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July 29, 2006

The Thundering Herds- July Critical Mass!

How did it happen?? The last Friday of the month crept up and it was time for Critical Mass July! Which promised to be an interesting one, for there was much online yammering well in advance! With rumors of yachting (and a genre of music I had never heard of, Yacht Rock, on someone's sound system. Which seemed comprised of the most putrid swill of the 80s, and possibly 70s? Here is what I heard~ Christopher Cross, and Toto.) beach-going, body-painting, nude swimming (sorry, didn't make it that far- sad, I know) thousands of brownies having been baked in advance at the Hub Co-op a band of French musicians on folding bikes, and most of all Massing Up!!! Because these summertime Masses have gotten so big things get strung out, people get left in the dust, cars creep in!
My evening began auspiciously enough, I got off the Red Line (where a drunken guy with a Huffy- which, whenever I see one of those things, I think of the sticker on the tool box at West Town Bikes. "If Huffy Built An Airplane, Would You Fly In It?" and I have to bite my tongue- tried to cram his bike in next to mine, in rush hour train capacity! And while I tried to be patient with him, he broke off my newly glued on fake hummingbird. Which I made him bend down and fetch from under my seat.) and was coming down Washington when I ran smack into Garth!
Sweet, wonderful Garth who I haven't seen in some time, and who, in the meantime has become Daddy to Amelie! (I hope I am spelling it right!) So we chatted for a while, there on the corner, blocking off busy pedestrians with stroller and bike, respectively.
I was early for the Mass, but headed over to Delay Plaza anyway, where a few bikers were milling about, including Willow, wearing tassels and very little else! Getting her body painted by boys. We love Willow and her enthusiasm for boobies. In fact, it is because of Willow posting to the listserve, that hundreds of us are now aware that "amazon.com has a special: serve 16 people for $20 (Temporary Tattoos, Pasties, 8-Pair Packages [Pack of 2])". Hey, I'm there.
Anyway, so it was still a long time until the Mass would take off, but bikes began gathering, friends greeted eachother, and I made a new friend, Paul, a shaggy-haired, enthusiastic Francophile with big white pimp sunglasses, sitting by the fountain with his fixie.
Then I sat with my feet dangling in the water, next to some rather pungent shirtless boys, and some girls (less smelly, in shirts) and watched the merriment, as people took off their shoes, waded to the center and showered in the spray, many doing the full-body soaking, wringing their hair and their clothes, laughing.
When my feet had pruned sufficiently I wandered into the crowd, searching for friend David, (who I'd planned to ride with, but never did find) and greeting old and new friends, including Martin, who never wears a helmet, but carries one just in case (oh, I know that scenario. It happens.) and Sarah, who taught me, among other things, that for adjusting brake cables there is a third hand, a fourth hand, but no fifth hand.
There was also Travesty, with his modified tall/former drum bike, whose calves were looking so good I fought the urge to lick them all evening- don't tell him I said it!
The ride took off, with Ho3ard and his sound trailer out in front, and me following closely behind Ho3ard, as is my custom, as he always has the best musical taste, and plus he always knows the route.
It was a nice, long, snakey route, and as always did my heart so much good to howl through highway tunnels, wave, smile and yell "Happy Friday" at spectators, hear the sweet whirring of thousands of feet pedaling, feel the breeze on my face and arms. Time loses meaning and I am one with my pony, and my legs forget they are pedaling.
Last night was a joyous Sout' Side ride, which, I have to admit some initial trepidation, as it puts me far from home and in unfamiliar territory. But I am always pleased when the ride goes through Pilsen, which is often seems to, as the mostly-Mexican community welcomes our party, smile, wave, honk, and cheer us on from their yards and porches. There are also many beautiful, wildly colorful murals and highly decorated gardens.
One ride highlight happened in Pilsen, kids with an open fire hydrant soaked us as we rode past! It was quite welcome in the heat! Oh my. And afterwards I made another friend, whose name I didn't get, a funny, friendly chap with an interesting tattoo, the name Sophia, with heart, banner, arrow. "Who's Sophia?" I said, pointing, after we had been chatting, riding along in our wet clothes. Oh, you know, someone, one of those regrettable past someones, this someone who had been on the back of a hog at the Sturgis Harley rally some years ago. Sophia is long gone, and plus, I found out, it costs way more to have these things removed than put on. Let that be a lesson to you, he said. I still want a heart with Marcel..
Oh!!! Dear readers, are you still with me??? Helllloooo?

The bittersweet, climactic, and slightly dramatic ride wrap-up details are as follows, summarized briefly~

• The 33rd street bridge over the expressway is where it happened. The helmetless young man immediately to my left, riding a road bike, quickly passing me as we sped downhill, hit a bump. There was a collective intake of breath. As if in slow motion I keep replaying the movie of it in my head- the arc of his body as it flew over the handlebars, the sound of his jaw hitting concrete, his eyes closing tightly in a terrible grimace, the rest of his body catching up, rolling over and then laying still, legs bent, back arched painfully, eyes closed. The side of his face beginning to bruise, then bleed, the sound of bikes dropping to the ground and people yelling. I couldn't get my phone to turn on. People were yelling for a doctor or nurse, and yelling not to touch him. Other riders were coming over the bridge and parting around the scene and there was yelling to clear the bridge for the ambulance. Maybe I should have moved away, but I was frozen on the spot and felt I had to make sure the ambulance came, and that they took him away, to confirm he wasn't dead, and if I left I wouldn't know. My knees were shaking and I wandered over to Ho3ard, who had been near, and works in a hospital, and knows about these things, and tried to ask, but all I could say, through my hands, was "omg I saw it happen, I saw it happen, I saw his chin hit the ground omg is he going to be ok omg." Ho3ard said it looked like he was going to be ok, he rubbed my shoulder and said we should get moving.

Some continued on to the beach, I was feeling dazed and got on the train, where I ran into Willow, who offered me Gatorade, and was now wearing a dress over her tassles.

Note to self- never place phone calls to people who say you should call them, even if maybe they mean you shouldn't, or you should but not really, or are in any doubt, when you are full of endorphins, adrenalin, and fear. Just wait. Because, just fyi, you might regret it later.

•And plus George will appear, show you his Ganesh tattoo, and sing you a song.

•More about George later.

•Still in all, big thanks to Michael for picking me up and bringing me home.

•And also to the Big Dawg for all his concern.

Posted by pippypippy at 07:41 AM | Comments (1)

July 26, 2006

Things the ocean does that are like knitting

or What The Water Gave Me.
Oh, I am just now beginning to get my brane back after the whirlwind that was last week in Bethany Beach!
(At this point, the Knit-A-Log would like to acknowledge a debt of gratitude to Molly, Squirrel, [aka Rob Helpychalk]Caroline, and Joseph in particular, for their friendship, kind sponsorship, and allowing me to participate in their family summer vacation- year after year. Also to friends old and new~ Flo and Cody, Polly, Eric, Cleo, Tess, Corrie [I hope I'm spelling your name right] Grey and Chris, for sharing in the beach house experience! Wonderful friends, and great beach house companions, all!)
Oh! There is so much to tell! And some pictures, which, in the Knit-A-Log tradition I can only tease you with the idea of, dear readers, here's why! It was a disposable camera, as the only digital camera at the beach was Squirrel's, and there are conflicting stories as to how it came to be nonfunctional. But with the thought of the Knit-A-Log having no visual story to tell (not unusual but still) was too much! I broke down. I got a disposable camera, thinking it would be terribly clever to get a CD, pop that thing in, and upload! Alas and alack! My CD drive is broken, and has been for some time. D'oh.
But there will be photos, soon! Soon!!
But I digress.
Because really, the thing I was thinking about at 3:00 am was how many times I tried to memorize the things I learned from nearness to the ocean. Did you know? Sometimes I believe we are drawn to the water because we are made from it. Not just in a literal sense, but because it is pure visual evidence that there are mysterious forces at work so much stronger than our tiny selves. And are kind to us, when they want to be, and also brutal, - I like to believe more kind than brutal. Even though I am afraid of the waves. It makes me think of god a lot.

In a less cosmic sense (or maybe equally??), on my walks early in the mornings, on a few occasions I observed patterns in the waves- especially as they flattened on the sand- that so resembled a texture of stitches. Sometimes the pattern came in the form of small, nested and interlocking arches, the kind seen printed on decorative Japanese paper where it can symbolize water. In knitting, its a fan and feather pattern. It made me think of knitted lace shawls, and lighthouse keeper's wives. There is also a criss-cross pattern, which becomes etched in the wet sand, in a grid suggestive of stockinette stitch, and I thought, it is not surprising this art developed, of repetitive and soothing motions. The results of which keep us comforted and warm from the elements. Cold raindrops on bare shoulders in summer, on an overcast morning made me think of Faroese shawls.
The waves wear lace which ravels and unravels, in the legs of the jellyfish. And it all repeats, repeats, and repeats.

Posted by pippypippy at 03:13 AM | Comments (5)

July 23, 2006

Big news about the tiny person!

Did you know the best thing that happened last week, a very auspicious week in many many ways?? While I was at the beach (more about that later)- with sporadic, sketchy, and wildly expesive hinternet access-
Lucy came home!! (oh, its true, I've kept it from you since Tuesday, but I knew. And today I saw her, splendidly tape-free (no tubes taped to her tiny face) snug in her very own family house, in her very own room!
It is a very different experience, seeing her in normal surroundings, doing normal baby things! And also, to hold her in my lap for the first time outside of a hospital, was quite normal, sweet, and joyous!
And surprising in many ways. First of all, and this is maybe just because she is so tiny, and still becoming hip to how these things work, but when I held her, she didn't cry or become upset and need a parent immediately, as I had been anticipating. It may also be a result of having been cared for in the hospital quite a bit by strangers for the first weeks of her life. For whatever reason, she was quite relaxed and content to hang with Auntie Pippy for some time, and be adored! And plus, and I may be making this up, but I truly think she knew who I was, from having heard my voice, felt my touch, smelled me?? Something like that. I sensed recognition.
In any event, a tiny, warm, sweet-smelling, soft, beautiful, breathing Lucy and I spent time on the couch in the afternoon daylight, chatting with Thomas and Lorie, and fighting off sleep, respectively.
Such joy to have her with us.

Posted by pippypippy at 06:59 PM | Comments (1)

July 19, 2006

Proud - so proud!!!

Ah,yes!! We are proud, so proud, so proud of our Poodle!! Because! Michael is graduating (or, as Vermont hippies seem to be wont to say, culminating! It kinda sounds lewd to me, though. But maybe that's just me. There also seem to be a lot of hippies involved in this whole affair. But again, maybe I am reading way too much in. Anyway, I still couldn't be more happy for Michael, knowing he has worked so hard that he even broke a tooth. Really!!) today!!! Go see!!!

Posted by pippypippy at 09:52 AM | Comments (0)

At the beach!

Harroooo!
Oh, the neglected Knit-a-Log!
I am in Bethany, Delaware, right now, hanging with friends big and small, old and new!
Working on the Ballet Wrap Cardigan from Interweave Knits, and also attempting to teach 6-year-old Cleo to knit, and she's doing well! But its much easier to finger-crochet, and she has determined that a wig made entirely from finger-chain-crocheted strands is in order! Today we may just drag Dad Eric to Sea Needles! (Oh, how we love Sea Needles! Molly and I went on Sunday, and not only did I get a very nice skein of Trekking 100 to make somebody a pair of comfy socks, Molly and I chose a pattern and got yarn for sweaters for Caroline and tiny Joey! I was afraid I would have nothing to work on at the beach!)It has to be a "hair color" according to Cleo, who really does have a very defined sense of style and is highly glamorous, and knows what she likes. Pink and purple, the hair colors of Brian, the young man who cut my hair just before I left Chicago, apparently won't do. It looked great on Brian, but Cleo will have none of that kind of nonsense!
Other trip highlights include splashing in the baby-pool in the backyard of our house, which I tend to enjoy more than the actual ocean which is two blocks away. The waves are smaller, and there are fewer critters and less sand. Also, shade and air conditioning are readily available. And plus there is ample opportunity to water the small ones with the plastic watering can, so they will grow up big and strong. This is what we tell them, anyway.
Oh! There is so much more to tell!
Because Molly and I found a dead horseshoe crab on the beach yesterday morning, and I had never seen a real on before and had no idea they were the size of bike helmets! And so beautiful! A marvel of engineering! And the colors, the colors, it looked like it was made of bronze, and copper, and slate. With a kind of patina, and a tortoise-like shell pattern. Oh, to have an exoskeleton, especially one that doubled as a house, for safekeeping of one's vulnerable bits! Amazing.
We flipped him back over, out of respect.
More, so much more! Later!

Posted by pippypippy at 09:23 AM | Comments (2)

July 11, 2006

Lucy is 5!

Pounds! Plus a little more! We are so proud! These days she is able to eat all of her food from a bottle. The really big news, besides the fact that her face is now 100% visible, free from tubes, tape, and the like, for the first time since she was born, is that our Lucy will be coming home this Friday. Yaaaayyyy!!! I happen to know that an impeccably tasteful and adorable nursery awaits her! With soon-to-be child-sized rocking chair for later, hand-painted expressly by doting Aunt Pippy. As well as lil' matching table, and letters spelling out LUCY, on the wall, also lovingly hand-painted, by the same doting auntie. Oh! So much painting! So little time! The cool thing is babies don't keep track of deadlines.
Anyway, more recent pictures of the bigger, stronger, and almost tape-free Lucia are available for your viewing pleasure at Thomas' Flickr page.

Plus Marcel couldn't be more pleased because a.) the 4th of July is over and 2.) the Big Dawg is home!
Here, for your entertainment and edification, in his splendor~ (photos courtesy of the Big Dawg-thanks!)

He's Regal!!!

Ah yes, you know you love him! You know you've missed him!

That face! Its why we love him so!

A smiling dogue. You gotta love the little teefs.

You are getting sleepy, very sleepy.

Posted by pippypippy at 01:35 PM | Comments (1)

July 02, 2006

coffee in bed plus cupcakes and wine

Its a good day when you wake up with a little Dawg sleeping next to you in crescent formation, spooning. And the weather has cooled down, in fact, its overcast and hushed, and during our morning walk it began to rain softly, and cold raindrops fell on my shoulders. Even Marcel, who is not so keen on the damp under his paddy-paws, seemed pleased at the coolness. Its been raining on and off all morning, and Marcel and I have lazed about, reading, drinking coffee (me) and eating ice cubes (Marcel-who doesn't have rational thought) in bed, and snoozing (if only I could teach him how to make pancakes- of course he would eat them all up before I could get any anyway). Curiously, the Hot Dog Lady hasn't been in the parkles all weekend. Marcel and I are puzzled, Marcel in fact, visits her parking place by the stoplight and sniffs around for her. He usually leaves a little note that he was there, too. This neighborhood seems especially fraught with patriots, flags, fireworks and whatnot. Marcel and I are not inclined to want to celebrate this holiday, as he is averse to loud, sudden noises and I am averse to patriotism. So we read and snooze, and sometimes visit Dawn and Skippy the Bichon, who live downstairs.

Here is what I have been reading~ Too Brief A Treat: The Letters of Truman Capote. Which has inspired a serious case of wanderlust as well as a rare kind of literary satisfaction which is similar to eating cupcakes, really good cupcakes, and maybe washing them down with wine. Ok, that's just silly but what I'm saying is its indulgent, and over the top, (and plus I really don't like wine that much- probably I could be persuaded though, and have considered it, because lord knows if I am to be any kind of genius in the art world maybe this is the missing ingredient, but I digress) because he was. The beauty part for me is he got to claim artist status in a big way, and travel around and work in beautiful, inspiring places. Capote spent a good deal of time living in Italy, in Sicily and also Rome, and traveled to Paris, and spent time in Tangiers, among other places. And never had a day job at Starbux, how did he get away with it?? In fact, there weren't any and that's the other beauty part. People in his stories, in New York, are always eating at the Automat. I so want to eat at the Automat, because you just know they have pie there. During the section of his letters where talked about his progress in writing The Grass Harp I read that, and got all down and folksy with it, oh, it is a sweet story involving loveable spinsters (and characters who say things like "the notion!"), and Capote does folksy like nobody else. And spinsters too, which is probably part of my fascination with him of late. He's quite spinster-friendly! Having been raised by them. You know this, too, if you have ever read, seen the pbs tv show of, or seen a stage production of (as I have, all three, plus own the illustrated children's version, and haul it out yearly to be read aloud, this is how I love this story) A Christmas Memory, a story which I've witnessed with my own eyes, can make a full grown man cry. Believe it.
So yeah, if it being summer weren't enough, reading these letters has inspired this full-blown wanderlust of a most delicious kind. Its not unpleasant, even if it will go unfulfilled, at least until the 15th.

Certainly there is enough other stuff to keep us occupied as well. This morning I have been mopping the kitchen floor, among other very ambitious tasks (lest anyone suspect I have a deficient work ethic, oh, how wrong you would be!) for the Big Dawg Bachelor Pad is being whipped into girl-friendliness! Little by little. My Polish grandmother is smiling as she witnesses the floor-scrubbing marathon, involving much hot water, soap, bleach (bleach!) and hard work. I am making her proud! Its true. There is something very satisfying about it all.

p.s. I learned something else important, maybe you didn't know. But maybe I'm the only one. But fyi, in case it might be useful in the future, if someone calls, gets your voicemail, and says they are just checking to see how you are, they might not really want to know. And if they really, for some reason, want or need to know, they will call again. Its true. I think that's how it is.

Posted by pippypippy at 11:41 AM | Comments (3)