Some Memories of Grandma

Yesterday morning, very early, my grandma passed away. She'd been in the hospital for almost a week and was starting to get better - she even had gotten some coffee. I didn't go up to visit, though, because she was in intensive care and kids aren't allowed - not me as a kid, but my kids. she's been on my mind alot this past week, of course, and I'd like to talk about her for awhile. Grandma was in her 90's. She played bingo almost every week with my parents and my other relatives. She liked chocolate and told me once that if she was thin she'd look old since the fat on her face filled out the wrinkles. My grandma was divorced and Catholic - not normally two things that go together. In fact, she was a single mom in the 50's with three boys and a girl. She had a good job in the office at Caterpillar and did work in the house at night to keep everyone fed and such - of course my grandpa didn't pay child support since it wasn't invented and he had another wife and kids. (He's a whole other story, I tell ya.) I can't imagine raising my dad and his brothers - they're rowdy now and they're old. It's amazing that Grandma didn't drink. That's probably part of why she lived so long. I have five great-aunts (correct me if I'm wrong and forgot someone, mom) and Grandma told me that when they were little they used to play "Movie Star". Grandma pretended to be Jean Harlow. I still am surprised at that - I love Harlow and long for an occasion to wear a slinky bias-cut gown and be sassy and gorgeous. I should have talked about her with Grandma to see movies and stars from her point of view - actually watching classics when they were new and current. Grandma was a Cubs fan - baseball is a line in the family, Cubs or Cardinals, no other team exists. (I'm a Yankees fan, so I keep out of the conversations.) We used to have holidays at her house but the family has exploded into more people than I can remember sometimes - since she lived so long there are four generations under her. I don't think there's a wide-angle lens big enough to fit all of us in one shot. I didn't spend as much time with her as I could have - I live an hour away and have mentioned that I hate driving - but she did come here once to see my home and meet all of Eric's kids. I'm really glad that my kids knew her. They're both very upset right now, of course, but they'll have memories of spending time talking with her. I know there's more but it's escaping me right now. (My trip to Wal-Mart and usual bad experience there has damaged my thought process this afternoon.)
As I leave, please remember to call your grandma if she's still around. Be safe this weekend.

Images of My Week

Forum Failure

Lately I haven't been saying anything in the forums that I'm in. I don't know what the problem is, really. I haven't done much in the Ravenclaw room anyway - there are about two hundred posts a day there and I just can't keep up with it all. Usually I would comment on finished projects but I haven't even felt like doing that. Maybe all of this rainy weather has made me antisocial. All I want to do lately is sleep. I'm sure this mood will be over soon. A couple of good sunshiney days should get me back to normal.
In other news, I finished Mom's top but forgot to take a picture of it. It turned out nice, though, and fits her. I've cast on for my OWL sweater but only have a few rows done so far. I've knit some on the Evenstar shawl, too. I want to knit a pair of socks but the mojo is still gone. In the meantime I'll just finish what I've started and spend some time with the charity stuff.

Late Night Television

I tend to stay up late to watch That 70's show on Teen Nick - it's nice to end each day laughing, especially after any sort of dramas that the girl child may have brought home from school. I've become very familiar with the ads that are run - a preview of the next episode of Degrassi, an acne medication, a female product, and....Your Baby Can Read. It makes me wonder what kind of target audience for a baby product is watching television at midnight - teenage moms on a feeding break? It's really strange - of course, my babies didn't read at two, either, so maybe I just don't get it. Don't get me wrong - Khloe could swear like a sailer at two. Not many kids can do that, you know. I guess I get occupied on the goofiest thoughts.
What have I been working on? Well, Mom's Mother's Day present is almost done - just a few more rows. I know it's late. She doesn't mind.
I also spun some art yarn inspired by my friend Jenny's alter ego. I can't post a picture because she hasn't seen it yet. I think it turned out really neat. My spinning mojo is back. I'm working on some superskinny black merino on one spindle and some sparkly blue on the other. I browsed the beautiful batts on etsy earlier and will be saving up to get a couple. The new fiber sellers are really good - lots of color and fiber combinations to choose from. It all looks like candy.
School gets out in seven days. This school year has gone by so fast! I'm happy for warm weather, though. We've had quite enough cold, crappy days.
Pictures next time!

Gifting

Since I've left the Random Acts of Kindness group I've felt a bit of a withdrawal. I really like sending people gifts. Now, a couple of weeks ago I got a truly gorgeous box from Holly that made me tear up a bit - it was full of yarn, books, and assorted other goodies and really made up for the months of being ignored. She's great. It made me want to pay it forward in some way. I've made a couple of decisions. First, I'm going to get back into the charity knitting and crocheting. Holly is involved with a group that makes shawls and lapghans for kidney patients. I plan on using some stash to warm up some people who are in the hospital. If you remember, my dad had a kidney removed a few years ago. Thankfully he didn't need any further treatment. I'd like to make things for people who do need treatment. I'm also going to make more snuggles - little blankets for animals in shelters. Khloe is a big fan of caring for animals and has been urging me to do something - she wants to adopt a pet but making a snuggle will be a much better option. I can use stash for that, too.
The other idea I came up with is a newish feature on ravelry - the gifting of patterns. I can browse some queues, see what some people would like to have, and gift it to them. I think I'll start with people who are friends (of course, Holly has no wish list, darn it) and move on to those people who are in the same groups as me - maybe a Ravenclaw housemate or someone else who loves the Savvy Girls, for example. Unfortunately it can't be done anonymously so the giftees will know it's me but I think it will make them smile - and that, after all, is what I really want to do - make someone smile.