Where have I been?

I was hanging out with some readers I know IRL tonight, and I got a wee bit of gentle ribbing about how I haven't been blogging.


Well, damnit, I'm busy.


I'm busy doing the one thing that I love more than knitting.


That's right. There is one thing that I love to do more than knit (and it's not what you think, get your minds out of the freaking gutter).


That thing is a political satire sketch comedy show. It's been a Winnipeg tradition for 75 years. The organization that hosted the show for 73 years went bankrupt in 2006.


So myself and two other people formed a not-for-profit corporation under a new name to keep it going. We, along with a whole bunch of other people, have been busting our asses for the last eight months. It's that special. We do something truly unique, and we are very, very good at it.


For the past three weeks, we've been making phone calls, selling tickets, rehearsing, building sets and laying awake at night wondering how we are going to pay for this thing if we don't sell the 400 tickets necessary to break even.


Because there is no question about it. The show will go on. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster. Our website is here. We were even mentioned in the Winnipeg Free Press.


And if we don't break even, I'll cash out some RSPs to pay for it. Seriously, it's that important to me.

Easter at the homestead

Since Granny and Grampa are chocolate fiends, I have to do something else for Easter.

Plus, I think my sisters-in-law appreciate that I don't wish to add to the future not-inconsiderable dental bills.

For once, all the socks were done before I presented them to the recipients (just barely, though. Cast off the last one just before everyone arrived for brunch):

Is anyone else singing "One of things is not like the other? One of these things just doesn't belong...?"

All wrapped up and ready to go.

On the feets! Squee! I'm a lucky, lucky auntie to have little kids who are thrilled to get socks.

Mini B's Mom: What are those, Mini B?

Mini B: Thocths!

Mini B's Mom: What do you say to Auntie Misstea?

Mini B: Please!

And later:

Mini J's Dad: Who's Dad's sister?

Mini J: Auntie Missie.

Mini J's Dad: What did she make you?

Mini J: Socks!

Clearly, my work is done for another year.

Catnip

I don't know what was so attractive about the yarn I purchased this week, but someone sure was interested in it.

I had to put it away before Parker suffocated. Or shed on the cashmere and llama. Really, I'm not sure which would have been worse.

I can see

Ce-ment pad.

Oh boy! I'm so excited. I could see ce-ment pad a few weeks ago, but it was too early. Sure enough, we got dumped on. Now, I see it again, and I think this melting business will continue.

Looks good to me, so far. Is anyone besides me dreaming about garden vegetables right now?

I know this because I cleaned up a puddle in the Basement of Doom ™ earlier today (don't worry, no books, yarn or wine were harmed in the unfortunate puddle incident of 2009). It was a very small puddle. Maybe half a cup of water. I didn't smell it. Could have been cat pee, for all I know (this is Chez Peepee, after all).


How much longer until I can sit outside and drink wine? I'm betting three weeks.

Too many deadlines!

So, I started this sweater in January...

(tiny, wee cute sweater. Missing one lousy sleeve).

The kid it was intended for has grown some. It won't fit.

So, this morning, I cued up some module notes and did some reading. Thank FSM that I can read and knit:

(and this is a far more accurate representation of the colour. It's a lovely semi-solid purple).

Though, doing the reading was hard, because I was constantly tempted to take a nap in today's glorious sun:

The goal is a sweater for Easter. And two assignments between now and then.

Kids these days

So I just walked down to my local dealer, oops I mean gas station, to buy a pack of smokes.

$12.20 is the total. I handed the attendant a 20 dollar bill and she keyed it in. Then I handed her a quarter.

She couldn't make change. I looked at her and said, "you owe me $8.05." She said, "thanks" and handed me my change.

Now, I know I'm a freak because I played bank as a kid, but seriously, that's simple math. One just has to count backwards. Add $0.05 equals $0.25 and $8 equals $20.

Don't get me started on actually counting back the change. I remember, way back in 1994, being complimented on my ability to count back change. At the restaurant I worked at, we were so busy that we didn't actually clear out bills. We just took the money and cleared the bills out later. We had to do the mental math. Oooh! The horror! I also walked uphill to school, barefoot...

Famous Blue Raincoat

This is my favourite Leonard Cohen song. I have loved this song since the first time I heard it in 1991, a cover by Jennifer Warnes.

Sadly, Leonard did not perform this song in 1992, when I saw him in Regina. Here's hoping I get to hear him perform it April 30, 2009, when I get to see him in concert again.