"a magnificent ananchronism"

I just finished watching Patton this morning before work, and I have to say, I really loved it. George C. Scott was amazing in the role. I don't tend to love war movies (okay, save for Apocalypse Now and Platoon and Dr. Strangelove, and perhaps one or two others), and I was not expecting to enjoy this one. But Scott really put something real into the role. I loved watching him act. And there's a special feature on the DVD of Francis Ford Coppola talking about writing the script, and how he wanted to find a way to appeal to both those who loved & hated the general. I don't believe I really had much of any feeling about the man either way going into viewing the film, but there was much controversy over his tactics during WWII. (Which still remains today, from the looks of the IMDb message boards.)

(Spoiler alert; please don't continue reading if you don't want plot details.)
I have to say, I found the ending of the film initially surprising, but actually entirely fitting. While I was watching it, at one point I paused the movie to look up Patton on Wikipedia. I didn't mean to, but I read about his accidental death just post-war, and I was upset because I (unlike many people) didn't know about that going into the film. I sometimes really like going totally "blindly" into a film, not knowing a thing about it or really what to expect -- sometimes those end up being my absolute favorite films, simply because they haven't already been hyped to death by everyone else.

In any case, I figured I knew what to expect at the end, and thus was pleasantly surprised to realize that the credits were rolling with Patton still alive onscreen. I really liked the way the story was completed; it seemed totally appropriate and in line with the rest of the film. I don't think it could have ended any other way. And, as someone pointed out on the message board, the broken-down windmill especially painted Patton as a modern day Don Quixote. He was ridiculed and criticized, but ultimately he found his own way through. And the fact that he was left with only his (cowardly) dog as companionship was heartbreaking and yet truly appropriate.

The film really painted a modern tragic hero excellently. Part of it was the storyline & writing, part of it was the acting prowess of Scott. I think history was portrayed beautifully. And they say it was a fairly accurate film.

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Loyal to the Sky AUTHOR: Marisa Handler

around the world

I think I need to travel more.


create your own visited country map

I also need to get the list of U.S. states that my family has visited; I know there's a good number of them! I just could never list them all; I was 8 when we traveled cross-country. I'd like to add a states-visited map here, too (they've got one on the same website).

Okay, I am going to go get some things done. xo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Loyal to the Sky AUTHOR: Marissa Handler

middle earth

I'm having a hell of a time deciding on whether or not I should choose the $9.99/month option for the Lord of the Rings Online MMORPG, or the "lifetime" offer, which is a one-time fee of $199, and allows you to play as long as the game is going on! I love the idea of being able to come back in 15 years and play, haha, but I can't really afford the two hundred dollars at the moment. AND, I have to decide by tomorrow! As in, May 24. Bah!

hello.

I haven't posted in a while, but as per usual, not much to say, I guess. Um...pretty much I'm trying to get a lot of work done before my last day at my current job, which is June 15. I am majorly stressed about that. But I've also been sure to have some fun after work hours, such as getting to go to Fajitas & Ritas with Sally last night (Kelley, I finally got to eat there! hehe), and then to a really fun SNB this evening before meeting up with Lisa & her awesome friends for a few drinks at CPK. I can't really afford all these nights out (not nearly), but I really have needed them, so I am trying to ignore the expense right now in exchange for the lift they are giving me. But, I think I'm going to have to cut back a bit, sigh.

Monday, I attended a Boston Knit Out planning meeting at the Masonic Grand Commandery of Boston, which was quite a trip. A very beautiful building, and full of history.

LOTS going on. I don't even know where to begin, so I guess I won't right now. I'm sorry my posts have been really cryptic and not very full, but I just don't even know where to begin. I am trying to keep a more positive outlook on everything recently, though, and I really want to just throw myself into work until this is all over & done with. Please cross your fingers for me that I can get done everything that I need to before my deadline!!!

And on that note, I should probably try to get some sleep. Have a good night, everyone. xoxo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Loyal to the Sky AUTHOR: Marissa Handler
	TITLE: Manstealing for Fat Girls AUTHOR: Michelle Embree

baby surprise jacket

I believe it was early yesterday morning (or maybe the evening before?) that I finished the knitting part of the Elizabeth Zimmerman Baby Surprise Jacket. Circles Salon in JP is offering the pattern & yarn for $10 if you sign on to knit it for charity. I thought it was a worthy cause. Now, I've got to weave in the ends, seam the shoulders, block, and add buttons. Good thing sweater season, like Allison said, is a long ways away, because I can definitely see myself not getting around to all that for quite some time....


pattern: Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket
yarn: no idea (it was people's donations)
This weekend, it's off to NYC! My sisters are treating me to a birthday weekend there (well, celebration anyway, since my birthday was a week & a half ago). Next week I think will be slightly calmer in terms of plans, which is good. I've got a lot to get done.

I wish you all the best of weekends! xoxo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Nerd Girl Rocks Paradise City AUTHOR: Anne Thomas Soffee
	TITLE: The Boy I Loved Before AUTHOR: Jenny Colgan

my head aches

I'm not sure why I'm feeling less-than-100% today, it's not like I did any imbibing this weekend or anything. But I guess I did spread myself a little thin. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I'll have much free time to recover until next week, but I think (hope!) this week & upcoming weekend in NY will be a pleasant one.

I restarted my socks and they are coming along swimmingly, but I've temporarily put them aside to knit up the Baby Surprise Sweater that Circles has set up for a charity drive. I chose color combinations I probably would never otherwise have considered (many shades of purple, mostly), which are actually making a very nice blend. I'm a little less than halfway through, mostly because I knit my way through The African Queen last night, which by the way I just loved. The scene where Bogart is helping Hepburn turn some crank on the boat, and you see his agonized heart-on-your-sleeve face over her shoulder, is just so priceless. I am starting to see the attraction of Mr. Bogart -- because he's certainly not someone who would make me do a double-take if he walked by me on the street (not that he ever could right now, but you know...). But he is an amazing actor.

In other way important news, I need to point out to everyone that my fabulous print-making sister has finally set herself up with an Etsy shop! Please visit Buzz Buzz Bee and take a look around. There's plenty of adorable stuff, with more to come, so definitely keep her bookmarked! :) (Yes, shameless plug, but I do love her work. I would buy it even if we weren't related, no question.)

All right, back to work, sigh. Comme toujours.
Ciao! xoxo

p.s. D'oh, wait! I forgot to share my new haircut. Awful cameraphone photo, but it was the best I could do:


It's actually very dark-reddish, too (I think she called it mahogany? Or something?), but you can't really see that, sorry. Maybe more photos soon, although of course my hair doesn't look nearly as sleek anymore as it did post-salon.

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Are Men Necessary? AUTHOR: Maureen Dowd
	TITLE: Nerd Girl Rocks Paradise City AUTHOR: Anne Thomas Soffee

ah gauge, the bane of my existence...

So, I've been pretty much powering through this pair of socks recently; I started one of the pair last Sunday & was almost done with it yesterday (for me, that's fast). However, I was getting really nervous, because they looked really much bigger than I needed. I had Dan try them on for me last night, and I realized that they are much too loose. I wanted to kick myself for not doing a swatch, but I have knit the same socks before on the same needles -- I just forgot that I had done it with entirely different yarn. Blargh. So I guess I have to resort to starting all over again, oh well!

Tonight, as Christine knows (we ran into each other at Windsor Button yesterday evening and had a nice chat, about accordians and beers on a warm night, quite pleasant things really), I am going to help my friend try to knit a candy corn hat out of white, orange, and yellow yarn. She's a pretty new knitter, so it should be a fun project to keep her occupied, with a neat finished product (I'll try to remember to take pictures!).

Lots going on in other areas of life that I want to record (about my stay in CT, which I still haven't posted on, and about how I've finally finished The Blind Assassin, phew!), but all I want to post about right now is knitting. Sorry! More another time, xoxo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Are Men Necessary? AUTHOR: Maureen Dowd
	TITLE: Nerd Girl Rocks Paradise City AUTHOR: Anne Thomas Soffee

odessa #862

Nothing new here, just another Odessa completed:


yarn: Rowan Cashsoft DK in Sweet (501)
pattern: Odessa, of course
On a totally unrelated note, I think now I know where my love of libraries comes from -- today was the day that Dewey proposed his famous decimal system to the faculty at Amherst.

I had a lovely lunch with Bethany at The Living Room, and then tonight Dan is treating me to L'Espalier. Could a birthday girl ask for more? (Well, besides also seeing the rest of her family, but at least I had a lovely celebration dinner/ice cream cake with them earlier this week.)

Thank you all for the wonderful birthday wishes! I love you guys. xoxo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: The Blind Assassin (audiobook) AUTHOR: Margaret Atwood
	TITLE: Are Men Necessary? AUTHOR: Maureen Dowd

in other news

I forgot to mention some things in my post yesterday:

It's my birthday month, hooray! May is an excellent month. I'll be 26 very soon, eep.

I finally finished that "10 female authors" goal, and I actually really enjoyed it. I chose mostly very good books, but I also think that it was kind of a refreshing change. Not that I normally take specific note of whether or not the author I am reading is male or female, but I think there can be a definitely different feel to male authors. I like both, and don't really have a preference (although most of my favorites are male, I have to admit), but it was definitely an interesting experience. And one I actually plan to continue, for a little while! We'll see how long; there are plenty of books I want to read that are male-authored, and they are sitting impatiently on my shelves. Ack!

I actually have been knitting, but of course I can't share one of my latest FO's (I promise a plethora of pictures after the holidays, really!). But, here is the latest Odessa I've completed. This was one of my few impulse purchases, and I just couldn't resist the hot pink color. It will have to also be my one allowed digression from Knit from Your Stash, because I decided I'm going to keep this one for myself -- it'll be excellent for cold CodePink activities! I hadn't purchased it with anyone in mind (including myself), but I knew an Odessa was going to come of the skein. Like I've said before, I think it is the perfect travel project. I've got another one currently on the needles (another commission by my sister), and yet another I've promised a friend. At this rate, everyone I know is going to be outfitted in these hats! In any case, without further ado:


yarn: Rowan Cashsoft DK in Madame 511 (I think)
pattern: Odessa, as always, it seems

I must have a Keyboard Waffle Maker, heehee.

And lastly, I thought I'd share a cute photo I took of one of Jen's puppies curled up next to me -- meet Duncan:


Okay, I've got some work to go finish up before some fun tonight! Have a good evening everyone. xoxo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: The Blind Assassin (audiobook) AUTHOR: Margaret Atwood
	TITLE: Are Men Necessary? AUTHOR: Maureen Dowd

'sup?

I really feel like I ought to be updating here, but I don't have all that much to say these days. I've got a lot going on that I don't really feel much like talking about here. But I am having a really nice week living & working from my best friend Jen's house, hanging out with her dogs during the day and her in the evenings! Tonight, I will spend some time with my sister Sarah, and tomorrow I might get to see Tanya, finally! Friday evening, I am going to go see Jen's chorus perform Orff's Carmina Burana with my parents. These are the big things going on with me, in terms of a social life, anyway. I miss Boston & I miss everyone & I especially miss Dan, but I don't want to get into that on the Internets. I'll fill you all in when I see you on other stuff, but suffice it to say that I feel like I am doing a lot of growing (not to mention journal-writing) during this time. I need to figure out first & foremost what it is I want, for me. I need to remember that I am worth people's time. I have incredibly awful self esteem issues, which makes it really difficult for me to even admit something like that I have worth that out loud, but I need to tell myself that it's true. I may not be the best person out there, but I'm not a deliberately bad one. And I am doing my best to live a good life, both for myself & for others. To me, that is what is important.

Now, to remind myself of all that every single day. xo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: The Blind Assassin (audiobook) AUTHOR: Margaret Atwood
	TITLE: Knitting Under the Influence AUTHOR: Claire LaZebnik