Got the Red Yarn Blues

I have a very dear friend, LB. She has a very sweet teenage daughter, EB, who was our babysitter until she went off to college this year. Knowing how cold the floors of a dorm room can be, I knitted up some very lovely chunky socks in her school colors, black and red (TX Tech). LB saw them and fell in love with them and tried to sneak them out of her daughter's dorm room before they returned home. EB caught her and rescued her socks.

EB came home over Thanksgiving and LB commandeered the socks. EB had been washing the socks in Woolite despite the fact they are made from acrylic yarn. LB decided to throw them in the washing machine, which under normal circumstances, would be fine. But, LB threw in several pairs of blue jeans, including a brand new pair that bled all over the socks. EB was mad and rightfully so. I was miffed at LB for about a day, because I knew I could whip out another pair without any problems- chunky socks, sz. 9 needles, ankle length, 32 stitches total. Easy Peasy, right???

Nope, not as easy as I thought it would be. I placed an order for the yarn right after Thanksgiving thinking I would get in the first week of December or so, enough time to make the socks for Christmas. I had ordered other colors of the yarn, too, so when I got the box, I was disappointed to learn that the red yarn was back ordered until 12/15. No problem, even if I got it a day or two before Christmas, there was still time to make the socks before EB's return to Lubbock. So, I waited... and waited... and waited...

Until Dec. 26th, and still no red yarn. So, I wrote a very nice note to the company explaining that I had already paid for the yarn and would like either the yarn or a refund, preferably the yarn. While I was on their site, I hopped over and checked the status of the red yarn- was it in stock??? NO!!!! It is back ordered until 1/24/09!! Oh the horror, the agony, EB's cold tootsies...

So what do I do? I look around the net to find another source of the red yarn and order 2 skeins form 2 different companies- hedging my bets, so to speak. So what happens the next day??? I am informed by Company A that my order of 2 skeins of red yarn, that was supposed to be back ordered until late January '09, had been shipped. Now for the kicker- has any of this yarn arrived?? No, but it's been less than a week since I've ordered any of the yarn, so I come home from the mailbox just a little disappointed every day. What was that saying about a "watched pot" again??

What Are These People Thinking???

The big news around here is the news form New Jersey- a kid named (are you ready for this?) Adolph Hitler. His sister's name is Aryan Nation. What kind of people would give their children such heinous names? Yea, I know all about freedom of speech, so here's me taking advantage of it-

As a Jew, and therefore someone hated by these people, I am highly offended. It is tragic that someone idolizes such an evil man and his beliefs and feels they have to name their child in such a manner. How did they even get out of the hospital without someone noticing?? And what about school? They are just setting this kid up for tons of torment and then what? Another school shooting?

Anyway, it makes me appreciate the names of some of the kids I teach when I am substituting. I will never again bemoan the fact that some kid is named after the city he was conceived in, or some state or place or something just really goofy. And if my kiddos had been named for the places they were conceived, Midland (Texas) would be 13 and Doha (Qatar) would be 7!!

Quiet Weekend

I've been avoiding the stores and sittin' and knittin', and crocheting, too. I've made several hats for the extended family this year and a couple for my daughter and me. I knit the stripey scarf from Ravelry using Kureyon and it came out cute. And I did crochet a really cute poinsettia hat for a friend, but forgot to take pics of the darn thing before it left this house. As soon as I do a photoshoot with the others, I will post them.

Tomorrow, though, I am actually going to venture forth into the shopping jungle and get some last little things for family and friends. Kinda scary for me as I really hate shopping this time of year, but I made a promise to my daughter. The only one I am having problems shopping for is my teen. Anybody know what to get for a 13 yo surly teen????

Black Friday 2008, pt. 2

Well, it happened. Someone finally got killed by shoppers on Black Friday. A young man who worked at a Long Island Wal-Mart was trampled to death by people trying to get into the store. The "customers" (read: savages) pushed so hard on the glass doors that they collapsed inward crushing the man and then these same "people" trampled the doors and the poor man underneath in their frenzy to get to the merchandise. In fact, several other employees were trampled trying to get to their injured colleague. Great way to start the holidays, huh??

Addendum (late afternoon): The young man who was killed in the shopping frenzy was not a small man by any means. According to the paper, he was 247 lbs, a gentle giant. The pressure from the exertion of over-eager shoppers on the door of the store caused them to shatter inwards. How does this kind of thing happen in our world???

Black Friday

Welcome to the official first day of the holiday shopping season. As you can see, I am sitting in front of my computer and blogging. Do I have plans to shop today??? Are you out of you flipping mind???

Today is the day that Americans colors really show through. It is a day of greed when people will push, shove, hit, kick, punch, bite and throw tantrums just to get a few drastically reduced items. Part of the blame lies with the stores themselves for only putting a few out to encourage this awful behavior. The other part of the blame belongs to us humans. We act like animals when we know that there will only be a few of those speciality items today, but come next week, the stores will be begging us to take them off their hands.

I do realize that the economy is in the toilet and that people are trying to save money, but here's a little tip- buy gift cards. This is what we are planning on doing because we figure that come January the stores will be trying to dump all that merchandise as fast as they can so they don't have to inventory it and the prices will be even lower than they are today. I'm going back to bed now.

Countdown to Thanksgiving

And you thought I was going to say Christmas- huh??? A few more days before the family eats too much and then fights over the TV. So, instead of gloomy thoughts, I'd thought I'd share a holiday memory. To my dad, who passed away in 1979. I miss him terribly this time of year.

My dad was a fantastic cook and every year at Thanksgiving, he'd make a huge turkey and all the fixings- stuffing, mashed potatoes, spinach casserole, corn. The only thing he would "allow" my mother to do was to bake the pies. My mouth is watering just thinking about her apple pie. Anyway, every year, dad would get up before the crack of dawn and start cooking. My dad was a large man with a colorful vocabulary. We all knew to avoid him when he started cussing and Thanksgiving was one of those days you knew there would be cussing. But, I also knew that I was the only one who could go in the kitchen first thing in the morning. Dad would have mini bagels and grape juice waiting for me and I would eat them while he worked his magic. After I ate, my mom would would go into the kitchen to get breakfast for my sister and brother. She always got yelled at for disturbing dad. It wasn't until around 1:00 pm that dad would emerge and go and shower and change. By then, the turkey was in the oven and everything was simmering in various pots and pans, or was just waiting it's turn in the oven. The guest would arrive around 5ish and dinner would be served shortly after 6. Everyone always exclaimed over how moist and tender dad's turkey was, and they asked his secret. He always told him that he cussed at the bird and the more he cussed, the tenderer it was. Gotta love a man like that.

1979 was the first year mom made Thanksgiving for us. Dad hap carefully typed out all his recipes before he died. Mom's turkey that first year was extremely dry. We figured she hadn't cussed at the bird enough to tenderize it!!

A Little Ranting 2

So, last night was Halloween and I took DD around to the neighbors' houses and my friend took her to another block. After the annual sorting of the goodies where I claim all the KitKats and we dump all the yucky ones in our handout bowl, I notice a business card on the floor. Imagine my surprise when I picked the darn thing up and it turned out to be from a local church asking us to come worship with them!! Where so I begin with the ire???

First and foremost- this is supposed to be a fun holiday for kids, not one where you proselytize to my child. Yes, I do understand that it has pagan roots, but we are not out in the backyard lighting bonfires and having sex. Let my children collect their candy peacefully. If you have a problem with the holiday, then leave your lights OFF and pray for godless souls while we traverse the neighborhood collecting candy!!

Second- As for joining you for worship- no thanks. Any church or fellowship who markets themselves so shamelessly is not worth my time or effort. This also applies to all those mega-churches that advertise on TV, send out fliers in the mail and have the school send handouts home with my kiddo advertising "fall festivals." If this is how you are using your money and tithes, then you need to have your tax-exempt status revoked and your books audited. Shouldn't that money be going to keep the church running, and helping the less fortunate???

Third- You don't know my religious beliefs and they are none of your business. You don't know if I am happy with those beliefs, either. For the record- I and my family are Jewish, and we are extremely happy with our beliefs. I could not be part of any religion that so shamelessly promotes itself in the manner in which you have.

Fourth- as for all those churches running "Houses of Horror"- leave it to the professionals like "ScreamWorld." Yours are thinly veiled proselytizing tactics. That whole abortion scene you show at the end with blood every where and the maniacal "doctor" is so untrue, now. Rest assured, though, that your vision will come true if abortion is made illegal.

Basically- I am an adult and know what is best for my child. Let them enjoy this particular holiday as a candy-filled frolic in costume. Save your proselytizing for Christmas. I would say Thanksgiving, but the Pilgrims "borrowed" our harvest holiday of Sukkot for their first Thanksgiving.