Sometimes a fantasy
Is all you need
Georgie and I had LOTS of juicy, passionate discussions this weekend and one of them was about the merits of Billy Joel’s songbook. We both agreed that Glass Houses ranks up there as one of the all time best. All For Leyna puts it over 52nd Street by a knockout.
Don’t get me wrong here. I’m not throwing over one B Rock Boy for another. Billy isn’t fit to tie Bruce’s shoes, in my estimation, but he does have some really, really good songs. Really good. ( I mean, really, Captain Jack was one of the reasons I wanted to live in New York. Who didn’t want to get high in the Village?) We heard Sometimes A Fantasy on our way home the other night and cranked it loud. I love singing along with my G-Love! LOVE IT!
Anyway, we had a great weekend! Guess what I did? NOTHING! Well, nothing if nothing includes a ton of knitting and laying around in my bed and watching like ten hours of Another World. Frankie and Cass are engaged (my fave pairing) and the Sharlene/Sharlee multiple personality thing is about to hit the fan, although I much prefer the later, eviler Grant Harrison than the doofus playing him now. Josie’s fake stalker might be real. Rachel and Ken Jordan are about to do the nasty, only he’s working with Paulina and we all now what’s coming there. (I prefer the later Paulina as well. Who’s on Days (again) right now.) The whole Suspicion thing going on with the Amanda/Sam/Evan triangle is a yawn and I never, ever liked shrill Amanda to begin with and Sam’s almost as annoying as Evan, but send me over some Hudson love and I’m happy. I’ve always loved Donna. And Jake. And Michael and Vicki and Marley. I’m looking forward to Ann Heche being replaced by Jensen Buchanan but I have to give her props. She sure can bring it.
After finishing up the taxes on Saturday morning (just some last minute checks – they were really done before I left) and a trip to the post office (did you know it was like $50 to E-FILE?! How ridiculous is that?) we did a drive through of Branch Brook Park to see the amazing Cherry Blossoms. We thought we might sit outside for awhile since it was like 80 degrees on Saturday, but the park was CRAZY. The trees were beautiful though. No pictures. I don’t like to take pictures unless I can get really, really close. Or someone’s paying me. 😉
There were lots and lots of religion discussions too. Fitting given the Passover/Easter weekend. We watched a few minutes of The Ten Commandments and had a lively discussion of Cecil B. DeMille’s Passover meal. The kid asks why they’re eating bitter herbs and Chuck Heston says so we can remember the bad times. Um. WE eat bitter herbs so we can remember THEIR bad times. This is ostensibly the FIRST Passover. The seder didn’t come until the NEXT year. We talked about the history of the whole thing – what year did this happen, that happen, when did this one die, that one, who fought against who. G gets really into it and peppers me with questions. He thinks just because I studied all this stuff in college I should know it all. As the weekend moved closer to Easter we got into it about Christianity – and when I say Christianity I’m talking 70 A.D. and such. I watched a fascinating show on the Gospel of Judas. Fascinating! I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes, but oh my god. It’s amazing how much MAN’S decisions influenced what was supposedly DIVINE. Did you know that originally there were over 30 gospels out there? Guess who chose the four that got in the good book? Yeah. A guy. (Before you go telling me it was divinely inspired and all that let me tell you that when it comes to ancient texts, I am an academic all the way. If you’d like to read that as skeptic, be my guest. I don’t doubt the existence of many of these people and events, but there are academic criteria that must be met before we can say it DEFINITELY happened. My Jesuit Professor taught me that in one of my favorite classes in college – Jesus and His Times.) Anyway, lively debate all around! We love that.
The rest of the weekend I knit. It was heaven!
I started the second sockapaloooza sock and I’m already on the gusset. I will have this baby finished in no time! Deadlines Schmedlines! Still loving the yarn and the pattern and I can only hope my pal will too.
Most of the time though I knit on my Beaded Diamond Fantasy Shawl.
I’m already up to repeat 7. I have a little system going. I like to finish a repeat then start the first row (where you add the extra sections) of the next repeat and leave it on a purl row. This way I know where I am and I can just knit – I’ve already done the next bead row – which is getting slower and more tedious the longer I make this thing – and I don’t have to worry about beads again until the second section of the chart.
I still love it and everytime G looks at it he tells me how classy it is. I hope it fulfills its purpose of camouflaging how fat I have become (again!) and making me feel fabulous because I’m afraid the dress and the body won’t be helping at all. Anyway, that’s my problem. I have a plan. And the plan is to knit a FABULOUS shawl that takes all the attention away from how gross I look. ( It’s how I feel. You’ve all been there I’m sure.)
The only teensy tiny regret I might have is the yarn. Sundara did a fabulous job dyeing it for me and it’s perfect, but a little bit scratchy. She told me that would go away with washing (it’s from the overdye) but I’m thinking I should’ve gone with some kind of silk blend for utter luxury. I know it will block out fabulous though, so I think this regret is only from knitting a TON on
it this weekend (four repeats?) and that I’m a bit bored of it. Still and all a FANTASTIC pattern and I’m loving the beads.
I’m way behind on the ABC A-Long but not for lack of trying. I had a G all lined up and I took a bunch of pictures this weekend and I hate them all. I hated them while I was taking them and I hated them when I looked at them and that G won’t be working. So I’m moving on to another G and I hope to have it up soon. You can’t put a calendar on inspiration. I’m trying. I will hopefully get back on track soon, although H and I aren’t really helping either. Damn alphabet. One thing that has been working is my knitty imagination!!!! I’ve got some HUGE plans. HUGE. I’m very, very excited.
Okay, where to start? DFS is looking gorgeous! And I totally get you on disliking the way you look. I went to a wedding on Sat and I didn’t take my blazer off – even though I got very hot while dancing – because it covered the rolls. Ya know?
I wish I had seen the show on the Judas Gospel. I saw some of it on, I think, Good Morning America or something like that, and I think it’s fascinating. And didn’t Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice say back in the 70s that Judas was a pawn? That Jesus wanted him to betray him because it fit in with the plan? This gospel find is so cool!
There are so many stories of women that were left out of the ‘good book’. It sounds like a fabulous discussion. My sisters wonder why I know so much about Mormonism and the Book of Mo. I tried, tried to be a Mo but it just didn’t click…doesn’t mean I don’t remember…just don’t believe. Sunday Morning had a bit on teaching the Bible as literature. That would make a lively discussion, too.
DFS will be wonderful in the wool and it will be much more versatile than silk. I didn’t love my silk DFS as it was TOO light.
I really like the way the beads you’re adding look so far. Can’t wait to see it all done! It may be what pushes me over into the world of the shawl knitter. I’m not happy with the way I look these days either, but I’m hoping with the warmer sunnier weather will also come the motivation to actually put the Pilates DVD in the machine and use it instead of just watching the sun glint off the plastic wrap it’s still in…
The damn alphabet is kicking my butt, too. I know what I want for G, I just can’t find it…
I love Billy Joel — he has written and performed some MIGHTY FINE songs (I don’t care what anyone says).
The shawl, the socks, they are gorgeous, Cara. I can’t wait to hear about your HUGE, knitterly plans…
Always such a pleasure to read your blog. The sock pictures and confessions of error. heh LOVE love the DFS – the beads make it so elegant – I’m sure your plan will work perfectly though I don’t know if I want to be upstaged by my knitting. I know what you mean about wanting to get up really close to your photo subject – I get so frustrated when I ask my husband to take a picture of me and the kids. It makes me think my toddler could do a better job – he’s so far away and not taking a good picture at all. Anyway, love your stuff. LOVE reading about your debate – so nice that G enjoys it with you – it’s something that really keeps a spark in a relationship (talking about ANYTHING!), I think.
how beautiful is your dfs! wow! i have just finished the third rep and like you i like to do the first row on the next rep before i leave it – only i do the purl row as well because who wants to start with a whole bunch of purling? crazy lady! 😉
Ja. Been there with the fat thing. In fact, I’m THERE NOW. I tried to lose a lot before that wedding I just went to, and nothing doing. It’s disheartening, but whatever. There are more important things, like juicy, passionate debate. Although I must wonder if that is a euphemism for juicy passionate something else. Hee.
I love your beaded shawl. I just had to comment to your post about the Judas show. I too watched it and loved it. It reminded me of the time I went to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. It was brought around by a religious group who was trying to say a certain version of the Bible is the “right” one. The would have a little snippit of a scroll with maybe one and half words and say ‘oh this is from Chapter so-and-so of the Bible,’ so you see how right this Bible is. What really got me was that they were saying that certain versions are copies of copies that are copies of copies so things were copied wrong, but the Bible the were toting was copied by one man. I asked what this man used and they said ‘oh they had a copy of a manuscript that was copied by 10 people.’ Umm okay so how does show there could be no errors? LOL They didn’t like that question. When I went to college I majored in History and Anthropology with a leaning towards the Middle East and the Bible/Religion, and I also had wonderful professors that taught me to look at all sides of things and see how people can twist something to make it sound right. I am glad that taught me analytical thinking LOL. Ooops sorry this ended up being so long.
dang it i am behind all you sockapalooozers, I better hurry!
I love everything you’re knitting right now. Sigh!
I loved Billy J. back in the day, and by “the day” I mean, let’s say, 1983-ish. After he met Christie Brinkley and became “happy”, it was never the same again…
I have been lurking at your blog for a while, but a fellow Another World watcher has jetted me from lurkdom to make a comment. My husband still rags on me for the crying that accompanied the final episode of my beloved soap. Now that we have SoapNet, I always have something to watch. I LOVE ANOTHER WORLD!
Sounds like a lovely weekend. You were very busy and all your knitting looks great.
that diamond shawl looks gorgeous. I am not a shawl person (more a stole person) but as always I am waiting with baited breath to see what you create 🙂
I loved Another World! I too had a thing for the Hudson family…anything with Vicki/Jake, Vicki/Ryan, Marley/Jake, Donna/John, Donna/Michael! So much drama…I loved it! Are you watching it on Soap Net? I may need to add that to my cable package!
You really should read “Misquoting Jesus” then…I think you’ll enjoy it.
I just caught on to your abc-along: fabulous! I love that pic of the dogwood blossom on your header for “C”!!! That bluish color is amazing! I love close-up pix too–my macro lens and I are good friends! Do you photoshop? Lensbabie?
And how about the fact that Revelations got in because it was written by John… but not the John they THOUGHT it was, so now we’re stuck with this crackpot LSD dream at the end of an interesting book?
DFS is stunning. The beads look amazing. I know what you mean, though… I feel like everyone in Boulder is thin except me. And I hate it… but do I change? No…
Cara, are your Sockapalooza socks the Lacy Socks from the recent IK mag? I am doing that pattern now, with a color from Wildfoote called Blue Blood Red….your socks look just like mine! My first time with picot, and I love the look.
Oh, and sorry…The Stranger will always be the best to me. Yep, All for Leyna is awesome, but I like the ‘fresh’ sound and feeling of Stranger.
Oh, how I love Another World! My joy at finding it on Soapnet was not to be contained. It is my expensive satellite package rationalization. Your beading is gorgeous.
Love the Sockpal socks… lucky pally! I can imagine how lux and beautiful your shawl is. Can’t wait to see it on you! Mwah!
The shawl is gorgeous! I completely understand the idea of such a luxurious item making you feel better. My little black dress is now worn with a black, beaded cardigan to hide how much I hate my arms.
I haven’t seen Another World in years, but I know exactly the storylines you’re discussing. Flashback!
Got to agree on Glass Houses…but for me it’s C’etat toi! I love to sing me some French!
I love Another World! I was so sad when they cancelled it – such a great soap (that usually wasn’t too hokey!). The socks and shawl look great!
“You can say the human heart is only make believe…
I am only fighting fire with fire…”
I knew I liked you. 😉
I’m really going to miss seeing you at MDSW!
hee hee, ABC along. Yes, I totally understand about being behind. In fact, I never actually joined it. I just decided to do B the other day because that’s the letter that suited me at the moment. Who knows if there will be others. I say skip G altogether if it ain’t workin for ya. Skip H too if you like. REBEL! 🙂
That shawl is totally stunning!
As for Glass Houses, it’s a great album. The only thing that gets me is that I prefer most of the non-hits (the entire B side?) to the hits. I remember listening to All for Leyna over and over when I was around 12. What a great memory!
(The Stranger was another good one, IMO.)
But I won’t cast any aspersions on Bruce.
Sounds like you had a great weekend. I used to love to watch Another World.
52nd Street is the first record I EVER bought by myself, and I bought it for $5 at a flea market at the tender age of 5, I think. I LOVE IT! Although, I was always stealing my brother’s tape of Glass Houses too. I’d say they were tied, but I > All for Leyna!
The Diamond Fantasy Shawl looks AMAZING! GO YOU!
The socks look Gorgeous. The beaded piece looks mysterious and wonderful. I started reading through the thinga bout how pieces were left out of the gospels and then hit the word Jesuit – and all became clear. I so love the whole tradition of questioning, and it’s such a drag (but also kinda cool) that popes tend to hate the Jesuits so much. I have to giggle a little bit when people rave about the infallibility of the gospels when they were cherry-picked to eliminate certain Uncomfortable Ideas that were up for discuss at least in the early church.