Step Into My Thimble

The second of two kid cardigans is done. Ironically, the first is shoved into a bookshelf with six or eight ends left to be woven in, while I managed to complete this one last night. Yeah, this one had about a thousand loose ends. But, DONE! Ravelry link.

Next I might finish the Peace Fleece sweater I started for Rodney about three years ago. It was the Chad’s Pullover kit in Kamchatka Seamoss. I have decided it would be nicer as a bottom-up, saddle-shoulder style. I’m stuck at the part where the arms connect to the body in my ongoing design overhaul though. Not a good place to be.

We all need to vent once in a while, hence the previous post.

To show that I’m not strictly a hater, here are some high points of my current existence:

I just had the privilege of spending five days with other people who were being paid to clean up after me, serve me meals, drive me around, etc.

The most charming thing about Austin as I experienced it was the abundance of fancy-food roach coaches. Now I know it’s not a new thing, or strictly limited to Austin, but obviously they haven’t made their way to Kalamazoo yet. Maybe someday.

The other high point was getting to meet some ladies who have just been internets friends for a long time now.

And now that I’m back I have been reminded of at least one of the hellbeast’s charms: I got her this little clay pig at Tesoros on South Congress and she named it Hank Honky. Where the names come from I don’t know but I love them.

Smugly, all summer I have been talking about my wonderful child, the one who seems so even-tempered, pleasant, and fun to be around. Not difficult like a lot of other 3 year olds you might meet. The one who, despite the bedtime battles that have pretty much defined our life with her, makes me glad I’m only working 15-20 hours a week this summer. The one who I was going to miss on my recent 5 day trip to Texas.

So I’m back, and apparently so is the whiny, hitting, middle of the night freakout, grocery store meltdown, no table manners hellbeast from just before she turned 3. Except with a twist: Now she is in full-time kitty mode. We don’t talk, we just meow here.

If there’s a baseline of bad behavior, no matter how high or low, it seems this child saves hers up while I am away. So much for the mother and child reunion.

From Jenny via her friend Grace… a list of things I think are worth spending money on, versus things I think are not. I am fickle though so I’ve had to add comments on that. This is way too long so there’s a cut.

Where I spend:

Food. I am a food snob. I like organic foods, a variety of weird and imported sauces, the fancy chocolate, the freshest prettiest things, the hand fed special local meats. I like shopping at the farmer’s market, which is often more expensive. I guess I kinda look at some of it as not that expensive in the long run, viz. supporting the local economy, getting a healthier fresher diet, etc. But then, all the weirdo imported stuff is just for fun and interest. As for restaurants I will pick the one with “reduction” on the menu over the one with “bloomin’ onion” any day of the week. Where I’m fickle: I like shopping at Trader Joe’s. However, I have to drive 1.5 hours to do that.

Toiletries and housecleaning supplies. I like the natural, organicy stuff here too. I hate artificial scents that stick with you all day. I HATE smelling fabric softener or shampoo that is fake. I EXTRA HATE getting hugged by someone who has a lot of bad perfume on them, or clouds of perfume left behind in rooms, or when my kid gets held by someone who is perfumey. I like things that give just a hint of a natural scent (lavender, mint, rosemary, grapefruit…) right when you use them, and never again. Current favorite is the Ecover fabric softener “Sunny Day.” Where I’m fickle: I buy a lot of this stuff through a Frontier club, thereby getting wholesale prices.
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