RTT: Knitting, Quitting and Sir Elton

Happy Mardi Gras, y'all!

We will be eating the traditional pancakes for dinner tonight here in the Second Blooming house. So while everybody is preparing your jambalaya and King's Cake, why don't you listen to some Professor Longhair...

 

...and I'll try to entertain you with some Random Tuesday Thoughts...

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And since today is Fat Tuesday, that means tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the dreaded Lent. I have come to the painful and frightening decision to give up computer games for Lent. Now, I realize that for most people over the age of 16, this is perhaps not a serious sacrifice, but I'm ashamed to say that for me...it is. I spend a ridiculous amount of time playing Facebook and Pogo games. I'm totally and completely addicted. It's really very stupid. I try to justify this silliness by saying that the gaming is my rest and relaxation time. But when I think about what I used to do before I started obsessing over Gardens of Time or Pogo Addiction Solitaire, my rest and relaxation time involved doing things like reading, and knitting. Which I miss. Plus, I find myself easily distracted from doing things like WRITING because I find a sudden pressing need to check and see if the Silver Arrow I was crafting in Castleville was completed, or if it's time to feed the geese again. So no games it is. I'm afraid my little Castleville villagers will just have to fight off the gloom without me for 40 days. Wish them luck.

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To help me get through this difficult lenten time, my first errand this morning will be to the yarn store to start a new knitting project. Have y'all been to Ravelry? It's the best knitting website (thank you Aimee!!). I found a pattern there for a throw blanket I really like...

I like the pattern because it's complex enough to look interesting, but easy enough for tv knitting. I can't decide what color yarn to go with. I'm thinking either a taupe or eggplant or maybe a kind of moss green. I'll keep you abreast of my progress.

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And speaking of finding ways to occupy myself for the next 40 days...

I have done something a little shocking and out of character. I can count the number of books I have stopped reading mid-stream on one hand - I always just plow through them to the end, no matter how little I am enjoying them. It's an issue I have, and I'm afraid it's become a bit of an issue between Jude and I - I always make him finish any book he's started. But now...

Several years ago, I bought Stephen King's then-new hardback, Under the Dome. I don't know exactly why, but I think I thought it would be fun, and I used to love reading stuff like The Shining and The Stand, back in the day. This book is 1074 pages long, and weighs about 20 pounds. Okay, that may be an exaggeration, but the thing is damned heavy. I started reading it a couple of years ago, and stopped when I got vertigo, and couldn't hold the book up. I then, stubbornly, started it over again a couple of weeks ago, determined to finish it this time. I'm about a quarter of the way through it, and I just can't take it. It's too damned heavy. I love to read in the bathtub, and I just can't do it with this thing. This is the PERFECT BOOK FOR A KINDLE. But I fear I can't take it any more. And also, it's kind of gruesome and mean-spirited (it is a horror novel, after all) and after the third rape and the thirtieth time I stopped all feeling in my hands trying to hold the thing up, I have cast it aside.

I have instead started The Hunger Games, which I'm really excited about. I know, I know, I'm way behind here, but I want to read it quickly before the movie comes out. I've just started it, but I'm loving it!

But yesterday, Jude noticed me with new new book, did a double-take and walked over to me with a questioning, accusatory look. "Why are you not reading Stephen King's Under the Dome?" And yes, that is exactly the way he said it. I hemmed and hawed and told him something about how heavy the book was, and how it was hurting my back...But I don't think he bought it. The kid was on to me.

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Like many of you, I am presently mourning the end of the season of Downton Abbey, though I am VERY EXCITED about the way the season ended, and I'm looking forward to the arrival of Shirley Maclaine as Grandmama (pronounced Grand Mah-Mah, with the emphasis on the last Mah, please). But in the meantime, I'm thinking I am liking this Smash show.  It's like Glee for grownups. I'm loving the music and the acting is terrific. And truly, I would watch it just to see Debra Messing clothes. She's just smashing (pun intended) in everything...

God, I love that pulled together, sophisticated New Yorker look!

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I just watched the HBO documentary The Union, and absolutely loved it. It's about the making of the album of the same name in which Elton John got together with his idol Leon Russell, basically dragging him out of retirement. It's a beautiful film about music and love and respect and friendship and aging. Definitely watch it if you get the chance. Anyway, I can't get The Border Song out of my head. And since it's not a bad song to have stuck in your head, I'll leave you with this...

 

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 Happy Lent, y'all! Go visit Stacy.

Comments

[Michele R.]

I just jumped on the bandwagon with Downton Abbey this past week with Season 1 on Netflix. Where so I watch season 2? Is it on Netflix?
My 14 (yikes recent 14) yr old son read just the first Hunger Games so I want to read it too. I bought it so I think he felt obliged. I am notorious for skimming ahead in books that bore me. I just want my kids to read so I tell them if they don't like a book to get another one. Love Leon Russell.

[Jan]

Under the Dome is my least favorite of King's more recent novels; I liked Duma Key much more and his new one - 11-22-63 - is really the best thing he's written in years.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the Hunger Game novels, since they are youth fiction - they're not as good as the Harry Potter novels (they won't have you crying at the end the way Deathly Hallows did), but they are LEAGUES better than the Twilight series.

Speaking of Twilight - my spin is up: http://www.janssushibar.com/?p=13279

[Stacy Uncorked]

I really need to check out Downtown Abbey - I keep reading all over how great it is!

And YES, I'm hooked on Smash, too! And Debra Messing's awesome fashion style. I was giggling, because "Glee for grownups" is EXACTLY how I described it to my hubby! Two great minds... ;)

Jude and Princess Nagger could be twins - he says and does the same things she does...and doesn't buy my explanations of why I'm not doing something. :) They're too smart for our own good, aren't they?

Too funny that you're currently reading The Hunger Games - since Princess Nagger is nagging me to let her read them. I better read them first, then decide. :)

[Claire]

In my opinion, I don't think Hunger Games will last you all 40 days. I read all three in roughly 2 weeks! They were page turners, for sure. I can't decide if I will give up something for Lent or give more. I think being charitable during this time is far easier. ;)

[Michele]

It is at this time of year that I'm happy to be a secular humanist. No need to give anything up but I wish you luck.

I would make a very poor book club member. I haven't read any of the authors you mentioned. Good thing I'm not a public librarian isn't it?

I want Debra Messing's hair color. I love it!

[VandyJ]

I'll miss you on the Facebook games, but understand why you are giving them up.
I have been toying with the idea of crocheting or knitting throw blankets, but am not sure I want to take the plunge. My mom could totally set me up with all that I'd need and help me when I hit a snag, but still not sure I want to make the commitment to start.

[Katie]

She is so pretty! I wish I had the know how to dress like that and be able to shop and have the eye for it too!

Love the song!

[Christina @RantRaveRoll]

The Hunger Games is such a big hit. My daughter and I can;t wait for the movie next month.

[Sprite's Keeper]

I promise, I will get on with Downton Abbey as soon as I can figure out how to make the Netflix work on my bedroom tv. You need to install it, right? :-)

[Cathy Kennedy]

I play way too much FV. In fact, I have been seriously thinking about abandoning it altogether. I just haven't found my courage to let go.

BTW, come by my blog and see a href="http://cathykennedystories.blogspot.com/2012/02/ive-been-double-tagged-awarded.html">Today's post)as I've left something for you there. =D

[Kristine]

My daughter just finished Hunger Games and she LOVED it. I am itching to get cracking on it. I hope it keeps my interest because I'm the type if I lose interest after 3 chapters I toss the book...

[Aimee]

Happy Lent!

You know, I'd never heard of the whole pancake thing until last year. We're having flatbread pizzas tonight, cuz...you know, we don't observe Lent. Plus, Jason can't stand breakfast for dinner. Weirdo. Love him, but he's a weirdo in this one particular matter. If he weren't, we'd probably do Pancake Tuesday, because it's a great excuse for a pancake dinner, even if you're not Christian! ;) Am I babbling?

For the afghan, I'd suggest going with a light-to-medium color. When you have a pretty stitch pattern to you want to show off, it doesn't show up so well in the darker colors. And have you STILL not friended me on Ravelry? AimeeCrochets....just saying...

[Sarah at 32Flavors]

I had no clue pancakes were traditional, but I happened to make them for dinner anyway. Yay me!

Love Smash. Oh DOWNTON. How will I survive so many months without you??

[Elizabeth]

I am listening to that beautiful Elton John song as I type this -- and am so happy to have been reminded of it! I always love your random Tuesdays -- each one more interesting than the last. I've gotten so many recommendations to read The Hunger Games (including from my son Henry) that I think I might finally cave and read them. I've never liked YA books, but enough people whose opinions I really respect love those books.

The afghan is wonderful. I've started so many knitting projects in the last couple of years and not finished a one (oh, just one for a hospital in Seattle that collects them for kids with cancer).

[Kendra]

The Hunger Games is amazing! And you'll definitely be finished by the time the movie comes out. It reads very quickly.

And that throw is really cute. I like the color in the picture!