Another College Road Trip

My Andrew is graduating high school next month. He has decided to go to college in Georgia. He has also received an academic scholarship to go to school in Connecticut, far closer to home. No manner of coaxing or bribing would sway his decision but I thought it would be a good idea to at least SEE the school.

We left on the Sunday after his spring break, problem #1. We left on a Sunday, problem #2. We left 3 days after he spent several days in Georgia looking at the school of his choice, problem #3. It was raining, problem #4. It was the Sunday before finals so there wasn't a soul ANYWHERE on campus, problem #5.

After Andrew decided that he would rather see the rest of the school from the car window, I went into my favorite building of any college campus - the library. There they were, all the good children, cramming for finals. But my Andrew didn't get to see any of these scholarly while hip hipsters. We left after only 40 minutes! It took nearly 4 hours to get up there and 40 minutes for the child to decide. Actually, he was decided before we even loaded up the car the night before.

My pal Phyllis, who is a repository of great advice, suggested that we stop at the Mark Twain House after Andrew got bored (how did she know?)




In a constant drizzle we walked along the grounds of this lovely restored home. I got to see wisteria in full bloom

Why is this important? I nursed a wisteria vine for 8 years with visions of Monet's gardens at Giverny in my mind. 8 years! Not a bud, nada! So, whenever I see a vine in full bloom, I stand in awe.

Inside were various exhibits of Twain memorabilia and lots of facts about his life and work. Displayed were the many poignant quotes and irreverent views he published on just about everything.

Andrew is a huge baseball fan and he was excited to see an old time exhibit on display.

But there was this...

This note was posted on a screen you had to go around to see the full exhibit. Inside were sad pictorial depictions of how nasty white america perceived blacks -



















Well, it is looking backward after all and as long as we remember the history and are mindful of the odious signs, we can continue to move forward toward a better understanding

Moving forward while others prefer backwards...

Let 'em eat cake

All of this talk about money and the economy is making me grouchy. I don't like being grouchy, it is not my nature. But now, it has been suggested that my talents as a knitter don't transcend into my general domestic skill set. Unfortunately for us domestic workers, our jobs can't be outsourced. Talk about a budget crisis. Imagine if every man had to bring in private contractors to tend to all of their needs?? Yes it is true, some of them do privatize some aspects of their lives (see Elliot Spitzer and a zillion other politicians). We know how expensive that becomes for just one measly (well maybe not so measly) outsourced job!

At a recent budget conference, it was suggested that I review ways that I could cut back. Hmmmmm. Immediately, ideas came to mind. I could stop buying diamonds but DeBeers would probably go bankrupt which wouldn't be a bad thing except I haven't bought diamonds since I learned what happens to miners who work to get those lovelies out of the ground.

It was suggested that I not buy too many clothes. While I don't sew my clothes, I wonder just how much longer I could stretch my size 8 clothes into my growing, perimenopausal size 10 frame? Which brings me to groceries. Cutting back on groceries was seriously reviewed. If I didn't eat so much and encouraged others to do the same, we could save a mint (I used to grow mint but nobody really noticed). I am a bad domestic engineer it has been determined. I pay too much for food. I reluctantly had to agree this point due to the recent Whole Foods beef recall. I've been buying Whole Foods beef forevah thinking that the 50% markup helped ensure that I wasn't eating diseased, penned up and barely- alive- stock. So yeah, I could save with groceries by cutting out those nice juicy steaks and organic burgers. Did somebody say dollar menu?

Let's see, what else. Oh, right, the yarn. Which my shrink (if I had one) would probably say is the real source of the conflict. I could stop buying yarn. And by extension, I'd have more time to clean and cook and launder and contemplate "reclaiming the home". I contemplated drugs instead...


Then, the existential in me wondered, WWJD?

After close reflection, I realized that for twenty five years, I had been getting it all wrong. My one indulgence

could have been solved by just saying no. Who knew that Nancy Reagan was right afterall...

Anyway, is it obvious I'm in a funk? My Pal Phyllis came to the rescue. She brought some yummy wild blueberry muffins that she picked and baked...

Brought tears to my eyes...

And, Phyllis and I have been doing this sock KAL. Yes the yarn cost $11 bucks (a 20% sale at her LYS). Where else in America can you get great friendship, and stuff to do for 11 bucks and end up with a pair socks in the process?

Simply Lace Socks, Interweave, '06

My first attempt at the pattern was done totally wrong. When you are blind with rage, I guess lace charts can be misinterpreted. I had to frog it. Here is the improved version...


I was so excited that I was able to "self correct" and catch up with my buddy, I took the one sock out to the pool, and in solidarity with the USA's swim team's successes we took a dip -



Don't try this at home, the pool hasn't been chlorinated in days due to budget constraints so there was no real danger of bleaching out these lovely Louet Gems Opel orange tones.

Phyllis then suggested we go on a really cheap adventure to a local flea market to just enjoy looking at all of the old stuff...

Imagine having to wash clothes in one of these buckets? Talk about domestic servitude??

I bought a bag of buttons for a buck and two mason jars for two bucks! You see, I am good at this economics thing.

To shake off all of these worries, I've decided to throw myself into Ravelry's Olympics. Lots of knitting without buying new yarn, lots of hours watching some of the best physiques in the world and I'll get lots of finished garments in the bargain. So, stay tuned to my progress and what I hope to finish before China's closing CG ceremony. Sometimes virtual ain't so bad.

A Day at the Museum

I love it when my children surprise me. Last spring my 16 year old announced that he signed up for an Art History AP course. I think the look of shock on my face made him blurt, "what, you thought I was stupid?" "Not, stupid," I wanted to reply, "but, but...you're a jock." Instead I think I recovered with some uninspiring remark like, "Oh, that is wonderful!"

Well there is hope and I guess testosterone isn't poisonous after all! Raising 3 boys while surreptitiously force feeding them the kinder and gentler aspects to life without altering their natural DNA was really tough. I guess hours of museum tours really did rub off even if they sulked and complained along the way.

John Vanderlyn (1775-1852) Panorama: Palace and Gardens of Versailles Oil

For Andrew's summer assignment, he had to write about an exhibit at any New York museum. He chose the above panorama. He first saw this exhibit when I took him and a group of 8 or so very disappointed boys to the Metropolitan Museum of Art when they were in 5th grade. The day was turning out to be a real challenge when I had to deviate from my original plan and try a more "guerrilla" approach.

I took them up to the roof garden and bought them all sodas (bribe 1), hoping to get them to look at the giant and weird Abakanowicz sculptures.

As a bonus, on the roof of the MET you get a great view of Central Park

Then I took them to see the nudes (bribe 2), where they whispered and giggled.

Renoir

I reluctantly took them past the gallery of Arms and Armor, I felt I had to show them the diversity of images that can be found in one building if only they would look. Of course this got their attention, what is it with the pageantry of war?

Japan 18th century Bamen Tomotsugu

It was after the Arms exhibit that I noticed that they were now open to "see" and they all were eager to move through each room to see more. They were on an adventure, they were now art connoisseurs moving through history. But, it was at the John Vanderlyn Panorama where they all stopped. One of the boys began turning around in slow motion. The others watched him wondering what he saw and they tried to see it too. My 5th grade Andrew asked him, what was going on.

"I was there!" Exclaimed the boy.
"Dude, no way, that's like from a long time ago." They all seemed to say together.
"Yea, and that place is still there, I was standing like right over there." The boy brought the others to the scene of the fountains and they all stood looking. Why even a few adults came over and started staring too. I think this is where my Andrew was changed. This was when he fell in love with art.

My now 11th grade Art History AP student

It was a great day that day 6 years ago. And, it is still paying dividends!

Me, Georgia and sweet georgia brown socks.