Category Archives: Recreation

A Book That

changed my life?

The Wisdom of No Escape: And the Path of Loving Kindness by Pema Chodron

I’ve read more than once?

Mrs. Stevens Hears the Mermaids Singing by May Sarton
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff

I’d want on a desert island?

The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Desert Island (though I don’t think it’s been written yet)

made me laugh?

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal, by Christopher Moore

made me cry?

Charlotte’s Web by E. B White

I wish had been written?

Since I don’t know all that’s been written, how do I know what hasn’t been written?

I wish had never been written?

One that I just finished reading: A Round-Heeled Woman: My Late-Life Adventures in Sex and Romance by Jane Juska

I’m currently reading?

I am about to start The Onion Girl by Charles de Lindt and
The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America by Jonathan Kozol

I’ve been meaning to read?

Truth or Dare: Encounters with Power, Authority, and Mystery by Starhawk
The Grace in Dying: How We Are Transformed Spiritually as We Die by Kathleen Singh
all the books listed in 500 Great Books by Women: A Reader’s Guide by Erica Bauermeister
(and so many more!)

I was tagged by Laurel. If you want to play along, consider yourself tagged. Leave a comment to share that you did with a link to your blog (or just put the list in the comments!

Riches Found

Space is limited at Chez Mindful Life, and I have gradually filled the bookcases we have. Lately I wanted to read a pair of books that, while they were sure to be good reads, just weren’t worth spending money on, especially since I would only read them once and don’t have storage space. One copy was at my local city library. The other was listed as being “on the shelves,” but after repeated searches without success, I concluded it must be lost. So I searched elsewhere.

What I discovered amazed me. You see, some years ago a law was passed in California that removed residency requirements for public libraries. This means any person with a California residence and a photo I.D. to prove it can get a library card at any, and as many, libraries as she wants. This means I could actually get a library card for the Los Angeles library system. (Though that would be impractical, there is something tantalizing in the thought.) For years I have been a supporter (financially and civically) of public libraries, but I rarely used them. It’s time to walk the talk!

After discovering this mother lode, I’ve visited all the libraries closest to me to get cards (collect one! collect ’em all!) and thus was able to borrow the book I wanted (plus several more). In addition, each of these libraries offers inter-library loan services. Here is a list of my keys to free knowledge.

I could also get a card for the San Francisco Public Library as well as the East Bay (Alameda and Contra Costa counties), but I may hold off. I think 40 miles is my geographic limit for borrowing books, and those are well beyond! Then again, there’s a brand new branch of the SF library just across the street from where I park on those days I drive to the city (and it’s less than a mile from the train station).

Little Red Scarf

At last, I’ve finished! I’m looking forward to using it when the weather turns chilly.

red scarf

Three balls of Cashsoft Aran: 57% extra fine merino, 33% microfiber, 10% cashmere / 50 grams / 87 meters / 95 yards each; colorway SH010; on size 7 needles

Not So Social

I did not attend the 1,000-hour gathering with my coworkers today. I slept instead. My energy levels have been low. For whatever reason, I find the commute to the city and the 10+-hour days taxing in a way that years ago I wouldn’t have. Tuesday evening at the SF Connect party I felt dizzy and queasy and had to find a wall to lean against. (No, I’m not pregnant yet. Just wrung out.)

Here’s the thing: I’m nearly twice as old as my colleagues, and some pastimes just do not appeal. The plan for today was to meet in Sunnyvale for lunch, then do a pub crawl through downtown Sunnyvale, and then hop on the Drink Train (a social gathering on Caltrain where people bring alcohol to imbibe and share) up to San Francisco. I don’t drink much, and an afternoon of ingesting booze doesn’t appeal, especially since my energies are focused on trying to get pregnant.

I don’t think it’s just age that plays a part, though, at least in my case. I never found the bar scene very appealing, and I rarely went out drinking. Whereas it’s a common weekend activity for lots of folks, I’d go once a year, if that. I’m not against drinking; I just prefer to indulge at home occasionally, or at dinner with friends in their homes. If I meet friends at a pub, it’s not for drinking as a marathon activity. For me, drinking alcohol is usually an accompaniment to activity and not the focal point.

In any event, I imagine they had fun. I sure hope they did. We’ve all busted our butts since January — 1,000 hours down, only 700 more to go!

This And That And The Other

Things that please me and make me a nice person to be around.

  1. The car engine light remains off and it’s running great.
  2. My car passed smog inspection.
  3. I got a free cup of coffee this afternoon when I happened upon a grand opening party of a new Starbucks in San Mateo.
  4. There was a musician performing for the party whose style and voice I found very striking. Her name is Katie Knipp.
  5. I spent an enjoyable evening packing safe sex kits for the AIDS program in San Mateo.
  6. I am scheduled to get a massage tomorrow (my annual trip).
  7. One of my new social groups at LibraryThing has taken off. It’s a group for people who like tea, of all things.
  8. The temperature is cool again.
  9. I had dinner with a friend and caught up over coffee at Borders while in SF yesterday. We hadn’t seen each other in nine months.
  10. I am eating fresh, sweet cherries as I write this post.
  11. I will attend the Collard Greens Festival on Saturday. It’s in East Palo Alto; if you live in the Bay Area, you should come! I can hardly wait to sample the collard green ice cream!
  12. As of August 1, I will have only three months of my service to complete.
  13. I have decided to let go of anxiety about what will happen next and just enjoy the abundant life I am blessed with.
  14. While the past week has been creatively quiet in terms of knitting and visual art, I wrote two poems for the first time in three months.
  15. This means that I’m “getting back on the horse again” after my dreadful experience with an online poetry forum and a raking over by one critic/troll in particular.
  16. Meanwhile I discovered some new books with techniques and bought some more supplies (rubber stamps, paper, ink), which has been like taking a super-creativity vitamin. My hands are itching to make something!
  17. There are brilliant, incisive, creative people out there, such as Ze Frank, who amuses me daily, and the occasional You Tube video such as Keep Your Jesus Off My Penis by Eric Schwartz (thanks to Emy for that one).

Snuggling

The first meeting of the Snuggle knitting group happened last Sunday. It was a success! I finished my blanket and it’s below.

snuggle 1

I used one skein of Lion Bran Thick and Quick on size 13 needles. It’s about 12×16″ and will be donated to the Peninsula Humane Society. More to come!

San Francisco Days, San Francisco Nights

Monday afternoon around 3 p.m. my supervisor came to me and a coworker and asked if we’d like to see Chris Isaak in concert that night. She had two tickets but couldn’t attend. Believe me, we scrambled to arrange our schedules! I hadn’t been to a live music event in years. It was held at Mountain Winery. After a long, hot, smoggy day, it was refreshing to be on top of a mountain feeling a cool evening breeze. It’s an outdoor venue with a stunning view of the valley.

We had excellent seats, situated only 30 feet from the stage. He is quite a flirt with the audience, especially the women. He played obscure songs, and of course he played the ones for which he’s famous, all while wearing a pink wool suit — except for the encore, when he came back out on stage in a black suit clad with little mirrors (pants as well as jacket). He and the band wandered through the crowd as they played, and he had wonderful connection with the audience. It was a lovely treat. He finished up with San Francisco Days.

I may have to go back to hear other artists (I missed the Indigo Girls and Lyle Lovett, unfortunately). It would be great to hear the Gipsy Kings, Boz Scaggs, Big Head Todd & the Monster, Toad the Wet Sprocket, B.B. King, k.d. lang, or Susan Tesdeschi. And the venue also features Foreigner, Heart, Olivia Newton John, Chicago, & Huey Lewis & the News, Peter Frampton – who knew all those acts were still seeing action? (I mean, Foreigner?! Peter Frampton?! They are so 70s — I feel ancient thinking about it.)

And if one wanted humor instead of music, they’ve got George Carlin, Bill Maher, and Dennis Miller coming also. Drool.

I think I owe my boss a lunch for this!

P.S. Even Elvis made an appearance. 🙂

A Whole Passel

These are what I knitted on my trip — they are portable and easy to work on. Now my kitchen has fresh new cloths for washing and wiping. There’s something very pleasurable in having made this mundane but essential item.

dishcloths

Succumbed

I called Commuknity just now to see if they carry Noro Kureyon. Of course they do. I spoke with Tom (one of the owners) about what I want to make and that my stash is really random. That’s all it took.

I’m going to get some more yarn this morning to make the three-panel bag.

You knew this was coming. Right? I’m a Yarn Harlot in the making.

Antsy

So I’ve got several small projects going on. I’m still making scarves, because the yarn in my stash was purchased with the intention of making them (not enough to do something bigger). I have enough stash and oddball yarn that I feel I should not purchase more yarn. At all.

But I waaaaaaannnnaaaaaa!

Well, what I want is to purchase yarn with intention. For instance, I’d love to make a Booga bag. Or a three-panel Noro felted bag. Or a sweater from the Big Girl Knits book. And I don’t want to rummage through what I’ve got to see if I can come up with enough.

But I feel I can’t, because I have some perfectly unused balls and skeins (in several cases one each) of Bouton d’Or, Claudia, Rowan Cashsoft, Crystal Palace Merino, and Noro Cash Iroha, and some random Cascade 220 and mohair. I suppose I could give these away, but these single skeins/balls represent real money — in some cases $11 each.

I’m drooling as I find free patterns. I don’t knit fast enough! Must. Exercise. Self. Control.

First Prayer Shawl

prayer shawl 1

Last Monday I started this from random yarns (Rowan Cashsoft, Cascade 220, Crystal Palace Whisper, Southwest Trading Co. Karaoke, Crystal Palace Merino Stripes, Rowan Big Wool, Rowan Kidsilk Haze). I used a size 13 circular needle. It’s not perfect, but I’m pleased. I think I’d prefer to knit a triangular shawl for my own use; I like the way they drape across my back and arms better.