Rochester, Knitting, and Other Things

I deleted the last post. I don't want to whine on this blog anymore about how sad and melancholy I am. I am trying to overcome depression and I will not let myself get so low that I find it necessary to type it out and lay it down for other people to read about. Its annoying. I am gonna be stronger from now on.

Today was a good day. You know when kind of notice the change from summer to fall, a couple of weeks after school starts when the weather changes ever so slightly? Suddenly its crisper and the mornings are cold and the afternoons get darker faster. Today was one of those days. It was beautiful. I've always tried to decide what my favorite time of year is. I thought definately it was summer for awhile because of hot weather and ice and swimming in lakes and no school. Then I was all about winter because of sweaters and hot chocolate and snow. But I think this time of year is my favorite. Its transition time and the air feels so ripe with possibilities. But I am fickle and often feel like every time of year is my favorite. I don't think I should have to choose.

But to get to the point. Today Rochester suprised me. I'm sorta limited in my explorations of Rochester - I have no car, the bus system is unreliable and I'm stuck at RIT. Henrietta is very different from the rest of the area. It's a place where people come to work, not live. But Katie took me to her neighborhood where she had found a yarn store. It was tiny with lime painted walls and shelves brimming with yarn. Everything I touched was so soft. A giant, fluffy white dog took up most of the tiny store. The owner was so nice and she chatted with us. I was really excited to find this place as Rochester seems to have a dirth of good yarn shops. There is one down on E. Henrietta Road but it is mostly full of novelty yarn. A nice selection of Lamb's Pride though. There's another one downtown in Midtown Plaza. That one is great but it is all the way downtown and Midtown Plaza is a bit creepy. I think I will definately come back when I am looking for something special. Down the street Katie and I visited the gay coffee shop. We bought delicious smoothies - berry blast for Katie and blueberry pomegrante for me. We both felt giddy with the discovery of the yarn shop and the coffee place. Rochester is full of suprises.

So I finished the baby blanket I made for cousin Maggie's new baby boy. It turned out beautifully. As soon as I finish this I am going to block it and hopefully send it out next week. I really hope she likes it. It's enourmous and so soft. I picked out cotton yarn because he is a California baby and wool would just not do. I hope another of the cousins gets preggers soon so I can knit another one.
I am also working on yet another hat for a friend. I also got some nifty yarn to make dishcloths with. Knitting is lifting my spirits.

Um so go watch this. It will make you giggle.

Adventures in America's Dairy Land Part 2 of 2

I recieved a dispatch from home today. The rotted meat stentch will not go away. My mother reported that putting boxes of baking soda in the freezer only made it worse. (What?????) Any suggestions?

Ok, part 2. Part 2 is not nearly as exciting as part 1 but I still find it shocking. Last Thursday Northern/Western Wisconsin was hit by a huge string of severe thunderstorms. These storms were pretty nasty, bad enough for the storm sirens to go off. Of course being typical Wisconsinites, we ignored the sirens. Anway, no severe thunderstorm is not without its share of damage. Usually downed tree limbs, power outages, etc, etc. Our house has been lucky the last few years. We've managed to escape with very little damage to our vegetation. And we our house is situated in such a way that it is backed up into some lovely woods. So one would expect tree limbs everywhere after a storm - not so. In our front yard along the curb, we have 3 trees planted. My father planted them when we first moved in about 10 years ago. They were but mere saplings at that time but have grown into might trees since. The middle tree of the 3 has been suseptible to danger though. In the past few years its been damaged by lighting, making it weak. Sadly, the middle tree did not survive this storm. Lighting attacked it again, hitting it right at the base where the roots meet the soil. Where does so mighty a tree have to fall? Why, right into the narrow cul-de-sac street of course! The tree stretch almost to the other side, practically blocking the road. Mother came home after the storm had passed from a reading teacher function of some sort and announced that the tree was down. There was general rushing outside to view it even in the dark and gnashing of teeth. (Well I gnashed my teeth.) Needless to say, I am saddened by the loss of our tree. The 3 trees at the edge of the yard were like a beacon of comfort or arms craddling our house. It made the vast front yard seem less expansive and homey. Now there are 2 and they are much too far apart for my taste. The City was called in the morning to come pick up the downed tree. I didn't get a chance to photograph before it met its end. I stupidly took a shower thinking the City would not be so prompt in its pick up. My mother watch the tree, and said that it fought valiantly against the wood chipper the City vehicle had brought along to make transport easier.

Fare thee well tree, I shall miss you.

Adventures in America's Dairy Land Part 1 of 2

My visit home was refreshing and relaxing. I got some of my issues solved and allowed my mom to dote on me. Wisconsin was surprisingly enjoyable this time around. However no trip home is without the requisite "adventure." Ok so not really an adventure per se, but more like "weird shit happening to Mary while she happens to be visiting home."

So we have a big ol' deep freezer. It lives in the laundry room. Inside my mother stored a ham, a turkey, various meat products and other frozen sundries. Somehow, someway the freezer was turned off on Tuesday last. No one knows how it happened. The whole family didn't notice its idle state untill Wednesday when a suspicious, rancid smell permeated the entire house. I was minding my own business in the den, trying to watch Gilmore Girls when I smelled it. I thought something in the garbage had gone bad. Soon I was summoned to the laundry room by dearestr Mumsie. There the smell was especially heinous. There, I finally figured out what could possibly produce a stentch such as that: spoiled meat. I have personally never experienced the distinct smell that is spoiled meat and I'm not proud to say that now I know and can identify such a scent. Mother and I removed all the defrosted items from the freezer and sealed them in garbage bags. Everything was placed back inside the freezer to await the arrivial of my father. What to do? There was melted freezer ice mixed with meat water. It couldn't be bailed out easily. Would Dad have the magic solution? Alas, no he didn't. We ended up proping the freezer up on one end with a pile of books. And guess who got to bail out the nasty water? I did! I thought I might die with my head stuck down in nose-offending depths. But I survived and lived to tell the tale. Sadly, it doesn't end there. The next day, the stench had not faded any. I was forced yet again to plunge into the icy depths of the freezer, this time armed with a lemony-cleaner to try and fight the stentch. The cleaner mixed with the meat smell was so strong that I choked and felt the back of my throat burning. But again, I cheated death. The lemon stuff didn't help too much. We finally ended up leaving the freezer door open and avoiding the laundry room. So the moral of the story is: don't unplug your deep freezer. Duh.

And tomorrow: the story of the tree.

So I'm home for the week bitches. Yeah I know. You are really excited.

So the story of Pablo. I've always wanted a hamster. My parents wouldn't let me have one when I was a youngster. So I made one out of clay and put it in a small cardboard box I had cut the sides out of to make "windows." I covered the windows with clear plastic wrap so you could see inside. I even make cedar shavings out of constuction paper. I loved that hamster. Till I squished him. So then Pablo came along. My cousin Cindy (who I worked for this summer) had a friend who had just gotten a puppy and could no longer give the family's hamster the attention he deserved. So she was looking to find him a good home. I jumped at the chance to adopt him. So I did, duh. I was thinking of naming him something like Taco or Burrito and then getting him a friend and naming it Taco or Burrito too. So they would be Taco and Burrito. But I met Pablo and realized that 2 hamsters wouldn't work. I don't know why so don't ask. The little girls in the family I adopted him from had named him Pablo and I liked that name. I thought it suited him. So I kept it. As far as namesake? Let's say Pablo Picaso. And so I loved him and we are happy together. Except for that time he was a bad hamster!! I was letting him run around the apartment in his ball when I noticed he hadn't rolled into the living room in a while...a long while. Suspicious, I went looking for him. Maybe he got stuck somewhere? NOOOOOOO. I was walking toward my bedroom, Pablo scrambled out from underneath one of the armchairs in the living room. He was free of his ball! He ran into my room and under my bed. Uh oh. This was a problem. How was I going to get the little bastard out? How did he get out? Eventually, Pablo decided to stop being a bad hamster and he came out. Back into his cage he went. Bad boy! I still don't know how he got the top off his ball and got out. That's why duct tape is important when you own a hamster.

I'm home for many reasons. I've been having headaches/migraines for about a year now and they are starting to become more frequent and bothersome. I was going to see a doc in Rochester, but my mom the worrier wanted me to come home. So I did. Hopefully, I can get some answers. Its nice and totally weird to be home. I haven't been in EC since March and I hadn't seen my Dad or bro since May. So its nice. But I also can't wait for school to start again when I get back to the ROC. I've missed it so. Did you know that summer is really boring? Well it is.

Introducing...




Pablo!! The most amazing hamster in the world!!!



I love him so.

Hey am I dead? Nope not in the slightest. I have just not been doing anything interesting. Oh yes. But! You can look at my pretty pictures. Uh huh. I really need school to start. For reals.

I don't care what you say, Motley Crue's Too Fast for Love was an amazing album. Yeah that's right. I'm not embarassed to admit it either. I spent much time in my car driving fast over hills in the boonies to that album. Don't you judge me.

Um Crawdaddy much? Booyah.
Reminds me of that time at Camp Manitou that we went Crayfishin' for Hobby Hour and we used Lester Lace with a paper clip bent into a hook on the end for a "fishing pole" and a piece of hotdog for bait. That is the only way to catch Crawdaddies. The Wisconsin Way. When we didn't end up catching anything (and I had no idea why) we made up song instead. Because we had promised the rest of the camp crayfish for dinner and we failed. But it is a happy memory.

Well shoot, its been almost a gull dern month since I posted something in this here blog. Damn. I've had computer issues. My harddrive decided to have a stroke. Everytime I tried to turn on my computer it emitted a high pitched scream. Oh poor computer what did I do to you? So off la compy went to Apple where they fixed her up in a jiffy. She came back fresh as a daisy. And wouldn't you know it, Smartie (that's me) hadn't thought to back up her music or digital snapshoties a head of time so she lost all that stuff. Sweet. But my computer no longer screams.

Summer time in the ROC is quite fine. It is hot and sticky. It rains. But luckily it is not flooded here. Although one day it did rain and all these Crawdaddies appeared in the parking lot, snapping at the pedestrians like they owned the place. Um, weird. And the muskrat/swamp monster had a baby apparently. Cuz there is a smaller version of it running around. However I do miss my dearest Sworva. Oh my love. I wish I knew how to quit you.

I am turning 21 on Monday next. The fact that this momentous occasion is a mere week away is quite daunting. Everyone in college awaits this age with much excitement and then proceeds to celebrate it with zeal and gusto. Which is exactly what I wil be doing. Some days, I still feel 17. I don't feel as if I am I should be as old as I am. I am halfway done with college and almost legal. Who am I?

A happy 4th to you all whilst I ponder this question....

Too Cool.

That is one angry mama goose. Maybe because we were blowing bubbles and getting too close to her and her babies?
That is pretty much what I've been up to these days. Job prospects are still bleak. Booo. I have but one co op possibility left and just one on campus job prospect. (Interview for that on Monday.) Its tough. I'm broke-de-broke and can barely buy groceries. But that's the boat that everyone is in, right?
So on to the other stuff I guess. There is a crazy flock of geese living in the pond in front of my apartment. They think they own it. This summer they will wish they never came to live here. This is the part where I laugh evily.
For fun, we have been playing epic games of Monopoly and having pajama parties. We collaged all afternoon today and watched a million episodes of Next. We were planing on heading down to Syracuse to see my dear friend Pecky perform with his rapgroup but alas we lack the funds to get into the show. Tomorrow, there is a Greek fesitval going on and the Fairport Canal Days. (As in Erie Canal.) So we shall be heading out to those festivities. Plus little cousin Pod has a skating show so the three roommates shall go to spectate that. In other news, my childhood dreams might finally be realized. We are possibly adopting a hamster. I'm excited! My mom sent me a package yesterday contain beef jerky, Crystal light, a book about Julia Child, bubble gum and an issue of Volume One as I like to keep up on my EC haps. It made my day. I also swam 1300 meters yesterday and am pretty damn proud of myself. Felt good. And its been frickin hot here so the pool is always "cool". Haha I'm super funny. My love is coming to visit next weekend as well. I'm looking forward to that. So all in all, things are going well except for the job stuff. But with fingers and toes crossed that will work itself out.

I leave you with this: the story of the most awesome guinea pig. Enjoy. I hope everyone's summers are going well thus far. Keep me posted on your goings ons.

Quickie for you.

I woke up this morning cryin' and I don't know why. Finals week is here and that means that school is almost done and everything I've come to be used to is going to be over and done with. I don't want it to end. I'll be in Rachachacha this summer. And I'll have faboo Katie living with me and trips to the beach with Elle. But I still don't know what I am doing yet as far as a job goes and my love is moving back home and I hate this uncertaintity and I just want to fastforward so I know everything will be ok. Ok?

Be Nobody's Darling by Alice Walker

Be nobody's darling;

Be an outcast.

Take the contradictions

Of your life

And wrap around

You like a shawl,

To parry stones

To keep you warm.

Watch the people succumb

To madness

With ample cheer;

Let them look askance at you

And you askance reply.

Be an outcast;

Be pleased to walk alone

(Uncool)

or line the crowded

river beds

with other impetuous

Fools.

Make a merry gathering

On the bank

Where thousands perished

For brave hurt words

They said.

Be nobody's darling;

Be an outcast

Qualified to live

Among your dead......

So. Julie and Julia. Quite a delicious book. Quite a delectable read. Julie and Julia cronicles the year that the author, Julie Powell spent cooking all the recipes in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Something like 524? I think. Anyway, the author lives in a tiny apartment with a tiny kitchen and this presents all sorts of problems and whatnot. Thinking back, I did not find myself hungry all the time while reading this book. They are a lot of meat recipes and meat and I have a tenuous relationship. I digress. My favorite parts were where when Powell decides to cook something "interesting" like beer marrow or calf's brains. Yum. And she fucks up a lot. And says so herself. Which is exactly what would happen to me if I were trying to cook French food. Like making pasty dough 15 times. So I highly recommend this book. Its not just about cooking, its also about Powell's search to find herself. See the passage I quoted in my last post. So yeah. Its good.

This week has found me frantically searching for a summer co op. Problem is there is practically nothing out there. Booooo. I am staying in my beloved Rachachacha this summer. Because I can't bear to be away from this city. Really. No. I feel like there's nothing in EC for me job wise. I am not going back to sharp for a 5th summer there. I am definately not going back to Sacred Heart for a 2nd summer in purgatory. So I am staying here. I don't know if I will visit at home. Really. I don't. Just give me a frickin co op already.

Check my flickr I got some sweet rugby shots up. Yeaaah.

"I have no claim over the woman at all, unless it's the claim one who has nearly drowned has over the person who pulled her out of the ocean." - from Julie and Julia by Julie Powell. Great book, I will get up a post about it soon.

Sweet! Chicago Bans foie gras in Resturants.
Best quote:
It's terrible!" chef Didier Durand, proprietor of Cyrano's Bistro and a spokesman for the Illinois Restaurant Association, told AFP.
"In Chicago they banned smoking (in restaurants) now foie gras - what's next? Sex?"
The ban is an attack on personal freedom and will lower the "gastronomic level" of the city, Didier said.

That is one less poultry liver I have to worry about encountering the next time I am in Chicago. A diseased live no less. The ducks have won another battle.

Create your own Music List @ HotFreeLayouts!

Yeah that's what I've been listening to lately. I HIGHLY recommend Neko Case. Highly. Dude.

Here is some springie-ness for you. I've been wanting to post lovely photos I have made but have been quite lackadaisical in doing so. Spring has made it to Rochester and yet I find myself feeling kind of blah. School and all those other wonderful things have also left me feeling blah. I have been trying to knit and whathaveyou. I got some gorgeous sock yarn when last I was home and I found a pattern that incorporates a basketweave style pattern. But yet. I am using size 1 needles for the first time ever and it is like knitting with toothpicks. The yarn is fingering weight too and that is like knitting with embroidery floss. It is going to take a lot of getting used to.

I took a writing class this quarter to satisfy some academic requirements and am really enjoying it. I amaze myself with how easily I have gotten back into the swing of churning out papers and whatnot. Being a photo major does not allow for much writing of papers which I kind of missed. At least I've got that going for me. Yay.

This is a quickie cuz I feel like such shmooo (yes that is my new word) for neglecting you oh blog!

Today's lesson: drinking Red Bull at 9:20 AM in not such a great idea. I got jittttttttttters now! Yay! I've got my super boring writing class to sit through! The one that has no break! Actually its not super boring and I really love it but I am going to vibrate to death for the hour and 40 minutes we sit there. Whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
At least it wasn't a double shot of espresso....
Oh how I love Red Bull! Especially when it is free and the Red Bull truck stops by the rugby field during practice and we all get a free can! Ohhhh yesssss.

K, shut up Mary.

But wait! I thought this was pretty sweet.

Yeah!

Let me tell you a story...

I want to tell you a very special story.

Once upon a time, I was wasted at a rugby happy hour. Now I know many stories start like this but this one is different. Its special, didn't I tell you that already? Anyway, I was a wee bit sloshed at a rugby happy hour. The week before I had been hit on by this guy that lived at the rugby house but who didn't play rugby. I had told him to try again the next week. So he was trying again. And I was creeped out. Cuz he showed me his room. He had a bird. It was his friend. The I found out he was ooooold. I was outta there. I found my darling Erin by the bathroom. She chatting with a group of ruggers. Among them was a young gentlemen. I was immediatley drawn to him. He had warm eyes and the greatest smile I had ever seen. I drew closer and introduced myself. I then proceeded to trace the letters on his sweatshirt. It was Dan. Who cared about that other creepy dude? We went to sit on the stairs to talk. We exchanged screennames. His had a Lord of the Rings reference in it. That thrilled me. It meant he read. Books, even. I scrawled my phone number real big on his arm. Then he had to go. And I was left with other creepy bird dude who I soon shot down. Dan called that night and we hung out the next day and the rest is history. Now it's a year later and we are still together. (Oh mushy mush. Feel free to barf.) He makes me so incredibly happy. So yeah. That's my story.

I don't get many things right the first time
In fact, I am told that a lot
Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls
Brought me here

And where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face?
Now I see it everyday
And I know

That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest

What if I'd been born fifty years before you
In a house on a street where you lived?
Maybe I'd be outside as you passed on your bike
Would I know?

And in a white sea of eyes
I see one pair that I recognize
And I know

That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest

I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you

Next door there's an old man who lived to his nineties
And one day passed away in his sleep
And his wife; she stayed for a couple of days
And passed away

I'm sorry, I know that's a strange way to tell you that I know we belong
That I know

That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest