Months of waiting

Sundara Poppy Aran Silky Merino
Originally uploaded by Alta Marie

I ordered this yarn in February (?) I think it really was February....
Just got it in the mail last week and tucked it away to begin a new project after Drake left.

Took it out to the back porch to photograph it yesterday and noticed that I have a yarn-hanging hook on my fire-escape! Not exactly what its original purpose was, but it has been officially re-purposed.

More baby knitting

I can't stand the cuteness. I've made another pair of these!
There is a certain baby arriving in Mid-July, and while tiny toes aren't likely to become too chilly at that time of year you can never be too safe.

Summertime!

Drake left this morning for Central City. The combination of departure for summer festival and Memorial Day means summer is here!

Today I made a summer salad with fresh corn, edamame, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and fresh tarragon.
4 ears fresh corn (cut)
1 bag shelled edamame (16 oz.)
2 Tbs. olive oil
2 Tbs. cider vinegar
2 sprigs fresh tarragon (cut)
Combine!

I am told that, with a little practice, one can remember all that goes on or that one hears said during a day.

Mourning dress, Winter 1811
Originally uploaded by peacay

"I do not suppose there will be much of interest to other people, but it is not intended for them. I may show it to Jonathan some day if there is in it anything worth sharing, but it is really an exercise book. I shall try to do what I see lady journalists do, interviewing and writing descriptions and trying to remember conversations. I am told that, with a little practice, one can remember all that goes on or that one hears said during a day."

from Bram Stoker's Dracula Chapter 5. Letter from Miss Mina Murray to Miss Lucy Westenra. 9 May
via Dracula Feed where I am currently reading Bram Stoker's Dracula in real time.
awesome.

Strangers talk to me alot, and I think it's because of my overbite.

toyland-9282
Originally uploaded by Alta Marie

Strangers talk to me all the time. It doesn't alarm me any more, I'm well accustomed to it, but every time one of my friends or family members notice, I always tell them it's because of my overbite. It always looks like I'm smiling, because I can't really close my mouth.

Here are the people who have spoken to me so far today:

1. An older woman asked for directions in midtown

2. Countless solicitors/panhandlers. One man yelled, "Hey Smiling girl right there with the black dress. Don't you CARE ABOUT OTHER HUMANS?!?! YOU'RE WEARING A CROSS I CAN SEE YOU!" I wasn't wearing a cross, it was actually an anchor, but frankly I'm glad that he wasn't staring/following me long enough to see that. (and incidentally, yes. Yes I do care about other humans. A great deal, actually.)

3. A policeman stopped me in the subway to tell me "Miss. You should really try to get your sleep. It's very important." (this was one of the times where I hadn't curled my slack-jaw into what must appear to others as a smile... It must have appeared to be a yawn.) I appreciated his advice. I couldn't agree more. (This happened on Monday, but who's counting.)

4. A drunk stranger at the pharmacy counter who was trying doggedly to cut me in line said "Good morning.... Hey. You're really pretty. Do you know that you're really pretty? What state are you from. I said WHAT STATE are you from? can you hear me?"

It is truly great fun to have an overbite in NYC.

(note: I am actually smiling gleefully in the picture above with my little brother and meaning it.)

Green eyes?

My creation
Originally uploaded by Alta Marie

This morning Drake sent me this link which does the genetic calculation to determine what color eye your future children are likely to have.

I have two (slightly) different colored eyes, which a very blunt orthodontist informed me was probably due to a head trauma in my baby-hood or youth. This disclosure went a little something like this:

Orthodontist: "Well, surely by now you've realized that your face is grossly asymmetrical, this paired with the polychromia in your eyes generally indicates a blunt head trauma. Were you dropped on your head as a baby?"

Me: "um... not to my knowledge."

Orthodontist: "Hit in the head with a bat?"

Me: "no"

Dentist: "Kicked near a swingset?"

Me: "...."

Orthodontist: "Maybe tripped and hit your head on a coffee table?"

Me: ...sobbing quietly....

So if you look at the pictures here, you'll notice that Drake's eyes are undeniably blue (and look at his lashes! no fair!) you'll notice that my left eye (which I labled "My other eye" after inadvertently labeling my right eye "my left eye" argh. stupid head trauma is still causing problems....) Any way, my left eye is holding very strong in the brown department, but my right eye, if it were lit up, you'd see it's pretty strongly hazel. Hazel is not an option, so I listed green (which it's not.)

So! depending on whether you take the genes from my left or right eye, our future children are either 50% more likely to have brown eyes (30% green, 20% blue), or 70% more likely to have green eyes (30% blue and no chance of brown)

I guess only time will tell.... and then we'll also know which of my eyes turned colors on me when I was totally blindsided by some as of yet undetermined head trauma in my youth!