My first attempt at knitted lace!
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Hil – Don't Go There
So, Hillary Clinton has been criticizing Obama for
not leaving his church after Rev. Wright said some bad things.
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton ended her silence on Senator Barack Obama’s pastor on Tuesday, sharply criticizing Mr. Obama for not leaving the Chicago church where the pastor made inflammatory remarks about the United States, spread conspiracy theories about the government and made sensational comments about Mrs. Clinton.
“Given all that we have heard and seen, he would not have been my pastor,” Mrs. Clinton, of New York, said on Tuesday of the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., at a news conference in Greensburg, Pa.
Wait.
Hillary is criticizing Obama for not leaving
after his preacher did something wrong.
Does anyone else see the irony?
Does Hillary really want to start a discussion about how
people should leave a situation after someone does
something wrong like, oh you know, maybe
has an affair with an intern and humiliates you in front of the world, something like that?
Posted in The Outside World
Hil – Don’t Go There
So, Hillary Clinton has been criticizing Obama for
not leaving his church after Rev. Wright said some bad things.
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton ended her silence on Senator Barack Obama’s pastor on Tuesday, sharply criticizing Mr. Obama for not leaving the Chicago church where the pastor made inflammatory remarks about the United States, spread conspiracy theories about the government and made sensational comments about Mrs. Clinton.
“Given all that we have heard and seen, he would not have been my pastor,” Mrs. Clinton, of New York, said on Tuesday of the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., at a news conference in Greensburg, Pa.
Wait.
Hillary is criticizing Obama for not leaving
after his preacher did something wrong.
Does anyone else see the irony?
Does Hillary really want to start a discussion about how
people should leave a situation after someone does
something wrong like, oh you know, maybe
has an affair with an intern and humiliates you in front of the world, something like that?
Posted in The Outside World
Hillary – Do the Right Thing.
It’s time for you to do what Bill Richardson and John Edwards already did – drop out and work for the Democratic party not for your own glory.
Thanks in advance,
Your Porch Swing Correspondent
Posted in The Outside World, The Porch Swing
Scarf, Noro Silk Mountain – Finished!
Just in time for the last of this year’s scarf weather,
I finished a scarf knit from Noro’s Silk Mountain boucle
yarn. It’s a blend of 65% wool, 25% silk, 10% mohair.
A bunch of pictures are worth a bunch more words, eh?
Here are the pix –
Spring Sweater – Cecelia by Louisa Harding
Exciting new project – a spring cardigan from the new
Summer Classics 17 book by Louisa Harding.
It’s called Cecelia, and here’s a photo –
I’m knitting it in Jasmine, the yarn shown in the photo, and in the colors shown above. More later!
Obama's Crazy Preacher
So, okay, Obama belongs to a church whose preacher,
whom Obama admires and is friends with, has been known
to break bad with the crazy ‘white devils’ talk. Eh.
Ultimately, this publicity will help him, not hurt him. Why?
1. It establishes him as one of the first Democratic candidates with bona fide religious credentials. With his embarrassing preacher and all, Obama is a real Christian, just like the right wing Christians. In comparison, Clinton seems like she just pretends to be religious, like everything else she pretends. How great – a Democrat on the hot seat for involvement with a crazy preacher, not for being an atheist.
2. It gave him the chance to make a wonderful speech about race relations.
3. It humanizes him. Now Obama isn’t just a symbol of Generational Change, he’s a flesh and blood person, complete with occasional lapses of judgment and embarrassing friends and/or relatives.
4. Raise your hand if you’ve ever been embarrassed by a relative or close friend’s *ahem* social views. Looks like everyone put their hand up!
Obama’s Crazy Preacher
So, okay, Obama belongs to a church whose preacher,
whom Obama admires and is friends with, has been known
to break bad with the crazy ‘white devils’ talk. Eh.
Ultimately, this publicity will help him, not hurt him. Why?
1. It establishes him as one of the first Democratic candidates with bona fide religious credentials. With his embarrassing preacher and all, Obama is a real Christian, just like the right wing Christians. In comparison, Clinton seems like she just pretends to be religious, like everything else she pretends. How great – a Democrat on the hot seat for involvement with a crazy preacher, not for being an atheist.
2. It gave him the chance to make a wonderful speech about race relations.
3. It humanizes him. Now Obama isn’t just a symbol of Generational Change, he’s a flesh and blood person, complete with occasional lapses of judgment and embarrassing friends and/or relatives.
4. Raise your hand if you’ve ever been embarrassed by a relative or close friend’s *ahem* social views. Looks like everyone put their hand up!
Additions to Blogroll!
Brina Surfaces!
Was it the blog post or coincidence? I don’t know, but I was so glad to hear from her!
Posted in The Porch Swing
Aaron's Scarf is Finished!
Aaron is a friend and co-worker and
clearly in dire need of a warm scarf to fend off the chill . . .
This was supposed to be a Christmas present,
but *cough* things can take longer than expected.
I used two balls of yarn, a mystery wool,
and a Noro Silk Garden skein.
Here are a few photos —
Aaron’s Scarf is Finished!
Aaron is a friend and co-worker and
clearly in dire need of a warm scarf to fend off the chill . . .
This was supposed to be a Christmas present,
but *cough* things can take longer than expected.
I used two balls of yarn, a mystery wool,
and a Noro Silk Garden skein.
Here are a few photos —
My First Hat!
After finishing a seemingly interminable scarf for my daughter,
it was fun to discover that I could knit this hat in a day or two.
My son picked it out of the book Hip Knit Hats.
For some reason he liked the “helmet” design. He also picked the colors.
Anyhow, it’s my first ever hat —
Luminescent Gray Cabled Scarf
When I saw this slightly glowy yarn in the store, worked into a perfect cabled swatch for further enticement, this project was a foregone conclusion. It took a long time, but it turned out nicely and — best of all — my daughter loves it. Since she lives out west, I had to get a girl at work to model it. You might also note the ever-so-swanky digs us state employees work in.
Here are a few photos:
Where's Brina?
In 1977 I took a job at a local bookstore. The store was a beloved local landmark, the owners were related to more famous media personalities. The job, however, was awful. Hours that felt like days dragged on between the occasional live customer. The customers tended to ask if we “had that book, you know the one that’s been on TV?” The career employees/lifers at the store squabbled constantly about nothing. Four ancient “jazz” tapes played over and over.
Worst of all was the incredibly stupid rule that, no matter how dead the store, we were forbidden to ever ever READ the books.
One day a woman came by and applied to work there. She seemed nice, so I told her the “right” answers to the questions on the application and she got the job. So, then there were two of us who hated working there. After a few months I wandered down the street and got a job at a hippie health-food cafe. Another local landmark which, like the bookstore, has been gone for a few years. But, anyway, my friend from the bookstore also moved down the street, and we both worked at the restaurant.
We stayed in touch through several decades of my going to school, her going to school, my moving and then moving back, her moving to New York City, my getting married and raising a couple of kids, her involvements with men, theatre, costuming, and the academic life. But now — alas!! I don’t know where she is.
Consider this a virtual milkbox. Have you seen this woman?
Brina, where are you?? Whatcha up to, kiddo?
Posted in The Porch Swing
Where’s Brina?
In 1977 I took a job at a local bookstore. The store was a beloved local landmark, the owners were related to more famous media personalities. The job, however, was awful. Hours that felt like days dragged on between the occasional live customer. The customers tended to ask if we “had that book, you know the one that’s been on TV?” The career employees/lifers at the store squabbled constantly about nothing. Four ancient “jazz” tapes played over and over.
Worst of all was the incredibly stupid rule that, no matter how dead the store, we were forbidden to ever ever READ the books.
One day a woman came by and applied to work there. She seemed nice, so I told her the “right” answers to the questions on the application and she got the job. So, then there were two of us who hated working there. After a few months I wandered down the street and got a job at a hippie health-food cafe. Another local landmark which, like the bookstore, has been gone for a few years. But, anyway, my friend from the bookstore also moved down the street, and we both worked at the restaurant.
We stayed in touch through several decades of my going to school, her going to school, my moving and then moving back, her moving to New York City, my getting married and raising a couple of kids, her involvements with men, theatre, costuming, and the academic life. But now — alas!! I don’t know where she is.
Consider this a virtual milkbox. Have you seen this woman?
Brina, where are you?? Whatcha up to, kiddo?
Posted in The Porch Swing
HUGHES ENDORSES OBAMA!!
In a rare break with tradition, the author of this blog has decided to endorse Barack Obama for president in the 2008 race. Speaking to a reporter (myself), Ms. Hughes said:
Mr. Obama has vision, energy, and integrity. I have studied the candidates and conclude that he represents our best chance to turn the USS USA, before we slam into the melting iceberg.
More commentary will be forthcoming on this subject.
Political Progress – Gay Man Seeks Dole's Seat
In my view, the fact that a gay politician feels free to run for public office is a sign of societal progress. Last week, Jim Neal, the Democratic challenger for the Senate seat held by Elizabeth Dole , announced both his campaign and his sexual orientation.
In response to a message on BlueNC.com asking whether he was gay, Neal is quoted as saying:
“I am indeed. No secret and no big deal to me – I wouldn’t be running if I didn’t think otherwise.”
He continued: “I’m not running this race to make some social statement. I’m running to lead in the Senate for the voters in NC – something Sen. Dole has not done.”
He’s cute too, not that this is an important factor in political decisions, but just to mention it . . .
Political Progress – Gay Man Seeks Dole’s Seat
In my view, the fact that a gay politician feels free to run for public office is a sign of societal progress. Last week, Jim Neal, the Democratic challenger for the Senate seat held by Elizabeth Dole , announced both his campaign and his sexual orientation.
In response to a message on BlueNC.com asking whether he was gay, Neal is quoted as saying:
“I am indeed. No secret and no big deal to me – I wouldn’t be running if I didn’t think otherwise.”
He continued: “I’m not running this race to make some social statement. I’m running to lead in the Senate for the voters in NC – something Sen. Dole has not done.”
He’s cute too, not that this is an important factor in political decisions, but just to mention it . . .
Stitch n' Bitch
I’ve joined the nearest Stitch n’ Bitch. With any luck, I might be finished the scarf for Katie and working on something else by the next meetup.
What to work on next? Probably one of the eight or ten Christmas gifts I thought would be done by August . . .
Stitch n’ Bitch
I’ve joined the nearest Stitch n’ Bitch. With any luck, I might be finished the scarf for Katie and working on something else by the next meetup.
What to work on next? Probably one of the eight or ten Christmas gifts I thought would be done by August . . .
Knitting at Work
I work with a lot of much younger co-workers. The “just a minute” phenomena, which used to be a pain, has become a welcome chance to do a little knitting. Let’s listen in –
“Have you got just a minute?”
“Sure, just let me grab my yarn. What’s up?”
“I have a quick* question?”
*Note: There is no such animal as a “quick question.”
“Great, I love questions. What is it? Have a seat.”
“Well, I have this really weird case? Um, okay, the plaintiff had a bicycle? But, then her boss gave her ex-husband a ferret? Okay, so later their daughter was in a car accident?”*
*(Note: Has anyone located the DNA sequence that causes young women to say everything – even their names – with a questioning intonation? “Hi, I’m Jennifer?”)
Several rows later we get to the point, which inevitably has nothing to do with ferrets, bicycles, or car accidents.
Yesterday, I got about ten rows done while sorting out a problem with interlocutory appeals – I think the corporate types call this a Win/Win situation!
Happy Birthday to Me, Yesterday
I believe one should thoroughly enjoy one’s birthday. I relish the one day a year to be feted, wined, dined, and legitimately the center of attention. I find an excuse to tell every stranger and sales clerk that it’s my birthday. Yesterday was a lovely birthday day for me. There were flowers waiting at work, along with a once-a-year-is-okay chocolate cheesecake, cards, and a gift. After work Staples, Evan, and I ate at Flying Burrito, a Local restaurant and long-time favorite.
Before the Flying Burrito opened, it was the site of a combination convenience store & laundramat where I used to do law school homework while waiting for the dryers to finish tumbling. Sometimes my contracts professor, Walker Blakey
was also there, maybe doing his laundry too? 
He lived in the apartments across the street, so it was possible. Anyway, ONE DAY, as I backed out of the parking space in front of the then-laundramat, I was looking back and not paying attention to the front of the car and scraped the car next to me. It had never occurred to me that you had to look front when backing up, and I remember that as the moment I learned this important driving lesson.
Well, last night as I backed out, carefully looking both front and back, I realized that the parking spaces in that parking lot are too narrow and the rows too close together. Hmmph.
Uh, where was I? Oh yeah, lovely birthday and no car scrapes!
Posted in Me Me Me, The Porch Swing
Current Projects
1. Red scarf for my niece Katie, Misti Alpaca chunky.
Here is the story behind the scarf:
Katie is a sixteen year old with the ambitious goal of someday being elected to public office. She was class president for her freshman and sophmore years at Leesville Rd. High School; attended some kind of Young Leaders thing in the far north of England at a place that sounds like Hogwarts; was a legislative page at the state level; and audited courses in Game Theory, whatever the hell that is, from Duke. So, am I impressed with my niece? You betcha!
Katie decided last year that the Next Step in her Big Plan was was to attend Phillips Exeter Academy for her junior and senior years of high school. Apparently, they have courses or programs that dovetail with her goals. Also, she wants to attend Harvard and Yale in I forget which order, and graduating from Exeter might be helpful for that.
Which brings us, finally, to the scarf:
Exeter is in New Hampshire, which is cold.
Their school colors are red and something else.
Thus, the red scarf! It’s a surprise for her birthday which is October 14. If you see her, don’t tell.
Many Happy Returns 