Oscar & MLK

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Dr. King was killed when I was pretty young.
He was killed before I was thinking much past not losing my shoes on the way home from school in Hawaii (because I would take the pesky things off as soon as I left school grounds).

He was killed quite a while before I learned that skin color made a big difference to some people.

But Dr. King's legacy lives on. He continues to inspire and teach.
And I think we are improving and learning to Coexist on a lot of levels. 
Yes, we still have a ways to go, but today we're closer to Dr. King's Dream than we were in 1963.

As promised, please find below pictorial evidence of what Oscar, the low-maintenance Office Cat "wears" for MLK day.

I think Dr. King said it best. So in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Oscar is simply and poignantly adorned with these still beautiful and inspiring words:
 (Excerpts from the Aug. 28, 1963 "I have a Dream" speech by Martin Luther King. Jr.)

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.""

"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood."

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. "

May we continue to learn and grow and accept - and dream.

My heart, sympathy, and wishes for healing are offered to the victims and families of the senseless January 8th shooting in Tucson, Arizona. 

Thanks and healing are also offered to the Emergency Services and Medical Personnel who made Tucson proud on such a dark day.

2011 Goals (I don't like to make "resolutions")

"Aspirations" is another good option to "resolutions" but it seemed too "lofty" a word for my mundane, down-to-earth goals. 

KiniaCat 2011 Knitterly Goals:

1. I signed up for the Master Knitter Program in 2010 but have done little toward completion beyond general study and tracking down supplies. Hence, I’ll be knitting a lot of swatches in the first few months of 2011 so I can ship off my submission for review and still have some time for correction/resubmission based on the review response.
2. I think it's time to try knitting socks - from the toe up!
   A co-worker recently asked for preemie socks for her new grandchildren - and I found a tiny toe-up pattern that might suit and get me started on this goal. (Pattern courtesy of Nicole Eggers-Runge - Thank you!!)
3. The traditional dieting entry - with a twist...back to the Yarn Diet. (didja catch the pun?!?)
   I must reduce the scary stash! (And there’s some lovely yarn in da stash just a'calling my name…)
   The general rule is to only acquire more yarn after twice the amount of stash yardage has been used and to avoid random, lustful yarn purchases that are not associated with a specific project.
   The Yarn Diet does not apply to any Sock or Technique clubs already joined or renewed and the diet will be temporarily suspended if I get to go to any major knitterly events (I'm only human, after all!). 
4. Color work. 
   Time to give knitting with multiple colors a real shot. Lik-a-dis. (Maybe the mitten version...double the new technique challenge!)
   And in support of this goal, my In-laws gifted me with this inspirational Colorwork Club from the Unique Sheep.

KiniaCat 2011 Personal Goals:

1. Firstly - an age-old issue relating to Mindfulness.
   I need to build in a pause/time to consider before I speak. I have a lack of editing between my brain and mouth sometimes. Not generally hurtful…more along the lines of TMI/boring.
   Although...there are occasions when I "open mouth, insert foot" - and then gnaw on my toes in embarrassment. I think more sleep would generally help with this goal, but there is a base issue here that I would like to improve.
2. I would like to invest a 1/2 hour a day in pursuing non-knitting related goals. (This is necessary because I would like to spend my entire day on knitting-related goals.)
   Clearing out old magazines, filing receipts, going through my closet, music, movies...(extra trips to the recycling charitable thrift-donation folks are planned in 2011!), remembering to water my plants on a more regular basis, ~ Blogging ~(!). The to-do list goes on and on.
   Just a 1/2 hour a day would make a huge difference so that is the plan. Uh, goal.  
3. I am planning to continue the more regular exercise habit I returned to in late 2010.
   I feel better. I sleep better. I fit into my jeans better... (Hallelujah!!).
4. Another age-old-problem for me - sleep deprivation.
   Sometimes it is caused by random, frustrating insomnia.
   However, I must take responsibility for the majority of my sleeplessness of late.
   The "I'll go to bed after I do 1 more thing" (times 5) delay.
   The inevitable lie: "I'll just log into Ravelry for 5 minutes...".
   The other inevitable lie: "Just 5 more minutes and I'll get up...".
   The big challenge of this goal is a loss of time with the DH: The staying up late to visit and talk with the DH - who works a different shift than I do.  {Sigh}

Well, that's plenty.
The technique-based knitterly goals should be relatively easy - and fun.
I think documenting the Master-Knitter goal and progress here will help that goal move along.
The Yarn Diet is the most well-thought out - and I've successfully yarn-dieted before.
However, the personal goals are more challenging to quantify - and to stick to.

In the meantime, Happy New Year to you and yours! 

Let's see what we can accomplish in 2011!!

Christmas Amaryllis

What is a Clunky Old PC Monitor Good For?

What is a Clunky Old PC Monitor Good For?
Kitty TV...

(Left to Right: Nikoli, CooPurr, & Gryphon)

Bird watching and enjoying the neighborhood smells...

And for me? General PC-based endeavors (enhanced by fur, purrs, and flicking tails that inevitably block the screen...)

(How much longer do you think it will hold up under the, uh, extra duties?)

It does get better!

I originally started this blog entry specifically intending to show support for the It Gets Better Project.
I will still do that, but I'm going to mention a few other subjects/blogs that have made me pause to consider how much more I have to learn and grow - and that have offered hope that our world is still improving.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And...this is still not the blog I had re-intended.

I tried to describe how sad-beyond-words it makes me that children would take their own lives because they feel there is no other way to stop the pain.
Is this because they literally have not reached a point in their physical and emotional growth where they can fully comprehend "later" or that this day in school doesn't have to define their whole life and that everyone won't always treat them this way?
What if there is a chemical imbalance skewing their world?

And how to explain that bullies tend to be a few ignorant jerks, or people lashing out because of their own pain, or other people slinging "stones" because they don't want people to sling stones at them.

Can we teach the bullies compassion?
Aside from extremely rare exceptions, I definitely believe so.

Please know you are Not alone.   Deep Breaths.
Please consider there are many tomorrows that will be better than today.
Please notice the overwhelming good in the world. It's right there in front of you.
It is just not as loud and obvious as the bad stuff.  But good is Much more plentiful and consistent.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The above is the short version and lacking the full weight and depth of my feelings on the subject of bullying and suicide.
But the short version might make for a better blog and actually does achieve a mild semblance of coherency.
I suspect I may not be in a place where I can explain what I'm feeling and how I wish it to be better.

So...the short version it is.
Please consider the links below as confirmation that our world and society is still trying to do better.
E-hug.

• To all younglings who are subjected to torture and bullying...most especially Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) kids - It Truly Does Get Better. You are NOT alone. 
• Anti-bullying Starts in First Grade.  Katie, I am particularly fond of "Star Wars" ("Star Trek", "Firefly"...the list goes on!). Let us revel in our similarities AND our differences! It's part of makes us unique and the world a more interesting place! 
• Challenge Day. I think it helps people to find compassion.
• TED - Ideas Worth Spreading.  No, I haven't fully explored this site and it's quite feasible there are Ideas presented with which I cannot agree. But I love what it stands for and it's an interesting and heartening exploration that I intend to continue.
• Lots of food for thought...about the effects of what we say and what is heard:
  "Who hears you, when you speak about rape?".
• And a repeat offering: Randy Pausche's "Last Lecture". It's worth your time. Really.

I forgot to introduce you to one of my cats...Oscar

Like Nikoli and Mikale, I inherited Oscar from someone at work.
The gent that gifted him to me felt I would be a better owner for Oscar. Something about he didn't really have enough room and that Oscar needed more attention than he could provide.

Essentially, I don't think I got much choice in the matter of "adoption". Certainly not as much choice as I had with the orange kitties. Oscar was left in my cube one day after the gent had said something about bringing me a cat. However, I did get to name him! He just looked like an "Oscar" to me. I'm not quite sure why.

Oscar is my office-cat.
He watches over my cube and keeps an eye on visitors, trying to make sure they don't leave too much work behind after they visit.
(He is not terribly successful at this endeavor, but I appreciate the effort.)

Oscar is the epitome of low maintenance.
No brushing, feeding or litter-box cleaning required.

I will try to do a better job of including him in the blog so you know what he's up to and what he's wearing.
Oscar has outfits for the major holidays! Some he came with and some I've added to his wardrobe.

In honor of our upcoming December Holiday, here is Oscar in his Santa Claws accessories:

(All the hats have cutouts for his ears!)

Oscar and I (along with the DH and the furry monsters at home) 
wish you a lovely Holiday Season. 

Please paws to revel in friends, family, furry loved ones, 
and the beauties of the season.

Blessings Be. Give or Take a Hundred Years.

Blessings be to you and yours on this day of Thanks.

Yes, I know. It's officially the Holiday Season.
Revered, anticipated, and dreaded all at the same time.

In the U.S., if you consider almost any traditional "Holiday", you'll find negative aspects of the holiday that never occurred to us when we were on break from school as children; hyper-commercialism, stress from additional tasks, family baggage, depression, or activities that are downright inconsistent to the original point of the Holiday.

But today is Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. ... so...yes, I am Thankful for:

• My job (sometimes frustrating but always interesting and challenging), 
• My friends (unique, kind, talented, and oddly tolerant of my foibles), 
• My DH, 
• My feline kids, 
• My birth family (admirable individuals), 
• My Country (Sometimes we're a bit of a selfish lot, but we do freedom reasonably well and we can be inspirationally generous), and
• My much-taken-for-granted health. 
• And Blessings Be to the world for Knitting!! {Happy sigh!} 

And then my brain wanders off to marvel at other things for which I am Thankful - and I pause to consider how all of these things are very new or only recently readily available to the average person.
(!!And sometimes still not available here or in some parts of the world - think about it!!)
These things were literally unheard of 100 years ago or only available to the very, very rich.
What about 75 years ago? 50? 

• This much growled-at PC that actually does labor reasonably well for me.
• Satellites.
• The Internet (Blogger? Ravelry? Wikipedia? NetFlix? Google Maps? Spell Check!).
• Television. Radio.
• The right to Vote.
• Plastic.* 
• Air Flight. Space Flight.
• Mechanical Wonders (Automobiles and Crock pots, Clothes Washing Machines, and what about all the medical mechanical wonders...?) 
• * Chemistry/biological wonders. (Antibiotics? Chemo-therapy? DNA Mapping?)
• My ongoing education and curiosity of the world (What would I have been allowed (or had time) to study 100 years ago?)
• "Stash" (books, fabric, yarn...more books). (50 years ago "stash" was primarily used to describe a cache of drugs - sad.)
• A ready supply of chocolate in many forms and flavors (Yeah, think about that one!)
• Central Heating/Air Conditioning!?!
• Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream!
• Heck - INDOOR PLUMBING!??!
• The list goes on and on...and yet how much am I still taking for granted?

That perspective increases the Thankfulness at least 1000-fold, does it not?

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. May we be more appreciative of our many blessings.

My Viewing Pleasure

Mystery!
If you didn't get to catch Masterpiece Mystery's excellent new presentation of a very old, established literary character, please track down "Sherlock" in your local Public Television/BBC website. We truly enjoyed it and are awaiting the next installation in the series - due out the Fall of 2011. {SIGH - so long to wait...}
(I do support my local PBS station. Shows like Masterpiece Theater (Classic, Mystery, & Contemporary), Nova, Great Performances, This Old House... PBS fills a major gap and simply must continue.)

Bending!
Inspired by the rave reviews of some knitterly friends, I recently finished watching all 3 (?) seasons of the animated TV Series "Avatar: The Last Airbender" . (I'm lov'n Netflix!)
And - it was pretty cool. Aside from the to-be-expected kids/"Jerry Lewis" humor and some overdone drama, it was a pretty good story, good artwork, well "acted", and pretty decently written (well, mostly).
I really enjoyed it!
I would kinda like to know what they did with the criminally insane royal fire-bender sibling and what happened to Zuko's Mom...and also the fate of the cabbage vendor (did he retire on Avatar play royalties?).  But I guess they couldn't tidy up everything.
(The same knitterly friends panned the The Last Airbender movie. I'll take a gander at it some time - just to be fair.)

Furious!
The DH recently gifted me with a copy of the animated movie "How to Train Your Dragon". Excellent fun!!
I'm afraid I have not read the book so at some point I'll track it down to see what changed between original novel and animation.
Throughout the movie, the main Dragon Character, Toothless, constantly reminded me of one of our also-not-toothless house-critters:

(Uncanny "Night Fury" Dragon resemblance.
And if you factor in how destructive Gryphon can be
when he "flies" through the house...)

(Please pardon the cheesy/grainy photo - it's challenging to get a picture of Gryphon {holding still} that shows how green his eyes are.)

Gleeful!
Lastly...I am seriously enjoying watching "Glee". I started watching late in the 1st season but I quickly caught up on Hulu.

It's a caricature of musicals, high school and people. I think it is delightful, silly, charming, wicked-fun, and a bit angst-y but I LOVE the music.

I grew up watching 1940 & 1950 movie musicals with my Mom. I am also fond of attending Broadway Show tours that come through town. I suspect that's where some of my delight in this show originates.

The talent involved is stellar. We're treated to amazing musical performances each week - from well known performers and from brand new talent. (Matthew Morrison, Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, Chris Colfer, Lea Michele, Neil Patrick Harris, Charice, Jane Lynch, - the list goes on and on...amazing talent all!)

I do like shows that can surprise me. Glee is clever and heartful. Sometimes there's an excess of angst and a little sit-com ploy, but but it can still surprise and charm me. I can't say I love every episode and the music-to-plot ratio is a bit light/contrived (a la early early Broadway musicals), it's always fun and interesting - and...oh, the music!

I revel in the show tunes and presentations of classic pop/rock I grew up with.
I have also been surprised and intrigued to hear more modern tunes presented in a choral or group format. The harmonies are amazing - probably my favorite part. One of the "glee" clubs on the show, the "Warblers" remind me of the University a cappella groups I've found on iTunes-U.

(Which I cannot find again to link to this blog - sorry.) Ah - rather like "Straight No Chaser"!

I'd heard of Lady Gaga and had seen some of her work - which is innovative and very interesting. But I became quite taken with the Glee version of "Bad Romance".
I'd never heard Madonna's "What it feels like for a Girl" - but I am very drawn to the Glee version performed by the Glee Guys and how it was used in the episode. It has become one of my favorites.

I'll stop now. No, I don't think I qualify as a "Gleek" - either by the Fox slang for a Glee-Geek or by the surprising  dictionary definitions for that word (ewww).  But for now, I'll keep watching and listening!