"Why should we hear about body bags and deaths? Oh, I mean, it's not relevant. So why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that?"
- Barbara Bush, 3/18/03
menu »
war »
rings »
posted 19 March 07 & filed under busy bee
i’ve gone into d.c. a couple of times this past week, and oh am i glad i did. for one, public transportation makes me happy ~ it did in l.a., and it still does. not to say it can’t be such a drag at times, and the waiting is rarely ever fun, but still, there’s a connection among the passengers, a feeling of freedom with only a bus pass in your pocket, a sad disdain for the poor frustrated angry drivers sitting alone in their big cars, a sense of possibility and happy chance meetings… all of that i missed.
so, i’m heading down to raleigh for an impromptu visit with my little sisters for about twenty-four hours, and instead of flying back up ($100, an hour long trip), i’m taking the train up to d.c. and then the metro to the last stop in suburban maryland ($43, six+ hours). when i went to college near phildelphia, i used to take the train all the time – to maryland, to trenton, to downtown philly, and so just stepping into a train station puts a skip in my step. and oh the possibilities: boston in six hours, new york in four, chicago overnight… ! i’m so looking forward to that train ride.
other than that, things are pretty o.k., i’m glad to say. busy busy, and not much knitting – but spinning, rubberstamp-making, paper-making, learning letterpress, basketweaving, and beekeeping classes too, plus reading as always ~ so yeah, march is flying by. plus babies babies babies all over the place, and where they aren’t, there’s always siblings galore. oh, and within a three-day span, we went from 80 degree weather to 1/2 an inch of snow at least. bizarre.
randomness: i really need to head into baltimore one of these days, i have a good feeling that we’ll click. also, i’d like to visit philly, but a part of me is afraid i’ll run into twenty-two (or even worse, twenty-three) year old me, a ghost andrea that i just know is still hanging around in center city, full of memories and forgotten songs. i’d alternate between wanting to slap that andrea and just stare in fascination at the oblivious girl-i-was… it’s silly but i need to write it: in ten years, i’ll be forty. forty! me! forty… i was very tempted to cut my hair last night – it’s well below my shoulders now, the longest it’s been for over five years, but i’m losing more and more of the curls due to the weight, and that’s a bit sad. it’s only hair, but ah i’m so proud of mine, (almost) always have been. i want to be a lioness again though, with a full fluffy mane, so i’ll hold off for a bit.
chatty chatty, huh. it must be because it’s around witching hour. plus i created today ~ which is always at least as good as a long luxurious stretch. anyhow, remember those addresses you all sent me a while back? i’m such a tease – but seriously, the plan is finally firmly in motion (hint: it has something to do with what’s written above – and no, i’m not sending you cut hair or melted snow .. or a baby. or a train ticket.), so if i didn’t get your address, send it! and though this may seem unnecessary, don’t send it to me if you’ve never commented before and we don’t know each other in real life. it’s a little awkward that way, trust me. but if we’ve communicated in any way, shape or form, send me your address if you haven’t already. it’s nothing big, but just a little thank you to mellowtrouble readers and friends. that’ll be happening in the next ten days, so be quick about it!
i’ll add some pics in the morning ~ but for now, goodnight ~ ~
My husband has been into rubber stamp making, too! It’s really kind of a cool craft. I hope you show us what your doing with it :).
~ Moni
Wow, rubber stamping, bee keeping, basket weaving… you sound busier than when you were in LA. Will you post pics of your rubber stamps?
hey andrea, i finally got on your website to give it a gander. my mom has been checking up from time to time. since operation “cut andy’s leg open” she has finished 4 blocks of a quilt in process, knitted two baby hats, and started the second mitten from her chilean yarn that my dad brought back from south america. luci said that you were making a quilted pillow, and my mom has looked on your sight, but hasn’t seen anything yet. you have a fan! and i am a fan of the bee-keeping. i had a great time when you were here in boulder. come back and stay with us any time you want. ~andy
i took my first amtrak trip last month, from the bay area down to simi valley to visit a friend who recently moved down there. i luuuuuuv it so so much. dreaming of more train trips.
you are terribly hard on Andrea! i think if you were ever to meet Philly-Andrea, you’d find all sorts of great qualities you never realized were there. :)
~ meowgirl
I see you’re taking beekeeping classes? I had an apiary growing up – Dad still does. Loved it! The gentle hum of the hive…imagining them stuffing themselves when a drift of smoke enters… the honey!! YUM!
Enjoy it and enjoy your trip to see your sisters.
I LOVE the train. You can wander as needed, sit in the quiet car if you want and get a better view of all you pass by. I always seem to have my camera at the ready…then I wish there was a pull-stop so I could get off and explore as I go.
Enjoy Enjoy Enjoy!
Cheers!
~ Kimberli