5 Jan 2010
Resolutions, Et Cetera.
I am always excited by the prospect of the New Year’s resolutions — not adhering to them, exactly, but making the list. I love making a list! This year I am sticking close to the obsolete definition of “resolution” that means to satisfy one’s desire (thanks, OED), and not the traditional New Year’s Resolutiony resolutions. Sure, I should eat better, probably exercise too, but I have no desire to do so. I do have a desire to do the following:
learn to knit
be able to make basic sauces without having to drag out a giant cookbook
paint the bathroom
get an orchid
I would write “massively clean out closet” but I’ve already done that. I also insanely organized my stuff by type of garment. Then I went nuts and did Larry’s side, too. What? He has rediscovered a pair of pants he’d forgotten! I have discovered that I own 17 cardigans. (I’d done all the laundry and picked up the dry cleaning when I counted, so that number is accurate. Oy.)
As for knitting, look: I’m old, I have cats, I have 17 cardigans to choose from: I might as well knit. I do not exactly predict that I’m going to be super good at it, as I tried once before and made a lumpy, misshapen circular thing that was supposed to be a hat but I never finished it and thus it was just “hey look I made this lumpy, misshapen circular thing, which I will now wear on my head around the house sometimes, even though it has a skein of yarn dangling behind it because I don’t know how to finish this.” I just want to make a scarf. And, if we’re being honest, I want to knit lumps of coal for Christmas next year. That is my official goal.
I also have reading goals, as usual, and this year I am ramping it up to 100 books. (Will I make it? Probably not, but as Joy Behar says, so what? who kez?) I’ve already read two: the Kathy Griffin book (which I loved) and The English American by Alison Larkin (which was good in that I read it in two days, but perhaps not the most literary book in the world; still, a good story that sucked me in enough that I read it in two days).
January 5th, 2010 at 11:54 am
Can I recommend some quick, good reads? If you haven’t already delved into the Cannongate myth series (myths re-envisioned by popular authors), get to it. Some are better than others, depending on the myth and/or the author, but they don’t take up much time and are pretty good overall.
January 5th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Here’s a scarf pattern that looks like you could probably finish it in a week. It uses chunky yarn, big needles, and isn’t too long. The available for free on Ravelry.com (search for “neck truffle”).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59339363@N00/3314634909/
January 5th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
Jen, I appreciate your faith in me. That thing is so cute!
Liz: those books sound awesome. Upcoming volumes by Donna Tartt and A.S. Byatt? Yessssssssssss.