she's just saying...

A big ol' Central Oregon howdy

A shout-out to a blog-reading newbie friend who took me out for a great birthday lunch today. Yo, Dan! Warning - blog-surfing is addictive. It might even lure you to write your own...

Little tiny pill

OK, this is going to sound pathetic, but really it's not.

I did go out with a friend for a birthday drink and food at my favorite local wine bar. Henry went with us and behaved beautifully, taking care of us and entertaining himself (and many others, as usual). I was kind of reluctant to go as I felt a headache coming on at work, but took an Imitrex on the way there and soldiered through.

By the time we got home, it was clearly a migraine lurking behind the pill that mildly suppressed it. I took another one and lay down "for a little bit" until the pill did its work. Henry again was lovely, making me tea and bringing me his blankie (yes, he still has one - she's now a member of the family).

Three hours later, I woke up to find him watching cartoons and eating cereal at 11 pm. This morning promises to be fun...

I don't know how many of you experience migraines. Imitrex works, slower than you'd like, and pretty much always knocks you out. The key is to take it AS SOON AS YOU FEEL THE MIGRAINE, not like me, who pretty much ignores the signals until it demands full attention and acquiescence. You really need to get out of denial and act immediately if you don't want to end up in the emergency room, painfully reciting all your medications, doctors, insurance info and medical history over and over while an ice pick is being hammered into your temple, waiting around while a meth addict trashes the place, eventually getting a shot that makes you throw up and knocks out the headache while a nurse's assistant feeds your child doughnuts and Pepsi at three in the morning. Not that that's ever happened or anything.

Just saying.

Ode to Kathi D

She of the cute little puppies, misted chickens and tired roosters,
the negrospeak and the goldschlager,
the gratuitous celebrity photos
and the hilarious poop-filled blog.

Why are you here reading me when she's so much more entertaining?

I even wrote her a limerick:

Ahem.

"There once was a blogger in Cal,
who I call my special pal;
she gives us the scoop
on chickens and poop,
That Kathi is my kind of gal."

Thank you. Tip your waiter on the way out.

Subdudes

OK, this isn't that cute/insightful/whatever post I promised, but it's a fun one. From the lovely and  talented Elise, this notice:

Subdudes tickets for sale online!

The Subdudes are coming to Bend! Less than a month away, and I couldn't be more nervous. (Yes, I can: a week before the show I will probably be rolled up into a ball in a corner...)

They'll be playing at the Riverhouse Convention Center, Sunday October 12. The timing is perfect because the next day is Columbus Day, so lots of folks will have the day off.

It's a benefit for Healthy Beginnings, which does amazing work for all kids in Deschutes County. The 'dudes were awesome to lower their price so we can make lots of money for Healthy Beginnings. Get your tickets online - until we have some local outlets lined up.

Come support HB, help me celebrate having lived twice my life, and you might win some cool prizes! Details and tickets at www.elisemichaelsbirthdaybash.com.

Please please please come to the party!!

It's going to be the event of the fall, for sure. All Bendites, you've got to be there. More to come.

Finally, a knitting post

Once upon a time, this was supposed to be a knit-centric blog. Oh well -- life intervenes. But for all of you out there clamoring for knitting posts (and you two know who you are) here's the latest.

Yes, I'm still working on those damn socks.  I've decided I definitely don't like knitting two at a time, not because it's hard, as I've gotten into the swing of it, but because you see no progress whatsoever. One sock is bad enough. I knit and knit and knit on these stupid things and at the end of a few hours each sock has grown maybe 3/4". I feel like Persephone, but without the ripping back. Will they never end??? They are my knitting albatross (to throw Ulysses and the Ancient Mariner together).

What is the ongoing fascination with knitting socks, anyway? In the last several years, it seems, socks have become the ultra-cool knitting project, the one that says "I'm a real knitter and you're not." I enjoyed my first seven pairs, but I now find them tedious and boring. Of course it might help if I did them in pattern (vs. stockinette, the vanilla of knitting stitches), but then they lose their mindlessness, at least for me. It is nice to always have one on the needles as they're super-portable and impress the hell out of people. They're just the thing for sports practice and doctor's waiting rooms. I just have to adopt a more zen approach: finishing is not the goal.

On the other hand, fingerless mitts are flying off the needles. (Could that be why the socks aren't getting done? Nah, that's just silly.) Though the incredibly popular Fetching pattern is vexing me. (Today's Ravelry Fetching count: 7,147. That's seven thousand pairs, people!) I undid the first one I just finished and added more cables to the knuckles for length, but the bind-off is still bugging me. I just can't get it to look right.

I need to move on though, as the Christmas queue is getting jammed up behind them...

Our Knit-Up group is doing well, continuing to grow in membership if not in participation. We get about 11-14 knitters in each of our two weekly meetings, which is a nice workable size. Not having a permanent home probably keeps the numbers down, and we haven't been publicizing it much anymore. When I get that Melissa-like urge to get all busy and grow it, I remember the reason I started it: I wanted to find some cool people to knit with. And I have. The women are wonderful, supportive, open, friendly and funny. It's perfect as is. "I LOVE YOU GUYS (sniff)."

Can I be done? and other questions

 How long does it take to get over a broken heart?  I've been trying to follow the recommendation from a great self-help book, which is not to have contact with your ex for 60 days. I've done pretty well with that, aside from some tipsy hugs during the concerts last weekend and a few text messages about baseball. It's good advice, but really hard to follow when you live three doors away. It doesn't seem to have helped, anyway.

Why does it still hurt as much as it has the last eight times we broke up? Shouldn't I be getting used to this? The heart's capacity for hope, denial and forgiveness is amazing - I keep testing the limits and not finding them. Self-preservation does kick in finally, thankfully. But the fact that it's the right thing to do doesn't make it any easier to take.

How do I get past this?  The most random things trigger a pang: a song, a trip to the farmer's market, an article I've read, turning down the wrong street, hearing a baseball score. But as Kathi says, there are things that help. Meditation, pets, friends, children, projects, compelling work; all contribute to getting through the day, and I'd even say that overall I'm happy. But the tears of a clown, etc.

Does love ever come without pain? Based on the empirical evidence I've gathered from the last thirty years, I'd have to say no. Maybe in the next thirty . . .

Beck blast

Cortney Maddock/rgj - See? I do give credit.

Another great show by Beck last night.

This show was the complete opposite of the concert he gave here two years ago. No sets, no puppets, no video, no utensil drumming; just wall-to-wall Beck songs - sort of the "Best Of" (in a good way). Starting off with "Loser," they played "Hell Yes," "Where it's At," "Guero," "Lost Cause," a bunch from "Modern Guilt," and many others. It was a high-energy, positive, tight wash of pure Beck.

I love going down to get as close to the stage as possible -- jammed in among all the other happy dancing people, smelling fresh grass (both kinds), altoids, teenage perfume, warm bodies (all clean: it is Bend, after all). It's a rush - a completely different experience vs. sitting back in the beer garden.

I was definitely in a different place, too, versus two years ago, but it was all okay. Perfect weather, great venue, fun company, plenty of wine, friendly crowd: overall a stellar night. I even biked there and back and didn't fall over! (a first)

WORMS (the good kind)

I received my worm allocation today from Laurie, the Wonder Worman.

Everybody into the pool!

My pretties.

I was expecting the big fat bait kind, but these are much smaller (they're just babies) and a whole lot more lively. Laurie has a whole operation going in her garage and can't keep up with the demand. Cool, huh?

Wanna go?

Anyone want to go with me to the Beck concert here next Sunday? Email me at melissahoch at g mail dot com and let me know. His 2006 appearance (above) was the best concert I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot. Can't wait.

Terrible news from a friend

I just heard that a member of our knitting group has had a tragedy in the family. She's asked for knitted items for her cousin's family recovering in the burn unit. Please send her your best wishes and caring thoughts. Another reminder that life is random and precarious, so hug the next kids you see, yours or not.

To my lovely lurkers

Alright, you people. What's it going to take to get you to comment on this blog? Other than that Chatty Kathi, my bro, Amber and the occasional work/knitting bud, I never hear nothing from nobody. Are you all mute? (What's the computer equivalent of mute - keyboard-challenged?)

Sorry, just had to go off there. I do appreciate your readership, however silent. Seriously though, I'm getting a complex. Actually, yet another complex. And I already have plenty, what with only dating younger men who won't commit. But that's another post.

Top 10 Work edition

Today is my department's official last day at our company, though we haven't actually been there for awhile. The swallowing and digesting of Edge by the Big Blue Globe is complete, and we've been spit out. Today we turn in keys and go to lunch, this time with margaritas. So, to mark the day:

Top ten things I'll miss about Edge:

1. My team, my peeps, my kids - I miss their energy and their stories.
2. Working with smart, motivated people who all like each other.
3. The candy in accounting.
4. Casual Friday every day.
5. Playing with the latest "devices" (cellphones)
6. Brainstorming on silly radio spots.
7. Hanging in PJ's office talking about knitting.
8. The warmth and openness of our CEO.
9. The company plane, stocked with donuts and beer.
10. Getting a paycheck every other week - sweet!

Knit-Up

So far I've only gotten 4 responses to my Reader Survey. I'm not whining, I'm taking that as an indication that you love it all and happily read everything I blather on about. However, I did get votes for Bend and Knitting, so this post is for you!

The Bend Knit-Up group met last night, as we do every Wed. (and Fridays during the day). We have regular and enthusiastic participation from a core group of about 30 or so attending weekly or every so often. Of our 90 members (yes, since January!) about a third have never attended a meeting, a third have attended less than 5, and a third have attended 5 or more. There are about 16 who've attended 20 or more. That works out to a nice bell curve. (We market researchers like bell curves - they satisfy our expectations of human behavior.)

I know, not very interesting unless you're a statistics geek. So here's a photo:

I'm probably more proud of starting this than anything I've done in the last 9 years (that's when I adopted Henry, and that's definitely my most significant accomplishment).

the Queen of Parsley

Today's harvest: arugula, parsley and sweetpea blossoms. Sunflowers, shallots and peas are progressing nicely as well.

It has been so beautiful here all week - not too hot, perfect temp. Friends have been dropping by for wine and meals, and the knitting group met here on the deck for some fresh air knitting. My X is out of town so I get some peace. And I'm not working, but getting paid. What could be better? If the kittens would stop crying so piteously, that's what.

war wound (dog bites dog)

Flash showing off the bandages.

My poor old dog was bitten pretty viciously last night. A large yellow dog clamped her jaws on his neck in a total death grip. Two men weren't able to pull her off. Finally my friend pounded on her muzzle (so hard he actually bruised his hand) and she eventually opened up, trotted off and sat there wagging her tail.

Flash was howling oww oww oww!in a panic, and I distinguished myself by standing there screaming the whole time. We were all hopped up on adrenaline at the moment, but by the time we got home, Flash  crashed into doggy shock. I started searching for all the puncture wounds, shaving his ruff and cleaning him up, and he just lay there in a trance. That was more freaky than anything, really.

He was a very sad puppy this morning. Took him to the vet and got him all bandaged and medicated. After the pain pill kicked in, he was trying to get people to throw the frisbee and generally acting pretty silly. Of course, tonight not so much.

(One funny note: when the vet gave us the pain meds, he said: "This is very safe stuff. No potential for abuse." What, are there junkie dogs out there scoring pills by the fire hydrant? Glad to know Flash isn't headed down that slippery slope - a strung-out dog pawning his squeaky toys for drug money.)

I thought my dog was grumpy with other dogs, but this dog was completely psychotic.  Her owner said, "she's passive-aggressive." I think she's a true danger to the neighborhood. (And yes, they're picking up the vet bill.)

I'm very grateful to Spence, who immediately took charge: beating apart the locked jaws, talking to the neighbors, finding a vet, driving us there. He's my hero, and Flash's alpha dog.

Worldwide Knit in Public Day! location change

The day you've been anxiously awaiting is here again!

Saturday, June 14, all over the world, knitters will be representing in public. From New Zealand to Alaska, on trains, in restaurants, at the bus stop, in bars, all knitting their little fingers off. And Bend will join in!

We'll meet at the outdoor stage at Drake Park Riverfront Plaza on Brooks Alley at noon. Bring a chair, water, snacks and your knitting (or crocheting - we're open-minded people).

You know you want to join us . . . or at least stop by and say hi (and check out the awesome poster Judy made for us, above.)

For more info on events around the world, visit    Their motto:

Better living through stitching together. 

Anybody willing?

No one wants to try their hand at a list? C'mon, this is your chance to tell the world (or the 10 people who read this) about how interesting and unique you are. I dare you!

me me meme

Okay, I'm piggy-backing on the meme on Knit One Quilt Too. Hey, Kristen!

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
Um, let's see. 1998. Dating Bruce. Driving to Portland every other weekend. Working at the agency-that- must-not-be-named. Training Flash. Thinking about adoption. Wait - it might have been Kev. Who can remember?

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list for today?
1. Work on that darn entrelac bag! Whose idea was it, anyway? Oh, right.
2. Write back to my friend Maurice in Hawaii - I miss him.
3. Hit Safeway for the third time this week.
4. Look for work.
5. Attend the Knit-Up at PJ's tonight - highlight of my week!

3. Snacks I enjoy.
Cereal, plain yogurt, fruit and maple syrup.
Cheese and crackers (my staple single-girl meal).
The little candy bars that are in accounting. Have to come up with reason to visit accounting.
Is wine a snack?

4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire.
Get a housekeeper.
Give a million dollars to Heifer International. That's a lot of chickens! (and ducks, bees, geese, goats, rabbits and of course heifers).
Fix the potholes on 16th Street.

5. Places I have lived.
In reverse chronological order: Bend, Los Angeles, NYC, Boston, Fairbanks, Vermont, Florence, Paris, Vermont, Pittsburgh PA.

6. Jobs I've had.
Are you kidding? OK, titles only: marketing manager, marketing director, consultant, account director, management supervisor, account supervisor, account exec.(right on up the ad agency ladder), scuba instructor/divemaster, temp secretary, traffic manager (newspaper, not cars), bookstore manager, pipeline inspector, restaurant manager, pizza cook, waitress, figure drawing model, girl scout camp counselor.

OK, who's next?

Wacky day

all over the place. Work, friends, money, jobs, dogs all a little off kilter today. Not in a bad way, just different. Which I enjoy, change-junkie that I am.

A friend is here for the weekend with her new adorable sweet black lab puppy, who Flash immediately bit, getting in that pre-emptive strike.

Work is kind of unraveling - people are leaving either short term or for good, everyone's working with different and new folks from Big Globe (there are a million of them!), the payout is happening, and we were notified that we'd be notified about our jobs next week. Plus ca change... (that's french without the accents, fyi).

Here's a cool photo of a few of the entrelac bags in progress:

Mine is the one in the upper right. PJ (who just learned to knit) has pulled well into the lead, so we get to learn from her trials. MUST FINISH before heading back east for two weeks in late June. Shouldn't be a problem, though I tend to slow down near the finish line with these things.

a toast...

to my friends.
They support me, listen to my stories, share their lives, go for walks, care for my child, play with my dog, hug me when I'm down, split a bottle of wine, and just get me. In no particular order, I toast:

Mark, my old roomie, who has helped me raise Henry, organized my house and garden, and knows me like no one else;
Elicia, who drinks with me, makes me think and makes me laugh;
Angelina, who has helped raise my son, gives wonderful massages and keeps me smelling good;
Sondra, who is always there to listen and offer constructive ideas;
Mary, who has the bracing wit and clarity of a gin and tonic;
Annie, my cheerleader and companion at work;
Karen, my neighbor in so many ways;
and Jeremy, who has taken Henry into his life and family.

I could not survive a day without you all.

Entrelac Felted Bag Knit-Along

If those words mean nothing to you, you're excused from this post. You can come back later for non-knitting news, I promise.

So, we've started our KAL (knit-along). This is a virtual group who knits the same project at the same time. It's good for moral support, sharing tips, getting help, etc. We're doing this very cool bag that looks like this, out of Noro Kureyon:

Or at least it's supposed to...

Anyway, it's my latest obsession. (That and messing around with this blog.) I'm doing this instead of all the other work I've committed to do. At least when I procrastinate, I'm productive!

I'll post my progress as we go. So far we've already run into a provisional cast-on, knitting backwards and picking up stitches in a weird way. We're clearing those hurdles and are forging ahead. 

I'm in love...

with my knitting group. A stimulating mix of women from early 20's to late 60's (guessing here!) who have instantly bonded over sticks and string. They're funny, smart, positive, open-minded, nonconformist, creative - all the things I look for in my companions. New faces keep arriving and the group welcomes them in. Not to mention the good wine and food.

I can't say I get a lot of knitting done at our gatherings, but I wouldn't miss it for the world. If you're interested, click on the Bend Knit-Up link to the right. (Or left. Things keep moving around here.)