curls & chubby knees

How can August only be half over?

I’ve completed three of the eight amigurumi and toys that I’m making for the Ravelympics. If you never check the front page of movingfloor, you can head over there to look if you want to see them. It’s been nice to go off into my head and make these things. Crochet is great when it comes to freedom. You can be a sculptor when you crochet. Knitting is a bit more rigid. It’s obviously better for things like clothing, but when it comes to letting loose, crochet is where it’s at.

And who doesn’t like to let loose sometimes?

Unless something big happens, I probably won’t be updating much here until things cool off. Autumn cannot come too soon.

August is my worst month. It’s hellfire hot. It’s long. There are a lot of obligations that involve travel. I get depressed, anxious, irritable… Sometimes I think it would be best if I could go into hibernation until mid-September.

This is why I’m introducing a three-prong attack on August insanity.

1) I’m going to employ the Canadian Physical Activity Handbook to work more movement into my daily life. In the cooler months, I have a lot more motivation. It will be nice to have a program to follow that’s simple move and have fun type stuff like elementary school p.e. I’m so bored with my exercise tapes and can’t run outdoors in this heat. Exercise = happier, steadier me.

2) Flicka and I are going to different restaurants twice a week for lunch. The only rules for this adventure are that we can’t repeat any restaurants during one month and that we spend no more than $10 with tip each time. Flicka is learning to enjoy new flavors, and I’m getting out of the house. She’s really great at restaurants.

Last week I took her out for her first taste of banh mi. The sandwich, which was twice what you see above, cost only $2.75 and was delicious.

3) Using my Crock Pot, toaster oven, and electric steamer exclusively for supper. So far I’ve made it a week on this method and will keep going through August. It’s teaching me to be a bit more creative. We actually have two slow cookers, a large one and a small one. I’m going to learn how to make cakes and breads in the small one. With no end in sight of days over 100F, I have no intention of turning my oven on or standing over a hot stove. That’s one of the things that’s made summer so repulsive to me over the years, and it’s ending now.
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Also, I’m participating in the Ravelympics over at Ravelry.com. My event is the Amigurumi and Toy Toss. I’m excited about going to buy a bunch of yarn this weekend and plan out my dolls. I’m also about to order a bunch of comfort grip crochet hooks since the one I have has changed my life.

the way I danced last night. Unless GEORGE FREAKIN’ MICHAEL comes back to town.

This was one of those experiences that I never expected to have, never would have thought to pursue, and now could not imagine living without. A friend of mine asked if I wanted to see George Michael, and I’ll really go see just about anyone in concert because I’m a live music junkie. However, I was VERY excited by the prospect of seeing he-who-was-the-pop-idol-of-my-preteen-years, and I was NOT disappointed. The man puts on a great show, full of amazing light spectacles, an awesome band, and his voice is still very easy on the ears.

Here are my two tickets. The top one is my original seat, which was up at the tip top of the basketball stadium. When we got to our section, we were sent to a table to be reassigned some new seats. We weren’t given a reason why they were sending us down to the lower level, but I think it was to fill seats. It was quite the upgrade, as illustrated below:

The diva didn’t hit the stage until about half an hour after scheduled. There was no opening act. The natives were growing restless. When the show started, all was forgiven. The show lasted about three hours with a 20 minute intermission. What a good time! It was like being in a stadium sized disco. My favorites were “Amazing”, “Everything She Wants”, “Fantasy”, “Careless Whisper”, and (the finale) “Freedom”. Anybody who wasn’t dancing (without a medical excuse) during “Freedom” wins the Supreme Stick in the Mud Award of 2008.

Yay for people who share on YouTube!

There are some great sets over at Flickr of various shows. This one is particularly good.

I love when the bay is calm, especially after storms when it looks like a giant mirror. We’ve gone so much this summer already. It’s difficult to remember which visit had what kind of weather.

Yesterday there was a storm front moving over rapidly. One man’s boat motor died, and he was swiftly tossed into Dad’s pier. Thankfully the man, the boat, and the pier were fine. The engine started back up, and he headed to the boat ramp.

Three teenage boys stayed in the water during the storm. They were playing catch and wearing life jackets. The bay is so shallow these days that they were standing. The waves were almost as rough as the ones I’ve seen before a tropical storm comes in, but there was no lightning. It wasn’t too dangerous - just enough to make adults shake their heads. Still, I’d never have done anything so stupid as a kid, but it did look fun.

Some persons even got a splinter in their heart, and then it made one shudder, for their heart became like a lump of ice.

Before we left there was painting:

Then we went away and found an old friend:

We brought her home with us.

And yesterday two new friends arrived:

Wrote a first draft of a novel (children’s ghost story).

Finished my doll’s head.

Glad to be back!

Well, I’m off to exclusively write my novel for a month. But before I go, I must announce that after over a decade of being mad for Joe Jackson, I finally saw him!

Somebody uploaded the opening of the concert. Thank you, uploader person! I was on the other side of the room and had a clear view of the band. It was an amazing experience (excepting the crappy sound guy - there was virtually no bass!), and I’m hoping somebody else will put up clips, as reliving it would be awesome. I wish I’d stuck my little camera into the bottom of my tiny purse since the guy at the door didn’t bother to look in it for more than a second.

Also, he performed Duke Ellington’s “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore”. (This is from a different concert during the tour.)

It was so fabulous, and I am still grinning about it. I hope you all get to see one of your artist heroes do his/her thing one day. Next month I’ll actually take the time to write about how much I love his memoir.

So glad I splurged to go on a road trip for the show. The venue there was way more intimate than the closer option. Spending the night away from Flicka went okay. I think we were ready for that kind of step. Her hug upon my return was earth shattering. I love that kid so much.

Okay see you in June!

Lots of rain and rainbows these days. I even listen to a rain mp3 as I sleep. Does wonders for my insomnia problem. Garden is chugging along. The wet dirt makes weeding so much easier. I hope to have it finished this weekend.

Coming soon - I won’t be blogging about home life or movies for all of May in an effort to truly finish this first draft in a month. Pen to paper. Butt in chair. Fingers on keyboard. And all that jazz. Of course, I’ll still keep up with your journals and emails. I’m not THAT strong, people.

Now I’m going to go drink the insanely strong cup of milky tea that I just brewed and get back to studying some story maps I did of good novels. I’m drowning in Post-its, y’all!