6 days later May 29, 2007

Well, I didn’t expect that to take so long.  I think I was frustrated as I wrote a heartfelt yet balanced post without too much emotion.  Why don’t I save to draft more often?  I also realized this morning, as I lay in bed, I still haven’t posted a picture of the Shetland Triangle.  Bad blogger extraordinaire.

I will start with the knitting, of which there has been very little.  I ripped my sock to just before the picot and reknit on 0’s.  Much better.  I also tried an Eye of Partridge heel which got lost in the striping but I think it is there.  I ripped back the sleeves on my Kersti cardigan and making them a tad longer for my monkey arms.  I finished a tank top in Berroco Zen at the shop and continue to work on a Karabella Gossamer stole.  Nearly every sentence in this paragraph starts with "I".  While I know it is my blog–even Cameron knows better. I am not rewriting it but I am going to save this draft right now.

In other realms, time has been pressed with the kids.  We had Cameron’s meeting and it went worse than we expected but perhaps there was some good in that too.  Once again, the school is recommending a self-contained placement in the fall.  They have planned a high functioning 12:1:1.  For those not familiar, 12 students, one special education teacher and one aide.  The disabilities are comprised of speech disorders, learning disabilities and autism.  3 of the kids have autism.  That is 1/4 of the class.  Cameron needs positive role models and this classroom will not offer that for him.  I brought up to the district that this was not the least restrictive environment and asked about the integrated.  I was told it was filled.  This is not a legal answer and I pointed out to them they had to offer him something less restrictive.  I think they tried to threaten me with an out of district placement but I said we would love to look into it.  We are waiting to hear back from them but I suppose they will try to stall us for as long as possible.  I am asking to visit these placements before the school year ends.

Now for the good results from this meeting.  I have gotten Cameron a private, independent evaluation.  The results are proving to be better than that which the school showed.  I attended a parent advocacy workshop and found I was not alone.  4 of the 12 parents in attendence were from my district.  The trainer wants to take on our case with the district.  I bought and borrowed a ton of books on advocacy and am changing how I handle our paperwork and interactions with the district.  Today I am touring a local Catholic School.  And, lastly, I am reading all I can on homeschooling. 

Owen’s coasting.  He has a new teaching assistant in his class.  Owen adores older men–"grandfather" is one of his favorite words.  And Gracie is awesome.  It looks like London is a no go.  And I have been gardening–not something I especially enjoy.   

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post was eaten will try again later May 22, 2007

The strong arm of the law May 14, 2007

That would be me!  I caught the shoplifter on Saturday.  Granny had run out to True Value and her granddaughter was at St*rbucks.  I was all alone when a woman walked in with a very large purse–we are talking 2′ by 3′.  She went right to the back of the shop and was looking at all the yarn that had been stolen.  She has a thing for metallic novelties.  However, she kept staying out of my line of vision.  She even asked about the price of a bag of Takhi Star Granny had on the 50% off table.  I told her someone had shoplifted half the bag so she would have to ask Granny when she returned.

Up to the front of the store and she was hunched over…all very suspicous.  When Granny returned I wrote the secret word for shoplifter on a napkin.  And preceded to write the names of the yarns the lady was checking out–all the ones that had been lifted last time!  Granny was shaking her head NO at me.  At True Value, Granny had gotten hooks for the ceiling so we could hang models.  I climbed a step stool and peered over the table to see what the lady was doing.  She was putting yarn in her big bag.  We had just gotten in a new yarn on Friday.  There had been 10 that morning when I moved the display.  The lady put one on the counter–to buy–but where were the other two? 

I confronted her.  Perched atop my step stool I accused her of stealing.  She claimed the yarn was hers.  I told her one yarn we had just received on Friday and there was a whole box of 10 this morning.  So I told her to empty her bag or I was calling the police.  She said, "I’ll pay for it.  I’ll pay for it."  I said that was up to Granny–who was standing there like a deer in the headlights.  The lady had some cockeyed story about only having $100 and could Granny change it.  Granny said sure and the theif produced a $10.  Surely not enough for the amount of yarn she was trying to steal. 

I had seen her in the back of the shop touching another metallic yarn but I wasn’t sure how much we had so I called her on it.  She said she returned it to the shelf.  What the heck–she was already wrong.  I called her bluff and told Granny to call the police.  She pulled the ball out of her bag and claimed she left her $100 in the car and RAN!

It was very sad because the woman didn’t seem all there.  However, both Granny and her granddaughter recognized her, saying she had shopped there for many years.  Mostly, we attribute discrepancies in the inventory to our error.  I guess you assume there is some shoplifting but this was just horrible.  My heart was racing.  I hope she never comes back.

Uncertainty May 9, 2007

Life has been a bit insane this week.  Kevin’s company is in the process of trying to buy out their largest competitor.  It came up in conversation would Kevin be interested in a transfer abroad again.  Things may be a bit unstable due to redundancy across many positions.  A move like this could keep things very secure for him.  But there is just so much to consider.  And while Owen’s needs are hugely important–as is a roof over our heads–Gracie is quite fragile when it comes to these matters.  All Cameron had to hear was Legoland is nearby and he was sold.  Gracie was in tears–both scared and excited.  I am not even sure how real the possibility is…Kevin is out of town tonight.  My stomach is in knots with excitement and fear too. 

It could be very good for Cameron.  It might even be really good for Owen–they have some neat schools for autism in the UK.  But would he lose his place here?  His current placement can go on indefinitely–high school, job service and residence if need be.  Gracie has finally found her place though–we have bumped her around so many times.  So much to think about. 

May 8, 2007

1.  Dale Salt Lake City 2002 for Kevin.  Considering this is now 2007–this project has been marinating for a loooong time.  I am nearly up to the patterning.

2.  St. Brigid for me.  When did I start that KAL?  I did a bit of work but need to tink a row to get restarted.

3.  A baby blanket for my SIL using 501.  I think the baby is due in 2 weeks.

4.  The sleeve on my leftover worsted Dulaan sweater.

5. 4 pulsewarmers–mates to 4 I have already knit.  One and a half more pairs to go, I think.

6.  Shetland Triangle Shawl which is moving along nicely.  Got to take a picture some day!

7.  The Birds Nest Shawl from Folk Shawls.  Not even sure I have looked at it.

8.  While I haven’t wound the yarn…I have it in my head to knit a Colinette throw for my sister.  Again, stash yarn.  The Velvet Throw is #14.  She says she wants it….must do it but not during the warm weather.

9.  Brea pocketbook that I started for the shop a million years ago.

10.  Decide if I really want to knit this sweater in the color I have in the stash…  Gosh, I can’t even find a picture in my archives.  Such a bad blogger!   Still undecided but leaning toward NO!

Progress has definately been made on this list.  I am somewhat uninspired my knits right now.  It’s like they are all being naughty and ganging up on me.  Rip sock, rip sleeves on Kersti cardi, cotton is hard on the hands.  I tried to use some old Fiesta La Boheme that I treated myself to for my 30th birthday.  I think it needs to go in the garbage can.  $60 worth of yarn that never found the right pattern and is now matted and gross. 

Owen is waking up in the middle of the night and the wee hours of the morning.  Sleep deprivation is such torture.  Today I am working his school’s book fair else I would be back in bed after they all leave.  I think exhaustion makes everything look bleak.  And the Dell died again!  The warranty goes through September so I guess we will try to get it repaired again.  I think this is the 5th time.  Argh.

1.  Dale Salt Lake City 2002 for Kevin.  Considering this is now 2007–this project has been marinating for a loooong time.  I am nearly up to the patterning.

2.  St. Brigid for me.  When did I start that KAL?  I did a bit of work but need to tink a row to get restarted.

3.  A baby blanket for my SIL using 501.  I think the baby is due in 2 weeks.

4.  The sleeve on my leftover worsted Dulaan sweater.

5. 4 pulsewarmers–mates to 4 I have already knit.  One and a half more pairs to go, I think.

6.  Shetland Triangle Shawl which is moving along nicely.  Got to take a picture some day!

7.  The Birds Nest Shawl from Folk Shawls.  Not even sure I have looked at it.

8.  While I haven’t wound the yarn…I have it in my head to knit a Colinette throw for my sister.  Again, stash yarn.  The Velvet Throw is #14.  She says she wants it….must do it but not during the warm weather.

9.  Brea pocketbook that I started for the shop a million years ago.

10.  Decide if I really want to knit this sweater in the color I have in the stash…  Gosh, I can’t even find a picture in my archives.  Such a bad blogger!   Still undecided but leaning toward NO!

Progress has definately been made on this list.  I am somewhat uninspired my knits right now.  It’s like they are all being naughty and ganging up on me.  Rip sock, rip sleeves on Kersti cardi, cotton is hard on the hands.  I tried to use some old Fiesta La Boheme that I treated myself to for my 30th birthday.  I think it needs to go in the garbage can.  $60 worth of yarn that never found the right pattern and is now matted and gross. 

Owen is waking up in the middle of the night and the wee hours of the morning.  Sleep deprivation is such torture.  Today I am working his school’s book fair else I would be back in bed after they all leave.  I think exhaustion makes everything look bleak.  And the Dell died again!  The warranty goes through September so I guess we will try to get it repaired again.  I think this is the 5th time.  Argh.

False start May 3, 2007

Well, I had started a blog post but the laptop is having issues once again and won’t maintain a charge.  I guess Scooby knocked the plug out.  Scooby, he seems to be getting old all of a sudden.

Anyway, back to false starts.  I still haven’t ripped the sock.  In an attempt to use stash yarn, I started an Adult Surprise in the Diamusee yarn Kevin bought me a couple of years ago.  I was having some real difficult deciphering EZ’s notes from the 1981 issue of Spun-out.  A little googling and I discovered Knitters Fall 2000 has the pattern revisited.  I think it may be a bit easier to follow and my mom is planning to knit along beside me.  Unfortunately, the bag of 10 won’t be enough so I am hoping to find a coordinating color of Lamb’s Pride at Granny’s.  I think another 1-ply will look nice.

More false starts in the Hex Coat department.  While talking with Ann, it seems I knit my swatch and started my sleeve in seed stitch–not moss stitch.  The Pegster made the same mistake in her swatch.  At least we made our swatches in a pattern though…Ann did hers in plain stockinette.  Not that this is a contest or anything.  How in the world do three intelligent women make such mistakes?

I wanted to blog about NENA.  It was a good time except for Granny’s snoring.  What was especially cool was seeing Granny so well received.  She has been in the business for so long and knows everyone.  She hadn’t gone to NENA in a while so they were all so happy to see her.  Among the newer vendors, we really had quite a few giggles with Claudia of Claudia’s Handpainted and Carol of Farmhouse Yarns.   I did a little cash and carry with them.  I tried to do a bit of that with Colinette but since Granny doesn’t hold an account they refused to sell to me.  She did, however, open an account with Cherry Tree Hill.  What a lovely family to deal with.  One yarn I am dying to knit with…Sheep 3 Yarn by Sheep Shop Yarn.  Love it. 

I know there were many other things I wanted to say.  And I wanted to blog against disablism like Emma.  Where does the time go?  Pictures next time too.