Muddying the waters

Posted on August 25, 2010 by pandora

Now that I’ve unleashed at least some of the mid-life crisis angst, I can once again turn to my previous dilemma – blog purpose.  I’ve decided to keep this as my knitting blog and I have actual knitting content to add in a day or so.  I have a lot to say, however, on the current state of humanity.  So, in an effort to keep from muddying the waters of this blog or my home school blog, I’m creating a new blog called Utopia Missed.  Right now it just points to a splash page on my home school site home page.  I wanted Utopia Lost but it was taken.  It will focus on what my vision of a near-perfect world would be, and how far we are from that.  I have so much to say about how we treat each other, and how little care we take with everything and everyone except ourselves.  It will involved umbrellas, dollar bills, walks, intersections, borders, and a lot of other seemingly unrelated topics.  The site isn’t up yet, although I have purchased the domain name.  I’m hoping to get the site launched within a week or two.

Knitting content to follow – I promise.

Posted in blog, homeschool, new site | 1 Comment

On being 51

Posted on August 16, 2010 by pandora

I had my 51st birthday last March.  There was no fanfare or big deals made because I hate that stuff.  There was, however, and continues to be much angst.  Angst about being in my 50s.  Angst because I’m no longer “young.”  Angst because there’s so much I never did, and will probably never do.  And general angst because there is probably less left then has already passed.

I find I’m jealous of more people than ever before.  Jealousy is a relatively new thing to me, and I’m not handling it well.  I’m jealous of the college students coming to campus this week.  I’m jealous of my own children for having their whole lives in front of them and because they don’t see all the millions of possibilities out there.  I’m jealous of people my age and older who have made something of their lives and are still doing so.

I’m sad in a big way.  Sad that I haven’t been a better parent, daughter, wife, etc.  Sad also that I’m not really getting any better at it.  I’m sad that while I can still see possibilities, I feel less able to achieve them.  I’m sad because, most of all, I’m still sad.  The depression that has dogged me all throughout my life continues to follow me – at times a looming shadow that can blot out the light and all that’s good in my life.

I can only hope that 52 will be better.

Posted in age, angst, birthday, depression | 2 Comments

Knitting Pic!

Posted on August 10, 2010 by pandora

Here they are. The cutest baby socks for the cutest baby.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Things to say but no words to use…

Posted on August 2, 2010 by pandora

Ever have a time when you have something very profound you want to say, but can’t find the words to say it? There’s this huge thing I need to get down on paper (so to speak) but I haven’t – in three days – been able to find the words to adequately express myself. Maybe it will come to me after a bit more mental percolation.

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Knitting Mission Accomplished and Sad News to Share

Posted on July 31, 2010 by pandora

After a major push through a gigantic mountain of motivationlessness, I finished the socks for Jose. They’re so cute. I can’t post a photo yet, because I have to mail them out. But by the end of the week there will be major cuteness posted here!

On a sad note, my son’s mother-in-law passed away today after a long battle with Lymphoma. She was a wonderful, caring woman who always had a smile for everyone no matter how she felt or what was happening. She leaves behind a great void in the world. My heart goes out to my daughter-in-law, Ash, my son, and Kathy’s husband, Gil – and to the rest of the family of course. The world has lost a bright light and a gentle soul.

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Something with Nothing

Posted on July 30, 2010 by pandora

Well, there’s knitting, but no pictures.  Baby socks for my newest baby cousin – Jose Dunst.  Can’t wait to see how he does in school with that name!  I had the Dunst part, and it was torture.  Add in Jose…well…he looks like he can hold his own!  I should have had the socks done last weekend, but I had an attack of the dreaded Inertia Virus.  That’s the one where you lay sit down on the bed couch on Friday evening and fail to rise again until Monday morning.  And let me say…TV sucked last weekend.  There was nothing good on.  I’m prepared this weekend, though.  I have a new book to read and a friend coming over on Sunday.  I’ll have to get up and at least put clothes on and brush my teeth for her.  Not that she’d say anything if I didn’t, but it’s a point of pride thing.

Work wise the assimilation continues and the uncertainty continues to be uncertain.  They say that the change is the only constant, and in this case that is absolutely true.  I have a job this week, probably next week.  I’m pretty sure it will be there the week after that.  From that point on, though, who knows?  I just keep on keeping on with what I do, which is amaze and mystify people with my mad IT skilz (I hope I put that in the correct vernacular…my DS has been pointing out my lack of up-to-date lingo).  If anyone out there needs an amazingly talented desktop supporting/technical writing/SharePoint designing/IT managing genius, shoot me a line and I’ll send back my resume post haste!

That’s about it for today.  I felt I needed to post something so that you would all know I’m still amongst the living.  Keep on keeping on…

Posted in Life Lessons, Purdue, anst, depression, knitting, work | Leave a comment

I have to do everything myself.

Posted on July 6, 2010 by pandora

Finding a blog title is like naming your kid.  Pick the wrong one and you’re a pariah forever.  Name your boy Herbert or Gerhardt and you practically guarantee that if you don’t sign the kid up for karate or some other martial arts class you’ll be regularly scraping him off the pavement.  Pick the wrong blog title and you’ll never make it to Google’s Top Ten Blogs (if there is such a list).  I’ve decided to leave the blog title alone for now.  It’s worked for five years, I’m sure it can muddle through for a while longer.

As for topics, I’m stuck there.  I haven’t got any passionate feelings about anything right now except for my distaste for high temps paired with high humidity.  While it’s better than the rain we had for a couple of weeks, I can still only enjoy the sun from inside whatever air-conditioned environment I happen to inhabit.

So, blog blackout will continue for awhile longer.  Check back – I might come up with something.  Soon.  Or not.  We’ll see.

Posted in bored, summer blahs | 2 Comments

I need a catchy blog title.

Posted on June 24, 2010 by pandora

Since my blog is no longer strictly about knitting, or even a peripherally knitting-related blog, I feel the need for a new title.  Some things I’ve thought of:

The Piece of Work  – yes, I’ve been called that.  I know – you’re shocked!

Crotchety Bitch – catchy, but rather redundant.

My Way or the Highway – I threw this one out.

Because I’m the Mom – doesn’t really fit, although I am a mom.  It’s not a parenting blog.

Got any suggestions?

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iPad Blogging

Posted on June 8, 2010 by pandora

Today I got a new toy at work – one of the perks of being in IT. I got an iPad and have been playing with it for awhile today. It’s a fun toy! First, it has the obvious cool factor. There’s a certain elitism associated with the iPad, and that’s a bit off-putting for me, but it’s way out paced by the fun of the device itself.

First, the things I’m not crazy about. The built in keyboard is a little difficult to get used to. I know…I’ve only had it for four hours…give it time. I’m just glad I already had the bluetooth keyboard for my Macbook, which is what I’m using to type now. Another negative is the issues with the wireless connection. The WiFi at work is a hidden network, and apparently the iPad (and the iPhone) have issues with that. I have to reconfigure the connection each time the device goes to sleep – it doesn’t remember it. The third thing I don’t like is that I couldn’t install iWork from CD. While there may be a way I’m not aware of at this time, I did have to purchase the downloadable versions of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. This one needs a bit more research.

Upsides are many. I love the number of free apps available. The first app I installed? An air horn. You can find it in the iTunes App Store. On the iPad there’s an icon for Apps. Tap it, type air horn into the search, and voila! I also got a light saber app, just because it’s too much fun!

I really wanted to be able to read my Kindle books on the iPad, and yes, there’s an app for that. It’s free, and also can be found under the Apps icon. Any app that is available for the iPhone is generally available for the iPad, so load that baby up!

I love how you can turn the device and the display changes accordingly. Want portrait, no problem. Landscape? Absolutely!! Want to watch a You Tube vid without all the extra crap on the screen? Turn the iPad sideways and it will only show the video when in landscape mode.

Email is pretty simple on the iPad. I had my Exchange and Comcast accounts set up in 5 minutes. There’s a built in wizard for setting up your Gmail account, too, as well as Yahoo mail. The mail view changes when in portrait vs. landscape mode just like video.

I have so much left to discover and test, so I’ll let you know how it goes. One of my next tests is going to be looking at knitting patterns with the iPad. Maybe it will be the end of all those paper patterns?

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English – The Dying Language

Posted on June 4, 2010 by pandora

I admit it – I’m an English snob.

People can’t spell, or punctuate, or use proper grammar any more.  I’m not just talking about in quick email messages or slap dash posts on Facebook, either.  I’m talking about business correspondence, thank you notes, school assignments, and just about any other form of written communication.  I am including not just people who barely made it through high school, but people with college degrees.  I would be completely ashamed if I sent a business communication in which I mis-used to and too.  I would be mortified to substitute there for they’re or their.  I see it every day from people who are in positions of responsibility and – I’m assuming – are role models for students and others.

I cringe when I drive by a huge sign advertising a business with misspelled words.  I see advertising copy that’s been approved for distribution with poor grammar and bad spelling.  I get emails that fore go punctuation altogether.

There’s a time and place for informal communication, and there’s a venue for abbreviation and emoticons.  There are also situations that should be treated with consideration and thought before dashing off a poorly worded and sometimes shockingly badly constructed statement.

Educate yourselves.  You paid a lot of money for that education, shouldn’t you use it?

Posted in homeschool, rant | 1 Comment