A Case of the California Public School Blues...

You often hear people say things like, "I can't believe they are cutting more money from the Public Schools!"

But how much do people really understand? How much do they really know about where that funding comes from or where it should be coming from? How many people understand how California State Government works.

How many people in San Francisco actually remember that the rest of the State of California don't necessarily share our views and ideals.

No one is going to say they don't care about education, or stick it to the students.

(Though there are plenty of people that don't feel that the public schools are worth their time, partly because they don't believe the public schools have anything to do with them -- whether they don't have kids, or don't and won't send their kids there)

The problem we have is getting Californians to come together and make more than a band-aid fix to Public School Funding. It must be done in a way that doesn't appear so threatening to Republicans, since until it changes, won't pass anything that needs a 2/3s majority vote.

I really hope that I have a society that can help take care of it's sick and elderly in the future. I really hope that it's education system is stronger than it's penal system. I really hope that somehow just my body showing up in a few places and a few conversations will begin change for California.

We need to vote for a self sufficient future. One that is not living check to check, or budget year to budget year.

I'm going to learn more on this ...

My Olympian Status

My Olympian Status is in question right now. I was happy to see that The Yarn Harlot seems to be in similar struggles. Well not happy for her, but it was nice to see that I do not struggle alone. It was also nice to know that Stephanie also is not just knitting non-stop, that she works, travels, socializes and does other annoying things like interface with her family and colleagues when she'd really rather could be knitting.

The thing is Stephanie is doing some kinda crazy Nordic sweater. I've just got a simple cowl. But I am doubting my provisional cast on. I'm doubting my capabilities of dropping and increasing at the same time. I'm not sure if I'll be able to kitchener join where "no one can notice".

Basically I'm paralyzed by fear. Wow that's never happened before!

I was so paralyzed, I picked up a hibernating hat and somehow managed to knit it inside out. But Ms. Pearlcream and HM seemed to have sorted me out.

Also, I'm prep cooking/cleaning for a family party on Sunday, I'm going to Stitches West Market tomorrow and I kinda got this kid person who needs me around and stuff.

See the excuses. My case is so classic I'm boring!

*Sigh.

Anyhow, regardless of how I prioritize it will be done. I AM an Olympian ... I just may not place. Perhaps on Monday my report will be a little like the dutch bobsledding team.

pic from blog.oregonlive.com

The Knitting Olympics... Going for the Gold.

Going for the Gold in the Knitting Olympics is really just going for completion, in a time frame, on something challenging, for your skill set.

See? So simple! ha!

The Yarn Harlot is hosting (there's a version on Ravelry as well that sounds far too ... interactive and social for me) but I like the YH. She's to the point I get it, and it feels approachable.

I love how she even tells you to essentially manage your expectations when selecting a project. See her rule #3:

3. While this is intended to be somewhat difficult (like the Olympics) it is not intended to ruin your life. Don't set yourself up for failure. (Olympic athletes may cry, but they do not whine pitifully, sob and threaten members of their family with pointed sticks because they haven't slept in five days. ) This is intended to (like the Olympics) require some measure of sacrifice, and be difficult, but it should be possible to attain.

Ahh truer words could not have been written.

I have chosen the Destroyed Cowl
I've been wanting to make this pattern I found on Ravelry for quite a while (Thanks HM for putting up w/my Rainman!) and it would be the perfect gift for my girl Zupan. So birds and stones as they say!

I even ordered some fantastic yarn from knitpicks that looks a lovely choice if I may say so myself.

I have yet to officially log it at YH. 'Cause that's, like, committment.

And everyone knows, that's where minivans come from.

Knit Myself Calm

That is the goal I believe. You know, I love it for more than the touchy, touchy of the fiber; animal, organic, faux or not. I love it for more than the "I created something!" Harry Potter magical feeling -- though these are all good and valid too.

Seriously, I knit for the zone, and for a sense of completion. Two things that are ever elusive in our daily lives. The grind gets us, it can be merciless and so unforgiving that slowing down is forgotten. The grind lends an illusion of self importance, that something has to happen and it won't happen without ME!

So I knit for calm, I knit for the zone, like a runner catches rhythm and a swimmer catches breath.

But I am so self defeating. In my excitement for the calm, I jones, I shake, I distract myself TOO MUCH from the grind (you know stuff that pays for yarn and rent and the kid's summer camp etc.). I think of what I could be knitting, what I want to knit, what I need for these projects and reprioritize both lists over and over again.

Now I'm in a frenzy. I could cut a thug for two chopsticks and some twine.

Please send Help.

Overcompensating ... Again: In areas of Health this time.

So yes, earlier last week I was ill. But I had signed up for the SF Fun Run 5k w/Sonny. And well I was concerned I would be too weak and wanted to bolster my sad constitution.

I forced myself to an easy beginning ballet class on Thursday. I whined for 2 hours before going. (I have consistency problems). But I was glad I went afterwards, of course.

Saturday, The Kid's best pal had him over for an all day playdate before we could really have mother/son CLASH OF THE TITANS: Battle Royale 3,217 World Championships. I had the day to myself. I got grumpy as I went from one room to another picking up other people's crap, or crap other people could've picked up. So I said, "Crap on this crap! I'm gonna Exercise!"

And somehow I'm the big winner b/c I hauled myself down to a Saturday Faux Beginning Class at another studio. Now, I know this teacher, I know that this is no true beginning class, and she sees my ass after months, maybe a year? and says, "Good to see you, you know this is a 2hr. class." dun, dun, dunnnnn.

I made it, I survived, it wasn't pretty and I was pretty stinky. I was so ick nast afterwards I couldn't subject MUNI to my own ... bleh. So I walked home. And I was immediately in pain.

The next day at 6am I'm up like sunshine and daisies to be ready in time for my big walk w/Sonny. Can't let him down. Heck! I get bragging rights and a free t-shirt! I can completely justify sitting in my chair and knitting the rest of the day away!

The walk goes well, I even ran a bit. The funniest part was Sonny was running the 1/2marathon and was approaching the halfway mark when I was approaching my finish. I thought it'd be cool to run along side and cheer him on for a second. Except well, I couldn't catch him. HA! He got me to run extra without even trying! Bastard!

He finished at 1:34! Double Bastard.

But now see the first thing I did when I came in this morning (besides brag to my friends that I exercised TWO times this weekend) was start looking up other 5Ks in the hood this year.

Overcompensator or just Obsessive or just whack?

I was sick, Fer Reals.

Last week I was kind of ill. It wasn't a flu -- no fever, no shakes, I was just congested. Really, really congested. I think I demolished half the costco kleenex supply. However because we're talking about health, and I'm getting up in my granny years, let me make sure I'm completely clear just HOW ill I was.

There were sinus headaches, and 2 nosebleeds and lots of snoring and drooling sleep (ahhh so sexy!). Now I've dabbled before with the Sudafed, Shing my personal pusherman had me pretty convinced of it's effectiveness for lesser sinus problems. But this time, I needed my own supply. Unsure of what to purchase Shing says, "If it's not behind the counter and they don't ask for your license ... it's the wrong one."

Now Shing was right, the stuff works, it was good, the Pharma Tech w/the nice hair even agreed.

But alas it was not enough! The storm system moved into my chest and then I was just congested everywhere too much.

On the third day, after I came into work ... when really I should've just stayed home another day, Awong introduced me to the love that is Robitussin Cold and Cough with Expectorant.

I now carry it around in a ziplock in my purse for residual symptoms.

Now even though my voice goes hoarse every now and again during conversation, or I have to clear something out in my cube I still feel the need to let people know, yeah this cold is real. hey yeah, look out for it, it's going around, blah blah blah. wtf, I might actually be worried that people thought I wasn't sick. That's pretty pathetic of me. Pretty sick.