Just Sit Back & Knit

Peace Fleece

IF you have not seen it yet, check it out:  Peace Fleece .

It is a company started by a husband and wife Peter Hagerty and Marty Tracy in 1985.  They started by buying wool from  the Soviet Union in hopes of helping to diffuse the threat of nuclear war by trade.  Now with the same goals of promoting peace through common work they buy from farmers all over the world.

I just received a yarn card I ordered and the colors are beautiful.  They have several products for which the proceeds go directly to "NeveShalom/Wahat al Slamm "Oasis of Peace," a Palestinian/Israeli Village in Israel committed to resolving conflict on a daily basis".  They have more information on this village at their website.

I ordered a few skeins to try out.  MaryLee and I found the company through Sweaterscapes  when I was showing her the caped cardigan:

She is hiring me to make her a cardigan, and although it turns out I will not be making the one above, she immediately wanted one made out of Peace Fleece yarn. 

In the film department  I have another recommendation for a movie which really moved me: 
Everything is Illuminated.
"A young American Jewish man begins an exhausting quest -- aided by a naive Ukranian translator - to find the righteous gentile woman who saved his grandfather when his small Ukranian village (along with most of the populace) was obliterated during the Nazi invasion of Russia in 1941"

While it may sound just plain sad, the acting is wonderful.  Yes, there is plenty of tears to be shed, but also laughter - and quite a bit of it.

And just to keep up on my own work blogging, here is a picture of Fletcher's sweater in progress:

and the inside, where all my ends will need to be woven in!  Yikes:

Here's the boy for whom the sweater will be large enough that he should be able to wear it until he turns, ohhhh I'd say 15 maybe even 16 (my skills in math leave a bit to be desired):

Not the most flattering picture, but he refused to smile! 
Up until about 4 days ago this boy would rather run around naked than don ANY piece of clothing. 
Suddenly, he gets out of bed and gets fully dressed!
Shorts first - he has a few favorite pairs, these being top of his list, he calls them hisbrand-new shorts. 
I don't know why,they were a pair of pants I cut off in desperation when we were out and about and he had an accident.  It was too hot for pants and I had  no clean shorts in the back-pack. 
Next comes the shirt, he's real into the tank-tops - no surprisein this heat. 
The belt goes over the shirt, cinched tightly over his cute little belly - rather high in my estimation. 
Next the socks and rain boots.  Note the socks pulled up allllll the way?  Very important as I learned yesterday through a fifteen minute crying jag when I helped him put them on.  Of coarse he would go entirely without socks if I did not insist he wear them.  I absolutely refuse to go through a fight about stinky boots because he walks around in this heat sockless, NO WAY.  Lastly snow gloves. 
Sometimes he adds a warm weather hat or Darth Vadar helmet.  Also, occasionaly his chainsaw goggles.
I Love It!  The imagination and individuality of childhood is amazing. 
No wonder so manyparents are accused of trying to relive their own childhood through their children, you just can't help youself.

Frisson

frisson \free-SOHN\, noun:
A moment of intense excitement; a shudder; an emotional thrill.

If you read my Confession then you know I'm a bit more than shy. And you'll also know that I've had a hard time commenting on other blogs. Well, I'm breaking out of that shell. I've posted comments on several blogs and have even been exchanging e-mails with a very nice blogger who is otherwise a complete stranger to me. Crazy wonderful internet that allows this sort of strange anonymous connection between people who would otherwise never know each other exists.

Another way I've stepped out of my shell is by taking action to Save the Internet (cause you know I love the internet and want to keep posting comments on other knitting blogs) First, I sent an e-mail to Rep. Bill Thomas last week requesting to know his position on HR 5252 (commonly called the COPE Act: "Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act of 2006"). I've yet to hear back from his office so I took another step and called all three of his offices (the one in my town, the main California office and his Washington D.C. office) asking to know his position (no one could tell me but they promised to get back to me) and urging him not to support the bill. And you know what? It felt good. I was nervous and felt shy but the people who answered the phone were very helpful and polite and seemed to want to answer my questions even if they didn't know the answer. And you know what? I bet the people in your Congressional Representative's office are just as nice. Go on, find out. Give them a call and request that they help save the internet (remember the phrase HR 5252). Try it. It's actually a lot more fun than it sounds like. It gives you a little thrill, a little frisson and a little song will play in your head once you've called ("Democratic process, whoopie! I'm an active member of the democratic process and I am invested in this country that I love and care about and voting is only one way of making my voice heard and letting my Representatives and Senators know I care is another!"). Or maybe that song only plays in my head. But there is only one way to find out. Call.

And you know, some of you maybe thinking that this is a political issue, a partisan issue and you and that maybe you and I don't party on the same side of the red and blue line. Well check out the list of supporters of savetheinternet.com. You're bound to agree with some of the groups/individuals/businesses listed there. Or maybe you just don't participate in the whole politics game. Well I say, forget politics and focus on the democratic process. Do you blog? Then you're already getting your opinion out into the world, you must like doing that right? Well that's what the democratic process is all about! Learn a little about this bill (which affects not only the internet but also TV services) and you may find that you really do want to participate because decisions are being made for you, and the only way to make anyone take your opinion into account is if you speak up. And also, to you all, I say please. Please call or e-mail. And please forgive me my little soapbox. I just wanted to get my opinion out there.

For more information about HR 5252:
Save the Internet
Google
Google News

And because a post is never quite the
same without a picture, I give you this:

What Do You Know About Network Neutrality?

I don't plan on doing this very often, but really felt the need considering the nature of blogging.

Please check out Save The Internet especially if you are a citizen of the United States of voting age.

Here are a few snippets from the Save The Internet FAQ page:

What is network neutrality?
Network Neutrality — or "Net Neutrality" for short — is the guiding principle that preserves the free and open Internet.
Net Neutrality ensures that all users can access the content or run the applications and devices of their choice. With Net Neutrality, the network's only job is to move data — not choose which data to privilege with higher quality service.
Net Neutrality is the reason why the Internet has driven economic innovation, democratic participation, and free speech online. It's why the Internet has become an unrivaled environment for open communications, civic involvement and free speech.

What's at stake?
Decisions being made now will shape the future of the Internet for a generation. Before long, all media — TV, phone and the Web — will come to your home via the same broadband connection. The dispute over Net Neutrality is about who'll control access to new and emerging technologies.
On the Internet, consumers are in ultimate control — deciding between content, applications and services available anywhere, no matter who owns the network. There's no middleman. But without Net Neutrality, the Internet will look more like cable TV. Network owners will decide which channels, content and applications are available; consumers will have to choose from their menu.
The Internet has always been driven by innovation. Web sites and services succeeded or failed on their own merit. Without Net Neutrality, decisions now made collectively by millions of users will be made in corporate boardrooms. The choice we face now is whether we can choose the content and services we want, or whether the broadband barons will choose for us.

from http://www.savetheinternet.com/=faq#stake

A day in the life...

I think that this is my second or third post, though  I check daily for updates.  I just want to share a day in the life of Jesse....how about yesterday?

The alarm goes off at 6:20am...I snooze it for an hour, finally pull myself out of bed, pour a cup of already made coffee (thank the lord for technology!), turn on NPR and check the news of the day on the computer, while the heater thaws the morning chill.  I spend too much time on the computer, now looking at cars I would like to buy, but could never afford and realize it is 7:35 and Olivia is still asleep.  I enter her room and do my best to wake her without being too loud, abrupt, cheery or without touching her too much (all by her request) which is quite a challenge.  This morning I fail by singing "Rise and Shine" and finally getting a groan and a "stop it!" and a "just a minute, let me wake up."  I leave the room and now I know I don't have time for a shower, which is okay, because I showered yesterday, right?  Instead I wash my face, plug in my hair straightener and try to find some pants in my closet that actually still fit me.  I find that I am growing or my pants are shrinking and wear one of the three pairs that actually feel comfortable.

I check and Olivia is up, getting dressed.  I have time to straighten my hair, brush my teeth, put in some toast and fill up my travel mug with coffee.  Lunches (made the night before) in bags and we are out the door.  Olivia makes it to school with a minute and a half to spare, I turn on the Travelling Wilburies and I am on my way. 

Once at work, I greet my coworkers, check email and phones, glad that there are no crises at the moment and finish up a court report due for a hearing today.  Staff meeting, more phone calls, emails and problem solving...somehow the time flies by and it is 2:30, time for me to meet a young woman who has just turned 18 and is exiting the foster care system to live life on her own...she has no family, very little money and is pregnant.  We eat and say our goodbyes, I rush to school to spend time in the editing lab to finish a project for class.  (I get some time to knit while the video is being burned onto the DVD).  At ninish, I am back in town, pick up Olivia from my parents and head home.

The dog spends five minutes spasming in joy and relief that we are home, Olivia brushes her teeth and gets on her pajamas and gets right into bed(after checking on her 4 tamogotchis...don't ask!!).  We spend a few minutes chatting and I go to the kitchen to make lunches, get the coffee set up so it will be ready when I drag myself out of bed tomorrow and then I get to jump in bed (after checking my email and JSB n Knit), set my alarm and crash....

I know, not only does it sound as if my knitting is being neglected, but my sweet child too...I love all of the things I have chosen to do, but it isn't without struggle and doubt that I travel through my days, trying to stay present and attentive to the needs of my girl and myself (not to mention my dog!)

This is part of the reason I have not been much of a blogger...but I am feeling happy, though tired and wish I had more time to just sit back and knit...