Month: September 2001

Once again, I’ve failed to blog over the weekend. Part of it was, as usual, being busy and unwilling to look at a computer. Most of it was because I’m still coping with the emotions this attack has caused. I’ve had to turn off the news for most of the weekend – I can’t watch the interviews with the people hoping to find their loved ones. I’ve always considered myself an optimistic person, but I don’t know how anyone could still have hope now.

On the lighter side of the weekend, though, I’m very close to being done with those gowns! Everything’s done except hemming both dresses and sewing the buttons on one of them. Both bonnets are done. As soon as I’ve finished the rest of the sewing, I’ll post some more pictures. The only problem I have now is how to get my hands on baby-sized hangers… I couldn’t find any in the two stores I looked in – I think I might have to beg some from a department store. My house is decorated for the shower this weekend (note that it’s not actually clean yet, but it is decorated. :) I actually have an idea of the menu. We’ve got some games planned. Now I just have to deep clean and cook. And then clean again, of course, because cooking’s a messy process!

Probably the most frivolous thing I did all weekend was buy more yarn. Yes, I’m starting another project. Why? Because I’m obsessed with fall colors right now, and I found this neat pattern for a tote bag and even neater yarn in pumpkin, burgandy, brown, olive and cream colors. Ahhhh. There’s something very soothing in the sound of wool sliding over knitting needles. It’s good for the soul. And I need that right now.

How does anyone return to normal after this sort of event? I can’t even think of anything to blog about – the little things I think about don’t seem to be very important in the grand scheme of things anymore. I’m almost done with the christening gowns. Somehow, even that isn’t so very important – the twins would be baptised with or without little white dresses. I am, quite frankly, terrified about getting on a plane in two weeks to go to NYC for this christening. In my head I can go through all the reasons why it will be ok – it’s not a cross-country flight, the security will be heightened, they wouldn’t strike again so soon – but in the irrational part of me that’s still a little scared of dark basements, I’m completely frightened. I will get on the plane. It would be giving in to the terrorism not to. But it will probably be one of the hardest things I’ve done in my life.

I meant to write something light-hearted today, to try and move on a little. Maybe tomorrow.

I don’t know how to put into words my reaction about today’s tragedy. A lot of people lost their lives today. Many more than that lost their husbands, wives, children, parents, friends. I struggle between my belief that revenge won’t help anything and my need to see someone suffer for what happened in our country today. I am fortunate. Nobody I know died. My prayers go out to everyone who has lost something or someone today. May whatever God you believe in comfort you and heal your hurts.

I’ve noticed that my weekends tend to be blog-free. This is not because I don’t have anything to blog about on weekends; rather, it has more to do with the fact that I avoid computers like the plague when I’m not at work or working on my master’s project. And lately, I’ve been avoiding my master’s project, too. :) It’s just that christening gowns are more fun! And wallpapering. And making chili. And even watching the Bills lose. Ok, maybe not that! But, this weekend was good – we got three-quarters of the family room wallpapered, I got both dresses ready for the collars and finished the collar sections for one of the dresses, and I visited with some friends and family. Casper came over to play with Molly – my house is barely big enough to hold that much doggy energy! Kate and I got tons done on bridal shower planning for our friend Lisa. Whew! Were there that many hours this weekend? And I still wasn’t ready for it to be Monday…

In a last-ditch attempt at finding one more summer day, we drove down to the local ice cream shop last night. It was weird to go for ice cream when it was so dark out – I didn’t realize how early the sun has been setting lately… But they had pumpkin ice cream. Intrigued, I asked to try some before I went and actually committed to having an entire dish of it. It was like ice cold pumpkin pie filling. Mmmm. So, it was a strange mix of goodbye to summer, hello to fall as I enjoyed my pumpkin ice cream last night. Not that it’s fall yet, and it’s supposed to be warm enough to swim this weekend, but last night it definitely felt like fall. :)

In other news, we had our first “real” dance lesson at Arthur Murray last night (yes, we were suckered into signing up). I actually caught myself really dancing at one point – not thinking about where my feet should go, but just doing it. Amazing! There is some coordination hidden in there somewhere… As for the gowns, well, the ice cream trip sort of interrupted things, but the second lining is almost done – I think I’ll have it sewn in at a reasonable hour tonight.

I did it!
Last night I managed to sew (correctly, too!) the lining into one of the christening gowns. I feel I can finally publish a picture or two – they’re not scary-looking anymore. :) Now, you have to use your imaginations – pretend the bits of green thread aren’t there, and that there’s a lovely collar attached. Also, pretend that there is a good amount of white ribbon embroidery on the bodice front that’s just smocked right now… I’m sort of deviating from the pattern a bit in terms of embellishments, so we’ll have to see how it will look. My favorite part of these dresses is the Irish lace trim. Currently, it’s only on the sleeves, but it will also be on the collar and (I think) the bonnet (which I haven’t even thought about starting yet…) Now I just have to get the lining of the other dress finished and sew it in, then I can start work on the collars. I alternate between worrying that they’ll be too small, too big, too ivory…or that they’ll rip, get dirty, get creased or get eaten by Molly. But, as I’ve mentioned in a previous blog, it’s in me to worry about things I can’t change, so I’ll just have to trust that the twins won’t have a giant growth spurt and that I won’t drop a pair of open scissors on the dresses…

stuff nightmares are made of…
What if you wandered into your backyard and found this? Denis and I were out in the yard on Sunday, checking out our jungle-gym playset to see whether we could fix it up for Lizzy to play on next summer. And what did we find? A hornet condo. I swear, they probably have a swimming pool, hot tub and space heater in this thing. Supposedly, they abandon their nests every year, but I don’t think they’ll ever abandon this one – I’m not even sure they could’ve built this just this summer – it’s huge. I’m not apiphobic like Tina, but I have never had such an urge to run in my life! Fortunately, we have an exterminator coming to take care of it. In the meantime, I don’t even want to go outside… Of course, hornet nests are apparently collectors’ items – we found one website discussing how to preserve these things. Why?!?

Hmmm. Can I get a new cubicle? I just read on the Dilbert website about the Ultimate Cubicle. I want one!!!

Time Flies…
…but USAirways doesn’t. At least, not to Rochester or Buffalo from Boston last Friday. After spending 7 hours waiting in the airport, I eventually got on a plane to Ithaca, where my grandparents live. Unfortunately, my luggage didn’t. Argh. 24 hours after I would’ve gotten home on my original flight (still about 4 hours before any Rochester flight they could’ve scheduled me on), I finally made it home and my bags were delivered. What an “adventure”. As a result, somehow I’m starting the new work week with tons of laundry, my suitcase still (mostly) packed, and a general feeling that I’ve been cheated out of my long weekend.

I’m finding it extremely hard to believe that it’s September already. Where did the summer go?