I thought it would be nice to start off Monday morning with a video of music I enjoy. Y’know, set the tone for the week.

For the inaugural post of this topic, I offer you the Lovell Sisters, who are really going to hit it big one of these days:

While I’m off working on my Olympic project (I’m on Row 27) and watching (wait for it) the Olympics, I offer you this knitting-related interview with the non-knitting member of the household. I first saw it on Donna‘s blog a few weeks ago and it has since popped up all over the knitting blogosphere:

Me: What is your favorite thing about my knitting?
Rudi: The consistency of your stitches.

Me: What is your least favorite thing about my knitting?
Rudi: How it can suck you into a mental vortex. That and the fact that the stash takes up a lot of room. But I shouldn’t be picky, says he of the bikes and skis.

Me: What is something I have knitted, that you recall as good?
Rudi: Where to begin on that… I would definitely say the … uh … the first pair of socks you knitted were impressive. And the latest pair of socks were really impressive. And that (flailing his arms in a pulling over the shoulder motion) shawl … thing.
Me: The shrug?
Rudi: Yeah, that. I’m a guy; what do you expect…

Me: Do you think knitters have an expensive hobby?
Rudi: (grinning) Depends on the kind of yarn they get, doesn’t it?

Me: Do you have any hobbies?
Rudi: Uh, yeah.
Me: Would you care to elaborate?
Rudi: Road biking, alpine skiing, collecting way too much music, dabbling in politics and computers.

Me: So, if we compared money/time spent on hobbies, who would win?
Rudi: I, I think…. I don’t know. Our hours don’t overlap too often. I’m sure you would say I would win and I would you say you would win.

Me: Do you have a stash of any kind?
Rudi: Music would be about as close as it gets. Spare bike tubes. Nothing compared to what you have.
Me: So you wouldn’t say that the old bike frame and the spare wheels and the old seat in the closet are a stash?
Rudi: Okay, they’re a stash. Touché.

Me: Have I ever embarrassed you, knitting in public?
Rudi: No.

Me: Do you know my favorite kind of yarn?
Rudi: Your favorite kind of yarn probably has something to do with alpaca. Probably an alpaca-silk blend of some sort. [Mmmm… That would be lovely…]

Me: Can you name another knitting blog?
Rudi: Probably a few. Ravelry isn’t a blog; it’s more of a meta site… Wendy Knits. The Yarn Harlot. Purling Sprite.
Me: Very good.
Rudi: Those are the three that come to mind quickly.

Me: Do you mind my wanting to stop at yarn shops wherever we go?
Rudi: No.

Me: Do you understand the importance of a swatch?
Rudi: Oh, hell, yeah.

Me: Do you read Sprite Writes?
Rudi: Yeah.

Me: Have you ever left a comment?
Rudi: Yeah.

Me: Do you think the house would be cleaner if I didn’t knit?
Rudi: Probably not. [He’s right.]

Me: Anything you’d like to add?
Rudi: I loved it. It was much better than Cats. I’m going to see it again and again and again.

I apologize, but I will not be posting much about my participation in the Ravelympics, the knitting version of the Summer Games, here on my blog. The item I’m working on is destined for a reader, so it would hardly be fair to talk about it where they can read about it. Their surprise would be diminished and I would be sad to do that to either of us. So, if you’re a knitter (or crocheter) on Ravelry, please feel free to follow along with my progress there.

Suffice it to say to everyone else, I hope that I finish a little faster than when I participated in the Knitting Olympics in 2006.

And in the meantime I will share progress reports only in terribly vague ways, such as, “I have just finished the sixth row.”

…

I have just finished the sixth row.

…

After work I’m heading to the Sculpture Garden to meet with members of our local team, Team 51, for a few hours of knitting and tango music. I’m really looking forward to it.

Oh, and speaking of the Olympics, don’t forget that in addition to their stellar record on the environment (second only to the U.S., I believe) and their exception perspective on human rights (ditto), China also has an intriguing perspective on neighborly relations (::sigh:: ditto). My fellow knitters and I would like to remind you, as you’re watching the Opening Ceremonies, that NONE of us is free until ALL of us are free. Please feel free to read more here.

I awoke today finally feeling a bit better. Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions of how to feel better! Here are three beautiful things from the past week:

1. This week, recycling bins appeared downtown next to trash cans. When we moved down here five years ago, hardly anyone recycled. I’m absolutely delighted with the change of attitude over time.

2. As I walked back to the office with my sandwich, the skies grew menacing and the winds picked up. By the time I’d reached the roof deck, rain was starting to speckle down, forcing me inside. A chapter later in my book, and the spritzing was done. I moved back outside to discover the heat and humidity had broken. In the shade, I actually needed my cardigan.

3. On Sunday, the weather was so beautiful that I opted to go on a bike ride and then head to the pool to swim. On my way down to the river, I passed a heron. My bike decided to cooperate by letting me into my highest set of gears for the first time this season. The water was refreshing, but not cold, after my ride. And the sun shone down like it really believed that life was good.

Two knitting works in progress:

This is the first of a pair of socks I started back in March — you know, for St. Patrick’s Day. The second sock is done, but lacks the cute little picot edging around the edge of the cuff. Seriously, it’s less than an hour’s work and I still haven’t done it.

The yarn is Chewy Spaghetti in Lush. The pattern is Lace Cuff Anklets by Ann Budd.

This is my Tour de France challenge project. Although I did master the new skill of knitting toe-up (my personal challenge for the knit-along) as opposed to cuff-down, I still seem to have a long way to go. Happily, I’m at the turning the heel point now so should make better progress in the weeks to come.

The yarn is Epicurus’ Superwash Merino in White Sage. The pattern is Bastille Day Socks by Yuliya Sullivan.

A dollar doesn’t buy much these days. A can and a half of soda. A few bananas. Two candy bars. A couple stamps. A song on iTunes.

What if you heard that a dollar could buy a whole album? That it could buy a family freedom from debt? That it could pay for a legacy?

Katie Reider, a singer-songwriter younger than my brother, found out last year that she had a non-cancerous facial tumor. She underwent radiation and chemo. She lost her teeth and the sight in her left eye. She had to give up her performing career and ultimately lost her ability not only to sing but also to talk — even to her two beloved young children.

Her friends wanted to help and they came up with the idea of selling a nine-song album on the internet for a dollar a download with the idea that the proceeds could help with Katie’s medical expenses. They launched the site on Katie’s 30th birthday back in May.

A month ago they had the good news that the tumor was shrinking. Unfortunately, while the tumor eventually came out, it had already caused too much damage. Two weeks ago Katie died en route to the hospital.

I downloaded her album earlier this evening. It’s beautiful.

If life were fair, I would be writing about how I heard this great new artist named Katie Reider at the emerging artist showcase at Falcon Ridge last week. If life were fair, I’d be hoping to see her when she played the Birchmere or the Black Cat. If life were fair…

Since life isn’t fair, all I can do is share the link to her album and suggest that this would be a really good use of a dollar.

Katie’s family gets money to help pay for her funeral expenses. Katie gets a posthumous legacy. We each get a haunting album.

Can you think of a better use of a dollar?