Some things are important....

I've been seething and stewing and writing then discarding various rants over the Prorogue. Short version: Affront to democracy. Disgusted that it still seems many Canadians including our PM don't have a grasp of 9th grade social studies as to how the Parliament and Government of Canada work. And yes, Mister PM - CANADIANS CARE.

Something a little more critical is afoot in the world, though, as of yesterday, when the devastatingly poor nation of Haiti was struck by a massive earthquake. At least Canada has the capacity to do something right and has a team on the way to precede the DART team, which I sincerely hope will not be delayed.

I'll refer the reader wondering "what can we do"? to any or all of the following resources:

The Yarn Harlot is rallying Knitters in support of MSF, which has already been very active in Haiti and sadly, is now worried about their own staff and volunteers as well as their patients in Port au Prince. Nonetheless, they've spent the night scrambling MORE teams to get there and help. I don't know if I have US/International readers, but their international site is here: MSF International and you don't have far to look for international links to donate for your country/region.

Other organizations which are on the move to this area:

OXFAM Canada and Oxfam International.

Red Cross Canada
or the Red Cross America both have aid campaigns underway.

I will repeat for you a plea that Stephanie Pearl-McPhee entered on her blog: Please donate if you can, but mark your donation for general "Disaster Relief" or "Greatest Needs" if possible, not for a specific country/region/event as much as that may be the need of the moment. Many aid organizations are bound to policies that prevent them from using funds donated to a specific campaign for other needs if the specific campaign is sufficiently addressed. This has left situations where disaster relief funds have gone un-used once order is re-established in a region, while other areas of the world are devastated but funds cannot be raised. Suffice to say, Haiti is a major campaign concern now for humanitarian aid, but lets not limit the reach of our concern or our funds for future benefit, either.

20 Years

December 6th, 1989 was a distressingly memorable day for me.

I was writing one of the first, or maybe it was even THE first, exam of my Engineering education at Guelph. Guelph was a small-ish engineering faculty, around 300 students total at that time, with less than 100 in my first year. Proportionately, however, we had a dubious claim to fame. 23% of the students in my year were women - a record proportion for any first year engineering class in the country.

Revved up on caffeine and nerves from our very first end-of-term finals, I recall that we walked out of the gymnasium where we sat our exam, to find most of our faculty and many senior and graduate students waiting to meet us - seemed oddly personal to be greeted by faculty at the end of the exam. Then we noticed the looks on the faces as they sort of rounded us up and told us the news about what had just happened at École Polytechnique in Montreal. I don't recall any particular reactions from anyone. We were all just sort of stunned, staring. I think there may have been offers to walk us back to our residences or the Engineering lounge together, wherever we needed to go, and information on how to get in touch with counselling services. I don't know if anyone ever used that.

As the next few days went by, white ribbons appeared on sleeves, vigils, memorials, and lots of quiet, personal talks and no doubt some tears happened. The news sunk in, some people realized they knew some of the women killed, or knew-someone-who-knew-someone, things like that. The Engineering student community is not huge, and there are provincial and national student engineering societies that networked among the schools. We for the most part got on with finishing our semester and exams and most were probably relieved to go home.

I remember being sad, the way I am to hear of anyone dying in horrid violence, and stressed and tired, but not particularly feeling a great deal of trauma or grief myself. But something about that day did thread through the rest of my education and my life since. Something very disturbing struck me that day - it was the first time in my life that it really sunk in that someone could really think women had no business - that I had no business - doing what we wished to do and being what we wished to be, merely because we were women. I had understood prejudice, sexism, racism, any-other-ism existed, intellectually, but that day it really hit me that there were people out there who somehow had their socialization so screwed up that they thought it right to hate and act out against other people just for being what they were.

December 6th has become a memorial, Canada-wide, not just to the 14 lost at École Polytechnique, but to all women hurt and killed in gender-motivated violence. Sadly, while the media spectacle of mass murder is rare, we don't seem to have made much progress. Just searching the days news can show examples of how behind we still are in ensuring gender equity in employment, social services, parenting, and just plain physical security of person. While I'm one of the empowered and have the ability to assure my own security in many ways, I am still very saddened by seeing examples all around me of the same continuum, of which the events of December 6th, 1989 were an extreme example.

It's sad. I remain at a loss for what to do, most of the time. I guess all I can say about it is always remember, speak up when you see not just violence but injustice and inequity, examine what you do and say, and help ensure that "Never Again" really is true.

Lest We Forget

Few Canadians need look very far to find among their family, friends and associates one who has served or does serve in our Armed Forces.

Today is for remembering those who have, literally in many cases, spent their lives in service of Canada and allies around the world, and also for thanking those who still make that commitment. Near home or far overseas, career or reserve, past or present, and year round, fellow Canadians are devoting their daily lives to the defense of Canada and global freedom.

Regardless of one's opinion on the political regime and machinations that drive our involvement in far conflicts, today is about the individual human lives committed in this service. Without them, Canadian citizens and others around the world would have very little of the comfort we enjoy today. Every one of them deserves the honour and thanks which November 11th represents.

Remembrance Day, by Jim Vallance and Bryan Adams. Lyrics and Jim's story are on this page. You can hear the whole song in the video, or download on iTunes.

In Flanders Fields, and the story of John McCrae.

Laura Chau's poppies 2009 page - Knit Poppy Pattern in exchange for donation to the Poppy Campaign.

CBC News today, including the numbering of soldiers lost in service through Canada's history.

Lest We Forget.

NaBloPoMo, huh?

I really don't think I'll be formally joining the NaBloPoMo, however, since I stand a better chance at that than I do at NaNoWriMo, I figured I'd start on a good note for November.

It's been a crazy spell, hence not much blogging. I've been working, knitting, looking in on my once-again-hospitalized Mom when I can, working out, and trying to return my out-of-control clutter to something livable.

I need to start noting my small accomplishments, if only to keep from feeling overwhelmed by the "I got nothing done again" doldrums. For, really, I do a lot - all the time. But I do the sort of things that are never "finished", like work, housework, cleaning, planning, shopping. It's hard to get a sense of accomplishment from laundry, as it continues to need doing no matter how much you do.

So, for today, I have:
- put the binding on a 2.5 year long quilt project
- reassembled a shelf into a more useful configuration
- vacuumed some months of dust out of corners
- listed some Etsy stuff! More to come!
- not to mention, lots of puttering and tidying, though you can't tell from my room

Enough for now. Bedtime!

WIPs and more!

Well, so much for any idea of blogging from Haliburton. Plus, I have no Mac just now, she had a little breakdown and is in therapy at the Mac doctor. Nothing major, no bad disks or all, just can't operate on battery power, and well, that's the whole point of a laptop, right?

So I spent a bit of time today working, doing homework, spinning, and catching up on Ravelry stash and project updates mainly to make myself feel like I organized something.

Oh, and I got a little funny treat in the mail. Two days ago I ordered a bag from LUG, a shamefully trendy product which does seem to manufacture an array of decent bags. I totally discovered them before I ever heard Oprah had, too, so it's not JUST because Oprah liked them. Anyway, I ordered a bag directly from them as I couldn't find the model/colour I wanted in any store. They had an online coupon, too, which made the price even with shipping better than buying retail. They seem to be a nice small company, Toronto-based or at least partly so, but their shipping is from Texas. While I was content to pay the shipping, having gotten the online discount code, my bag arrived in less than 48 hours, with this enclosed:



Goofy, but cute. It's a little gadget beanbag, and it had a signed note attached saying "we're very sorry about the high shipping cost, it's the nature of our FedEx system and we're working on it".

Oh, and just to prove I WAS in Haliburton - I went looking for the rusty fairy metal sculpture that overlooked our classroom windows all last year. She's gone. This is there instead:

I have, for the second year, failed to get a good picture of the front door of the college, which is a work of sculpture itself. I notice more details every time I look at it, but it is red on red, unfortunately, and looks just like a big red door when photographed (by me. I'm sure someone else can do better).

For now, back to reviewing and organizing, as I have until February to complete a huge amount of work, and only until Thanksgiving to cook up a large part of it.

The Sock Summit Wrap-up. An Open Letter

Dear Stephanie and Tina, and everyone involved in SS09:

I originally began a blog post about how wonderful my weekend at Sock Summit was, but it was eaten by an a abrupt drop of WiFi and a mis-tap on my iPod Touch after 2 hours work while waiting at the airport. As I didn't have enough time to re-type it and my next layover didn't include free WiFi, I decided instead to wait until I had made it home, to a proper keyboard, and could make a bit more sense.

I also thought I'd turn the post into a thank-you letter, though an open one to share on my blog. So, of course, I'm one of I'd guess hundreds who are concluding their Sock Summit with a direct letter and a huge THANK YOU to both of you, to all of ST-2, your staff, volunteers, supporters, families, teachers, luminaries – really, anyone and everyone who contributed.

I almost did not register, not out of any doubt that Sock Summit would be amazing but due to the logistic challenges and expense of travel. However, after the server crash and fix, when it became apparent that it would sell out by the next day, I jumped in and left cash and logistics to the fates, for later.

As you will guess from the fact that I'm writing, I made it. Every high expectation I had was thoroughly exceeded. As far as I'm concerned, “Summit” was the perfect title, as Thursday morning started high and things only went up from there. You managed to pull off an event that had the quality academic and technical presentations of some of best training I've ever attended in any subject, combined with the festival atmosphere of a weekend entertainment venue. Even though many of my “first” choices of class/workshop were full by the time I got online, every single teacher and presenter I saw put to shame all but the few best of teachers I've met in my life. Even the Marketplace was brilliant, filled with great, diverse, friendly and relevant artisans and businesses. It was easy to navigate and comfortably spacious (the odd manic rush to limited-availability items notwithstanding).

After my first Thursday morning hour I had learned two brilliant new things that I will immediately put to use. I added more to that before dinner. The two of you delivering your opening night talk were endearing and hilarious and your recitation of some of the telephone conversations you had to have could have worried Bob Newhart that his schtick wouldn't measure up. Between Friday morning and Saturday morning spinning workshops, my hand spindle work advanced more than in the past two years, and I finished spinning my first small amount of true, 3-ply SOCK yarn at the Ravelry party (though I had to borrow a friend and re-name her Kate for the plying job). I think I'm going to frame my swatch from the Guiness attempt. I sat at a lunch table with Lucy Neatby and made some flip comment about her hair, to which she laughed heartily before I could second guess my mouth enough to feel abashed.

I found out how to solve most of the problems with the socks I make for the man in my life, though there was no help for the size 13 feet. Anna Zilboorg's Turkish Stitches hour was the last of my classes Sunday morning, and I couldn't write fast enough to jot down all the ideas her brilliant talk through the folklore and culture that surrounded that style of work brought to mind.

The Luminary Panel was truly the peak of the weekend, and I was not the only person near tears listening to the humour and brilliance of all the speakers, including yourselves. I have to say, as someone who came to knitting after Elizabeth Zimmerman was gone, thinking of that and listening to the Panel guests, I had a really striking realization how important this whole weekend was. You two had brought together brilliant guests who are, truly, the Wise Women of our tribe. As is inevitable for our species, some of them may not be with us much longer, as much as we would all wish differently, and this may have been the last chance for them to reach out to us who are newer to this community of art and skill. Having sat through that, I realize what a way of passing the torch (needles?) you offered to all of us, teacher or Luminary and students alike. I now cannot comprehend how much would have been missed, unknowingly, by how many hundreds of us, had this event not happened. This effort quite literally knit together generations in art and community. I am amazed, grateful, humbled and priviledged to have been able to attend.

I hope that my future works may represent, in some small way, what came of your efforts on this event.

Most sincerely, thank you.
Johanna

Saturday At The Summit

The only fail today was the continuing irkedness at the PCC charging $13/ day for wireless ( which I am NOT paying, hence only tweeting/posting from hotel). I mean, come on, Burgerville has free WiFi and the airport is $5. Lots of fun today, though!

Started with a spinning painted roving class, and got going like Taz on my new teeny Jenkins.
Lunches with Shall We Knit, Oh Susannah (my roomies from New Hamburg) and LUCY NEATBY, who is lovely and who really impressed some Portland sk8rbois with her hair.
Asked poor RachelH if her arm had fused permanently to her clipboard yet.
Resisted many MORE marketplace purchases than I made, but did score an enchanted knoll batt.
Learned lots of neat stuff about guy sock knitting, including ideas for converting lace to guy friendly charts.
Unfortunately also learned I should adjust patterns to tighter gauge and more stitches per round which will mean it takes even more knitting for size 13 feet. Seriously considered trading Adam to another knitter for a spouse with size 7s. But just for a moment.
Found my own way home on the MAX, only got lost by 1 block and I unlost myself fairly promptly.
RAVELRY!!!!! Was there in time for loverly Swag Bag, MH recognizes me now.
Finished spinning my singles AND plied a tiny ball of Real 3-ply Sock Yarn!!!! My first sock yarn and
my first 3-ply yarn.
Duelled spindles with another new Jenkins owner while we wandered the crowd.
Amy Singer herself personally placed one of her new Knitty promo buttons in my hand!
Tried an Oregon variant of poutine. Here, apparently, the fries go on top of the cheese. No idea why.
Tried organic local Pinot Noir. Very nice.
Knitters leaving Rav party commandeered half a MAX train. Like the TTC knitalong but ALL socks!
Off to catch a bit of snooze-just about 24 Hours left on the ground here.

SockSummit Friday Scores

Only one Fail today, which was just that I had both breakfast and blood stains from a capillary hit with my novopen on my pants before the day got going. Usually stained pants before the day starts leads to a bad day but the yarn mojo is strong here, so it didn't matter. The following are all WIN!

Abby Franquemont made my whole trip worth it before 9:30 am.
STR!!!!! Ravens and Rare Gems.
Participating in two Guiness world record attempts (one of them for the second time).
Walking past ST-1(Stephanie and Tina) who smiled and went for a hug that looked more like they were propping each other up for a vertical nap.
Yarn Harlot invented another word, "stampled" which is what she was afraid would happen to the knitting authors if she didn't keep the knitters sitting down so the authors could get a head start to the book signing.
Yarn Harlot gloating over CAT BORDHI knitting on STRAIGHTS.
Forget that guy from Footloose and some other movies. Six Degrees of BARBARA WALKER!
I not only saw but touched somethings knit by Barbara Walker and Priscilla Gibson-Roberts, among others.
Harried volunteer running by in lobby asking "Did Cookie come this way?" of random complete strangers and we all knew exactly who she meant, of course.
Cat Bordhi hugged me!
Laughs from crowd of strangers when flopping down on bus stop bench and saying " What the heck am I going to do while I wait?"
Pattern Bingo.
Knitting while standing on the MAX.
Oh, wait, one Fail: I still don't like beer. Did, however, drink 2/3 of a half pint of Black Butte Porter at Deschutes brew pub.
On with the Win; enjoyed the food much more than the beer.
Reading Ravelry's Things I Heard at Sock Summit as I turn in for the night.

Sock Summit Opening Day

SS Fail: (well, sorta, but expected) 1am arrival woke
my already sleeping roomies.
SS Win: Time zone offset at least in right direction for early wake up. Not late for anything.
SS Win: Hotel and PCC both in free transit zone. Light rail almost door to door, no fees.
SS Win: Stunned looks on staff of multiple coffeeshops faced with stampeding woolly hoards needing coffee.
SS Win: Seamless registration.
SS Win: Learned 2 new bindoffs before lunch.
Portland CC Win: Giant 4 storey high, 600lb brass Foucault Pendulum. Not at all knitting related but mesmerizing.
Portland Meh: Denny's lunch.
SS Fail: Losing Luminary panel ticket sometime after lunch and before class. NOT REISSUEABLE.
SS Win: JoAnn of ST-2 and BMFA Cust. Service Goddess rocked my sad little world and reissued it anyway, even though I interrupted her lunch.
SS Fail: I'm a weenie and actually got jitters when teacher made me cut a hole in knitting.
SS Win: It was for the darning class. Now I can fix hole.
SS Win: Watching SPM and Rachel H. conduct 2000 knitters singing "99 skeins of yarn on the wall" while they were lined up waiting to stampede the marketplace.
SS Win: The looks on the faces of the PCC staff watching 2000 singing knitters lining up to stampede.
SS Win: Marketplace. And healthy credit limits. 3 new spindles, don't tell the Him.
SS WIN: Random "may we share your table" request had us sharing dinner table with ALL 4 RAVELRY deities!!!!! Lovely chatting with M-H quite a abit.
SS Win: Every single thing Stephanie and Tina said tonight. Someone should follow them around and record.
SS Blooper: "Buck up, Newton" .... "F**k off, McPhee". Tina was a little closer to the mike than she thought.
SS "D'aaawwwww": They both cried.
SS Win: SS teacher intros interrupted by standing ovation for Barbara Walker, 2nd only to the standing ovation for ST-1 and ST-2 themselves.
SS Win: Silent auction for MSF open for ONE HOUR raised about $5700.
SS Snoooze. See ya!

Socksummit Score Card, Travel Day

Travel Win: Early arrival at Pearson
Travel Fail: Departing flight delayed so as to guarantee missed connection.
Travel Fail: Air Canada ticketdork sends me to United counter saying I should reschedule my connection!
Travel Fail: United says not their problem,AC should put me up in hotel, go talk to them.
Travel WIN: 2nd Air Canada rep is not a ticketdork but a fully qualified agent, and much more helpful and smarter than her colleague. Gets me on standby for an earlier flight which has not yet left, helps me fill out customs papers and sends me running to gate. See first Win about arriving early.
Travel Win: 893 calories burned running around Pearson.
Travel WIN: Carry on only was an expedient idea.
Travel Fail: First time ever made to remove shoes at security, despite claiming to be late and diabetic.
Travel Win: No one took my knitting needles.
Travel Fail: Middle seat. Adjacent passenger not well acquainted with deodorant, then decided to remove shoes. Was in similar proximity to someone farting the last layover worth of beer. At least the shrieking toddler was a few rows back.
Travel Win: Landing at SFO at sunset, quick deplaning.
Travel Win: Fried artichokes at midnight when hungry, and a Swatch store to browse.
Travel Win: Connection boarding on time. Byeeeeeee!!!!!