I warned her it was a dorky gift…

Me, The Yarn Harlot, The Sock, and The Knitting Gnome

I am blah, blah, blahgging at 6 am. Why? Well, when we tried to drive to the train station this morning, putting the car in reverse, as one does to back out of the driveway, was not having its usual effect of, you know, making the car go in reverse. Nor did the car wish to be moved in a forward direction. The transmission, I believe, has crapped out. It’s under warranty, so theoretically, it shouldn’t cost much (or anything) to fix. It’s just that today is supposed to be my first day of work at the shiny new job. We’re going to get a ride to the station a bit later.

But as a distraction: Look! The Yarn Harlot! And me! And is she holding a gnome? Why, yes, she is!

Yesterday, I drove out to the wild, wild Western Mass. to the lovely town of Northampton. (I seem to be doing that a lot lately, and will do it much more as my summer class rolls around.) Stephanie Pearl-McPhee was giving a talk at The Calvin as part of the tour for her latest book, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off (support local booksellers). She was hilarious as usual, and it was really quite super to be around all those knitters. Hundreds of them. Us. We are a force to be reckoned with for certain. She touched on many important issues regarding the assumptions held by many in our culture: knitting is for grandmothers, knitting is for hipsters who are rebelling against their grandmothers, knitters suffer a severe paucity of social lives, etc.

After the talk (which was punctuated by many cheers and hurrahs), we headed over to Webs to shop and get books signed. I went out there by myself, but managed to meet up with the three other representatives from GSLIS SNB for the talk. They took me with them over to Webs, but we soon got separated (must have been the yarn fumes). I made my way back into the warehouse to wait in line. It was hot back there, but the staff kept coming down the line with trays of cold water. Man, those people have it together. By “those people,” I mean of course Kathy and Steve (to whom, I should mention, I finally delivered their copies of the Webs oral history project). They rule.

Anyway, I stood in line for quite some time, and the rest of the GSLIS gals had to leave. I’m not sure if they got any books signed. While in line I chatted with some very nice knitters, and met Amy of Knitting Help. (Great website, you should check it out. I used it in my pathfinder for reference class way back when.) I got really sweaty standing in line. It then occurred to me that I had done that thing where I only put deodorant on the left underarm, neglecting the right one all together. I began to fear that I would offend Stephanie should I happen to waft in the right direction. She did not seem to make any weird faces in my general direction that would indicate that she detected any of my potential stinkiness.

I plopped my two books down (yes, two, Spinstah, I got her to sign one for you) and she signed them. Then I presented her with my goofy, dorky gift: a crocheted knitting gnome. I thought, since I’m on such a gnome jag lately, I’ll bring one to Stephanie. She seemed to like it, and did not totally make fun of me for giving her a gnome. She took a picture of the gnome, with me holding the sock in the background. I may be making a weird face, but we’ll see if she puts that photo up. Click through above to see a closeup of the gnome in my kitchen.

After that, I walked back to the garage, and headed on my merry way. Got home around midnight, and passed out.

Right, now about that transmission…

Gnomes!

gnome and leaves

Right, so, continuing with my gnome fixation, here is one of the gnomes that will appear at the Spring Anew art show in Greenfield this Saturday, as part of my piece, “May Pole A-Go-Go!” Click through for more gnomie goodness, and to see the may pole as completed, and all the stages of its construction. I dropped it off at BlogSEA manor on Tuesday.

And, I have to admit, I was a little sad to leave it there. I’m not too good at making stuff, and then sending it out into the world. The may pole is coming back home with me, but the mushrooms and gnomes are for sale. I had to keep the first gnome back, though (the one with the yellow hat). I’m too attached to him. He’s in the show, but he’ll be coming back home when it’s over. Once you give them names, it’s over. Yellow-hat gnome is called “Wendell.”

None of the other gnomes were named, though. I learned my lesson. When the may pole comes back home, I’ll make more gnomes and mushrooms, and all will be well. I’m thinking of making a Yarn Harlot gnome to bring to the Stephanie Pearl-McPhee reading next Wednesday. Is that too dorky? Probably. I bet she gets all sorts of goofy stuff from fans.

Offered, accepted

Guess who’s the new, part-time, temporary Archivist of the MSPCA?

I just sent off my acceptance note this morning.

I’m probably going to end up with a whole menagerie at home, since I’ll be allowed to pop down to the shelter at my leisure. Hooray for animals and archivists!

Overheard in New York: RHPS

Theater fan: What would you say about a person who saw The Rocky Horror Picture Show only once and didn’t feel any need to see it again?
Tim Curry: I’d say that was a person who was in full possession of their senses.

–Actor’s Fund event, 52nd & Broadway

Nooooooooo!

Well, it looks pretty official: Veronica Mars is canceled (most likely). There are few shows on television that I actually enjoy, and even fewer that I make time to watch on purpose: Veronica Mars on Tuesday, My Name is Earl on Thursday, and Numbers on Friday. Stupid bottom line. Stupid other stupid shows for taking up the stupid time slot and getting better stupid ratings. Stupid heads.

I guess I’ll just have to buy it on DVD.

Even if they do continue the show, it won’t really be the same if they just do the whole Veronica-in-the-FBI thing, because then you don’t get Keith, Wallace, or Mack. Dammit!

No, seriously.

I just sent an email to Sass E. McNasty of the Providence Roller Derby. I was going to wait until I graduated, but I couldn’t wait any longer. I love both the Boston Derby Dames and the PRD, but given where I live, I think trying to join the PRD makes more sense. I don’t yet know what it takes to join, but I’ve made the first move, and hopefully will be able to come to some of their practices this summer. I might not be able to try out this summer, since I have that course out at Holyoke, but I was worried I’d lose my nerve if I didn’t send the email today. We’ll see.

I should probably get some skates, eh?

UPDATE: Well, I got a response from Ms. McNasty right away, and have a packet of newbie info to peruse before I attend my first practice in a couple of weeks. I’ve got to get my schedule figured out, but it’s roller derby or my bust! (Wait… what?) They’re going to let me borrow equipment at first, and they ease you in to the training, starting with skating drills before you do any contact type stuff and are ready for a proper try-out. This is going to be wicked fun!

History of the Book

Here’s the description of the course I’m taking this summer (from the catalog):

The course will cover a wide variety of topics concerned with the history and development of the book, both as a physical object and as the bearer of intellectual content. Therefore, the lectures / discussions will look at two different kinds of phenomena: the physical properties of the objects that carried written and pictorial texts and the intellectual use to which books have been put. A third area that the course will address picks up the miscellaneous but important issues of the world of libraries; the antiquarian and out-of-print book trade; remainders; handling, storing, caring for, repairing, and conserving books; legal considerations of book/text ownership and use; and other areas of book history. Students will be introduced to the extensive vocabulary of the book world. With a mastery of this new vocabulary, the students will have a grasp of a subject of extraordinary breadth, boundless fascination, and endless debate. As Milton said, \’A good book is the precious life blood of a master spirit.\’ This course will explain why.

Ahhhhhhh.

(That’s the sound of finally being able to read something fun that doesn’t have anything to do with school. At all.)

I have been compiling a list in my del.icio.us links (tagged: books) of things I need to get my hands on to read this year. I am attempting to do the whole 52 books in 52 weeks thing. I started in January, and am up to, um, book 13. Not too bad. Most of them were read during my recovery from The Whoop. (It’s amazing how horizontal one tends to be during recovery from a long illness. All I could do was read.)

Anyway, here’s a fun little thingie (is it wide-spread enough to be a meme? Where’s Daniel Dennet Richard Dawkins when you need him?) to get us all in the literary mood:

Six word stories.

Here’s my contribution:

Confessions of St. Augustine: Dear God, I’m sorry. I suck.

And here’s my 52 in 52 list so far:

1. Artemis Fowl – Eoin Colfer
2. Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident – Eoin Colfer
3. Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code – Eoin Colfer
4. The Golden Compass – Phillip Pullman
5. The Subtle Knife – Phillip Pullman
6. The Amber Spyglass – Phillip Pullman
7. The Sandman Book of Dreams – Neil Gaiman, ed.
8. The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul – Douglas Adams
9. Coraline – Neil Gaiman
10. The Neverending Story – Michael Ende
11. A Degree of Mastery – Annie Tremmel Wilcox
12. The Tale of Despereaux – Kate DiCamillo
13. The Whole Story and Other Stories – Ali Smith

As you can see, I lean heavily towards the Young Adult section when choosing material to read. As you may or may not also see, none but four of the books listed are new to me. The rest I’ve read many times. Hopefully, I’ll get so sick of listing books that I’ve already read that I’ll be compelled to seek out new books. I’m terrible at keeping up with new releases. I do read a fair amount of book blogs, however, so I do know about them, just in a disconnected sort of way. I haven’t chosen my next read. It’ll probably be something comforting and familiar, though.

The Real Football Season

I work with dogs. That’s not a derogatory statement. I literally work with dogs. I’ve decided that my official title is “canine socializer.” It has a nicer ring than “pooper scooper.” I bring this up because many of our clients name their dogs after football (read: tackleball) players. I can never keep up with them all, since tackleball, next to professional wrestling and basketball, is my least favorite sport. One of my coworkers is appalled every time I forget one of their names. “That’s Brady! As in Tom Brady! He won the Superbowl for us!” My usual reply is something like, “He may have won the superbowl for you, but I don’t know him from Adam.” Yesterday, my reply was more like, “My football is played with a round, black and white ball.” Of course, she mumbled something about… I don’t know… rhymes with “schmoccer.”

So, yeah! It’s time for the real football season! Woot! The Rev’s regular season opened on 7 April, but I was all tied up with school to pay much attention. Now that it’s summer (or at least mid-May with temps in the 80’s), I can pay more attention. They seem to be doing well so far, with only one loss and a couple ties, mostly wins, though. Hooray for them! They do this neat thing at Gillette Stadium where you come early, watch an international game on the GIGANTOR screens, then the Rev’s game afterwards. It’s fun. JeT and I went to a match last season, during the World Cup, and watched France and Italy play on the big screens.

If I had a million dollars, I’d buy you a real green dress… Wait, what? Right, if I were a wealthy sort of person, I’d buy season tickets in The Fort, the super awesome section where the crazy fans sit. They look like they have so much fun. I wish more people kept up with the Rev’s around here. They’re a fantastic team, and don’t get nearly the local accolades they deserve. I think we’ll end up going to a match this season, anyway. I am considering going to a match against LA Galaxy in August, but I don’t think my support on that day will matter much. Since Beckham is on the team now, I think there are going to be quite enough fans on that day. I should probably shoot for a day when they play DC United or something. (Old home team, versus new home team.)

Spring Anew

Spring Anew

Please click through to Flickr to actually be able to read that flyer. I always have trouble uploading photos using wordpress directly, so I just go through Flickr instead, as that seems to work fine.

I’ll have a super fun times installation thingie in this show. That’s what all the gnomes and mushrooms have been for. I got some Moo mini cards printed and I’ll have them available. They came out wicked cute, too. Though some of the photos are much better than others.

If you would like to attend, please email me, and I can hook you up with directions, etc. I’ve been tied up with other things (read: school, looking for a job) and didn’t actually tell many people about this.