While I was knitting away on the husband sweater I was often watching the Olympics. This is the first time that I have watched them while in a foreign country and I wasn't really sure what to expect. In the US people often complain the the Olympic coverage is US-centric, overly commercial, too heavy on human interest stories and edits out many of the lesser known sports.
Here in India there was what seemed to be a lot more available to watch, although I never knew what was going to be on until I sat down and turned it on. There didn't seem to be any way to know the schedule. Because of this I missed many events that I usually like to watch, like diving, gymnastics and many of the track and field events. The commentary was also fun to digest as they generally had two people, speaking to each other, one speaking English and the other speaking Hindi.
So, while I do feel like I missed out on a lot- I did catch a few things and have my own Olympic medals to award! Without further ado we have...
The BRONZE award goes to Usain Bolt in the 100 meter.
Did you see this race? Did you see him at the end? He actually slowed down, to bask in his glory, before he crossed the finish line! What a way to win an Olympic gold medal and establish a new world record.
The SILVER award goes to the unknown boxing commentator.
He kept the action interesting with such quotes as:
"...he's getting more hits than a Pamela Anderson Website!"
"...exhibiting more control than an episode of Get Smart!"
"...he's got his rhythm and like Gloria Estefan says, the rhythm is going to get you!"
and my favorite, in reference to the Chinese heavyweight boxer, Zhang
"... hes got an arm stiffer than a box of Viagra!"
But the GOLD, the Gold has to go to the Chinese Olympic organizers themselves. Why? The song lyrics for the closing ceremonies...
Beijing, Beijing I love Beijing
Beijing, Beijing I love Beijing
Beijing, Beijing I love Beijing
Beijing, Beijing I love Beijing
Beijing, Beijing I love Beijing
Beijing, Beijing I love Beijing
Beijing, Beijing I love Beijing
Beijing, Beijing I love Beijing...
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Closing Ceremonies
Okay- I can't leave a post like the last one up for too long. Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts. I am feeling a lot better today and yesterday my daughter took good care of me and even suggested we watch a mindless, romantic comedy movie (The Holiday) rather then the intellectual thrillers that I tend to choose when left on my own. She was right. I laughed, relaxed and woke up this morning feeling much better. Again, thank you!!!
(and Tigerr- I need your email address! I can never reply to you!!!)
So, as I write I am watching the closing ceremonies of the Olympics (it is broadcast live here) and I have my own Olympic, er RAVELYMPIC accomplishment!
Here we have what I have termed The Husband Sweater (Ravelry details here)
A sweater I started for my much loved husband on March 1st, 2007.
But it is finished and I can't wait for him to get home and try it on.
(we will all keep our fingers crossed that it will look stunning on him!)
Toodles!
(and Tigerr- I need your email address! I can never reply to you!!!)
So, as I write I am watching the closing ceremonies of the Olympics (it is broadcast live here) and I have my own Olympic, er RAVELYMPIC accomplishment!
Here we have what I have termed The Husband Sweater (Ravelry details here)
A sweater I started for my much loved husband on March 1st, 2007.
But it is finished and I can't wait for him to get home and try it on.
(we will all keep our fingers crossed that it will look stunning on him!)
Toodles!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Down, dooby doo, down, down...
I am having some downer days.
I am always a little hesitant to blog about such things because I don't want people to feel sorry for me or feel like they have to do something special for me or anything like that. But I think that it is a reality of living life as an expat. Sometimes you just miss being at "home". I walked to the store yesterday to get some necessities and while it was lovely out, an early evening where the air was clear and cool and filled with the scent of blooming flowers rather than sewage or garbage, I was filled with feelings of
I just want to be invisible.
I don't want to stand out.
I am tired of being stared at.
I want to feel normal.
There is no real cure for it. While I can hide away in the house for a time, this just becomes depressing. If I go out I am faced with all that is getting me down. I am stuck. I just have to wait for it to pass (which it will) and in the meantime I am dreaming of living someplace where I feel normal, where knitting makes sense and where I can enjoy quiet, walks, and having some outdoor space that is my own. Le sigh.
So you will get a knitting update today and soon I will share a bit about our Summer of Guests.
For the Ravelympics I have been working on the sweater for my husband, originally started on March 1st of 2007. At this point I have completed the back, both front pieces (as it is a cardigan), and am almost finished with the second sleeve. I feel fairly confident that I will be able to finish it in time- by tomorrow afternoon- and will be very grateful to do so! I think my husband will be too (and he'd better like it!!!) This is a UFO that has been hanging over my head and conscience for a good long time and now I feel incredibly silly for delaying its completion for so long as it has actually been a fairly pleasant knit! Here it is in its unfinished state:
Well- I am off to eat brekkie, wake up the daughter and ponder the day's activities. I'm sure knitting will be in there somewhere and I promise I'll be in a better mood next time ;)
I am always a little hesitant to blog about such things because I don't want people to feel sorry for me or feel like they have to do something special for me or anything like that. But I think that it is a reality of living life as an expat. Sometimes you just miss being at "home". I walked to the store yesterday to get some necessities and while it was lovely out, an early evening where the air was clear and cool and filled with the scent of blooming flowers rather than sewage or garbage, I was filled with feelings of
I just want to be invisible.
I don't want to stand out.
I am tired of being stared at.
I want to feel normal.
There is no real cure for it. While I can hide away in the house for a time, this just becomes depressing. If I go out I am faced with all that is getting me down. I am stuck. I just have to wait for it to pass (which it will) and in the meantime I am dreaming of living someplace where I feel normal, where knitting makes sense and where I can enjoy quiet, walks, and having some outdoor space that is my own. Le sigh.
So you will get a knitting update today and soon I will share a bit about our Summer of Guests.
For the Ravelympics I have been working on the sweater for my husband, originally started on March 1st of 2007. At this point I have completed the back, both front pieces (as it is a cardigan), and am almost finished with the second sleeve. I feel fairly confident that I will be able to finish it in time- by tomorrow afternoon- and will be very grateful to do so! I think my husband will be too (and he'd better like it!!!) This is a UFO that has been hanging over my head and conscience for a good long time and now I feel incredibly silly for delaying its completion for so long as it has actually been a fairly pleasant knit! Here it is in its unfinished state:
Well- I am off to eat brekkie, wake up the daughter and ponder the day's activities. I'm sure knitting will be in there somewhere and I promise I'll be in a better mood next time ;)
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Swamp(ed) Monster
It has been one heck* of a month.
We had family visiting. We have traveled. We have explored. They have left and since then I have been sick.
I am only now starting to feel as if I am crawling out from under the rock of busy chaos and am staring at the wreckage of my life. Unfinished and In-process surrounds and defines me. I need to make lists. I need to prioritize and I need to get busy. Thankfully I am feeling better and am powered by a massive desire to be on top of things again.
Remember the green yarn? Remember the green blanket for the baby that is due to arrive in about three weeks? Well, that green yarn became this
And I am almost done! Just a nice cast off or crochet border and a good blocking...
But dudes. My lovely knitting friends and those who can empathize with projects gone wrong.
I screwed up.
Blocking.
Lace.
ACRYLIC.
Apparently those three things don't go together so well. I never thought about it. I have never knit with acrylic before, how was I supposed to know! What the heck* am I going to do??!!
I have done a little research and apparently you can KILL acrylic yarn. Yeah, yeah, I know- that's how I feel too, but really that's what they call it. It is a process of steam pressing the yarn and it somehow releases the fibers in some way. But it doesn't always work, or really I should say that it is irreversible. You blow it, you suck. Oh man. This is not good.
So I have an almost finished blanket that needs to be killed, the Ravelympics start in two days (for which I am WIP Wrestling with the ever in-process Husband Sweater) and yeah.
I'm starting to wonder why I decided to crawl out from under that rock.
* no further cursing required
We had family visiting. We have traveled. We have explored. They have left and since then I have been sick.
I am only now starting to feel as if I am crawling out from under the rock of busy chaos and am staring at the wreckage of my life. Unfinished and In-process surrounds and defines me. I need to make lists. I need to prioritize and I need to get busy. Thankfully I am feeling better and am powered by a massive desire to be on top of things again.
Remember the green yarn? Remember the green blanket for the baby that is due to arrive in about three weeks? Well, that green yarn became this
And I am almost done! Just a nice cast off or crochet border and a good blocking...
But dudes. My lovely knitting friends and those who can empathize with projects gone wrong.
I screwed up.
Blocking.
Lace.
ACRYLIC.
Apparently those three things don't go together so well. I never thought about it. I have never knit with acrylic before, how was I supposed to know! What the heck* am I going to do??!!
I have done a little research and apparently you can KILL acrylic yarn. Yeah, yeah, I know- that's how I feel too, but really that's what they call it. It is a process of steam pressing the yarn and it somehow releases the fibers in some way. But it doesn't always work, or really I should say that it is irreversible. You blow it, you suck. Oh man. This is not good.
So I have an almost finished blanket that needs to be killed, the Ravelympics start in two days (for which I am WIP Wrestling with the ever in-process Husband Sweater) and yeah.
I'm starting to wonder why I decided to crawl out from under that rock.
* no further cursing required
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