wine?

If I'd been out 'til quarter to three, would you lock the door?

Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm sixty-four?

When my dad called and said it was a girl I was devastated. There was no way I was having a sister. I didn’t want her. I begged them to take her back. Where was the brother they promised? My mamaw was staying with me and I remember she rocked me and told me it would be okay. They named the thing Judi and she told me that I would like Judi once they brought her home. As usual, she was right.

I was still mad when they came home but when they walked in with that tiny bundle I started to get over it pretty quick. What an anomaly! It was a tiny little person! It had little feet and hands and tiny fingers and toes on those miniature appendages! It cried, and loudly. And it didn’t smell very good.

She was always a tiny girl. She’s now tall and skinny. I wasn’t a tiny girl and still am not. And I’m not tall either. She has perfectly straight hair. Mine is naturally curly and I have to go to a lot of trouble to make it straight. Her hair and her eyes are brown. I looked like my parents with green eyes and dark hair. I’m pretty sure I told her more than once she was adopted.

When she was pretty young, maybe around two, she had to be in the hospital. Someone, either grandmother or my mom, or both, had read to us. She memorized the books and all the people in the hospital thought she was so smart because she could read at such a young age.

I remember one set of class pictures. First of all, neither of us were beauties because my mom had cut our bangs. When that happened, you often ended up with a half inch or so fringe at the top of your forehead because she would try to even things up and end up cutting all your bangs off. We had our hair rolled and curled. Mine would last ‘til the next washing. Judi’s fell out after a couple of hours. We had new hot pink dresses with white collars. We thought we looked pretty good despite the bad hair day. When we got the pictures back though, poor Judi had a little extra on her nose. Well, under to be exact. Of course, I found it hilarious! But really we should have all been outraged. Those teachers and picture people look at you, or should, before the ‘portrait’. Thank goodness there were no yearbooks at that time! But I know those pictures are still floating around somewhere!

When we stayed at grandmother’s house in the summer we had to help do the dishes. It never failed that as soon as we ate poor little Judi got a stomach ache or some such illness so she didn’t have to help. I had to help with the dishes regardless. She’d be playing and I swear she’d look at me with a grin like she’d won. And she had. She stands by that story today!

I could tell lots more stuff because I am the big sister and I know. And I’m mean like that. But I won’t. I can tell you though, that over the years Judi and I have become friends. There’s nobody dearer to me and I’d do anything for her.

Here we are and she has bangs!

Today is Judi’s birthday. And it might be a big one! But I’ll never tell. Well, maybe not. If I told how old she is she might tell how old I am! So happy birthday dear Judi! And when I’m sixty-four and you’re only…you may have your chance to get even for all those things I had to do as the elder sibling. Just don’t forget to feed me and don’t forget to need me. I’m smiling because you’re my sister. And I’m laughing because there is not a thing you can do about it!

I could be handy, mending a fuse when your lights have gone.

You can knit a sweater by the fireside, Sunday mornings, go for a ride.

Doing the garden, digging the weeds, who could ask for more?

Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm sixty-four?

Knitayear is winding down. Now I’m wondering what I’ll do in its place, if anything! I will keep blogging. And I will keep knitting.

Birthday knitting for a friend. Blocking.

Close up of same.

Day 354, March 20, and I’m still recovering. Why do I feel the need to sit when all I’ve done is sit? It’s different when you can stretch out or move around I guess. Alan has to go back to Houston tomorrow. Yucko! I have to get a haircut so I didn’t offer to go with him! Ha ha. First things first I guess. I chose variegated turquoise cotton for the day. Day 355, Monday, March 21, is just another Monday. I will be adding some new job duties to what I already do. Funding issues for education have everyone nervous and just plain scared. I do get that haircut and feel so much better. I met a friend for Thai food. All in all it was a good day. Rosie was on the bed with me so I got to sleep until 3:45 before they wanted out. I picked a green and purple feather yarn. Day 356 is my sister’s birthday! It’s March 22 and she was born on this day 49, 50, several years ago! I hope she has a good day. It’s her turn! I choose a turquoise boucle for the day. Sometimes I imagine us in some kind of Golden Girls scenario. I wonder if we could do it? Sure we could, as long as she stays on her side of the house!

You'll be older too.

Ah, and if you say the word, I could stay with you.

Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm sixty-four?

Puff The Magic Dragon

Lived by the sea,

And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee.

Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff,

And brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff.

I had a lot of toys when I was growing up. One of the first I remember was a sock doll named Jack. My mamaw made him for me. He was made like a sock monkey except he didn’t have the monkey snout or a tail. But Jack was special. She made his head by tying a string tightly around the top part of the sock, stuffing it and gathering the cuff to make his head. He had a little tuft of sock cuff at the top, I guess his hair. She embroidered eyes and a mouth on him. He had blue eyes and a red mouth.

I carried Jack with me wherever I went. I loved his head off! Since he was getting pretty ragged, she made another doll. His name was Johnny and he had green eyes. I don’t know if they thought I wouldn’t know the difference or what, but I knew it wasn’t the same. I’d leave Johnny and look for Jack whenever they tried to trade them on me. Jack’s head was safety pinned shut and most of the stuffing was gone, but I still carried him around. Johnny never even had his head loved off! I’m sure I still have him somewhere, with the near perfect Johnny, in a box.

As I got older I found other toys and entertainment. My family lived on a corner where the street made a T. That gave us a long stretch of sidewalk to play on. I had skates. These weren’t the kind of skates that attached to a shoe. You had to put your own foot and shoe in and tighten the skate with a skate key. I wore the skate key on a string around my neck because if it was lost the skates didn’t work. My good friends and I would skate up and down that sidewalk for hours.

Skate key used to tighten skates.

My sister and I also had a wagon. It was really fun if you could get someone to push you. Steering was done with the wagon tongue. If you were going too fast it was easy to miss the corner and fly into the street. That happened more than once!

I never had a Barbie. I never even wanted one. I had troll dolls instead. I had a whole family, a single mother family. Goldie Gotrocks was the matriarch. She had a daughter named Lola and and a baby named Moonye. She was a regular size troll doll and Lola was one that would fit on a pencil top. Moonye was a tiny plastic doll, probably from a gum machine. They had an aunt named Starlynn. I played for hours with these dolls. My sister and I and the girls across the street, Jana and Judy, would make clothes, create elaborate soap opera type stories and build little houses, most of the time in the squares of the very same sidewalk where we skated. Judy and Jana had a troll doll house. It was plastic and folded and latched, like a little suitcase. I thought it was the best thing ever. It really enhanced the value of their property. But, since Goldie was a hard working single mother all she could afford was the makeshift house on the sidewalk square!

This isn't Goldie. She's in my hope chest in storage. But it's kind of how she looked but shorter.

Probably the best thing I had when I played, was my imagination. That’s what made Goldie Gotrocks and family. That’s when we weren’t skating up and down a sidewalk but racing in a roller derby or setting a new world record. That’s how I talked to Jack when I needed to. I see the littles using their imaginations all the time and it makes me happy. Evan plays super heroes and knows all of the trendy new toys because of his age. He likes video games but they haven’t captured his attention entirely. He can play outside, on the slide tower they have, for hours. Caleb is a dinosaur and can tell you anything (and more) than you ever wanted to know. He set up a Natural History Museum dinosaur exhibit with all of his plastic toys. Belle talks to her babies and has some quite good conversations. She and Caleb love to bring fast food orders out to you. At any time one or all three may have a cape of some sort attached to their backs or maybe a hat or scarf or some such costume.

I’m not sure at what age you stop playing with toys. It varies I’m sure. One of my boys still secretly (or not so secretly) plays with his little cars! Some people never really stop but they don’t play like they did when they were little. People tend to substitute big kid toys for the toys they played with as kids. They cost more but the purpose is the same. What stops, in some cases entirely, is the imagination. Kids are allowed to do things that adults would never do because of social rules and norms. If you see an adult with a cape pinned to his back running around with a plastic dinosaur in hand what would you think? Seeing a child doing just that brings a smile to even the dourest personalities.

Is seems that adults have to work a lot harder at sparking imagination. Often, it’s not anyone’s fault. Daily routines, responsibilities and even habits can frequently cause the imagination to deteriorate. That’s why there are so many ‘bored’ adults around. Try hanging out with or even watching little kids play. You’ll not be able to keep out the power of their dreams. You might even find your dragon.

Lego Dragon at Disney World. Puff?

A dragon lives forever but not so little boys.

Painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys.

One grey night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more.

And Puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar.

Day 350, March 16, and we’re in Orlando. No bus problems today, yet, so we get to look around. We caught the shuttle for Downtown Disney and head out to look around. We found a good place to eat, Captain Jack’s, then shopped around for souvenirs for the littles.

It was humid which made us hot because we’re dessert rats! I checked email and got a message from a blog friend in Ireland, Sinéad, and she said be sure and stop by Raglan Road Pub. I looked around and we were right there. I told Alan it must be an omen so we stopped. It was a nice break.

Wednesday night took us to Epcot. It took a while to get the shuttle so we hurried to the restaurant. We got there to be told we had to have reservations. Thanks for the notice. Anyway, we hurried to another restaurant, on the other side, and were told, and not very nicely, they were closed. It was 9:02 and they closed at 9:00. I realize they’ve worked all day but jeez, she could have been polite. By this time it was late so we headed towards the bus again while the fireworks show started. We didn’t stop to watch but stole glances as we hurried towards the bus. Thank goodness we beat the crowd. We ended up eating in the dining hall at the resort. It all turned out well but we were tired yet again…or still. I chose a red variegated sock yarn.

Day 351, is March 17, and St. Patrick’s day. I had green. We went back to Downtown Disney, ate and did some last minute shopping. Then it was time to get the bus so we went back. Alan and Hector went for the bus and I sat out by the pool in the shade with a couple of the other drivers and listened to them talk while I knitted. It was a relaxing time before the trip back. I’m not sure why but we were scheduled to leave at 8:30 pm. Everyone was exhausted after being on the go all day. And grouchy. I was glad to be in the suburban! I took the first shift driving and we were on the way. I chose a green variegated cotton I was using for some St. Paddy day knitting.

My new shirt

St. Paddy Day knitting

Day 352, March 18, and we are still driving. It’s such a long way. We finally made it to Texas at 11:45 am.

First rest area in Texas

There’s probably at the least 12 more hours to drive. I chose a variegated worsted with pink, green, purple and orange in it. Day 353, March 19, and we’re home. I’m glad to be out of the car. My ankles were starting to swell! Well, one anyway. It was midnight or a little after when we finally got in. Just went straight to bed then sat around and rested all day long. We had steak for supper and started gearing up for the coming week. I chose a pink variegated tape yarn. It was a good trip and I’m glad that the kids get to go. It’s the only time some will have the chance. I hope they remember forever and keep their imaginations. I’m afraid for some it’s already too late.

Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail.

Jackie kept a lookout perched on Puff's gigantic tail,

Noble kings and princes would bow whene'er they came,

Pirate ships would lower their flags when Puff roared out his name. 
Oh Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea...

I'm Driving My Life Away

Well the midnight headlight find you on a rainy night

steep grade up ahead slow me down makin’ no time…

Gotta keep rollin'…

I was wondering, after spending about 36 hours in the car, just how much time I spend (lose?) driving or riding. So, I asked my math whiz husband and he started figuring it out. He always amazes me when he can start figuring that stuff in his head. All I could say was wait, you’ll have to tell me again because I’m never going to remember all that.

He said, well, you spend 2 hours a day driving, for sure, going to work and back. So let’s see, that would be 10 hours a week. Ten hours a week goes to 40 hours a month which would be about 480 hours a year. Each year you spend a full 12 weeks just driving to and from work. That comes out to 60 full work days or three months time. So you spend approximately 1 quarter of your year driving to and from work. That doesn’t count the distance driven for work after I get there. My work area, geographically, is 37,553 square miles! Wow.

When you spell it out like that it seems amazing I could spend that much time just driving to and from work.

Then of course, there’s the ‘leisure’ driving. The nearest large, and that’s a relevant term, town is either 30 or 50 miles away, depending on the town you are visiting. That’s just to the edge of town. If you actually go somewhere it’s further.

When the kids grew up and left, they didn’t leave to anywhere close. The boys went to school in Golden, Colorado, which is a mere 750 miles, one way. Then Bryce graduated and moved to Tulsa. That made him 570 miles one direction and Ty 750 miles the other direction. When Ty graduated he moved to Vernal, Utah. That’s only 954 miles. Callye is the closest because she only lives 100 miles away. That’s nothing!

When we moved to Crane it was from Portales, New Mexico. I had come from Albuquerque and it was 234 miles to Portales. I thought that was far and took forever. Portales to Crane is 226 miles. Crane to Albuquerque is 425 miles.

It’s easy and probably pretty accurate to say that I spend, at the least, another 480 hours in the car. This would be visiting my parents or the kids or just going on a leisure trip. So that’s approximately another three months in the car. That’s half a year driving or riding. It sounds crazy, doesn’t it!

If I ride I usually get to knit. It’s not possible to (safely) drive and knit. I bet you wonder how I know that. But at least riding is a little bit productive. If it’s something simple I can even knit in the dark.

In a couple of days there will be another 36 hour ride back home. It’s straight through, in case I forgot to mention that tiring fact. I’ll get to knit some and I’ll get to drive some too. And hopefully somewhere in there I’ll get to sleep. It won’t be bad. What’s another day and a half in the car when you are driving your life away?

Those windshield wipers slappin’ out a tempo

keepin' perfect rhythm with the song on the radio…

Gotta keep rolling…

Bottle Brush Tree in Kissimmee...Very pretty!

Day 346 of knitayear, March 12, we make a fast trip to Lubbock, for my birthday. We have to get home, pack and do some other things before the trip so we don’t get to do much there. The littles were going fishing and that would have been fun but there’s just not time. I’m rushed but cherish the time we did get to spend together. I choose off white fun fur. It’s March 13, day 347, and I’m still getting everything together for the trip. Alan runs errands, and takes care of a lot of things while I get the rest of our stuff together. We load into the suburban and we’re off on our big adventure. It starts out great but San Antonio brings an unexpected bus breakdown. A solenoid in the transmission went out and we’re rushing to get a U-Haul, unload, reload and make arrangements for the bus to get to a repair shop. The kids from that bus are loaded into one of the other three and we go on. When I say school bus, it’s not the common yellow bus that comes to mind. The school buses these kids are used to are charter buses and the school owns at least four of their own. I choose a lavender color that’s part of the new yarn. Hoping it brings a peaceful feeling! Day 348, March 14, and we aren’t there yet. We are at least 3 hours, and probably even more than that, behind schedule. Everyone is tired. Finally we’re there and we have around 20 minutes to change clothes before dinner. We got to go to Planet Hollywood. It was fun. We were too tired to go anywhere else but back to the room. There’s tomorrow to explore and sleep calls. No, sleep screams! I choose for this day a black sparkly fur, from the first time it was popular. It kind of fits the place! Day 349, March 15, is the day the kids get to march in the parade. One of the other buses is acting a little strange so after the kids are situated we get it checked out. That took most of the day. Then it was time to eat and again, and we went back to the room. Tomorrow we are going to explore. I hope anyway. It’d be a shame to come to DisneyWorld and never see a bit of it! I feel guilty for resting and wasting the chance. I choose a pale gold yarn for this day. It’s my golden opportunity to see DisneyWorld! And to gear up for the long trip back.

Planet Hollywood at Disney World

Welcome CHS Band!

From the fourth floor and we climbed the stairs.

Not our bus!

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlej....

Hey waitress pour me another cup of coffee

pop me down jack me up shoot me out flyin' down the highway…

Lookin’ for the morning…

Oh, I'm driving my life away, looking for a better way, for me.

Oh, I'm driving my life away, looking for a sunny day…

You Say It's Your Birthday…

It's my birthday too—yeah!

They say it's your birthday,

We're gonna have a good time!

I'm glad it's your birthday,

Happy birthday to you!

Yes, it is my birthday today. Me, Myself and I were sitting here, drinking coffee when Myself decided she wanted to know more about this birthday. She wanted to have a guest interview on the blog. Since it’s her blog too, it’s probably fine. The idea probably came to her because we were watching the Today show and there were a lot of interviews going on. Otherwise,she might have just left things alone.

Myself: Is there anyone famous born on this day?

Me: You mean besides Me? Okay, don’t look at me like that. Lawrence Welk was born on this day. You know, the orchestra guy. With the bubbles. Well, then how about Flaco Jimenez. Texas Tornados? Well then, there was a nice man here in this little town that shared my birthday. Mr. Harold Wright was his name. And the lady across from me at work has the same birthday. Oh and this is kind of cool. My first grade boyfriend, Daniel Bandel, has the same birthday as me. It’s Dan Bandel, now. He's famous! People thought we were twins back then!

I: Do you like fish?

Me: What kind of question is that?

I: A fishy question?

Me: Yes, I like fish because I’m a Pisces. You should too.

I want to make this! Cecilia1's fish blanket from Ravelry. Isn't it great?

I really want to make one some day. Blanket by Melidomi on Ravelry.

Myself: Do you remember your first grade teacher’s name?

Me: Duh. We had the same teacher. Mrs. Martha Robertson was her name and she had a loud gravelly voice and scared me really bad at first. But it turned out she was the sweetest, nicest, lady. She was the perfect person for a first grader, or for me anyway. She’s the reason I always liked school. And, funny thing, my sister and brother both had her too. I was her first year and my brother was her last, at that school anyway.

I: Is that why you decided to be a teacher?

Me: No. I never wanted to be a teacher. I wanted to be an advertising executive and live in a big city. Remember? But small towns and marriage change things. And I’m glad that I did go into education. I think that’s what I was meant to do.

Myself: Where do you live?

Me: I live right here with y’all.

I: Are you getting a cake today?

Me: You sure hope we do, right? I don’t know. I know we get some cookies! And that’s okay by me cause you can’t have your cake and eat it too.

http://sweetsugarbelle.blogspot.com Birthday cookies

Yarn and knitting cookies. http://sweetsugarbelle.blogspot.com

Myself: That was lame. So what makes you smile?

Me: The littles can almost always make me smile. Yarn makes me smile. Nice people make me smile.

I: What’s your favorite movie?

Me: It would have to be “Pretty Woman” because it’s such a nice fairy tale. Then "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" because I’ve sort of lived that! Besides, I think the underwear and socks in the sink scene is hilarious.

Myself: Do you have any secrets you wouldn't mind everyone knowing?

Me: They are called "secrets" for a reason. If I wanted people to know, then they wouldn't be secret, right?

I: Do you have any special plans for today?

Me: There’s a party planned. A sleepover party! I’ll have three littles shoving and pushing to see who gets to be next to Mamye. Great warm fuzzies!

I: Do you feel old?

Me: I feel one day older than I was yesterday. Hey, I need some more coffee.

Myself and I: Oh, okay. Thank you for sharing your time this morning. Happy birthday to us!

You say it's your birthday!

We're gonna have a good time!

I'm glad it's your birthday,

Happy birthday to you!

Wow, I got an awesome March present from my sister! She beaded it. It’s really pretty. I still have to come up with something for her March present.

Beaded pendant necklace.

March Bling from Judi!

Oh no! Something ate one of my favorite scarves. It’s the first or second (I forget) Clapotis I made and I really like it. I have a tiny bit of this yarn leftover. Just have to find it and I think I can fix it, at least enough to wear it. It might not look good but it will be okay.

An early Clapotis

What's the dealio? Something ate the whole thread.

Day 342, March 8, and I met a friend for a birthday supper. It was good and I had a free dessert coupon to top it off. Then I got to go to the dollar store and look around. All was good til I got one of those McDonald’s coffee things that was wonderful. But it didn’t set well and I was up half the night. I guess that’s what I get for being a glutton and wanting everything good in one night! I chose a fat green yarn cause it looks like I feel! Day 343, March 9, and I have a couple of stops before work. Stomach is still acting up but I’m taking Pepto pills and that’s my cure-all for the stomach! I head to work and have a blow out. I don’t know what my problem with cars is lately! Alan saves the day but I have to drive the truck again. I even left early because my stomach still hurt. I chose pink boucle, not Pepto pink, but close. Day 344 is March 10. I stayed home from work and just kind of lay around all day. I need to get things together for Sunday and I do manage to do a little. I’m feeling better by afternoon and fix a good supper. I chose a gold yarn with a purple thread twisted through it. Well, day 345 is March 11. It’s the B-day! I’m looking forward to tonight, the slumber party at Callye’s house with the littles. I picked a multicolor mixed with white. It’s going to be a good time. They can make me smile. Then I won’t feel so old!

Yes we're going to a party party!

Yes we're going to a party party!

Yes we're going to a party party!

Happy birthday to you!