TV Drama

Anyone who knows me even a little, knows I am not a fan of the all-mighty television. I have not had cable since 1997. Unlike many people I know, I do not have TVs in every room of the house. When I moved back to GA in March I didn't even bring a TV with me. The TV does not occupy a prominent space in my home (as a matter of fact, it sits in a corner, facing the wall, thinking about what it has done wrong). I have now set the stage.

Given my feelings towards electronic entertainment, you can maybe begin to understand the confusion I felt when my sister presented her birthday present to me: a 19" high def. flat screen TV. On top of the TV box were several books and a few CDs.

My first question was "Is this really a TV, or did you just use the box to put my other gifts on?"

Was it a joke? I tried very hard to appear gracious, but I couldn't hide my confusion. I didn't want to seem ungrateful, but really, a TV? I tried to hold onto the "It's the thought that counts" adage, but I couldn't help thinking "Did she really think I need a TV?" I mean, I had a TV (the one Dad gave to Joy, and then Joy gave to me. It is huge and clunky, but works so why get a new one?).

I didn't want her spending money on me, let alone buying a flat screen TV. I seriously considered asking her to take it back. When she told me later that it was free with her Dish cable plan, I relented and decided to take the TV home with me. In all fairness, Joy had reservations about giving it to me. In her words, giving me a TV is like giving a book to an illiterate.

There was never any question about whether I would now have two TVs. As soon as I got home (and made sure the new TV worked!) I logged on to Freecycle and offered my old TV. As expected, I got dozens of responses. Freecycle is a fun little network, but to be completely honest a lot of the stuff posted there is junk. So when a working, 19" TV with remote is posted, lots of folks are interested.

What disappointed me most was the number of people who emailed and just said something like "I'd like to take your TV." I mean, get original, tell me a little about why you want it. How am I supposed to decide who to gift it to if you don't tell me why you want it? Those emails were immediately out of the running.

Several people wanted the TV for their children. I grant you, these people don't know me, so they probably don't know my aversion to TV in general and as a babysitter in particular. With the exception of two years in high school, we only ever had one TV in the house. So, sorry, I am not going to gift my TV to some 9 year old. Let them read or play. One person actually said that she wanted the TV so her sons could watch it with headphones while her and her husband watched their shows in the same room, so she could "keep a close eye on them." Really? How about you have a family game night instead.

Another person said that they have several visitors that are used to falling asleep listening to TV and wanted to put it in their guest room. Ugh. In the end, I gifted it to a preacher to use in the nursery at his church. All in all it was pretty depressing and served to reinforce my overall dislike of television.

To end on a positive (and, yes, somewhat hypocritical) note, Dad got me the first two seasons of NCIS on DVD! The reason I am OK with watching DVDs, whether movies to TV shows, is that I am in control: I can watch whenever is convenient for me and I don't have to reschedule my life around broadcast times. Plus, there are no commercials! But more importantly, watching a DVD prevents me from getting sucked into the "there is nothing worth watching but I will just keep channel surfing for the next 3 hours hoping something worthwhile comes on" vortex.

Attack of the Incredibly Cute Craft Projects!

Consider yourself fore-warned: I have been working on several VERY cute projects lately.

My first attempt from the awesome book "Amigurumi Knits" was a simple starfish. I didn't use the Cascade Yarn that was suggested (mainly because I didn't have any and cannot buy yarn until I use/trade some of the current stash) so I knit the starfish with some worsted, homespun from Mom's stash. It was a lot easier than I expected, and I learned three new techniques. In my world, that means the book already paid for itself!

While I was visiting with the Dover's I started knitting this little garlic. The first chapter in the book is stuff from the garden, and I did have some off-white Plymouth wool left over from the candy corn slippers, so tah-dah!

As fun as the starfish was, and as cute as the garlic is, I was ready to move onto an Intermediate level project: the Octopus. I am SO excited with how he turned out!! I put pipe cleaners in the legs to make them pose-able and learned a few more new techniques. What I like most is that he looks like a real octopus, not a cartoon version.

I think what got me started on the idea of mini-knits, were these adorable mini sweater patterns that I found last year. I wanted to make them for Christmas ornaments, but never got a chance. Maybe this year...

I also finally tapped into the stash of patterns and designer upholstery fabric that I bought last fall when the Fabric Place was going out of business. Here is a purse I made using a pattern by Hillary Duff (don't laugh, it is a pretty respectable pattern).

I was beginning to think that maybe I had missed the Crepe Myrtle blooming. Maybe they bloomed in February before I moved down here? Nope, they are in full glory now! I was especially excited to see a bunch of honey bees buzzing around the flowers.

Six Months

Yesterday marked six months since we lost Mom. I've always had issues with how quickly time progresses, but this really hit me hard. Days, weeks, a few months are harder to track, but six months is half a year. It's easier to grasp six months; it's a more solid, quantifiable guidepost. And if you add to that the fact that it had been more than a year before that since I last saw my Mom, well, it makes it even harder. Even with six months to adjust, I still forget sometimes that she's really gone. I want to call and tell her about silly things that Harley does or how my new job is going. I want to show her the cute little knits I'm making, or ask questions about quilting ideas. I want her to try the yogurt I've made and see the new life I've built for myself.

But, like the song says, we can't always get what we want. We can't get more time, or go back in time and change the way things happened. And sometimes the hardest things to let go of are the things we aren't even holding anymore.

I'm still trying very hard to pull my life back together. I have accomplished so much in the past six months: I removed myself from a relationship that wasn't healthy; I found an amazing job that I love and that is rewarding; I moved closer to Dad and Joy and get to see them monthly; I am working on strengthening my personal beliefs and living a life of integrity. And as much as it pains me to say this, I don't know if I would have been able to make such sweeping changes if I hadn't had the transformative experience of losing Mom.

Dan Heumann said "10% of life is what happens to you, 90% is how you handle it." I've always believed this to be true and use this quote to help keep things in perspective: there may be parts of my life that are beyond my control, but my actions and reactions are always up to me.