sprite writes
broodings from the burrow

February 14, 2010


dear d.c. ddot
posted by soe 3:06 am

Dear D.C. DDOT,

How did you know what I wanted most for my birthday was a cleared street?

You’re the best!

Thanks and Happy Valentine’s Day!

love,
soe

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into the stacks: 2010.5 and 6
posted by soe 1:34 am

I forgot to post this last Saturday, so caught up in the snow was I. Conveniently, I didn’t finish anything new this week, so it won’t be overshadowed by anything else.

NaJuReMoNoMo booksMarcelo in the Real World by Francisco S. Stork

From the jacket: “Marcelo Sandoval hears music that nobody else can hear — part of an autism-like condition that no doctor has been able to identify. But his father has never fully believed in the music or Marcelo’s differences, and he challenges Marcelo to work in the mailroom of his law firm for the summer … to join ‘the real world.’ There Marcelo meets Jasmine, his beautiful and surprising coworker, and Wendell, the son of another partner in the firm. He learns about competition and jealousy, anger and desire. But it’s a picture he finds in a file — a picture of a girl with half a face — that truly connects him with the real world: its suffering, its injustice, and what he can do to fight.”

My take: I started hearing a lot about this book at the end of last year, when it appeared on several best-of-young-adult-literature lists, and so, when I saw it in a display at the library, I picked it up.

I’m glad I did. Marcelo has a unique voice amongst the characters I’ve read before. Half the time he refers to himself in the third person and half the time in the first. He has a tough time discerning sarcasm (I was reminded somewhat of Sheldon’s perpetual confusion in The Big Bang Theory.), is often confused by people’s emotions and underlying motives, and likes to work in a methodical way that enables him to minimize errors. When he’s forced to work at his father’s law firm, that’s a big problem, where petty jealousies, selfish subterfuge, and cut-throat competition define the rapid-fire paced workplace. And that doesn’t even begin to get into what it’s like to work for your father, especially when he’s made it clear that he feels you’re coddled and not living up to your potential.

The only bright light is his supervisor, Jasmine, who, despite declaring that she hadn’t been in favor of his hire, works hard to make sure he’s able to do his job. And when he makes a discovery that will change the tenor of his days, Jasmine is there with him to assist in what will become his summer’s quest and a crucial decision in his life.

I always find it fascinating to see into the thought-process of another, and this book really gives you a glimpse into that. The end of the book brought a smile to my face and I can only wish good thoughts for Marcelo in the next (unwritten) chapters.

Pages: 312


I finished this novel on January 31st, giving me three novels that were begun and completed during the month. Thanks to the NaJuReMoNoMo folks.

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February 12, 2010


help me decide on a knitting olympics project
posted by soe 4:42 pm

It’s time yet again for the Winter Olympics, one of the rare moments when sport and crafting intersect.

I am taking part in two knitting-related events during the next 16 days. One is the Ravelympics, where I will be working on finishing some languishing projects in WiPsDancing as part of Team Madness in Progress (a team made up of those of us who will compete against each other in Sock Madness next month). These will be smaller projects that I’ve allowed to sit untouched for far too long — things like weaving in the ends of the mitts I’ve been wearing since October 1 and the crochet border on Mum’s birthday shawl.

The other event is the Yarn Harlot’s Knitting Olympics, where I’m hoping to make a sweater out of the 1200+ yards of Blue Moon Fiber Arts WooBu (a merino-bamboo blend) I bought at Sheep and Wool. (It’s the blue-grey yarn in the photo below.)

The Goods

ETA: Here’s a better shot of the yarn:

IMG_3439

The question, though, is what to make with it. I have it narrowed down to four choices:

  1. Hey, Teach!
  2. Rosalind
  3. Shalom Cardigan
  4. CeCe (This is Rudi’s least favorite of the bunch because he’s concerned I will hate knitting the lace…)

Any thoughts on what I should spend the rest of the month knitting? Or what would best good on me?

I have competed in both knitting events before and have had a lot of fun with them. I’m hoping that taking part in both of them will lead to twice as much merriment and a lot of finished knitting come the extinguishing of the Olympic flame.

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February 11, 2010


full stop, clear, and return to normal
posted by soe 11:16 pm

Did you know that I have been thinking about snow non-stop since the last time I wrote a three beautiful things post? Well, why stop now? Three beautiful snow-related things on this lovely Thursday night:

1. For essentially a whole week, the entire region ground to a halt. Flakes became inches, which in turn became feet. Metro experienced its slowest days ever. People were home from work. Streets were free of cars. Silence reigned. This is not a town that under normal circumstances likes to slow down, so it was a true pleasure to see its residents forced to have to hang up the dark suits and put on colorful galoshes, whether it be to shovel or to throw snow at one another.

2. Our sidewalks are clear thanks to Rudi’s constant attention through the two storms. And we have twice cleared our car and dug out a path for it to reach the street. When we find cement or pavement, it is cause to celebrate, particularly since the snow banks have grown to the same height as the car’s roof.

3. After an impromptu staycation of four days, the email arrives telling us to come back to work. We are ready. It is time. And isn’t that beautiful indeed?

What’s been beautiful in your world?

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February 10, 2010


sno(w)verkill update: 7 p.m.
posted by soe 6:59 pm

The snow has mostly stopped after another 10 inches or so, but the winds and drifting have kicked up.

All of D.C. is hitting the Office of Personnel Management website to find out what the plan is for tomorrow. (For those readers outside the region, many of our offices follow the Federal government when it comes to deciding if the weather is too treacherous to make us come in.) Metro says below-ground trains only; no update yet on when bus travel may resume.

A quarter of D.C.’s snow plows are now out of commission, so the roads, especially those that aren’t emergency routes, are a mess with deep ruts. I’m impressed that the drivers aren’t also out of commission, given they’ve been running around the clock since Thursday night when they began pre-treating the roads.

Ah, there we go. The Feds are closed. I assume it will be only a matter of time before my office sends out its announcement, too. (And, yes, I could go in, as I live and work a) within the underground portion of the subway system and b) within a reasonably short, walkable distance. But I’m not going to if I don’t have to. So there!)

ETA (7:20): And there’s the office, too… Another day of heavy (tea) drinking again tomorrow…

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ummm….. what?!
posted by soe 10:50 am

Apparently there can reach a point during a storm where it is unsafe for snow plow drivers to be out.

Yeah, in all my years of living through New England winters I’d never heard of that either, but apparently the D.C. region reached that point with Sno(w)verkill about two hours ago.

It does make things quiet…

ETA (11:45 a.m.): While the Post did not care to email me with an update, DCist is on the case with a clarification. Snow plow drivers were asked to pull over during white-out portions of the storm (not through the whole storm itself). This seems both reasonable and prudent, and I withdraw my previous objections.

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