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July 28, 2005

very cool

Whoa! Its so nice out! Smells like a good day to go and visit

Lucy!!

And plus here is a bonus dawg photo for sheer cuteness value only~

In any event, yes, the weather is much more conducive to doing just about anything and we at the Knit-A-Log are feeling much more lively, thank you very much. Lively indeed. Oh yes.
Yesterday I rode my bike all the way to the Knitting Workshop from my house, a fur piece, as John would say. Quite possibly my longest bike ride to date. At knitting workshop I wandered among the shelves and fondled all manner of diverse and beautiful skeins, oh my. The Manos. The Noro. Oh, the sock yarn! Big sigh. All I bought were needles for my Chickami, which one day I might actually make.
If it weren't for the eye blobs which still linger, I would say I'm feeling pretty invincible some of the time. Eye blobs are a little disconcerting and I have to say I am still teeny bit thrown off by it all. But I try not to dwell on it.

Yesterday I also stopped off at the doggy store for some doggy supplies~ canned food and flax seed oil for a shiny coat!
Marcel danced quite a bit as I showed him all his new stuff, then we went to the park and talked to the hot dog lady for a while. We hung around and Marcel harassed customers for food, then we went down to the Grind for tea. At the Grind we met Milton, the 9 month old Aussie shepherd, who showed off his excellent shepherding qualities by promptly herding a terrified Marcel into a doorway! Very cute. Milton watched out for my boy while I ran in and got tea. We shared a table outside with a young man who absolutely refused to believe that Marcel ever blinked, and further suggested that being an American breed perhaps the star-spangled collar stood for patriotism. Its red with stars! Do you see any blue here? Any white? Um, no. This collar, I said, pointing my index finger emphatically, this collar means he is an Anarchist! Believe it!

Last night I started unraveling an improvised sweater thingy that seemed to have fallen into that unfinished project limbo, to recycle the perfectly lovely black Rowan wool cotton. Nice, nice. I'm hoping this will be a good beach project.

Posted by pippypippy at 07:21 AM | Comments (2)

July 25, 2005

Swimming Dogues plus The Meaning of it All

Whoa. Yesterday was pretty yucky hot. Omg.
Even little dawgs, whose bathing habits are pretty minimal, and who loathe the feel of any dampness between their toes, were persuaded to go for a late-night dip in the doggy pool in Dawn's garden!

Not sure how long this lasted but note ear cones locked in their backward and flattened position! This generally denotes terror or at least revulsion. But according to eyewitness accounts Marcel was a sport and may have even enjoyed himself.
Here is the after shot.

This morning I am knitting socks and trying not to worry about my eye blobs. Here is what I read somewhere online, that if you have eye blobs you need to sit still, upright in a chair with a pillow behind your head, and the blood will eventually clear. Who knows what sketchy internet sources really can tell you but I figure it can't hurt and plus I get a lot of knitting done this way.
On the college radio station (which I prefer because of fewer frickin car commercials. Among other reasons) I heard on a Chicago Indymedia story, a talk given by a survivor of the horrific nuclear bombing in Hiroshima. It was quite gruesome but ended on this note, which I thought I ought to pass along, as it seemed one of those absolute kernels of wisdom that one runs across here and there!
His name was Mr. Yoshida, if I have it right. He spoke at The Peace Museum in Garfield Park.
Anyway, here is what he said.
When he teaches children about peace, he tells them that if you look in the dictionary, one definition of the word peace in Japanese is to live every day happily.
I like it so much.
During the program it began to rain outside, and I sat by the open window watching, occasionally feeling a cool drop land on my skin, and inhaling the distinct and delicate smell of dampness on dry pavement.
A very city smell.
Now there is thunder, such sweet music.
Oh yes.

Posted by pippypippy at 11:37 AM | Comments (4)

July 23, 2005

Yesterday I felt much better after spending some time with my Best Pal in the Whole World

And plus its true what Cari says about stressful times and sock knitting and hanging out with dogs.
And since Arcadia Knitting is on the way to John's house, what could I do but drown my sorrows in Dale of Norway Baby Ull? It comes in pretty colors~

Isn't it just like a robin's egg? Couldn't you just kiss it? (I could, and did, and probably will again!Its true!)
Marcel really wanted to eat it. We gave him fishy treats instead. We also visited Lucy the boxer, and went to the park where we met our two young friends, Ashley and Daniel, the biking brother and sister duo, who are big fans of Marcel. And, I might add, are very gentle in petting his head and absolutely wouldn't dream of touching him inappropriately. Ahem.

Later John and I had dinner at Square Kitchen (highly recommended!) Then some human-canine Relax-o-Therapy went down~

Ah yes, there's nothing quite like some quality couch time! If you look closely in this next one, directly above my head there is a shiny red glowing thing! It is my brand new Brane Bucket, also known as bike helmet! Red means Stop! all you clowns in your SUVs! It seemed like it kind of worked! Plus the fear of car doors is somewhat diminished knowing one's coconut has some defenses! There's a really nice picture of a rat on the back, being followed by little rat eyeballs and teeth, as though they are coming out of the darkness. Following you! Yes, you, bad driver who menaces bicyclists! The rats will have their revenge! They'll kick your ass, believe it!

Ok, Movable Type is not letting me give this a title. I'm not sure why but its very early in the day, maybe it just needs some coffee.

Posted by pippypippy at 05:02 AM | Comments (6)

July 21, 2005

eyeball update

Hey, can a guy take a nap around here?

Where ya going Uncle Wininger?

You going to see Pippy?

Ok, well take good care of Pippy and hey, maybe get me some new reading material while you're out?

Eyeball update~ first of all special thanks to John for taking time off from work to go with me to the eye doctor!
Yesterday I had more laser treatments, not very pleasant at all but it tends to save one's vision from going completely to hell.
I still have annoying blobs in my right eye today, and kind of a big headache from the laser but am ok.
I tried to knit while my eyes were dilated. It seemed like I could do it but its hard to say since I didn't end up waiting that long.

Posted by pippypippy at 08:10 AM | Comments (3)

July 18, 2005

Oh yeah, the Knit-A-Log

Why oh why is the Knit-A-Log so boring these days? Why, its putting people and nervous little dogs right to sleep!

awwww.. look! Look at the baby!
Its not so bad to lull the little dawgs to sleep, because they are so darned cute, but still.
Part of the problem is its been way too hot to think.
Living, as I do, in the third world, the world without air conditioning, there is little one can do but sprawl on one's back in front of the fan, minimally clothed, and try not to dehydrate. This is how I spent most of yesterday, before my medical ordeal (more about that later).
I did do a small amount of work on Duchamp! the new issue (out soon, I mean it!). Hot weather is not so conducive to drawing as it requires nerves of steel to keep the sticky pata surface from making the paper unsightly. It is a myth that one does art for relaxation! It takes a strong constitution! Believe it!!
In any event, Friday night an intrepid Bear and I ventured into the tourist throngs to watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at a downtown theater. This is the length we were willing to go to to see Johnny Depp in his weirdo-outsider splendor! He did not disappoint, and neither did Tim Burton, who has updated his goth style somewhat to include marvelous futuristic gadgetry in the Dickensian landscape, a little bit confusing but in all, (forgive the metaphor) pleasing candy for the eye. Depp, as Willie Wonka, is a little bit Pee-Wee Herman, a little bit Michael Jackson (although a Bear said he didn't see it) a little bit the dear departed (god bless him) Fred Rogers, sans sweater. Speaking of which, for the knitters out there, Charlie's 4 grandparents, who live (and eat nothing but cabbage soup!) in a bed in the middle of the Buckets' tiny, severly lopsided house on the edge of the perfectly symmetrical (that Tim Burton and his fearful symmetry!) metropolis, wear layers of crazily patterned, meant to look oddly handknit blankets and sweaters. Kind of interesting from a knitters' perspective. Oh, and plus there was a preview for a forthcoming Wallace and Gromit movie, which appears promising. And of course involves dogs who knit, so what could be better? Omg. I have to see it. Anyway.
The other big news is a plane ticket has been bought (thanks Molly and Squirrel!) for the sometimes-annual beach trip to Bethany, Delaware. Everyone will be there, including Caroline, in her first big screen role as big sister to the latest on the scene, Joey. We are looking forward to meeting the new little one, who, according to celebrity baby gossip, wears only the finest handknit socks by Chicago-based Tricycle Red Workers Cooperative. Apparenly he has also been spotted around upstate New York in fashionable baby apparel featuring rocker Iggy Pop, causing a ruckus of cuteness wherever he goes. Just call him Joey Ramone. Rock on, little dude.
Oh, and here it is, the medical ordeal, in a nutshell. Its not really so alarming, but it was a little bit, and is ongoing, and thus it is on my mind, and thus I am blogging about it, though I don't know if its wise. But here it is.
Some of you know I am diabetic. When you are diabetic you get eye things. In the past, I have had these eye things treated with lasers, none of this is especially unusual for someone who has had diabetes for over 20 years, as I have. Anyway, yesterday I was seeing black spots in my right eye. I kept thinking it would go away. Then I started trying to decide if I should call my eye doctor, who I am seeing Wednesday anyway. So I am looking for information on the internet (never do this. Medical information on the internet only exists to scare the crap out of you. I knew this but looked anyway. Silly me.) trying to decide if this is an emergency. Finally I found it~ the section titled When To Call A Professional. And there it was, spots. So I called. And I went to the ER. And they looked at my eye because it could have been my retina detaching. Just what you want to hear of a Sunday afternoon, "oh, it could be nothing, but it could be your retina detaching." Anyway, two very nice young (good looking!) doctors shined lights in my eyes and found my retina to be firmly attached and not going anywhere at this time. However, and this is the creepy part, although I knew it happened, but brace yourself if you are squeamish, tiny blood vessels inside my eyeball were bleeding.
Just call this the yuck-a-log.
In any event, I want to reassure readers that I am ok, and this will probably end up being fixed by more lasers, and then I will be fine.
Its just been on my mind and that's partly why I haven't written.
Think good thoughts, ok?

Posted by pippypippy at 08:00 AM | Comments (6)

July 12, 2005

Marcel says

Did I hear somebody was cranky?

How can it be?

Turn that frown upside down! I mean it, man!

Posted by pippypippy at 01:04 PM | Comments (5)

July 11, 2005

fyi

Warning~ I am extremely cranky.

And since I'm feeling cranky, how about some cranky information?
Did you know that there's a movement afoot??
There's more information here.
Spread the word to cranky friends!

Posted by pippypippy at 06:09 PM | Comments (2)

July 10, 2005

still not complaining

Today I rode my bike to Lakeview to meet Carolyn at Uncommon Ground. The plan was to knit there but the atmosphere was less conducive to knitting than we thought it would be. So we ate and then moved a few blocks away to the more coffeehouse atmosphere of Intelligensia, which proved to be more knit friendly. It was cool and cavelike in there, and a nice antidote to the almost oppressively beautiful weather. Which I'm still not complaining about! Really! But its a lot of pressure, day after day, for the pale, slightly introverted, and those inclined to hang out in libraries. I can only speak for myself, but I feel pangs of guilt if I don't go to the beach or do some other healthy, allegedly fun outdoor activity. I mean, sometimes I do go to the beach and like it. But enough already.

Anyway, Carolyn finished the second of a pair of colorful gloves, and I finished a second daffodil baby sock, so it was a good day for finishing things. Later I sewed in ends and hopefully will fire off the daffodil and cantaloupe baby socks before the child is too big to wear them. Lately I am bad at mailing things. Its all part of a general laziness trend. Someday I'll do something about it. Ha.

Posted by pippypippy at 06:47 PM | Comments (0)

July 08, 2005

the tyranny of the beautiful day

The last few days (weeks?) I have been waking up to auditory hallucinations of rain. Its actually the rattley hum of my neighbor's old antique air conditioner. Since its been cooler we have been quite content with just a fan, and so I wake up cocooned in the blankets, thinking what a nice thing a rainy morning spent knitting will be. And how happy for the flowers. Plus Marcel will nest closer to John and the two of them will most likely not go out the door until noon. Then I think well maybe I will take the bus to John's later, in the soft light, and my hair will curl from the dampness and stick to my face. I will get coffee and walk through the squishy park. The plants will drink and the moss on the trees will grow velvety and green. At the beach the lifeguards will stand on their tall chairs in the mist in orange windbreakers and watch over the flat and lonely lake.
This morning when I woke up I pulled the covers around me tighter and pretended for a while that the rain was real.
Then I got up and made coffee and took my knitting down to the garden.
Once I sat down on this swingy bench thing I realized I was short by one needle. For a while I sat and thought about pictures, and felt the sun warming the soles of my feet.
Its still not raining.
It will never rain again.
We are in a rainless purgatory of perfect sunny days.
I promise I am not complaining.
Anyway.
Enough of weather, back to headlines.
A splendid package arrived yesterday from New York! Oh, to get yarn in the mail!! From the girl with the yarn hair, you know and adore her! So its looking like the coveted cardigan (which I unfortunately can't remember the name of) from A Treasury of Rowan Knits will get made, in fiery fallish colors, in time for fall! Thanks again, Cari! I kees you!!!
Plus today I ordered a bike helmet, red with a sticker of a rat on it!
So hopefully I will feel less stressed on the city streets knowing my coconut has at least some protection from the concrete and car doors. The nice bike store man with the very long dreadlocks said it should arrive by Monday! Stay tuned to the Knit-A-Log for further developments as they arise!

Posted by pippypippy at 10:33 AM | Comments (2)

July 07, 2005

DB..you ok??

We at the Knit-A-Log are very concerned about our correspondent in London, DB. We are assuming he is fine. The nice gentleman on the phone at his office says he will pass on a message. We wring our hands until we know..

Update~ checked in with DBs mom, she heard from him at 5:00 am, he is ok. We are mucho relieved. Take care, DB!!!

Rob Helpychalk is more qualified to deal with the larger issues than I.
(oops~ weird typo. I fix.)

Posted by pippypippy at 10:13 AM | Comments (1)

July 05, 2005

the 4th of July~ the pinko perspective

Yesterday I was sick and plus it rained. But that didn't stop our neighbors from getting all crazy with the fireworks! Fourths of July past have caused many a little dog to require sedation. Haven't got the report yet from Uncle Wininger but we are hoping that our boy survived his yearly nightmare.
As far as I know his weekend started out ok. There were new friends, a walk in the park, and new fishy flavored yummies, oh yes, believe it!

But then..

When you are a little dogue with big ears the 4th of July sounds more like the Apocalypse.

And now, for your reading pleasure, an edifying bit from The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same Department. Here is what the late great Red Emma Goldman had to declare about independence back in 1909.
Take it away, Comrade~

A New Declaration of Independence
by Emma Goldman
Mother Earth, Vol. IV, no. 5, July 1909

When, in the course of human development, existing institutions prove inadequate to the needs of man, when they serve merely to enslave, rob, and oppress mankind, the people have the eternal right to rebel against, and overthrow, these institutions.

The mere fact that these forces -- inimical to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness--are legalized by statute laws, sanctified by divine rights, and enforced by political power, in no way justifies their continued existence.

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all human beings, irrespective of race, color, or sex, are born with the equal right to share at the table of life; that to secure this right, there must be established among men economic, social, and political freedom; we hold further that government exists but to maintain special privilege and property rights; that it coerces man into submission and therefore robs him of dignity, self-respect, and life.

The history of the American kings of capital and authority is the history of repeated crimes, injustice, oppression, outrage, and abuse, all aiming at the suppression of individual liberties and the exploitation of the people. A vast country, rich enough to supply all her children with all possible comforts, and insure well-being to all, is in the hands of a few, while the nameless millions are at the mercy of ruthless wealth gatherers, unscrupulous lawmakers, and corrupt politicians. Sturdy sons of America are forced to tramp the country in a fruitless search for bread, and many of her daughters are driven into the street, while thousands of tender children are daily sacrificed on the altar of Mammon. The reign of these kings is holding mankind in slavery, perpetuating poverty and disease, maintaining crime and corruption; it is fettering the spirit of liberty, throttling the voice of justice, and degrading and oppressing humanity. It is engaged in continual war and slaughter, devastating the country and destroying the best and finest qualities of man; it nurtures superstition and ignorance, sows prejudice and strife, and turns the human family into a camp of Ishmaelites.

We, therefore, the liberty-loving men and women, realizing the great injustice and brutality of this state of affairs, earnestly and boldly do hereby declare, That each and every individual is and ought to be free to own himself and to enjoy the full fruit of his labor; that man is absolved from all allegiance to the kings of authority and capital; that he has, by the very fact of his being, free access to the land and all means of production, and entire liberty of disposing of the fruits of his efforts; that each and every individual has the unquestionable and unabridgeable right of free and voluntary association with other equally sovereign individuals for economic, political, social, and all other purposes, and that to achieve this end man must emancipate himself from the sacredness of property, the respect for man-made law, the fear of the Church, the cowardice of public opinion, the stupid arrogance of national, racial, religious, and sex superiority, and from the narrow puritanical conception of human life. And for the support of this Declaration, and with a firm reliance on the harmonious blending of man's social and individual tendencies, the lovers of liberty joyfully consecrate their uncompromising devotion, their energy and intelligence, their solidarity and their lives.

***************

In fact, crankiness aside, it was a truly lovely and way too short holiday weekend. Let's just say walks were taken, excellent food was eaten with wonderful company, much skipping and carrying on happily in public took place. Some knitting went on and plus I got to ride the people-mover at the airport, which never fails to float my boat, as it were. Oh, the mixed metaphors!! A thousand apologies!!
In any event, I rode the bus. Ate lettuce. Saw a zombie movie. Had a wonderful time. It was all too short!

Posted by pippypippy at 06:56 AM | Comments (2)