I just got home from a blogger mixer hosted by CBS 5 and Brittney Gilbert of Eye on Blogs. I had a lot of fun. I didn't meet any of the bloggers I intended to, but did talk to quite a few others whose blogs I look forward to reading.
The party was downtown, and I walked back to Market St. on Battery, ending up in front of the skyscraper I used to work in. It was very strange to be there again and to think of the hundreds of times I came up from the subway, went to the office, and went back down in the subway 8 hours later. I went for walks at lunch, but it was all so hum-drum.
I was surprised by how many people were out at 9:30 on a Thursday evening. Some of them were leaving bars and restaurants, a few were leaving their offices. A woman was trying to hail a taxi. One passed by and I could see a woman in the back laughing and sitting on someone's lap. The taxi-hailer and I watched it pass wistfully, for different reasons.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Fall is Here
Fall means the fog will begin to abate and we will have more clear days like today. It is also time to see how many of my summer knitting goals I met. Here are my knitting and spinning goals for this summer, which I posted on June 13th:
And these are things I thought I might work on, getting in the way of the above items:
- Finish Pomotamus socks - done
- Finish Fana cardigan - not done (but I finally got the buttons & trim)
- Finish undisclosed UFO - done (this was yesterday's blue kitty button sweater)
- Design and knit cabled "licorice" socks - done
- Spin enough pink yarn to make a tank or something similar - not done, but I did make handspun items, see below
- Spin and knit a pair of stranded mittens - not done, too ambitious
- Spin a two-ply sock yarn and make short socks - not done, too ambitious
Finally, things I did that weren't on the list:
- Make a felted bag with beautiful yarn I got for Christmas - done
- Design socks for Think Outside the Sox contest - still thinking
- Make some korknisse for secret project - made some but not for the project
- Make something from Viking Patterns for Knitting - not yet
- Make a Bohus sweater - ordered and received kit
- Knit handspun mittens - done
- Knit handspun hat - done
- Made a few handspun korknisser - done
- Spun color sampler yarn - done
- Knit pair of baby booties - done
- Started spindling for a sweater - done (12 oz spun and sweater cast-on)
- Process first fleece - started (I washed a batch but carding didn't go well)
- Made"little sky" socks - done
All in all it was quite productive. The main thing I wanted to achieve, finishing the Fana sweater didn't happen. I ended up ripping the sleeves out twice, and still have cold feet about the finishing. I need someone to take the little one out for a few hours so I can have the iron and sewing machine out.
I am happy about how my spinning is progressing and the fact I improvised and made up some of my knitting. I want to continue learning how to do things the "right" way, while being more creative. I think they go hand in hand.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Full of F.O.'s
I've got a parade of F.O.'s today. First off, these mittens were made with my handspun. The white is Jacob, and I'm not sure what the pink is. I spun one batt and it was fluffy and beautiful, so I bought more. But the second one was kind of greasy, and the third was so greasy that the yarn was clumpy, not at all like the first skein. So I decided I would make something I could felt. Well, technically, full. Get it? "Full" of F.O.'s?
The pattern is Cinchy Chunky Mittens, which I found on Ravelry. I made them a couple stitches bigger and taller then called for. The color blocking is because I didn't have enough pink to make them match, I think, I don't exactly remember.
Pre-felting photo. Notice the one on the right is a little taller than the other. Well, after fulling it was way taller than the other. I guess the white yarn shrank more than the pink.
So I felted just that one again with my next felting project. They match a little better, but the one with the white cuff is a bit short in the thumb and cuff and the other is too long in the fingers. Not a masterpiece project, but they are warm, and I learned a few things.
Next we have a shoulder bag I am very happy with and really needed.
I made this specifically to use the Musique multicolored yarn. I had tried to make a hat, but didn’t like the way it worked up. Then I noticed a lot of projects used the yarn for felting. So I designed this bag around the yarn. I used techniques from a pattern I used previously from ”Two Old Bags”, and was inspired by one I saw in “Spin to Knit”. I also got a lot of input from fellow Purl Jam knitters on Tuesday nights.
I swatched first because I wanted to see how the yarns would interact. I was also concerned about getting the shoulder strap the right length. I even made I-cord swatches, though ended up using a different strap.
I started at the bottom, about 110 stitches in the round. I alternated the green and purple, ending with green. A couple rows before the top I kfb’d 6 times on each side for the handles, putting each 6 on a holder. I cast off a little less than half the stitches in I-cord for the front edge (leaving a few for room for the handles on the sides), then changed to Musique for the flap. It doesn’t felt as much as the Cascade 220 so I decreased about 12 stitches total during the first half. For interest I did part of the flap in garter stitch. I picked up the handle stitches, increasing by one. I ran out of green, so I cast on the other side in purple, and grafted in the middle. I sewed up the bottom and the handle, wove in ends, and fulled it in the washer with a pair of heavy pants.
I’m really happy with the way it turned out, just as I envisioned it. My only regret is that the flap is a couple inches too tall, and still flares out a bit. But when the bag has stuff in it a little more of the purple stripe shows.
Here are before and after fulling photos for scale. I've tried to size the photos so the rulers are the same size. As TeeKay told me, Cascade 220 loses a lot more in height than width. I experienced that with my previous bag, which is why I swatched so carefully.
Finally, here is a sweater four plus years in the making. It is from the first Stitch 'N Bitch book. I was still learning a lot about knitting back then and sweater was pretty ambitious. I did swatch, and yet the sweater is way bigger than I was in 2004. I probably didn't read the measurements, just decided I was a size large.
I actually knit all the parts back then, got stalled due to big life changes, and then got it out and blocked the pieces last year, I think. But it could have been as early as 2006. Then it sat in the the UFO pile. I pinned it together a couple months and ago and didn't like it at all for a lot of reasons. But I didn't want to frog it after all the dang knitting. It was almost like an instant project, if I could just finish it up. So I pulled out the book and learned how to assemble a sweater. It was kind of amazing watching the side seams go together so nicely. The sleeves were way to long so I cut a couple inches off the bottoms and re-cast off. I crocheted the edges and ran out of yarn, so the button plackets are not done quite to pattern.
Overall, I'm not thrilled. The fabric is too loose, I should have used smaller needles. It is too short in the back, which is weird. The finishing is a bit crappy, especially at the shoulder seams. The sleeves are still a bit too long and too wide. But it has grown on me in the past couple months. I really like the color, and it looks okay on. This picture is not the greatest, and the shirt underneath not the best. It will get worn, in large part because of the buttons. If it wasn't for these cuties, the sweater would still be a U.F.O.
Well, that and my summer knitting goals. I'm going to try to do my check-in on those tomorrow.
The pattern is Cinchy Chunky Mittens, which I found on Ravelry. I made them a couple stitches bigger and taller then called for. The color blocking is because I didn't have enough pink to make them match, I think, I don't exactly remember.
Pre-felting photo. Notice the one on the right is a little taller than the other. Well, after fulling it was way taller than the other. I guess the white yarn shrank more than the pink.
So I felted just that one again with my next felting project. They match a little better, but the one with the white cuff is a bit short in the thumb and cuff and the other is too long in the fingers. Not a masterpiece project, but they are warm, and I learned a few things.
Next we have a shoulder bag I am very happy with and really needed.
I made this specifically to use the Musique multicolored yarn. I had tried to make a hat, but didn’t like the way it worked up. Then I noticed a lot of projects used the yarn for felting. So I designed this bag around the yarn. I used techniques from a pattern I used previously from ”Two Old Bags”, and was inspired by one I saw in “Spin to Knit”. I also got a lot of input from fellow Purl Jam knitters on Tuesday nights.
I swatched first because I wanted to see how the yarns would interact. I was also concerned about getting the shoulder strap the right length. I even made I-cord swatches, though ended up using a different strap.
I started at the bottom, about 110 stitches in the round. I alternated the green and purple, ending with green. A couple rows before the top I kfb’d 6 times on each side for the handles, putting each 6 on a holder. I cast off a little less than half the stitches in I-cord for the front edge (leaving a few for room for the handles on the sides), then changed to Musique for the flap. It doesn’t felt as much as the Cascade 220 so I decreased about 12 stitches total during the first half. For interest I did part of the flap in garter stitch. I picked up the handle stitches, increasing by one. I ran out of green, so I cast on the other side in purple, and grafted in the middle. I sewed up the bottom and the handle, wove in ends, and fulled it in the washer with a pair of heavy pants.
I’m really happy with the way it turned out, just as I envisioned it. My only regret is that the flap is a couple inches too tall, and still flares out a bit. But when the bag has stuff in it a little more of the purple stripe shows.
Here are before and after fulling photos for scale. I've tried to size the photos so the rulers are the same size. As TeeKay told me, Cascade 220 loses a lot more in height than width. I experienced that with my previous bag, which is why I swatched so carefully.
Finally, here is a sweater four plus years in the making. It is from the first Stitch 'N Bitch book. I was still learning a lot about knitting back then and sweater was pretty ambitious. I did swatch, and yet the sweater is way bigger than I was in 2004. I probably didn't read the measurements, just decided I was a size large.
I actually knit all the parts back then, got stalled due to big life changes, and then got it out and blocked the pieces last year, I think. But it could have been as early as 2006. Then it sat in the the UFO pile. I pinned it together a couple months and ago and didn't like it at all for a lot of reasons. But I didn't want to frog it after all the dang knitting. It was almost like an instant project, if I could just finish it up. So I pulled out the book and learned how to assemble a sweater. It was kind of amazing watching the side seams go together so nicely. The sleeves were way to long so I cut a couple inches off the bottoms and re-cast off. I crocheted the edges and ran out of yarn, so the button plackets are not done quite to pattern.
Overall, I'm not thrilled. The fabric is too loose, I should have used smaller needles. It is too short in the back, which is weird. The finishing is a bit crappy, especially at the shoulder seams. The sleeves are still a bit too long and too wide. But it has grown on me in the past couple months. I really like the color, and it looks okay on. This picture is not the greatest, and the shirt underneath not the best. It will get worn, in large part because of the buttons. If it wasn't for these cuties, the sweater would still be a U.F.O.
Well, that and my summer knitting goals. I'm going to try to do my check-in on those tomorrow.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Deep Thoughts about the City
I have so many things swirling in my mind that I could post about on any given day, but I just don't get the quiet time to actually write a cohesive essay about a topic. Well, that's not true, I could type away during nap time, but that's for spinning and knitting. It's when thoughts fly around freely here and there, and I enjoy that.
Anyhow, first thing is I don't usually buy magazines at the market, but I did pick up Shambhala Sun this afternoon. It's a Buddhist magazine, and I'm far from being a Buddhist, not even a wannabe, but I like reading about it. When I start getting down about the world and wonder if humans are all just out for themselves at all costs, it's nice to know that there are people who are self-aware and want to practice compassion.
Part of the reason that I'm down on humanity is this city. If you read local blogs and the comments in articles in the paper you come to realize that a lot of San Franciscans hate kids and parents. I know that there are tons of transplants here, and they are young. I have almost given up making good friends because I have had so many move away. San Francisco was just a stop in their lives, not a real home.
What's really got me ticked off is people complaining about kids on the bus. They seem to think that MUNI is only for young hipsters and if you are a little slow or take up too much room you don't deserve to ride the bus. Why is it okay to complain about moms and kids? Why not complain about the times the bus has to stop and lower the front steps to let a wheelchair on? Or complain that the front seats are given to the elderly?
One blogger suggested that people bring extra pacifiers on the bus because she doesn't want to hear babies cry. What a clueless, and no doubt childless, person! Number one - I don't want to hear my kid cry anymore than you do. Number two - you are probably yakking away on your cell phone about what you are going to wear out partying tonight. I don't want to hear that crap, keep your voice down. Ditto your ipod that you have turned up too loud. Number three - pacifier, really? Do you think it is that easy? I wish I could be there to see you struggle with your first baby who just cries all the time, about who knows what, and you can't get him to stop. I wonder if you will feel bad about what I child-hater you were, and wish you could ask one of those moms you dissed for advice.
Actually I don't wish that on anyone. I just don't know how to explain to you people that the world doesn't revolve around you, and actually people aren't trying to inconvenience you on MUNI, they are just trying to live their lives.
And I'm not a goo-goo gaa-gaa person at all. When I'm out without my kid I avoid other kids. I understand that some people don't like kids. I'm not saying everything should be geared toward kids. I'm just sick of people who complain about moms going about their daily life. I don't like getting rammed in the back of the foot with a stroller. I don't like screaming babies in movie theaters. And I don't think ill-behaved kids belong in fancy restaurants late at night. But how are kids going to learn how to behave in public if they aren't exposed to diners or the bus or the museum?
I don't know, are there really places in the U.S. that are nicer to families? Or is that just a myth? I know that some malls have parking places for expectant mothers. And restaurants have kids menus and crayons.
I was born and grew up here, and I know a few other natives. Was the city always so anti-child, or has it gotten worse? I never noticed when I was a kid, I had fun and don't recall any bad experiences. I went to a high school that is consistently one of the best in they country, so there must be some level of understanding that children are part of life. I think part of it is that I grew up in the Sunset which is full of families. But their are families in other parts of town, and not all young single people are anti-child, I know. Maybe it is just that young single people have more time to be on the internet complaining, while people with families are busy.
I would love to hear from some other San Franciscans about this.
Anyhow, first thing is I don't usually buy magazines at the market, but I did pick up Shambhala Sun this afternoon. It's a Buddhist magazine, and I'm far from being a Buddhist, not even a wannabe, but I like reading about it. When I start getting down about the world and wonder if humans are all just out for themselves at all costs, it's nice to know that there are people who are self-aware and want to practice compassion.
Part of the reason that I'm down on humanity is this city. If you read local blogs and the comments in articles in the paper you come to realize that a lot of San Franciscans hate kids and parents. I know that there are tons of transplants here, and they are young. I have almost given up making good friends because I have had so many move away. San Francisco was just a stop in their lives, not a real home.
What's really got me ticked off is people complaining about kids on the bus. They seem to think that MUNI is only for young hipsters and if you are a little slow or take up too much room you don't deserve to ride the bus. Why is it okay to complain about moms and kids? Why not complain about the times the bus has to stop and lower the front steps to let a wheelchair on? Or complain that the front seats are given to the elderly?
One blogger suggested that people bring extra pacifiers on the bus because she doesn't want to hear babies cry. What a clueless, and no doubt childless, person! Number one - I don't want to hear my kid cry anymore than you do. Number two - you are probably yakking away on your cell phone about what you are going to wear out partying tonight. I don't want to hear that crap, keep your voice down. Ditto your ipod that you have turned up too loud. Number three - pacifier, really? Do you think it is that easy? I wish I could be there to see you struggle with your first baby who just cries all the time, about who knows what, and you can't get him to stop. I wonder if you will feel bad about what I child-hater you were, and wish you could ask one of those moms you dissed for advice.
Actually I don't wish that on anyone. I just don't know how to explain to you people that the world doesn't revolve around you, and actually people aren't trying to inconvenience you on MUNI, they are just trying to live their lives.
And I'm not a goo-goo gaa-gaa person at all. When I'm out without my kid I avoid other kids. I understand that some people don't like kids. I'm not saying everything should be geared toward kids. I'm just sick of people who complain about moms going about their daily life. I don't like getting rammed in the back of the foot with a stroller. I don't like screaming babies in movie theaters. And I don't think ill-behaved kids belong in fancy restaurants late at night. But how are kids going to learn how to behave in public if they aren't exposed to diners or the bus or the museum?
I don't know, are there really places in the U.S. that are nicer to families? Or is that just a myth? I know that some malls have parking places for expectant mothers. And restaurants have kids menus and crayons.
I was born and grew up here, and I know a few other natives. Was the city always so anti-child, or has it gotten worse? I never noticed when I was a kid, I had fun and don't recall any bad experiences. I went to a high school that is consistently one of the best in they country, so there must be some level of understanding that children are part of life. I think part of it is that I grew up in the Sunset which is full of families. But their are families in other parts of town, and not all young single people are anti-child, I know. Maybe it is just that young single people have more time to be on the internet complaining, while people with families are busy.
I would love to hear from some other San Franciscans about this.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Thursday
Today was a typical Thursday with a trip to the zoo.
I'm sure the toy hawk enjoyed his tour, especially of the prairie dog and meerkat enclosures.
I'm sure the toy hawk enjoyed his tour, especially of the prairie dog and meerkat enclosures.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Winner!
Look what came in the mail yesterday: 101 Desingner One-skein Wonders.
I won it in a contest at Kathleen Taylor's Dakota Dreams blog. She is one of the book's designers. She's also an author, spinner, knitter, two name a few talents. I read her blog every day. Go check it out, there is something for everyone: yarn, paperdolls, recipes. This week she did major surgery on a stranded sweater, reducing it in size by about one-third.
The book has come at a perfect time since I'm doing a lot of spinning of different fibers, often yielding single skeins. All the photos are in the front, in sections determined by yarn weight. There are are scarves, baby sweaters, felted items, hats and much more. Now, if I could just get my summer knitting goals completed!
I won it in a contest at Kathleen Taylor's Dakota Dreams blog. She is one of the book's designers. She's also an author, spinner, knitter, two name a few talents. I read her blog every day. Go check it out, there is something for everyone: yarn, paperdolls, recipes. This week she did major surgery on a stranded sweater, reducing it in size by about one-third.
The book has come at a perfect time since I'm doing a lot of spinning of different fibers, often yielding single skeins. All the photos are in the front, in sections determined by yarn weight. There are are scarves, baby sweaters, felted items, hats and much more. Now, if I could just get my summer knitting goals completed!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Back Home
We got back at 12:45 this afternoon and I had to clean up and run out for the Daughters of Norway meeting. It was great to resume after the summer and see people I haven't for quite a while. We learned about the Norse gods.
---
Well, the camping trip got worse yesterday afternoon. We went back to the fair and K. did have some fun checking out farm implements:
And on carnival rides (The safety belts were rope. Nice).
It took a lot of coxing to get his shoes and socks off, but once in the "corn box", he had fun.
I spent an hour back at the Wool Festival, talked to a couple people and bought a few things, but I didn't really see any demonstrations, and hadn't signed up for classes. It worked out well for my wallet, I guess, but wasn't the fun I had hoped for.
We left and K. turned into a total beast and had the worst meltdown ever when we were having an early dinner at a Mexican restaurant. Fortunately we were outside and by ourselves. He refused to eat and banged his head on the benches and the ground. I wanted to just get food and take it back to the campground but the beast's father insisted we sit at the restaurant, and then when things turned bad he just sat there eating slowly, instead of clearing out. I was so ticked. Beyond belief. You know the days when you just want some time to yourself and sit alone and think or enjoy nature or quiet? Well that was how I felt but I was forced instead to spend my time with these two alien creatures who just love making tons of noise.
We did have an okay evening and campfire, and this morning was okay. K. found a couple little girls to play with. We packed up slowly and cleared out by 10:00.
So the camping trip was pretty bad, but I think the next one will go better now that everyone knows what to expect. And that was the problem, expectations. I knew this trip wouldn't be like those in the past. No leisurely coffee, long hikes, or staying up talking around the fire. But I did hope that getting out of town for a couple days would break up the monotony of constantly monitoring another person. A person who doesn't listen to me half the time, is noisy, and complains a lot. But I ended up working just as hard as I do at home. This weekend was even less relaxing than ones spent at home.
And we did talk about going back to the fair next year. This trip was really just to see how K. would react to camping and to check out the Wool Festival for the future. I will definitely sign up for a class and send the guys off on their own next time. And do a double-check for K.'s sleeping bag which I got specifically for this trip to get him exited about sleeping alone. Three people was a bit tight in our two bags zipped together. Especially when one is fed up with the other two.
---
Well, the camping trip got worse yesterday afternoon. We went back to the fair and K. did have some fun checking out farm implements:
And on carnival rides (The safety belts were rope. Nice).
It took a lot of coxing to get his shoes and socks off, but once in the "corn box", he had fun.
I spent an hour back at the Wool Festival, talked to a couple people and bought a few things, but I didn't really see any demonstrations, and hadn't signed up for classes. It worked out well for my wallet, I guess, but wasn't the fun I had hoped for.
We left and K. turned into a total beast and had the worst meltdown ever when we were having an early dinner at a Mexican restaurant. Fortunately we were outside and by ourselves. He refused to eat and banged his head on the benches and the ground. I wanted to just get food and take it back to the campground but the beast's father insisted we sit at the restaurant, and then when things turned bad he just sat there eating slowly, instead of clearing out. I was so ticked. Beyond belief. You know the days when you just want some time to yourself and sit alone and think or enjoy nature or quiet? Well that was how I felt but I was forced instead to spend my time with these two alien creatures who just love making tons of noise.
We did have an okay evening and campfire, and this morning was okay. K. found a couple little girls to play with. We packed up slowly and cleared out by 10:00.
So the camping trip was pretty bad, but I think the next one will go better now that everyone knows what to expect. And that was the problem, expectations. I knew this trip wouldn't be like those in the past. No leisurely coffee, long hikes, or staying up talking around the fire. But I did hope that getting out of town for a couple days would break up the monotony of constantly monitoring another person. A person who doesn't listen to me half the time, is noisy, and complains a lot. But I ended up working just as hard as I do at home. This weekend was even less relaxing than ones spent at home.
And we did talk about going back to the fair next year. This trip was really just to see how K. would react to camping and to check out the Wool Festival for the future. I will definitely sign up for a class and send the guys off on their own next time. And do a double-check for K.'s sleeping bag which I got specifically for this trip to get him exited about sleeping alone. Three people was a bit tight in our two bags zipped together. Especially when one is fed up with the other two.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Campers...
Happy:
And Otherwise:
Here's what I was thinking Saturday while we were riding around to give the kid a nap. I may have been crying. (posting on Monday per BLOG 365 rules):
And Otherwise:
Here's what I was thinking Saturday while we were riding around to give the kid a nap. I may have been crying. (posting on Monday per BLOG 365 rules):
This camping trip is the stupidest thing I have ever done. Why did I think bringing a two-year-old and a flakey husband camping would be a fun weekend? I haven't relaxed one bit since we got here yesterday. No gazing at the fire, no enjoying my coffee this morning. The minute we got here yesterday K. started rolling in the dirt. And when he wasn't doing that he was either throwing camping gear into the dirt or running away. I basically set camp up by myself while someone sat and drank beer. And the fair? The kid didn't care about the animals or anything. He's won't eat and is whining like crazy. I went to the California Wool Festival building right when it opened to check out the vendors. Even that didn't cheer me up, I don't feel like buying anything.
Friday, September 12, 2008
I Caved
So I caved and started knitting my "spindle for a sweater" project. It started out as just swatching on Tuesday night, but it looked so yummy and soft and pink I couldn't resist and cast on the neckband Wednesday.
We're heading out in an hour to Mendocino for the county fair & wool festival. I don't really need to buy anything, but I'm sure there will be irresistible items and some of my favorite vendors will be there.
We're heading out in an hour to Mendocino for the county fair & wool festival. I don't really need to buy anything, but I'm sure there will be irresistible items and some of my favorite vendors will be there.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Dates
I will never forget September 11, 2001. The details are etched in my brain. I was working for the Veteran's Administration of all places, and my co-worker called me to turn on the t.v. She was afraid to drive in over the Golden Gate Bridge, so I told her of course, stay home, and I went in. I was the only one in the office who lived in town. My former mother-in-law was afraid for me, but I doubted that the V.A. hospital was a major target.
As I drove in someone in the parking lot complained that I didn't pull my car in far enough, going on and on. My car was still in motion, I was pulling in slowly. I was thinking "how can you be so rude and petty, after what has happened"? As she walked away I realized that she hadn't heard the news yet. I was working in the Media department and was able to watch all the major news stations at once. People drifted in and out all day in shock.
What is amazing now that it was seven years ago. Time has marched on. I don't know why it is so weird to me, but my father died earlier that year. It just seems to put another big distance between us to think that he didn't experience that major event.
As I drove in someone in the parking lot complained that I didn't pull my car in far enough, going on and on. My car was still in motion, I was pulling in slowly. I was thinking "how can you be so rude and petty, after what has happened"? As she walked away I realized that she hadn't heard the news yet. I was working in the Media department and was able to watch all the major news stations at once. People drifted in and out all day in shock.
What is amazing now that it was seven years ago. Time has marched on. I don't know why it is so weird to me, but my father died earlier that year. It just seems to put another big distance between us to think that he didn't experience that major event.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Communication
We've got two new words, "no" and "backhoe". I know most parents dread hearing "no", but it is nice to have communication in the form of speech instead of whines. And for now it isn't a loud "NO!!!", but a sweet little "noo". I'm sure I'll be sick of it soon, probably by tomorrow night. And backhoe? Well that just goes along with brick, glue, dowel, and other useful words in his arsenal.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Back With the Living
I'm finally out from under the crud, and the heat wave is over. Thanks for the comments, emails, and calls. I did some reading, but not much knitting, just hurt my head too much. I did some spinning today.
We went to a really neat art installation on the beach yesterday. There are photos on my other blog. If you're local, you might want to check it out it runs through next weekend.
K. was much more interested in the fire truck and engine that parked at the beach. He got to explore the ladder truck and engine extensively, as only a little boy can.
Did I mention our visit to the fire department museum Thursday? I was so groggy and it was so hot I couldn't bear to take the regular zoo trip so we looked at old fire engines including one of the originals in the City from 1849. There's a fire station next door and we got to watch the ladder truck back in, and then a fire fighter came in, talked to us and carried K. around a bit.
I'm getting us ready for a camping trip this weekend. We're going to the California Wool & Fiber Festival which is part of the Mendocino County Fair.
We went to a really neat art installation on the beach yesterday. There are photos on my other blog. If you're local, you might want to check it out it runs through next weekend.
K. was much more interested in the fire truck and engine that parked at the beach. He got to explore the ladder truck and engine extensively, as only a little boy can.
Did I mention our visit to the fire department museum Thursday? I was so groggy and it was so hot I couldn't bear to take the regular zoo trip so we looked at old fire engines including one of the originals in the City from 1849. There's a fire station next door and we got to watch the ladder truck back in, and then a fire fighter came in, talked to us and carried K. around a bit.
I'm getting us ready for a camping trip this weekend. We're going to the California Wool & Fiber Festival which is part of the Mendocino County Fair.
Friday, September 05, 2008
Bright Spot
I'm still fighting this bug which has moved to my lungs. The funny thing is I feel good when I go outside and get fresh air. Must be negative ions or something. I ran some errands this afternoon, met my hubby for a beer and did some spinning while he watched a ball game. No-one batted an eye.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Illing
I'm trying not to make "nothing" posts in an effort to BLOG365. But I've got a sinus infection and trying to take care of that and a kid was too much today.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Hot Town
We've been having some warm weather the past few days. I took the streetcar home from knitting and noticed the noises are different. Now I'm sitting here in the dark with some of the windows open. The neighborhood just sounds different. Part of is that everyone else has their windows open, too, so different sounds are wafting in than just the traffic. But people are up later, too, enjoying the cool and doing things when normally they would be settling down for bed. I think partly of it is natural acoustics, though. When it is foggy the sound gets absorbed, and muted, but it is clear tonight so the sounds just shoot through air.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Labor Day
I can't believe September is already here. I barely got my 4 oz. spun for the August sweater challenge, but here it is.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Segueways
Okay, that last post (I'm about to add some thoughts there, at the end) was a bit of a downer, and didn't have any photos, let me make up for that. Here's the first of the rose yarn I'm spinning for the sweater. I just made the August challenge of 4 oz.
Speaking of spinning, this morning I went to the opening of Urban Fauna Studio. It was packed, but I didn't mind because several of my Tuesday Knit Night pals where there. I bought a new spindle and hand carders. I had checked beforehand to see if there would be carders, but didn't know there would be Greensleeves spindles, yea! I'll try to take a better picture of Lady Barbara later.
I, as well as the other first 75 customers, got a goodie bag and free pattern. Everyone got different loot, and Jessica traded yarn with me. I can't wait to go back and browse when it isn't crowded.
See that stitch marker? It has an itty bitty quail on it, which reminded me that we came across the very few quail who live in Golden Gate Park the other day. Fluffy, I was thinking of you.
And that reminded me of another bird. We had a great day at the zoo Thursday, with a special behind the scenes giraffe feeding. We fed them leaves, and K. was amazed at how tight he had to hold onto the branch while the baby stripped the leaves off. And his hand got licked by a long giraffe tongue. Fun times.
We stopped to have a snack and he was trying to feed seagulls when this guy came up, happy to eat popcorn cake crumbs. Peacocks are beautiful, one of my favorites.
But up close? Not so much. The dinosaur ancestors really show up. And this guy was really aggressive, he was ready to go through my bag, or peck my camera.
Speaking of spinning, this morning I went to the opening of Urban Fauna Studio. It was packed, but I didn't mind because several of my Tuesday Knit Night pals where there. I bought a new spindle and hand carders. I had checked beforehand to see if there would be carders, but didn't know there would be Greensleeves spindles, yea! I'll try to take a better picture of Lady Barbara later.
I, as well as the other first 75 customers, got a goodie bag and free pattern. Everyone got different loot, and Jessica traded yarn with me. I can't wait to go back and browse when it isn't crowded.
See that stitch marker? It has an itty bitty quail on it, which reminded me that we came across the very few quail who live in Golden Gate Park the other day. Fluffy, I was thinking of you.
And that reminded me of another bird. We had a great day at the zoo Thursday, with a special behind the scenes giraffe feeding. We fed them leaves, and K. was amazed at how tight he had to hold onto the branch while the baby stripped the leaves off. And his hand got licked by a long giraffe tongue. Fun times.We stopped to have a snack and he was trying to feed seagulls when this guy came up, happy to eat popcorn cake crumbs. Peacocks are beautiful, one of my favorites.
But up close? Not so much. The dinosaur ancestors really show up. And this guy was really aggressive, he was ready to go through my bag, or peck my camera.
Friday, August 29, 2008
BART Attack
I guess all the talk about the police the other day, and making a plan to take BART to a meeting next month got me to remembering the night a creep attacked me on BART. Some people may think it's weird to put this on a blog read by all kinds of people who barely know me, but I'm not the pervert who goes around grabbing women, I'm the victim, I have nothing to be ashamed of. I have found there are a lot of things women have gone through that they don't talk about, leaving others to think they are the only ones who have gone through a similar thing. So here's my story, it's a long one, but it may explain a little bit about me. Like why I don't try too hard to get out of jury duty, and why I make sweeping comments about aggressive men.
One night about ten years ago I was taking BART to the East Bay for dinner with the guy I was seeing at the time. He liked to joke that I should reimburse him for all the bridge tolls and time he sat in traffic to come over here, so once in a while I would go there.
It was a rare hot day in San Francisco because I was wearing shorts. I was sitting in the middle of the car, next to the aisle with my belongings safely on the inside seat. I vividly remember reading a textbook balanced in my lap, when suddenly I saw and felt a hand grasping my crotch. I grabbed the arm attached to the hand, and I said "what are you doing"? I was even more repulsed when I saw how raggedly the person's clothes were. I was sitting and he was standing, so momentum allowed him to escape my grasp.
I jumped up and called the driver on the emergency intercom and told him what happened, and the train was halted. I think the creep got back on the train or was taunting me because I do remember one person telling him to leave me alone. Other than that people were just staring, doing nothing. I waited and waited for the police to come and figured the guy was long gone, when I saw him on the platform. I called the driver again and told him. Then I saw the creep go up the escalator so I followed him. Amazingly the station agents had no idea what was going on and as I explained we saw the creep by the gates. One of the agents ran with me to follow him.
We chased him up to the street and he started shouting I had asked for it and called me obscene names. That part was actually worse than the attack. He appeared to be on drugs. We asked a bystander to help restrain him but he wouldn't. The perv ran off, the agent followed, and I went back down into the subway, so mad that the police had never shown up and the guy got away.
Two male officers came and it turns out he was assaulting another woman at the gate when we saw him, because they were taking a statement from her. One officer had taken my driver's license and when I realized he was taking my address off it I told him I had moved since then. We let out a big sigh and was really annoyed. You know, I was a bit in shock, and if he had asked me my address I would have told him. The other officer was making sure he had my story right and at one point he touched me from behind, I wasn't expecting it and kind of freaked out. I think that's when I asked for a female officer. I also remember thinking "oh no I'm wearing shorts, they'll try to blame me".
Then they got a call saying the guy was caught and we had to go i.d. him. Amazingly, the agent kept following the guy and flagged down a Highway Patrol unit, who captured him. I was relieved. Being in the back of the police car was gross. Then I found out he had attacked yet another woman that night, and her little girl had been with her. The other victim didn't speak much English and I remember translating for her, though my Spanish is very limited.
It was all very COPS, we drove to the Transbay terminal and they shined a bright light on the creep and we said yeah, it was him. At some point I used a payphone to leave a message on my date's answering machine to let him know I was delayed, trying not to freak him out too much. Instead of waiting for him to drive in, I decided to get right back on the horse, so to speak, and took BART as planned to his station. I sat in the very front by the driver, and they had a BART officer at the other end to meet me and wait until my ride arrived.
The rest of the evening is pretty blurry. My guy said he had worn a path in the carpet pacing waiting to hear back from me. I had some wine, and we called the other victim, to explain better what was supposed to happen next, now that I had a translator. Apparently we watched television in Spanish and I was able to translate everything, thanks to the adrenalin and wine, I guess.
I didn't hear anything for a few days and called BART police. They told me that it was being handled by San Francisco police since it happened in the City. I was also told, in secrecy, that the creep does this all the time and had an order against him, forbidding him to ride BART. I waited to be contacted by the District Attorney's office and got a cell phone and pepper spray. I was really shaken up. I had taken several self-defense classes in my life and do my best not to put myself in danger, and yet someone decided that he had a right to invade my person.
Finally I got called to the Hall of Justice to talk to a prosecutor. She asked me again what happened and I mentioned that I was still sore where he grabbed me. She said there was hearing coming up and that the charge was sexual battery, and she wanted him to become a registered sex offender. I was taken back by the term sexual battery. I assumed there would be plea bargaining and she had to start with the worst. Now I realize that if he had grabbed and bruised my arm, for instance, I would have felt very differently about it. Grabbing a woman's crotch to the point of leaving a mark, and then shouting obscenities is sexual in nature, and it did make me feel not just unsafe but violated. I have a hazy feeling that even the guy I was dating was surprised that there could be jail time for someone who "groped" women.
There was a slim chance I would need to speak at the hearing. She chose me to speak rather than the other two victims, which made me kind of uncomfortable. I spoke English well and worked downtown and would show up in business clothes, unlike the other women who were just as humiliated by the creep, but not white professionals. I also had the feeling she was more interested in winning for her record than out of concern for the victims. I nervously agreed to attend.
I sat in the front behind the proseuctor. Only one other person was in the audience, sitting on the other side. I assume he was a family member of the creep. We looked at each other, pretty neutrally. I was relieved to see the criminal in a jumpsuit behind a reinforced door. I don't know if he had been locked up ever since the attack. And I don't remember a lot of what was said, and luckily I didn't have to speak. But I can still see his public defender, a woman, saying how ridiculous the charges were. Of course the fact that he had a long history of doing this and was banned from BART was never mentioned. I was highly offended to hear her speak on his behalf, even though I know it was her job. I'm also pretty sure her motives were more about her career than caring for her client.
I never found out the result, I know he didn't get the punishment the prosecutor asked for, and there was no trial. I'm not sure if it wasn't announced or I didn't understand. The prosecutor didn't speak to me. As I walked down the front stairs of the Hall of Justice I looked over and saw the relative. This time he had sadness in his eyes as he met my glance. Because his kid was a pervert? Because he realized I was a victim of his kid? Because this wasn't the first time he saw his kid accused? I'll never know.
I do know his name, but when I asked a cop friend to look it up years later he wasn't able to find out without a Social Security number. More recently I have looked on-line to see if he is registered under Megan's Law, or find out where he lives, but there is not trace. Maybe he is dead. He obviously was pretty heavily into drugs.
I just remembered that a couple days after the attack I went to find the BART station agent and thank him for helping me get the pervert caught. He told me that he had been a victim of abuse himself. He also said he hoped the creep would get some help. At that point I was more worried about punishment than help, but of course I know just locking people up isn't going to stop this kind of crime.
The time has come when I don't think of the incident every day, or even every time I see a BART train. At first I couldn't sit in the middle of a BART train, but now I'm fine. And the first time I had to go to the Hall of Justice, ironically for a Criminal Justice class, I was a little nervous, my sister went with me, I think. But since then I have gone to jury duty a couple times in courtrooms, and even ate lunch at the same cafe I did the the day of the hearing.
This happened ten years ago, but I doubt the number of crimes against women has decreased that much since then. With all the hub-bub about our having a serious female contender for presidential candidacy and now another female vice-presidential candidate I think it is important to realize that many men still think of women as objects here at their disposal. Equality of gender, and race for that matter, is not a reality.
(A few more thoughts - I was really happy that some of my previous training had kicked in and that I didn't just back down. As I was holding onto his arm, I memorized everything I could about the creep. Height, clothes, etc. for later.)
One night about ten years ago I was taking BART to the East Bay for dinner with the guy I was seeing at the time. He liked to joke that I should reimburse him for all the bridge tolls and time he sat in traffic to come over here, so once in a while I would go there.
It was a rare hot day in San Francisco because I was wearing shorts. I was sitting in the middle of the car, next to the aisle with my belongings safely on the inside seat. I vividly remember reading a textbook balanced in my lap, when suddenly I saw and felt a hand grasping my crotch. I grabbed the arm attached to the hand, and I said "what are you doing"? I was even more repulsed when I saw how raggedly the person's clothes were. I was sitting and he was standing, so momentum allowed him to escape my grasp.
I jumped up and called the driver on the emergency intercom and told him what happened, and the train was halted. I think the creep got back on the train or was taunting me because I do remember one person telling him to leave me alone. Other than that people were just staring, doing nothing. I waited and waited for the police to come and figured the guy was long gone, when I saw him on the platform. I called the driver again and told him. Then I saw the creep go up the escalator so I followed him. Amazingly the station agents had no idea what was going on and as I explained we saw the creep by the gates. One of the agents ran with me to follow him.
We chased him up to the street and he started shouting I had asked for it and called me obscene names. That part was actually worse than the attack. He appeared to be on drugs. We asked a bystander to help restrain him but he wouldn't. The perv ran off, the agent followed, and I went back down into the subway, so mad that the police had never shown up and the guy got away.
Two male officers came and it turns out he was assaulting another woman at the gate when we saw him, because they were taking a statement from her. One officer had taken my driver's license and when I realized he was taking my address off it I told him I had moved since then. We let out a big sigh and was really annoyed. You know, I was a bit in shock, and if he had asked me my address I would have told him. The other officer was making sure he had my story right and at one point he touched me from behind, I wasn't expecting it and kind of freaked out. I think that's when I asked for a female officer. I also remember thinking "oh no I'm wearing shorts, they'll try to blame me".
Then they got a call saying the guy was caught and we had to go i.d. him. Amazingly, the agent kept following the guy and flagged down a Highway Patrol unit, who captured him. I was relieved. Being in the back of the police car was gross. Then I found out he had attacked yet another woman that night, and her little girl had been with her. The other victim didn't speak much English and I remember translating for her, though my Spanish is very limited.
It was all very COPS, we drove to the Transbay terminal and they shined a bright light on the creep and we said yeah, it was him. At some point I used a payphone to leave a message on my date's answering machine to let him know I was delayed, trying not to freak him out too much. Instead of waiting for him to drive in, I decided to get right back on the horse, so to speak, and took BART as planned to his station. I sat in the very front by the driver, and they had a BART officer at the other end to meet me and wait until my ride arrived.
The rest of the evening is pretty blurry. My guy said he had worn a path in the carpet pacing waiting to hear back from me. I had some wine, and we called the other victim, to explain better what was supposed to happen next, now that I had a translator. Apparently we watched television in Spanish and I was able to translate everything, thanks to the adrenalin and wine, I guess.
I didn't hear anything for a few days and called BART police. They told me that it was being handled by San Francisco police since it happened in the City. I was also told, in secrecy, that the creep does this all the time and had an order against him, forbidding him to ride BART. I waited to be contacted by the District Attorney's office and got a cell phone and pepper spray. I was really shaken up. I had taken several self-defense classes in my life and do my best not to put myself in danger, and yet someone decided that he had a right to invade my person.
Finally I got called to the Hall of Justice to talk to a prosecutor. She asked me again what happened and I mentioned that I was still sore where he grabbed me. She said there was hearing coming up and that the charge was sexual battery, and she wanted him to become a registered sex offender. I was taken back by the term sexual battery. I assumed there would be plea bargaining and she had to start with the worst. Now I realize that if he had grabbed and bruised my arm, for instance, I would have felt very differently about it. Grabbing a woman's crotch to the point of leaving a mark, and then shouting obscenities is sexual in nature, and it did make me feel not just unsafe but violated. I have a hazy feeling that even the guy I was dating was surprised that there could be jail time for someone who "groped" women.
There was a slim chance I would need to speak at the hearing. She chose me to speak rather than the other two victims, which made me kind of uncomfortable. I spoke English well and worked downtown and would show up in business clothes, unlike the other women who were just as humiliated by the creep, but not white professionals. I also had the feeling she was more interested in winning for her record than out of concern for the victims. I nervously agreed to attend.
I sat in the front behind the proseuctor. Only one other person was in the audience, sitting on the other side. I assume he was a family member of the creep. We looked at each other, pretty neutrally. I was relieved to see the criminal in a jumpsuit behind a reinforced door. I don't know if he had been locked up ever since the attack. And I don't remember a lot of what was said, and luckily I didn't have to speak. But I can still see his public defender, a woman, saying how ridiculous the charges were. Of course the fact that he had a long history of doing this and was banned from BART was never mentioned. I was highly offended to hear her speak on his behalf, even though I know it was her job. I'm also pretty sure her motives were more about her career than caring for her client.
I never found out the result, I know he didn't get the punishment the prosecutor asked for, and there was no trial. I'm not sure if it wasn't announced or I didn't understand. The prosecutor didn't speak to me. As I walked down the front stairs of the Hall of Justice I looked over and saw the relative. This time he had sadness in his eyes as he met my glance. Because his kid was a pervert? Because he realized I was a victim of his kid? Because this wasn't the first time he saw his kid accused? I'll never know.
I do know his name, but when I asked a cop friend to look it up years later he wasn't able to find out without a Social Security number. More recently I have looked on-line to see if he is registered under Megan's Law, or find out where he lives, but there is not trace. Maybe he is dead. He obviously was pretty heavily into drugs.
I just remembered that a couple days after the attack I went to find the BART station agent and thank him for helping me get the pervert caught. He told me that he had been a victim of abuse himself. He also said he hoped the creep would get some help. At that point I was more worried about punishment than help, but of course I know just locking people up isn't going to stop this kind of crime.
The time has come when I don't think of the incident every day, or even every time I see a BART train. At first I couldn't sit in the middle of a BART train, but now I'm fine. And the first time I had to go to the Hall of Justice, ironically for a Criminal Justice class, I was a little nervous, my sister went with me, I think. But since then I have gone to jury duty a couple times in courtrooms, and even ate lunch at the same cafe I did the the day of the hearing.
This happened ten years ago, but I doubt the number of crimes against women has decreased that much since then. With all the hub-bub about our having a serious female contender for presidential candidacy and now another female vice-presidential candidate I think it is important to realize that many men still think of women as objects here at their disposal. Equality of gender, and race for that matter, is not a reality.
(A few more thoughts - I was really happy that some of my previous training had kicked in and that I didn't just back down. As I was holding onto his arm, I memorized everything I could about the creep. Height, clothes, etc. for later.)
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Bad Boys
On the fiber front, I am plying the first of the rose for my sweater. Yeah, I couldn't wait and want to complete the Ravelry group August challenge of 4 oz. I have decided that September 21st, the official last day of summer, will be the last day to finish my summer knitting goals. I had planned on using Labor Day but if I wait another three weeks I should be able to complete a couple more. I'm afraid if were to say "okay, I didn't get them done this summer", they would never get done.
On the mood front, it has not been so good. I'm in that space where I hate the city. It happens a couple times a year and I start fantasizing about living in a small town where people are nice and we could have space. Except I know that there are crappy people everywhere, and I would miss all the "culture". I've also been feeling pretty isolated. I just don't have anyone who has known me forever that I can call and tell stuff without having to explain. And the one person who I could still doesn't want to have anything to do with me. I do have friends, but I just can't call people up and go out after work and talk anymore, or go catch a movie on a Sunday afternoon. Everything has to be so planned out.
I have a general issue with being a stay-at-home mother, who's trying to help with a small business. It's really not how I envisioned it, at least not yet. I've always worked, ever since high school, being home all day is weird. I thought I would play with my kid, go to zoo, pay bills, and cook dinner. Instead I can't keep up with anything, and going out has to be planned around a two-hour nap at 11:30 (three hours if you include the hour it takes to get him to sleep). I'm constantly cleaning, but the place is never clean. I did housework before, but when two people are working they aren't here all day creating more dirty dishes and messes, so it is really just weekly maintenance. I wish I had a dishwasher and that the laundry room wasn't two flights down, through a locked door, and then another. At least I don't have to go to the laundromat.
On top of it all I still get crappy sleep which doesn't help with the moods, and neither does lack of exercise. My mother comes over several afternoons but those couple hours get eaten up so quickly with bills, cleaning, errands. I did manage to go out and do my errands on my bike twice this week, I hope I can keep that up.
Now back to the title of this post. There was a little, not revenge, but validation, perhaps, today. We have a neighbor in our building who moved in over three years ago. It all started badly with people ringing our clearly labeled doorbell at 3:00 am and then making a ton of noise the day they were moving in, and went downhill from there, a drum kit came in the next day. He took over common spaces that were supposed to be unused, wrote petty notes, stuff like that, we had to have the landlord intervene once. Just an arrogant kid pretending to be a big man. I never liked him and would avoid going to common areas when he was around. I thought something was funky with the family, but my husband said I just don't like people, which is true to some extent, I think people should do their best not to bug other people.
Well, about six weeks ago he left, turns out he was a big bully. My husband was shocked, I was not, my intuition was right (yes, that was acknowledged by Mr. TVP). It has been much nicer here, a bad vibe is gone, I don't have someone giving me dirty looks one day, then saying "hi" the next. The remaining people still blast their stereo from time to time, but at least not at 6:30 in the am, and obviously we aren't quiet with a two-year-old.
Tonight he was supposed to get some of his stuff, escorted by the police. He isn't allowed on the property due to a restraining order. Of course, arrogant jerk that he is, he decides he will go in the garage before the police come. His friends brought a pick-up truck. Two squad cars come and neighbor boy and his friends end up sitting on the curb. In the end one friend drove off with a few bags of stuff (thanks for making us move our truck two blocks away so you could load up). The other friend drove off in neighbor's car. Neighbor boy went away in a squad car. I just can't help smiling and singing the theme from COPS "Bad boy, bad boy, whatcha gonna do?" Because it totally is a scene from COPS which features people being stupid. All he had to do was wait for his police escort. Typical aggressive male b.s.
I actually feel bad for the family. Divorce is really hard and there is a child involved. I hope she didn't see her dad in the police car. There's a lot more to the story, but I don't want to air all their dirty laundry. That said I feel a little vindicated. My husband is always saying I am too sensitive, but this guy is an arrogant jerk with a lot of issues and now it is proven.
I know the world can't all be sweetness and light, but is it so wrong to expect people to be civil? That's all I really want. Maybe I should move to the Island of Sodor.
On the mood front, it has not been so good. I'm in that space where I hate the city. It happens a couple times a year and I start fantasizing about living in a small town where people are nice and we could have space. Except I know that there are crappy people everywhere, and I would miss all the "culture". I've also been feeling pretty isolated. I just don't have anyone who has known me forever that I can call and tell stuff without having to explain. And the one person who I could still doesn't want to have anything to do with me. I do have friends, but I just can't call people up and go out after work and talk anymore, or go catch a movie on a Sunday afternoon. Everything has to be so planned out.
I have a general issue with being a stay-at-home mother, who's trying to help with a small business. It's really not how I envisioned it, at least not yet. I've always worked, ever since high school, being home all day is weird. I thought I would play with my kid, go to zoo, pay bills, and cook dinner. Instead I can't keep up with anything, and going out has to be planned around a two-hour nap at 11:30 (three hours if you include the hour it takes to get him to sleep). I'm constantly cleaning, but the place is never clean. I did housework before, but when two people are working they aren't here all day creating more dirty dishes and messes, so it is really just weekly maintenance. I wish I had a dishwasher and that the laundry room wasn't two flights down, through a locked door, and then another. At least I don't have to go to the laundromat.
On top of it all I still get crappy sleep which doesn't help with the moods, and neither does lack of exercise. My mother comes over several afternoons but those couple hours get eaten up so quickly with bills, cleaning, errands. I did manage to go out and do my errands on my bike twice this week, I hope I can keep that up.
Now back to the title of this post. There was a little, not revenge, but validation, perhaps, today. We have a neighbor in our building who moved in over three years ago. It all started badly with people ringing our clearly labeled doorbell at 3:00 am and then making a ton of noise the day they were moving in, and went downhill from there, a drum kit came in the next day. He took over common spaces that were supposed to be unused, wrote petty notes, stuff like that, we had to have the landlord intervene once. Just an arrogant kid pretending to be a big man. I never liked him and would avoid going to common areas when he was around. I thought something was funky with the family, but my husband said I just don't like people, which is true to some extent, I think people should do their best not to bug other people.
Well, about six weeks ago he left, turns out he was a big bully. My husband was shocked, I was not, my intuition was right (yes, that was acknowledged by Mr. TVP). It has been much nicer here, a bad vibe is gone, I don't have someone giving me dirty looks one day, then saying "hi" the next. The remaining people still blast their stereo from time to time, but at least not at 6:30 in the am, and obviously we aren't quiet with a two-year-old.
Tonight he was supposed to get some of his stuff, escorted by the police. He isn't allowed on the property due to a restraining order. Of course, arrogant jerk that he is, he decides he will go in the garage before the police come. His friends brought a pick-up truck. Two squad cars come and neighbor boy and his friends end up sitting on the curb. In the end one friend drove off with a few bags of stuff (thanks for making us move our truck two blocks away so you could load up). The other friend drove off in neighbor's car. Neighbor boy went away in a squad car. I just can't help smiling and singing the theme from COPS "Bad boy, bad boy, whatcha gonna do?" Because it totally is a scene from COPS which features people being stupid. All he had to do was wait for his police escort. Typical aggressive male b.s.
I actually feel bad for the family. Divorce is really hard and there is a child involved. I hope she didn't see her dad in the police car. There's a lot more to the story, but I don't want to air all their dirty laundry. That said I feel a little vindicated. My husband is always saying I am too sensitive, but this guy is an arrogant jerk with a lot of issues and now it is proven.
I know the world can't all be sweetness and light, but is it so wrong to expect people to be civil? That's all I really want. Maybe I should move to the Island of Sodor.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Freecycle
I know I've said it before but the Freecycle Network is a great thing. In the past week I have given away a mound of stuff that wasn't really being used and it all went to people who actually want it.
It is a constant battle against stuff here. For one thing we live in a flat with limited storage in the garage. And that limited storage is filled with tools for our business. It is a two-bedroom flat, with a formal dining room, but that second bedroom was an office/sewing room before the little one came along. So it is quite cramped here and I'm still saving a lot of toys and clothes and baby stuff in case we decide to have a second one.
For those who don't know how Freecycle works, it is pretty simple. People give things away to others with no string attached. No selling or trading. It is international and set up by city or region with bulletin boards, ours is on Yahoo. People post items they are offering and, to a lesser extent items they want. You communicate by email entirely, or at least at first to make pick-up arrangements. I have had pretty good luck with people showing up. The hardest part is choosing who will get your stuff, as there are usually a lot of responses. Choosing the first responder is discouraged.
I have received two things, but I try to limit that for obvious reasons. It does feel good to get something you need for free and know that you kept if from being thrown away by someone else. I placed a "Wanted" request for spinning supplies twice, but no-one responded. I was a bit irked when two days later someone offered a spindle, and then gave it away immediately to someone else before I even saw the ad. You are supposed to check previous "wanteds" before posting an "offer". But then I can afford to buy spinning stuff and if it went to someone who can't, then that's great.
I still give things to Goodwill and our Daughters rummage sale, but for very specific items I enjoy giving them away. I have given away a few things I was on the fence about after seeing "wanted" ads. So next time you are cleaning out your closets think about using Freecycle.
It is a constant battle against stuff here. For one thing we live in a flat with limited storage in the garage. And that limited storage is filled with tools for our business. It is a two-bedroom flat, with a formal dining room, but that second bedroom was an office/sewing room before the little one came along. So it is quite cramped here and I'm still saving a lot of toys and clothes and baby stuff in case we decide to have a second one.
For those who don't know how Freecycle works, it is pretty simple. People give things away to others with no string attached. No selling or trading. It is international and set up by city or region with bulletin boards, ours is on Yahoo. People post items they are offering and, to a lesser extent items they want. You communicate by email entirely, or at least at first to make pick-up arrangements. I have had pretty good luck with people showing up. The hardest part is choosing who will get your stuff, as there are usually a lot of responses. Choosing the first responder is discouraged.
I have received two things, but I try to limit that for obvious reasons. It does feel good to get something you need for free and know that you kept if from being thrown away by someone else. I placed a "Wanted" request for spinning supplies twice, but no-one responded. I was a bit irked when two days later someone offered a spindle, and then gave it away immediately to someone else before I even saw the ad. You are supposed to check previous "wanteds" before posting an "offer". But then I can afford to buy spinning stuff and if it went to someone who can't, then that's great.
I still give things to Goodwill and our Daughters rummage sale, but for very specific items I enjoy giving them away. I have given away a few things I was on the fence about after seeing "wanted" ads. So next time you are cleaning out your closets think about using Freecycle.
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