Mr. Sophanne's new camera and a Mother's Day feast.

Mr. Sophanne bought a new camera. It's his camera. This is a great thing. I don't have sole responsibility of camera activities. He's been shooting the pets a lot and these two are my favorites.

 

If he decides to make this his hobby, I think he has an eye for it. It still takes him, 20 minutes to snap a shot but so it goes. Also I'll have to suggest he fix the time stamp on the camera, but maybe he hasn't gotten that far in the directions yet.

We went to a Mother's Day banquet buffet feast with aunt of Sophanne this weekend. She lives in the town where Dean Martin was born. There is more than one banquet hall that holds dinners such as these for various holidays. Part of Sundays entertainment was a singer a la Michael Bublé. He picked up the mic and said "I'll be entertaining you today." That made me laugh. Then he sang (he had a decent voice) and walked around the room while he was singing. Holy Crack me Up batman! I can't quite put my finger on why I thought it was so hilarious. As you can see below, Aunt loved it. I guess I've just never been that close to what I would consider a lounge singer. If it cracks you up and you figure out why, drop me note, mkay?

 

 

A Vent

This year a new/old school was added to my schedule. I was completely demoralized. I had worked at this school 15 years earlier and was getting comfortable working in the same building with a classroom and equipment every day of the week. I tried to be positive. And in fact I met Newfrienddebbie who is a soul mate kind of good friend, so it wasn't completely horrible.

However, when this happened I was too angry to speak of it much. I knew that there would be no quelling the storm that was raging against the powers that be. Now that there are only a few more days left to teach at this school, it's time to loosen up a little.

The teachers "lounge" is actually a long narrow half of a stage. For the first six months, my official space (where I can leave my coat) was a desk underneath a dripping pipe. One would be sitting there during a planning period having been told that "the drip was fixed' only to discover otherwise with either a wet laptop, lunch, notebook or otherwise.

The stage curtain is all that separates this lounge/work area and elementary kids eating lunch. In late February, in the interest of safe schools a locksmith, appeared to fix the lock on the side door that leads to the stage. All I can figure is that there is some sort of defense shield in place that I don't know about between these two areas.

At one time I had some pictures to share of this area but they were too depressing to run into when I was looking at pictures of the Liza Jane

The principal at this school does a good job, but when it comes to National Teacher's Week, I would rather a short note of appreciation (NOT IN ALL CAPS AS THE NOTE INFORMING US OF OUR GIFT BAG WAS.)

These are the items in the gift bag. Insert appropriate and clever "plays on words" about having "drive" and being a real "gem" and being worth "a million bucks" not realizing that "worth your weight in gold" was a much better match with the waxy chocolate coins.

When traveling from room to room, I roll equipment on a cart when I feel like it. I carry in a ukulele and a Bose iPod dock when I don't. Because most classroom teachers do not give me enough room to actually bring the cart into the room, more often than not I go for the latter. In this particular room, my "place to be" is usually the table pictured below. This afternoon when I entered the room, the classroom teacher said, "I hope my strawberries don't get in your way."

And then later, while I was teaching, she dropped off another container of them. Apparently my "polite grunt of indifference" said to her "Please may I have another?"

 

The number of teachers coming in and out to work in this building exceeds the number of parking spaces available. These spaces are also tightly packed, at an angle, and a little tricky to maneuver. I have been asked to move my car over so that it was a centimeter within the one next to it so that someone else could have enough room to actually get out of their car.

Today as I was attempting to leave I was faced with this:

 

My car is the one trapped between the two cars. Fortunately, I am good friends with the woman who drives the car in front of me. I went to her room, borrowed her keys, double parked her car and while it was running, proceeded to move my car. Before I could put my car in gear someone pulled into the "spot" and tried to block me in again. She backed up and let me out. I informed her that there was another car that had been in that spot that had to be returned there.

She loudly and rudely announced to me that " I AM THE CROSSING GUARD AND I MUST HAVE A PLACE TO PARK! DO YOU EVEN WORK HERE?" (Nevermind that there was a parking place about 10 ft. away in a lot a little further from her crossing guard duties. Also nevermind that all kids had crossed, it was the end of the day and there was absolutely no guarding to do.) she did leave me enough space to slide my friends car back into its place. She was also out of there before I returned to my car.

I know it's small. I know it's petty but my head was ready to explode. I have three more visits to the school. One visit is during the big testing week, one visit is during a scheduled field day (why yes, some schools schedule field day on the music teachers day instead of the physed teacher....NOT) and a program that will be more a casual showcase of third graders rather than an official "thing."

This is a school year that I will not be sad to see pass. Did I mention that I'll be going on an Alaskan cruise this summer? Sometimes I am already there.

 

Further evidence

that Western Pennsylvania and surrounding area (where I live and work)  might be classified as a foreign country.

On this morning's facebook feed:

It was not a joke.  And it was not from an unemployed person just in case you think I'm being heartless.

A day off

I took a personal day today and did personal stuff.  Refiling prescriptions, making dr. check up appointments for myself and the dog, changing sheets, knitting sleeves, etc etc.

Mr Sophanne did a pick up of Chinese food for lunch.  Next to the Chinese food place is a Christian Charities outfit where he browses while waiting for food.

Several months ago he found a nice love seat which we very much needed and paid only $100 for.  Cute, cozy, perfect for the space, and it felt good to be in the reuse-recycle phase of the world.

Today he saw a church pew.  He convinced me to have a look and I was pleased.  We have no real decor in our lives.  It's mostly items gathered before and after marriage- two people living alone throwing their stuff together and slowly deciding what to keep and what to toss.

We now have a church pew.  And I'm not unhappy about it.

Too dumbfounded for a title.

We had a staff development meeting today. A primary focus of the training was that when students come to school, they need to feel welcome, supported, accepted, and safe.

At the end of a discussion regarding policies and practices, the presenter shared this video about mirror neurons. In essence it says that scientists believe that what separated humans from other species as we evolved were these mirror neurons which allow us to feel what others are feeling, even when we aren't actually experiencing it ourselves.

I can verify my experience with this phenomena as I remember nearly diving off my chair during the Summer Olympics and lunging from side to side with the Winter Olympic lugers.  I also regularly twitch with Super Mario when Mr. Sophanne is playing video games.

The main reason for sharing this video was to demonstrate (with the support of scientific research) that the moods and dispositions of teachers have  direct effects on those of their students.

To me, science = cool. Science of the brain = more cooler.

At the end of the presentation, my colleagues were asked to comment and discuss. One teacher said "I quit listening once he said evolution. I didn't come from a monkey." Eight (or more) others said "Me too."

I was incredulous. When I shared this incredulity with what I falsely assumed to be one of my more forward thinking colleagues, she said, "they are entitled to their opinions but they should be informed of the other side."

The most horrifying part to me was that I was the only one that was horrified.

It's science people.

Chicken Bob and the Chicken Pox.

I was principal and secretary at the same time today for about 45 minutes. I saw the action.

 

During Chicken Bob's first grade class, a child came in to see the nurse approximately every 7 minutes (fortunately for all involved I am not and never will be the nurse.) All were complaining of rashes (slightly invisible rashes.) One student lingered after being dismissed by the nurse to tell me that "chicken Bob wants to know what we have and why we all have it." Again, summarily dismissed.

At the end of class Chicken Bob sat down next to the nurses desk and said, "I think we've got chicken pox going around" (something that's has all but vanished since the vaccine). The nurse asked "why do you think so?" Chicken bob replied "that's what the kids told me."

The nurse did some investigating in the first grade classroom. It's common knowledge in the building that first graders learn about life cycles and hatched some eggs just a few weeks ago. Healthy chicks living happily. Not surprisingly, it was interpolated by the first graders that those chickens were indeed the cause of the chicken pox epidemic.

And Chicken Bob, being chicken Bob, believed it.

Here's the cool thing about living where I live.

 

 

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Things finally got real.

At first the most exciting thing I had to post this week was my coffee stained counter and my taco flower.

 

 

I have been more or less obsessed with this dumb game.

 

I also read George Takei's book ""Oh Myyy"

 

But then..... Today happened.

 

Newfrienddebbie and I first went to Ali Baba's for the lunchtime buffet. Mmmmmmmmm.

 

This was followed by a trip to a teeny tiny yarn store called Mia Sofia. This photo really is most of the yarn that they have but it was buy one and get one half off. The chiagoo (or as I like to call them chiagoogoo) needles were part of the same sale. Dare I say I love those needles MORE than Addi's?

 

 

The traffic leaving Mia Sofia was dreadful and required a detour that took us to the other LYS- I can never remember the name of it. The coolest part of this place (in addition to the Noro silk garden I convinced myself to buy) was this yarn swift. It's like my Lazy Susan one but those slanty rods accommodate the changing skein size. It's handmade (of course) and the maker has no interest in marketing.

 

 

The adventure ended at our favorite Terra Cafe where the hilarity of the art was not lost on me. The funniest part of this trip was the confession that newfrienddebbie made regarding her hibernating spring break days. Says she "there's this new app/game called candy crush" (see above) and I can't quit playing it. Come to find we've been living parallel lives all week without knowing it. Today's adventure was the only possible outcome.

Is there not a walk in closet?

I really don't like this carpet. The curb appeal is charming and adorable.

 

Once home I wound two recently acquired balls of yarn (Ella Rae dk) and purchased Stephen West's Daybreak pattern.

Now there is this much done. However I have NOT made it past level 77.

 

 

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Do Not Feel Sorry For This Cat

 

 

All attempts to get her to come inside have failed. She is a martyr. Until there is food involved. But it better be turkey and not hot dogs.

In other food news, Mr. Sophanne and I went for our usual Sunday dinner at Trob Revvens today. Why do we keep going there? Because here in this little Burg of Wayne there are no other options.

Today's dining entertainment involved our waiter Shawn who came to or table to check and see if everything was o.k. three times before the food arrived. Each time we said, everything was fine but would be much better with food. He said "Are you hanging tight?" What does that mean exactly? If it means we're hungry and waiting patiently, then yes, we're "hanging tight."

After much longer than it should have been, he arrived with food saying that "he told the cooks we were hungry and wanted our food" as if that was an exceptional stretch of power on his part. When the pancakes of Mr. Sophanne failed to have the promised whipped topping ( as suggested by Shawn when we ordered), he promptly blamed the cooks, took the pancakes back and returned with a smiley face that had eyebrows. Whipped topping art as it were. Then he stuck around as if we wanted to chat with him. While we usually do, as a general rule, we like to decide whether we're in the mood for that or not.

My family members have regularly informed me that I would be terrible as a waitress. I am happy to report that if I ever lose my teaching job, even I could find employment in the Burg of Wayne.

 

The sleeves to the Welcome Friend Kathy Zimmerman cable sweater that I am calling "Glacier" in hopes to wear it on the Alaskan cruise look like this- about 8" of 22".

 

 

The yarn festival scarf, Man oh Man, which is serving as a distraction from the sleeves, looks like this. Question. Is tencel a natural fiber? I think it's made from wood? This yarn is wool and tencel.

 

 

Given that its spring break, maybe I will find an adventure to have and post about.

 

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The results.

I must tell the truth. While I have most recently embraced a minimalist version of consumerism, making zero extraneous purchases from thanksgiving through Christmas, I make a conscious exception at a yarn festival. I try to save enough prior to going so that money is no object. It's so much fun that way. As much fun, I'm guessing as Mr. Sophanne has at the casino.

First Steven Be. Oh my. I didn't stick around that booth very long. It was just a little over the top for me.

 

His sweater was super sized yarn and camera film. He's hosting a slumber party as I type. It would have been interesting to see what he chose for sleepwear, but not that interesting. Here he is trying to work the credit card iPad combination and I can't help but noticing that he and his customer resemble one another in a small way.

Knitnighttara got to see the bunny out of the cage and grabbed this Instagram photo. Bonus gratitude points to the person who captions this one. That bunny has a Mona Lisa eye.

 

In addition to replacing my peg-missing swift, I made a few purchases.

 

Kauni for a clockwork. I have a clockwork in these colors. I had it with me. I was wearing it earlier in the day. I realized this after the purchase was final. So it goes.

Some shawl pins so that I can wear either purple black gray clockwork without them falling off my shoulders.

Some gorgeous Brooks Farms merino and a scarf pattern called man oh man.

A cool spirally shawl with a yarn color our of my comfort zone. I ceased all purchases after that one. Colors one doesn't normally get are a sign that one is buying for the sake of buying.

Finally a late lunch at a Middle Eastern place called Aladdin's. Everyone seems to be just a little annoyed at my "picture taking to blog later" self. Out of respect for them, I smoothied their faces. Enjoying the smoothie tool, I also smoothied some of the tableware and the windows. What a fun day.

End of results.

 

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Pittsburgh knit and crochet festival 2013- pregame

 

I've been to the Pittsburgh knit and crochet festival twice.

I don't remember but I think I went with knitnightclaire in 2008. It was my first cashmere, my first swift, my first drop spindle and one of my first attempts at getting past the social anxiety that has always been a part of my life.

I went alone in 2009. They changed locations. I dropped mr. Sophanne off at the casino and went in the cold February rain. I'm pretty sure this was a conscious choice. People make me nervous and I wanted to enjoy the yarn. In spite of that, I wore my Central Park hoodie hoping that it was such a recognizable pattern that people would notice it and magically be my friend. Later I sat in front of a hotel fireplace with other knitters pretending to be part of their group. Lacking adult supervision, I purchased blocking wires and a felted tea cozy pattern that looked like an orange slice. The blocking wires have been used minimally. The fruit slice was used as a hat once and discarded.

 

 

The 2009 trip reminds me of the dog pre-bath time. She play bows as I go for her and in the next moment runs away barking because I say the word bath. She is a dog conflicted. I was a social being conflicted.

Tomorrow I will be at the festival with three knitting friends gathering from hither and yon to travel together in knitnightgina's van. It is likely that I will run into another friend who is going as well.

In addition to the fine and sometimes not so fine items I have made, the greatest gift of knitting has been the funny laughing friends and the slow process of relaxing in and enjoying the company of others. If I have to increase my yarn stash as part of the process, that's a sacrifice I am willing to make.

And tomorrow if I see someone wandering alone in a hand knit sweater, I will welcome him/her and bring him/her into the fold.

 

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What's for dessert, you ask?

 

 

Anyone who has known me for a long time, likely looked at the previous post and thought, "man o day, that Sophanne hasn't said no to too many desserts lately." That much is true. Mmmmm...ice cream. But I digress. What you see above is what I say no to ON A NIGHTLY BASIS. Yes, this is Mr. Sophanne's bedtime snack. Unless its a birthday, you won't see him indulge during the day whereas I will eat any treat, any time, except at bedtime. Maybe there is method to his madness.

 

In other Mr. Sophanne news, he is in the process of applying for early retirement. As a result, he does not go to work anymore. I would enjoy this much more if I also did not have to go to work but such is not the case. So far he has spent each day working a full 8 hours filling out forms, making phone calls to bureaucracies and government agencies and visiting doctors offices bearing gifts of donuts and cookies.

All is well and it's all good- not to worry- but there has been some adjusting to do. As you might imagine, the cute LizaJane I thrilled.

In other news, hey medical friends, what is the likelihood of a false negative on those instant strep tests. The 10 minut culture test says no, but my body says otherwise. The CNP must have been doubtful as well, as she gave me strep fighting meds and I've heard those are harder to get lately.

I am grateful for those meds. The Pittsburgh knit and crochet festival is this weekend and we're having a little mini knit night field trip. Plus newfrienddebbie is going to get her first experience of fiber overload and new knit friends. Aren't you so excited for her?!?!

 

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The not really a doctor but I play one at knit night is in.

Above you see knitnightmedstudentJustine demonstrating how to suture. Below you see what I look like after a day of work when I get to have real medical instruments in my hands. Note to self- put on a little makeup before knit night, wouldja?

 

Maybe you can see on the side, I've started the sleeves to the Kathy Zimmerman sweater. I ordered the last just in case skein of yarn... Just in case.

I have some achey streppy action going on today. Maybe the Panera's pretend hospital is has as many bugs floating around as the real hospital.

As newfrienddebbie says, in the event of a zombie apocalypse, when someone (not me) has to cut her infected hand off, I will be able to sew the pieces back together, knit a glove for her, and soothe her with song as I do it.

 

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Garlic - o - Butt and some random

Now that I see it on the blog page, I'm pretty sure I've posted this before but maybe you forgot and will laugh again.  The latest Nutella rage that has me cracking up over spreads.

I'm knitting the cable sweater, some lace and finishing a pair of felted clogs for the Mr. today.

In other funny, there is a custodian that I know that has been given multiple jobs to do at once in his school.  He must enter lunch numbers into a computer, lock the doors, scrape the trays, and take care of any spills or messes that occur.  

It's a little over the top but it's what happens when there aren't enough people to do everything.  

Last week I suggested to him that because he doesn't have enough to do that he should provide some entertainment in the cafeteria.  Without pause for thought he said, "Oh yes, I've got a puppet show lined up for today and for the adult entertainment, I've ordered a pole for next week."

In movie news, the Mr. and I watched Monsieur Verdoux with a talking and directing Charlie Chaplin last night.  What a movie.  What begins as a farce about a man who is a "bluebeard" (I had never heard that term before last night) - someone who marries for money and then kills his spouses- turns into a treatise on war that kills millions versus people who murder.  I'm guessing it's where this line came from:  If you kill millions in war, you're a hero but if you murder one, you're a criminal."  I'm not getting all political here, it was just a peculiar movie (1947) that left an impression.

My favorite line in it (one I'm sure I'll remember when the drugs stop working) is 

Despair is a narcotic that lulls one into indifference.

It won and Academy Award nomination for the screenplay but was panned by the critics.  I'm guessing the change in tone didn't win them over, and apparently the perceived trivialization of murder was offensive to them as well.

End of random.

The Nutella Diaries - Season 1 Episode 1

Behold the items that have been subjected to Nutella-  so far, all have been winners.   Annie has a no bake Nutella cheesecake recipe and Becky suggested Nutella in a milkshake.

Interesting little tidbit about Mr. Sophanne.  He didn't know that milkshakes can be made by blending ice cream and milk.  He thought maybe there were some special unattainable ingredients involved.  When he brought home a half gallon of ice cream for milk shakes I was so excited about milkshakes that I forgot to add the Nutella.  

In tartar sauce news, I've found something worse than roast beef and tartar sauce.  It was a Friday night and the free casino buffet had fried fish on the menu.  A little further down, near the desserts, they had some strawberries.  Next to the strawberries was a big ole honkin' bowl of tartar sauce.  Because it was in close proximity to the strawberries and VERY far away from the fried fish, I assumed it was some sort of fruit dip.  (The casino buffet rarely just has plain delicious healthy fruit available).  The looks I must have gotten when drizzling my strawberries with tartar sauce probably didn't hold a candle to the one I made when I tasted it.

eta.. and because I am who I am and rarely finish one task before beginning the next, I just walked into the kitchen and wondered "why is my Nutella posing with all that food."

Diagramming

Please who can somebody diagram these sentence that I did got in a email today from a person what can be the boss of people.

Please read the memo and pass on any areas you would like consideration to be spoke on.

No small hanging detail

Here you see the "man hooks." Around these parts I am generally drop the layers on the kitchen table. Mr. Sophanne is the hanger-upper.

(This could possibly be because he's got the market cornered on every over the closet handy hook)

There is a new addition to this particular collection. In the middle of the giant bathrobe, sweaters, jacket and hat is a knitted scarf I made several years ago. Suddenly it is manly and warm enough to declare as his own. The number of knitted items for Mr. Sophanne has increased to three.

Happy love day

Knit night profile and a premise for a new tv show.

Subtitle: who thought it was good idea for me to have so much easily accessible technology.

Knit night profile:

Say hello to knitnightalison and a list of things I can tell you about her.

She's an ironic magic fairy princess somewhere between Briar Rose (some sort of former Snow White and last years Halloween costume) and Alice in Wonderland only smarter and funnier.

I can't use her real name because she has an occasionally stalking ex.

KNA was an archeologist for a while. She had to find a different job when the economy went belly up.

She shares my Spidey hearing sense and when the bass line in Panera's Muzak begins farting over an inadequate sound system we both begin laughing and no one else knows why.

There is always a subtle one-liner spoken quietly and with aplomb that absolutely slays me. Tonight's was "that turtle was a real jerk." The best part in that "you had to be there" moment was that she was talking about a real turtle.

And the reason for the picture below is that a few weeks ago I got schooled in Nutella (something I'd never had) and while it sounded interesting I knew and said it was one of those things I'd never buy. Tonight she brought me two giant jars. I now know Nutella.

And now the tv show-

3rdyearmedstudentknitnightJustine shared the app Speed Anatomy. My science knowledge is just about zip, nil and none. I manipulated the high school and college course selection system so that I could learn as little as possible and still make passing grades. On reflection, it was boring as hell.


3ymsknJustine played speed anatomy for a while as I watched entranced. Thn she opened the $50/mo app with diagnostic medical questions. As I joined the fun I knew the meaning of about 35% of the actual words. That did not stop me from offering my answers on the multiple choice questions. After scoring our quiz it turns out she got the highest score ever on the quiz.

Enter the tv show. Hospital show. Doctors, medical students, interns and me (or someone who plays me on tv) offering knowledge based on absolutely nothing except the words they hear that they may or may not know. Think of a show that's the opposit of House only with the same wry, smug humor in my character when I outsmart the real medical staff

Introducing Miss Deb

The first in what may be a series of mini iPad posts. I've never had a camera so handy. Welcome to 2013, Sophanne!

This is Miss Deb. She is the parent volunteer coordinator at my school and if there is a festive occasion, she is dressed for it. Maybe I'll do a series of holiday posts featuring her stylishness. It should be documented somewhere!

Cables anyone? Said Annabelle.

Someone here saved her $$ and now she has an iPad mini and can snap pictures at will.... Beware!

Drive by posting

Having not gone to knit night on Tuesday, the weekly dose of the interesting and peculiar is not what it usually is.  However....

Yesterday morning a mama at school was talking to a papa at school who was holding a little one (age 1 or 2.)  Mama said, "My look how he has grown."

I cracked up.  What if adults would say these things to each other.  Later in the day I finally convinced that same mama to play that game with me.  We both said to each other "look how you've grown!"  and laughed and laughed.


And, based on the photo below you get one guess as to what Aunt of Sophanne and I will be doing in June.  I am so excited.  And those four words have really been all that I can utter about it since it came about!