Weekend Plans --- the blizzard is not allowed to interfere

Plan for the weekend if I manage to make it into Manhattan:

Dinner

Contra dancing

MoMA to see the Tim Burton exhibit if my host needs to leave super-early, and I am unable to get a train back out to Long Island immediately.

For my train and subway rides, I plan to finish the Pink Thujas (I've turned the heel on the second sock, and I have about two or three more inches to knit before I can start the toe), and read City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. It's one of the newer acquisitions for my school library, and I want to formulate a book talk on it.

TV Knitting

The day was spent productively, watching some Torchwood (my crush on John Barrowman and Burn Gorman continues to grow) and knitting away on Jett's scarf. I am now on the final part of the scarf, and will hopefully have it finished within the next week or so.

I just finished reading a very interesting British book, The Devil's Flu by Pete Davies. Published in the States in 2000, it's an interesting read about the 1918 influenza pandemic ... and the scientific search for the virus.

The Great TSA

Whilst driving to the library, I was thinking about knitting as a hobby.

It's not. It's more of an addiction for me. On my attempt to visit Alissa last night, I looked through my stash and knitting basket like a woman possessed, trying to find idiot knitting.*

Now I'll be flying to Rochester on Tuesday, and I have the same problem. What knitting can I bring with me ... that will get through airport security ... and last me until Saturday night when I return? I restarted my silk and mohair Edgar that I haven't touched since March or April. I'm using veeeeeery long US 8 needles, that while plastic, are veeeeeery long. There is nothing on the TSA website about proper length of needles, just that circs should be less than 31 inches long ... and plastic or bamboo (there goes my 40 inch Addi Turbos).

On a slightly related note, I went to the library today and came home with two hardcover books. Oh yes. I'll be awesome with my nonfiction medieval book and my fantasy book.

(The reindeer that live in my backyard.)

*Idiot knitting, for me, consists of baby hats. Very very simple baby hats. You cast on. You knit for five inches. You start to decrease. The five inches of stockinette can be done anywhere. It is fantastic.

Unemployed Librarians Guild

(a muff at a historic site, that will not be named. i am madly in love with this muff. it's pink!)

I have been out of work for a month, finished student teaching two weeks ago, and thoroughly enjoying my time off. Never fear, I am looking for a job, and sending out resumes and cover letters frequently.

So what does an unemployed librarian do?

- Read like a mofo.
I've been reading like a maniac this month. It's so nice reading for fun ... and for professional development (funny how those intertwine!). I broke my "try not to buy books" rule (for book money and yarn money is one and the same) in order to read the third book in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. The Titan's Curse was totally worth it. I emailed one of my dearest friends from college telling her she must must must read The Lightning Thief. Currently I'm reading the first book in the Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites.

- Catch up on Doctor Who
I'm planning to! That's tomorrow's activity. Knitting and David Tennant. Mmm. I have about three more episodes left in Series 3.

- Knit that Christmas present for her brother...
I am now fifty percent finished with Rob's present. I started the third skein of wool last night while watching NCIS and whatever was on after it.

- Volunteer!
Yesterday was the first time in months that I was able to see the Costume Ladies. We visited Raynham Hall in Oyster Bay ... where I spent several lovely hours volunteering today. Hats! Bonnets! Kepis! Pictures! I can't wait to go back and play next week.

It's raining books

I had the most pleasant surprise waiting for me on my bed this weekend.

A package.

When I'm away for the weekend, my father puts my mail on my bed. This weekend was no exception, except there was a small package. The return address was Macmillan. Looking at the tracking number revealed the package was born in Kentucky.

It was a book. To be specific, an Advance Reading Copy for Lori Handeland's Any Given Doomsday, due out in November 2008. A quick game of email tag revealed that my friend L had nothing to do with the surprise. Not complaining, free book! Once I finish reading The Duke and I I can start on Any Given Doomsday. Hopefully :)

The structure of human life

Pretty pretentious title for a blog post, eh?

Anyway, right now I'm printing out Beth Luey's article, "Why book history matters" (printed in Logos, back in 2004), contemplating organizing my closet by regular clothes versus Student Teaching Clothes, and hoping that the 18th century book I'm analyzing for my History of the Book class is indeed in an 18th century binding.

But back to the structure of human life.

I am going to cast on for the DNA scarf sometime today (between reading and highlighting Beth Luey's article and making lunch for tomorrow), and will be carting it around with me for the next few weeks. The sock will be for the train and subway adventures that belong to Thursday, when I commute to Manhattan for class.