It's A Girl!

And her name is Mitzi!

The newest addition to our family is a lovely 8-month-old dachshund mix -- mixed with what, we don't know. She is a sweet-natured little girl, a bit on the timid side, but really, really loving. We got her from a family where the 3-year-old had severe alergies to the dog. I fear that she hadn't gotten very much affection from her first family, because she seems a bit afraid when people pet her. When people pet her, she cowers and urinates a little to show she is submissive. I hope very much that we can show her enough love that she can get past her early months.

Here a Bitch! There a Bitch! Everywhere a Stitch-n-Bitch!

I haven't written anything since Sukkot -- mostly because I'm a bit intimidated by the whole blog thing. Every time I think about writing, I question whether what I have to say is worth being written down. It occurs to me, however, that if I only write "worthy" material, I'll never post. ANd I don't think this blog should be accompanied by guilt. Consequently, I will write and post when I damn well feel like it -- and I don't expect it to contain anything profound or noteworthy.

I was reading the Chicago Tribune last week and happened on to an article about how popular knitting is. It mentioned two things of interest to me: a new knit shop in the South Loop named Loopy Yarns and a reference to Stitch-n-Bitch Chicago, which connects people to knitting groups in their area.

I only had a few minutes on Saturday to stop in at Loopy Yarns, but I was there long enough to make theses observations:

When they say "One of our goals is to be the friendliest and most helpful yarn store you've ever been in" -- they really, really mean it. I think every female knitter I know has a story about yarn shops which offer begrudging service or rudeness to their customers. I find that it is even worse for me. But Loopy was a different experience altogether.

The store is beautiful. Really, really beautiful. They have a nice assortment of fibers. Everything has a clearly marked price. There are several comfortable places to sit and knit -- and Shirl, who assisted me with my purchase -- was quick to invite me in to knit with them.

They obviously want to make the shop convenient for the customer! (Now there's a concept!) Their hours probably vary a bit too much -- they might prove to be confusing -- but here they are:

Monday 11:30 am to 6:00 pm
Tuesday 11:30 am to 8:00 pm
Closed Wednesday
Thursday 11:30 am to 7:00 pm
Friday 11:30 am to 9:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Staying open 'til 8:00 one night and 9:00 another really makes it accessible to working people.

Last night I attended the Hyde Park Stitch-n-Bitch, which was a lot of fun. We met in the cafe of a bookstore and knit and talked and laughed for three hours. I was the only guy there -- no surprise -- and the women were welcoming, funny, and gracious. I enjoyed it very much. My only complaint was with the coffee -- not very good at all.

I'm currently working on a garnet colored cabled scarf for my sister-in-law. It is very pretty, and a welcome break from the tedious knitting in the round for the three Gryffindor scarves I made. Note to self: I still need to block and fringe the scarves if we want to wear them to "Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire" on Friday.

I really, really want a donut right now.

I really would bite the head off of a live librarian for a glazed chocolate cake donut right this minute.

There -- that is off my chest. I learned in therapy that it is important to acknowledge how you are feeling. Some things are productive and others are not, but it is constructive to take ownership of your feelings and not to live in denial. There. You have it. I would canabalize a low-level civil servant (in a circus show, if need be) for a sweet and cakey chocolate pastry.

We had a very pleasant dinner in our sukkah for the first night of the festival. We had Norbert's classmate, Lena, and her family over. I served roasted salmon, rice, haricot verts, and a salad, with decaf and a cheesecake for dessert. We had a fire in the fireplace, which was a nice addition to the sukkah this year.

Tonight we will host Norbert's trombone teacher, Liz, and her partner, Melanie. Liz is a vegetarian, so I am making a 7 Treasures tagine with squash, sweet potato, green beans, chickpeas, onions, tomatoes, and carrots -- spicey and slow cooked, served with couscous.

Sukkot is one of my favorite of the Jewish holidays. Eight days spent entertaining and "living" in an outdoor shelter, lots of friends, lots of eating. I'll admit, it is a lot of work, but it is also peaceful and welcoming. One day of the festival we will host an "Open Sukkah" -- part of the Hyde Park Sukkah Hop. So we'll have lots and lots of people.

I still want a damn donut.

No Rest for the Wicked

It seems that, the older I get, the faster time flies, yet I must try to cram more and more into less and less time.

This weekend started peacefully enough -- we enjoyed a peaceful Shabbat dinner together: Yakitori (chicken maninated in rice vinegar and garlic, then grilled and brushed with a wonderful yakitori sauce I bought at Mitsuwa with my nephew, Sean, and his partner, Lilly) served with brown rice and cabbage stir-fried with green onion, garlic, and hot peppers. Desert was individual sweet kugels. After dinner we sat in the living room and listened to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire on the iPod. I continued work on the Gryffindor scarf I am knitting for Myfanwe.

Saturday morning I took the Element in to have a tire repaired. Or so I thought. Turns out the tire with the slow leak had an irreperable puncture and, because of my own stupidity, the it's companinon on the rear axel also needed to be replaced because I drove on it with a low tire. Crap.

After the tire shop, I stopped in Chinatown and picked up some of my favorite smoked chicken livers from BBQ King, as well as some smoked chicken leg quarters. I love the livers -- they are velvety, smoky, sweet.

I returned home and, after lunch and a bit of knitting, took Myfanwe to work and Norbert and I went to see Wallace & Gromit. Afterwards, the three of us ran to Target. Then home. Dinner was udon in broth with scallions, shredded cabbage and shredded smoked chicken. I was going to garnish by crisping the skin from the chicken and then shredding it. I put the skin under the broiler, but then forgot about it until it was nothing but carbon, so that didn't happen.

Sunday morning Myfanwe & I brought all of the pieces of the sukkah out of the basement, and at 11:oo Lil' Myfanwe (a.k.a. Wetzelwoman) arrived with her power tools and helped up put it up. Nothing was very strenuous, but my back is killing me today. After Wetzelwoman left, Myfanwe, Norbert & I ran up to Trader Joes on the North side for our favorite coffee, which they didn't have, and other various and sundry edibles. Then back home for dinner -- leftovers -- and knitting during The West Wing.

I imagine Myfanwe will be inconsolable when it sinks in that Toby was the leak and will have to leave the West Wing.

Beginnings are Important

It strikes me that beginnings are every bit as important as endings, and thought should be put into how you wish to begin anything of importance.

This blog, however, commences without the briefest thought to how it should begin. Oh well, like many a good love affair, it just happened.