martinimade

I picked up some mittens that a kind soul dropped off at the bookstore some time during the last week. I'd love to thank that kind soul -- but don't know who it is. Anyone?

The handwriting looks vaguely familiar.

Anyone?

And, of course, in this house, you can't take a picture without help:

The black tail belongs to this one:

He will not look at me this morning, no matter how many times I say his name. Asshat.

Once upon a time, Lisa and Adrienne worked for the same alternative newsweekly. Now, both spend their respective days mining their creative souls and leading hermit-like lives. And so an idea was hatched. Every week, one would send the other a sketch - either in illustration or word form - and the other would make a companion sketch. The result would be posted on both their blogs every week, just for grins. Even if the result isn't award-worthy, the exercise might make both minds more nimble. Hopefully.

What I found most alarming was how much the frog looked like Cee Lo Green. I mean, fine, I’ll still kiss it, because it’s always a good idea to kiss a frog if it’ll hold still for it, because you just never know, but why did it have to be Cee Lo? I was hoping for Blake or Adam. If I’m being really, really honest, just Adam. But Blake would do. Christina’s OK, I guess, especially now that she seems to have gotten her act back together. I don’t naturally lean that way but, fine, I guess. 

Still. Cee Lo? Dang, subconscious. It’s like I don’t know you anymore.

* I look forward to Genevieve Valentine's roundup every year.

* It is, you know.

* A student emailed this to me, with a note that mentions that it's "just like Lysistrata," which we'd talked about in class. They are paying attention! Who knew?

* I feel like I've posted this before but I'm doing it again, because almost all of these look awesome (especially the one in Massachusetts.)

* Corbyn wrote a great thing, here.

* A small glimpse at how a book cover gets made.

* Many Americas, which many of us know instinctually but are unable to codify. 

* Brenner writes a book review.

* Could not be more true.

"What do you need the yarn for?" asked Helen.

"I knit."

"And you never shared this information before?" she asked.

"You didn't ask." He tucked the bright blue ball under his arm. "I find it relaxing. And it's the closest I'll ever come to doing magic."

"Magic, huh?"

"If someone came up to you on the street and gave you a ball of thread and two sticks, and asked you to make them a scarf, wouldn't your first reaction be to call them a nut?"

-- Helen and Troy's Epic Road Quest by A. Lee Martinez. 

I've been neglecting my mitten documenting duty. They have been coming in quickly over the last couple of days, which is so great. I can't even begin to tell you.*

This bag was waiting for me last night when I showed up for work at the bookstore:

I was confused, frankly, because I wasn't hungry. 

Ah. Thanks Barb! (But I do wonder why you had a spare (and clean) Burger King bag kicking around....)

These showed up in the mail:

From Gina, who knitted her first pair of mittens ever. I think she did an awesome job.

From Susan in the ROC, whose mittens seemed to have burrowed a hole in the space-time continuum so that they could get to my house in under 24 hours. We both agree that they just couldn't wait to share their cabled fabulousness with the world.

I mean -- look:

Right?

And, lastly (but never last in my heart), from kmkat:

(If you're wondering why mittens, click here.)

* I set a Halloween deadline for the mittens, even though I know there are some still out there, waiting to find their way to me. Send 'em on. (Or, if you're local or I'll see you during the next few days, just shove them into my hands.)

Once upon a time, Lisa and Adrienne worked for the same alternative newsweekly. Now, both spend their respective days mining their creative souls and leading hermit-like lives. And so an idea was hatched. Every week, one would send the other a sketch - either in illustration or word form - and the other would make a companion sketch. The result would be posted on both their blogs every week, just for grins. Even if the result isn't award-worthy, the exercise might make both minds more nimble. Hopefully.

They say that every generation gets the hero it needs.

Let me respectfully suggest that we could really stand Competence Man right about now. 

Competence Man could get any job done. Maybe not well done -- but adequately done. Nothing flashy, mind, just computer systems that work OK and governments that function.

He’d leap into his office, tear off his business suit, and reveal another business suit. On Fridays, it would be khakis and a sportscoat.

We’d all rest easy at night knowing that Competence Man was on the job. 

* On Ted Cruz.

* I might need to go back to college.

* I am unsurprised by this.

* Mostly for my Dad.

* What she said.

* Artisinal language.

* If someone could make this for me...

* Squirrel Cop might be my most favorite This American Life story ever. (Also: this.)

Sometimes, I write something that, with the help of a great editor, turns into something that I'm right proud of. This essay in this summer's New Haven Review is one of those. Spread the word, especially you knitters.*

As if that weren't exciting enough, on Sunday I committed to this May's Pittsburgh Half Marathon. I figured my first might as well be in my hometown. Then I realized how freaking hilly my hometown is. Sometimes, I make really poor decisions.

(Also: I kinda want to throw up when faced with the very idea. But in a good way.)

* Unless, of course, you hate it. Then tell only me.

Humor is what happens when we're told the truth quicker and more directly than we're used to. 

-- Ann Patchett, stolen from Rachael.