Knitterguy

Actual Conversation in the Corner Variety Store

Here in Canada, Cadbury sells a confection for Easter called the “Easter Cream Egg”. It’s a chocolate shell containing fondant coloured white, with a yellow centre. (Well, they call it fondant. I suppose it is. Vaguely.)

I was in the corner store near my workplace, and had just bought milk. The counter area is usually cluttered with boxes of chocolate candy bars. As we are approaching Valentine’s Day, it was not a surprise to see packages of red and white jelly beans, and the little “red-hot” cinnamon hearts, and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates added to the displays.. Amongst it all was a shallow box containing Easter Cream Eggs.

Me: "Migawd. Easter Cream Eggs!? They have those out already!? It’s not even Hallowe-en yet!"

Cashier: "Ah; you’re single and frustrated?"

I suppose an exclamation followed by comment doesn’t constitute a conversation. Oh well.

No idea how I confused Hallowe-en with Valentines Day, though.

In Other News

1) Dad came home from hospital on Friday.  Things seem to be okay at home. When I was up on the weekend with a few groceries, he’d puttered around the apartment watering the African Violets, putting stuff in the garbage can hidden under the kitchen sink, and effortlessly located the cookie jar. We settled in for tea and he remarked “You know: I’m having problems remembering I’m not in the hospital.”

::sigh::

Anyway, regular readers of the blog know that I’ve commented a few times about Dad’s memory loss. I have to say that I don’t think it’s much worse than before the TIAs. I guess we’ll know better over a few more days. Mom is watching him pretty carefully.

Thank you to everyone who left supportive comments or sent emails. I really appreciate your kind words.

2) With the Men’s Knitting Retreat fast approaching, we’re looking for companies that might want to donate an item (or 2, or more) to be used as a “prize” or as part of the participants’ welcome package. I know that we’re all hit with tighter belts these days, but I would like to mention that businesses that donated last year found it led to repeat business. This would be a good way for small businesses –-like one operating out of etsy-- to get a nice level of visibility at low expense. Please email me if you are at all interested in exploring this.

By the way, there is 1 participant spot available. Then we start the waiting list. Dates are Thursday evening  to Sunday lunch, May 14-17, 09.

As I am officially one of the organizers, I've seen the participant list, and am pleased to see so many names from last year's event, as well as a few guys from the event in San Francisco, and some newbies. This is going to be a blast!

3) Believe it or not, I’ve actually finished knitting something. I know; amazing or what, huh eh? There will be a blog post about it very soon.

See you all later.

Well: This wasn't expected...

So, on Sunday I was settled into the chair with a pot of my favourite Darjeeling. CBC was on the radio, and I was finishing up a piece of knitting. I'd done the final castoff and was fiddling with cleaning up a bit of looseness, wondering what I'd cast-on next. I was thinking about how to cook the 2 fresh chickens in the fridge, and when I'd do the 3 loads of laundry staring at me from the basket. It was, actually, quite peaceful.

The phone rang. It was my nephew.

"Um...Uncle Ted, we've just put Grandpa in an ambulance to go to Emerg. You might want to go to the hospital."

I ran out the door, wishing I'd already cast on something and had some knitting to take. This is why, I thought, one should always have a sock on the needles in a bag near the door.

Four hours later we knew that Dad had 2 Transient Ischemic Attacks that morning. That explained why he'd been dizzy and his speech had been slurred. The doctor wanted to keep him in for a couple of days, explaining that Dad had about a 30% chance of a stroke in the following 48 hours, and some tests should be run.

Well: this wasn't expected.

He's better tonight, restless and wants to get home. Mom has been there every day, but Dad misses her. I guess it can be like that when you've been married for 66+ years. His 90 year old memory is foggy about things: he knows something happened, but isn't sure what. He knows who we are --mostly-- though some details of our lives are foggy. There are tests and assessments being done to see if it's safe for him to return home.

Mom seems to be managing well, what with all the uncertainty. My sister, who is at least very sensible (and usually pretty amazing), is staying with her for the week. We're in something of a waiting process, I guess, to see what can be done, what should be done, and so on.

It's been an odd couple of months. We are insanely busy at work, yet are facing potential layoff at the end of January. Work is somewhat all-consuming for me. It seems that at the end of the day, there is little brain-space or enthusiasm for anything. Exercise and decent eating habits have gone out the window. Shortly, my current wardrobe may go out the window as well, though the thrift shop would be a better location for it.

With the uncertainty around work, I've been hesitant to commit to attending the Men's Spring Knitting Retreat in May. I've been nervous about the money aspect, and also that I might be right in the middle of a job search. It's likely that I'll land a job, but one never knows. Or I could be in the first few weeks of a new job and how would it appear to a new employer to be booking off a few days during that time? Or, the layoff might not happen at all.

And now this, with Dad.

On the one hand, I want to be there with My People. On the other...

On Monday night I sat watching my father, listening to him talking. He was very confused that day --couldn't remember that he'd had tests, what he'd had for supper (or where he'd been for it) and was saying that he hoped Mom would leave the apartment and move in with him. "We could get a place here, couldn't we?"

At that point, a thought went shouting through my mind, with the lettering of the words in full neon colours, that life was w-a-y too transient to not do things that you value, that are important to you, that you care about, that bring you joy and happiness, simply because you don't know if you'll have a job.

("Transient". Interesting word, that. Usually the expression is that "life is too short..." Need to think about the implications of "transient" vs "short".)

The truth is that if I budget carefully for the next few months, I would be able to afford to go to the Knitting Retreat, even if I'm staring down a job loss. I didn't have to buy a new computer: some servicing has my computer back up and running, 'though once my job is stable I should definitely look at replacing it.

With my Dad? Well, I have siblings, and there should be community resources.

So, I'm in for the Retreat. Life happens a day at a time, I suppose.

In Other News

Following the success of the 2008 Fibre to Scarf Exchange, and requests for me to run one this year, I'm happy to say that the 2009 Fibre to Scarf Exchange is up and running. All 16 participants have received their packages (I'm wiping my brow in relief) and have started spinning.  "Rules of Play" are the same as for last year's exchange. As last year, I hope to post pictures of the scarves as they're completed.

See you later. I'm going to cast on something. Just in case.

Actual conversation about buying a computer

Me: Should I get a machine with an Intel Pentium Dual-Core T3400 processor or an Intel Core 2 Duo processor T5900?

My Nephew: Buy a Mac.

Me: Yea, but then do I want a 2.1GHz with Intel GMA X3100 graphics or a 2.0GHz with NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics?

My Nephew: Buy a Mac.

Me: That's what I'm saying. "Buy a Mac" doesn't solve the problem of which to buy.

My Nephew: Buy a Mac.

Me: What's the difference between a Dual-Core processor and Core 2 Duo Processor? 

My Nephew: Buy a Mac.

Me: But if I browse the web, do email, type dcouments and spreadsheets that I'll have to exchange with MSOffice at work would the Dual-Core processor be enough?

My Nephew: Buy a Mac.

Me: It's easier to buy a car, you know.

Major computer problems on the home front

If you've emailed me and gotten no reply, it's because I haven't yet got to the note.

I think the machine is really dead this time. Hm: wasn't planning on buying a new computer...

I haven’t been a total slacker…

I got some plying done. Both skeins –-slightly disorganized; something happened in the wash-– are slated for a project on the Life Knitting List. On the left is merino dyed by Lisa Souza, in the “Pacific” colourway. On the right is merino/silk, dyed by Fleece Artist in the “SeaStorm” colourway.

The "SeaStorm" fibre had a lot of undyed fibre --I'm guessing the dye solutions just didn't penetrate-- so there's more contrast in the barberpoling that I wanted. I think it will be fine knitted up, though. I finished up spinning the singles for it during the Men’s Fall Knitting Retreat in San Francisco.

For both yarns, singles were spindle-spun and wound doubled into a ball --I’m sure the guys in San Francisco thought I was nuts-- and then it sat for a bit until I wheel-plied it over Christmas. (I thought the plying would never end. I think I sat for 12 hours, solid. I gotta get a spindle for plying that can hold 4 ounces of fiber. Abby Franquemont would recommend a simple low-whorl spindle with no hook on the top. About 1.5 ounces in weight. I think. Anyone with suggestions as to where I can get one?)

Remember the brown Cormo fleece I inherited at the Men’s Spring Knitting Retreat in May 08? After I realized there was no way I’d wash it myself, it went down to Wellington Fibres near Elora Ontario, and this is what came back. (Sorry about the reflection off the bag.)

That’s about 6.5 pounds of pin-drafted fiber. That’s a lot of spinning. (eek!)

In Other News

Joe has announced that registration for the 2009 Men’s Spring Knitting Retreat (MSKR) is open. As last year, the event will be held at Easton Mountain in upstate New York. Joe says there are some spots remaining, but if I were you, I wouldn't wait too long before registering. For more information about cost and how to register, see here.

Further to that, if there is any business that would like to offer an item that could be used as a “doorprize”, please let us know. (Email me at knitterguy at yahoo dot ca . You know how to doctor the address so it works.) Last year we were gifted with a generous assortment of hand-dyed yarns, books, spinning fiber, knitting patterns, gift certificates, and various do-dads. All were enthusiastically received by the participants. We hope that businesses will support us again this year. This is a good opportunity to get your business name in front of a group of craftsmen.

MSKR was an amazing opportunity to build community. I’m reminded of the comments from the guys who never get a chance to knit with other men, who know no-one who alters patterns in any way, and who just appreciated the exchange of ideas about technique and designing garments for men. Who would have predicted how inspiring and satisfying it could be for the participants?

Finally, thank you to everyone for the cyber chicken soup, hugs, and words of encouragement. Some days away from work have me in a better state of mind. I feel like I have brain in my cranium, rather than a bilge of sewer sludge. I hope I won’t get swallowed up in the pace at work as I did in November and December, but we’re heading into a very, very busy period. And, I’m looking at a possible lay-off at the end of January.