I Fell Into A Burning Ring Of Fire

I went down, down, down and the flames went higher.
And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire.
The ring of fire…

I looked outside as I was getting ready for work this morning. It looked cloudy! That would be the most wonderful thing, to get some rain. I went to the kitchen for coffee and noticed a smell in the air. The kitchen window was cracked and the smell was coming from outside. What I thought was cloudy was really haze and smoke from the wildfires. They are all over 100 miles away but the wind is blowing so much the smoke from those fires, along with the smell of the burn, has come this way.

It’s dry and dusty and the tumbleweeds play chicken with the cars as they blow across the highway. About the only green you’ll see are the leaves of the mesquite trees. All of Texas is experiencing a drought. The U.S. Drought Monitor map classified about 60% or so of the state as extreme or exceptional. With dry comes fire danger. Factor in the wind and it’s a deadly situation.

 

 

 

The wildfires out here in West Texas have been devastating. The reports vary from 25,600 acres in one fire to 120,000 acres in another. It’s reported that numerous structures and 60 homes were burned. A railroad bridge near Marfa was damaged causing an Amtrak train came to a complete stop. Passengers on the train were stranded for 18 hours while the burned bridge was being repaired. So far this year, 654 fires burned 916 square miles of land across Texas. Nearly one million acres and 189 homes across the state have been destroyed. The Forest Service and fire departments, including volunteers are working overtime to control and put out these fires. And it doesn’t look to be stopping anytime soon.

They name the fires. There’s the Rock House Fire and the Roper Fire. There’s the Midland County Fire and the Cannon Ranch Fire. There’s the DHR fire and the Hickman Fire. The fires will live on long after they are extinguished.

 

 

The wind is picking up again. It’s supposed to really be bad tomorrow with gusts up to 55 mph. I took the dogs outside and the smell of smoke is again heavy in the air. It scares me. How would I know there was a fire close by if it already smells like it’s burning? The moon casts an eerie glow on the ground below causing things to be more visible than usual. I think about the people who have lost everything they have. I think about the poor animals that couldn’t get away. I think about the charred, black ground. And I wonder why it can’t just rain.

 

 

 

 

 

*(The fire pictures have come from Internet sites, emails, etc. They are floating around everywhere and I don't know who they belong to. If you'd like to read a first-hand account of the fire from my friend Nancy Donaldson, who lives in Fort Davis, Texas, go to https://sites.google.com/site/rockhousefirestories/ )

I fell into a burning ring of fire.

I went down, down, down and the flames went higher.

And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire.

The ring of fire…

On the knitting front, I finished another cowl. I see pictures of people in magazines wearing wool cowls and scarves in the summer. They certainly don’t live out here! The Willow Cowl will be good for the fall.

 

I also finished a lacy scarf out of some green silk. It has to be blocked to be completely finished. I started some strips that will become a ball to play with. I know, using yarn to make a yarn ball…how original! It’s hard to explain so I’ll wait to see how it works out. If it does, I'll post pictures and details. For now I’ll go to sleep, with the smell of burning grass and wood in the air. And I’ll dream of rain.

And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire.

The ring of fire.

The ring of fire.

The ring of fire…

I'm In A Hurry To Get Things Done

Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun.
All I really gotta do is live and die,
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why

Don't know why I have to drive so fast.
My car has nothing to prove.
It's not new.
But it'll do zero to sixty in five point two.

Whoosh! There goes another one. Isn’t the speed limit 75 mph? I’m doing 73 and people are blowing by me like I’m parked! Further down the Interstate it turns to 80 mph. They still fly by. What’s the deal?

Why are people in such a hurry? It’s hurry to work, hurry to get things done, hurry to go home…just so you can do it all again tomorrow. Why is everyone in such a rush?

We all talk about not having enough time. We say there’s never enough time in a day. Time for what? To hurry through whatever it is we are doing so we can just do more? The more time we seem to have the more we try to squeeze into it. Are we setting unrealistic goals for ourselves? Is that the pressure to hurry and get there?

The message to hurry is seen everywhere. What do fast food, convenience store, and drive through window bring to mind? Does the hurry-up attitude we have promote happiness? Are you happy? Do you have fun? Do you enjoy yourself? Or are you going so fast you don’t even notice the things around you? What would happen if we all slowed down and took the time to actually take pleasure in something? Instead of rushing to our destination maybe we should experience the journey.

Think about the week ahead of you. Make a conscious effort one day and live that day. Don’t think of the things you need to do or didn’t get done. Concentrate on what you are doing now. Don’t beat yourself up for past mistakes. Think of what you can achieve. Look around. Slow your thinking. Notice things you never saw before. Take pleasure in what you are doing. Hurrying is often a mindset. It’s not always in how fast we do things.

A knitting friend of mine posted the other day and said, “Ever wish you could hit the pause button on the world just long enough to catch up?” Maybe that’s the key. Pause; slow down; experience your life.

Oh, I hear a voice

That says I'm running behind.

Better pick up my pace.

It's a race and there ain't no room for someone in second place…

Sometimes I do get in a hurry. Probably because I like to hit the snooze button and then I have to rush so I won’t be late. But I don’t go over the speed limit. Sometimes I am a little late but I figure in all the time I’ve put in it really doesn’t matter. I’m not in a hurry to get through with knitayear. Well, I am and I’m not. It’s kept me focused in a strange way. I had a commitment. And I actually kept it up. I sometimes had to do two or three days worth of knitting but I kept a record of how I felt and I added yarn to mark it. Day 361, March 27, and I’m headed to Austin. I’m getting something new added to my other duties at work and this is an update meeting. Of course the plane is delayed when we hit Dallas. But otherwise it’s a smooth flight. When we got to Austin we ate at the Magnolia Café. It’s an Austin place and eclectic but good. Then we tried checking into our hotel. It was supposed to have all been taken care of but when we got there it was mass confusion. The poor girl at the desk got us in but not without a lot of trouble. I chose a pale aqua that has some red in it. Day 362, March 28, is the first day of meetings. It’s okay but they really can’t tell us much until all the legislative sessions have ended. So we heard a lot of stuff like this is how it is but it could change. Really informative but not their fault I guess. I would have thought it smarter to just postpone and meet after the legislative session. But they didn’t ask me. We had a dinner meeting at a good place called Vivo’s. It’s another Austin place. I had food of course but also a Hibiscus Margarita. It was pretty and it was tasty. We had an informal meeting and all was good. When we left all of the women were presented with a long stem rose. It’s a Vivo thing but it’s a nice touch. I chose a pink variegated rayon boucle.

Raising my glass!

Day 363, March 29, and I’m on the way home. There’s another day of meetings but I have night class. So I hurry to get back to go to work. Is there something wrong with that picture? It’s an easy time though and I couldn’t ask for a better student. I choose white cotton. Day 364, March 30, and it’s back to work. I’m kind of rejuvenated after our meeting. I know it won’t last but it’s good occasionally. I chose purple and yellow rayon boucle for this day. And then, it’s the last day of knitayear. It’s day 365, March 31, and again it’s just another day at work. Nothing exciting. I meet a friend after work and we eat supper at Rosa’s. It’s good for something different. One of my former students is the manager and he didn’t recognize me. I think it’s funny when that happens. I was actually thoughtful and brought something home for Alan. I chose green from a rainbow variegated for this day. I finished knitayear! I will reflect on it later.

Finished with the last strip!

I do have to admit that I sometimes want to hurry when it comes to knitting. I just have too much yarn and not enough time! I waste a lot of knitting time looking at things to knit. If I’d just get busy I’d accomplish a lot more! But generally it’s relaxing and I go at my own speed. Cause really, all you gotta do is live and die.

What a beautiful mess!

I'm in a hurry to get things done.

Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun.

All I really gotta do is live and die.

But I'm in a hurry and don't know why.

Raise Your Glass

Right right, turn off the lights,

We're gonna lose our minds tonight,

What's the dealio?

Drinking and knitting seem to go hand in hand. The only problem, unless you use a straw, is that you have to quit knitting to take a drink!

When I say drink, I don’t mean it has to be alcohol. Some like to have their cup of coffee when they knit. Others like to knit with tea at their side. Some do prefer something a little stronger, or maybe in some cases a bit more relaxing. Wine is a favorite, any color, any kind. Beer is a standard too, especially for some of us West Texas girls. Some even prefer something a little stronger. I’ve heard about a yarntini and a knittini someone had at a party once but I don’t know what the ingredients were. But don’t worry. Friends don’t let friends knit drunk!

It is fairly well known, especially with those having experience of the stronger flavored beverages that keeping the knitting simple works best. It’s no fun to figure out the next day, after two or three hours of knitting and visiting the night before, that you’re horribly off count. Chart knitting is also not recommended as it’s easy enough to get off line without drinking anything but water! Add a little alcohol and, well, it could make the picture not so pretty!

I’m a radio junkie. I listen all the time when I’m driving. Since I already told you it’s not safe to knit and drive. I’m a channel changer. I like all kinds of music; country, pop, rock. Well, I like all kinds of songs in those genres! Anyway, lately there has been a catchy song that I keep hearing. It’s by an artist called Pink, stylized as P!nk. I’m finding I really like a lot of her songs. What I don’t like is that there is always (I think) a ‘clean’ and a ‘dirty’ version. I don’t see the point in that at all. But it’s her choice and she gives me a choice too.

I tried to find out if P!nk is a knitter. I couldn’t find anything but I doubt it since she’s very active in PETA and actually did a video against the purchase of wool. If you do watch the video be forewarned it’s a bit graphic. It might give you something to think about. However, it’s possible she could still be a knitter. There are many non-animal fiber choices to knit with.

Okay, back to the song. I don’t know what made me think of it, except for the fact she says nitty gritty and my ears hear KNITTY gritty. Also there was the time at WHIBSIB (my Texas girls knitting retreat) that our group had a great time just saying ‘drink’ when we wanted, and we all took a swig of our wine or whatever the choice was. Anyway, I’ve ‘re-written’, and I’m not saying well, P!nk’s song to suit knitting. So now, with full apologies to P!nk, here it is.

If you’ve not heard her song, play the video on YouTube but sing the knitting words. Do this in the privacy of your home so nobody will think you’ve lost it!
 

Raise Your Glass (Knitting Version)

Right right turn on the lights

We gonna wind our yarn tonight

It’s no big dealio.

I love when it’s not too tough

Now it’s time. Turn the radio up.

Let’s knit to rock and roll.

Yarny stasher, needle grabber,

Call me up if you’re a knitter,

Don’t drop stitches,

Try it lacey,

Knit delirious...

So raise your glass if all your stitches

Are laying the right way.

All my knit sistahs, 

we will never be, never be

Anything but proud

And Knitty gritty, rosy little cheeks.

Won’t you slip one, and purl one, and

Raise your glass!

Just slip one and purl one and

Raise your glass!

Wham bam knitting’s glam

What kind of stitch don’t you understand?

Wish you’d just rip out (rippit already).

Can’t stop coming up short

I should be looking at this chart

My count is off right now (it’s so off right now).

Yarny stasher, needle grabber,

Call me up if you’re a knitter,

Don’t drop stitches,

Try it lacey,

Knit delirious…

So raise your glass if all your stitches

Are laying the right way.

All my knit sistahs, 

We will never be, never be

Anything but proud

And Knitty gritty, 

rosy little cheeks.

Won’t you slip one, and purl one, and

Raise your glass!

Just knit one and purl one and

Raise your glass!

Just slip one and purl one

Raise your Glass!

Won’t you slip one, and purl one, and

Raise your glass!

Just slip one and purl one and

Raise your Glass!

Oh darn my glass is empty...

that sucks!

So if your knitting is so cool (I mean...)

And your needles are your tools (needles are your tools)

You can choose another yarn

You can cast on, you can cast on

Knit it on your own…

So raise your (oh yarn!)

So raise your glass if all your stitches

Are laying the right way

All my knit sistahs,

We will never be, never be

Anything but proud

And Knitty gritty, rosy little cheeks

Won’t you slip one, and purl one, and

Raise your glass

Just slip one and purl one

Won’t you slip one and purl one and

Raise your glass

With me

Just slip one and purl one

Raise your glass…with me

Now go get your needles and your yarn. Or grab that project you’re working on now. Fill your glass. Get comfy. Knit one and purl one. And slip one and purl one. And raise your glass! Enjoy!

So if you're too school for cool,

And you're treated like a fool,

You can choose to let it go

We can always, we can always,

Party on our own

Where has March gone? Blown away somewhere if you’re out here! I read recently that time seems to pass more quickly when you are older because in childhood, experiences are novel and distinct but in adulthood each passing year converts some of this experience into automatic routine which we hardly note at all, the days and weeks smooth themselves out in recollection, and the years grow hollow and collapse. (William James).  Day 357 of knitayear is March 23. I have a meeting in San Angelo, about 120 or so miles away from work. They were kind at least and start it a little later so I don’t have to leave the house at, as my friend puts it, the butt-crack of dawn! It’s a nice drive and I saw a few wildflowers. The meeting is interesting, and relevant, which is unusual! I stopped for StarBucks on the way home and since Michaels is sort of in the area went by and scored on the dollar aisle! Some were $3.00 to $5.00 but all good, regardless! I chose green boucle that has multi color strips woven through it for the day. Day 358, March 24, is another meeting, at work this time. I am just the host for a local school district. I facilitate and get supplies, etc., and listen to the dialogue. If they practice what they preach after the meeting it could really be good for the kids. And that is what the whole education business is supposed to be about! I choose light green wool that has pink, purple and blue woven through it. March 25, day 359, and only six more days after today of the knitayear. Kind of sad in a way. It’s a slow day at work, not many people there. After work a friend and I decided to get a pedicure. It’s the first one of the season for me. Sandal season that is! It was fun and it’s amazing how much better it can make you feel. Even pretty! I choose pink yarn with a little silver sparkle for today. Day 360, March 26, is Saturday. So many things to do but I haven’t done them yet! I have to go to Austin tomorrow so will wash and pack for that trip. It’s a change of schedule but won’t be bad. Alan wants to do Atkins. I don’t but if I’m cooking I guess I will be too. Maybe it will work and I’ll lose weight. Maybe! I choose blue fancy fur for today. Now I’ve got to get busy. First I think maybe I’ll get something to drink. You don’t have to be knitting to raise your glass, right?

To date for this strip

Won't you come on and come on and raise your glass,

Just come on and come on and raise your glass.

Won't you come on and come on and raise your glass,

Just come on and come on and raise your glass!

When I’m Sixty-Four

When I get older, losing my hair, many years from now,

Will you still be sending me a valentine, birthday greetings, bottle of wine?

If I'd been out 'til quarter to three, would you lock the door?

Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm sixty-four?

When my dad called and said it was a girl I was devastated. There was no way I was having a sister. I didn’t want her. I begged them to take her back. Where was the brother they promised? My mamaw was staying with me and I remember she rocked me and told me it would be okay. They named the thing Judi and she told me that I would like Judi once they brought her home. As usual, she was right.

I was still mad when they came home but when they walked in with that tiny bundle I started to get over it pretty quick. What an anomaly! It was a tiny little person! It had little feet and hands and tiny fingers and toes on those miniature appendages! It cried, and loudly. And it didn’t smell very good.

She was always a tiny girl. She’s now tall and skinny. I wasn’t a tiny girl and still am not. And I’m not tall either. She has perfectly straight hair. Mine is naturally curly and I have to go to a lot of trouble to make it straight. Her hair and her eyes are brown. I looked like my parents with green eyes and dark hair. I’m pretty sure I told her more than once she was adopted.

When she was pretty young, maybe around two, she had to be in the hospital. Someone, either grandmother or my mom, or both, had read to us. She memorized the books and all the people in the hospital thought she was so smart because she could read at such a young age.

I remember one set of class pictures. First of all, neither of us were beauties because my mom had cut our bangs. When that happened, you often ended up with a half inch or so fringe at the top of your forehead because she would try to even things up and end up cutting all your bangs off. We had our hair rolled and curled. Mine would last ‘til the next washing. Judi’s fell out after a couple of hours. We had new hot pink dresses with white collars. We thought we looked pretty good despite the bad hair day. When we got the pictures back though, poor Judi had a little extra on her nose. Well, under to be exact. Of course, I found it hilarious! But really we should have all been outraged. Those teachers and picture people look at you, or should, before the ‘portrait’. Thank goodness there were no yearbooks at that time! But I know those pictures are still floating around somewhere!

When we stayed at grandmother’s house in the summer we had to help do the dishes. It never failed that as soon as we ate poor little Judi got a stomach ache or some such illness so she didn’t have to help. I had to help with the dishes regardless. She’d be playing and I swear she’d look at me with a grin like she’d won. And she had. She stands by that story today!

I could tell lots more stuff because I am the big sister and I know. And I’m mean like that. But I won’t. I can tell you though, that over the years Judi and I have become friends. There’s nobody dearer to me and I’d do anything for her.

Here we are and she has bangs!

Today is Judi’s birthday. And it might be a big one! But I’ll never tell. Well, maybe not. If I told how old she is she might tell how old I am! So happy birthday dear Judi! And when I’m sixty-four and you’re only…you may have your chance to get even for all those things I had to do as the elder sibling. Just don’t forget to feed me and don’t forget to need me. I’m smiling because you’re my sister. And I’m laughing because there is not a thing you can do about it!

I could be handy, mending a fuse when your lights have gone.

You can knit a sweater by the fireside, Sunday mornings, go for a ride.

Doing the garden, digging the weeds, who could ask for more?

Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm sixty-four?

Knitayear is winding down. Now I’m wondering what I’ll do in its place, if anything! I will keep blogging. And I will keep knitting.

Birthday knitting for a friend. Blocking.

Close up of same.

Day 354, March 20, and I’m still recovering. Why do I feel the need to sit when all I’ve done is sit? It’s different when you can stretch out or move around I guess. Alan has to go back to Houston tomorrow. Yucko! I have to get a haircut so I didn’t offer to go with him! Ha ha. First things first I guess. I chose variegated turquoise cotton for the day. Day 355, Monday, March 21, is just another Monday. I will be adding some new job duties to what I already do. Funding issues for education have everyone nervous and just plain scared. I do get that haircut and feel so much better. I met a friend for Thai food. All in all it was a good day. Rosie was on the bed with me so I got to sleep until 3:45 before they wanted out. I picked a green and purple feather yarn. Day 356 is my sister’s birthday! It’s March 22 and she was born on this day 49, 50, several years ago! I hope she has a good day. It’s her turn! I choose a turquoise boucle for the day. Sometimes I imagine us in some kind of Golden Girls scenario. I wonder if we could do it? Sure we could, as long as she stays on her side of the house!

You'll be older too.

Ah, and if you say the word, I could stay with you.

Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm sixty-four?

Puff The Magic Dragon

Lived by the sea,

And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee.

Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff,

And brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff.

I had a lot of toys when I was growing up. One of the first I remember was a sock doll named Jack. My mamaw made him for me. He was made like a sock monkey except he didn’t have the monkey snout or a tail. But Jack was special. She made his head by tying a string tightly around the top part of the sock, stuffing it and gathering the cuff to make his head. He had a little tuft of sock cuff at the top, I guess his hair. She embroidered eyes and a mouth on him. He had blue eyes and a red mouth.

I carried Jack with me wherever I went. I loved his head off! Since he was getting pretty ragged, she made another doll. His name was Johnny and he had green eyes. I don’t know if they thought I wouldn’t know the difference or what, but I knew it wasn’t the same. I’d leave Johnny and look for Jack whenever they tried to trade them on me. Jack’s head was safety pinned shut and most of the stuffing was gone, but I still carried him around. Johnny never even had his head loved off! I’m sure I still have him somewhere, with the near perfect Johnny, in a box.

As I got older I found other toys and entertainment. My family lived on a corner where the street made a T. That gave us a long stretch of sidewalk to play on. I had skates. These weren’t the kind of skates that attached to a shoe. You had to put your own foot and shoe in and tighten the skate with a skate key. I wore the skate key on a string around my neck because if it was lost the skates didn’t work. My good friends and I would skate up and down that sidewalk for hours.

Skate key used to tighten skates.

My sister and I also had a wagon. It was really fun if you could get someone to push you. Steering was done with the wagon tongue. If you were going too fast it was easy to miss the corner and fly into the street. That happened more than once!

I never had a Barbie. I never even wanted one. I had troll dolls instead. I had a whole family, a single mother family. Goldie Gotrocks was the matriarch. She had a daughter named Lola and and a baby named Moonye. She was a regular size troll doll and Lola was one that would fit on a pencil top. Moonye was a tiny plastic doll, probably from a gum machine. They had an aunt named Starlynn. I played for hours with these dolls. My sister and I and the girls across the street, Jana and Judy, would make clothes, create elaborate soap opera type stories and build little houses, most of the time in the squares of the very same sidewalk where we skated. Judy and Jana had a troll doll house. It was plastic and folded and latched, like a little suitcase. I thought it was the best thing ever. It really enhanced the value of their property. But, since Goldie was a hard working single mother all she could afford was the makeshift house on the sidewalk square!

This isn't Goldie. She's in my hope chest in storage. But it's kind of how she looked but shorter.

Probably the best thing I had when I played, was my imagination. That’s what made Goldie Gotrocks and family. That’s when we weren’t skating up and down a sidewalk but racing in a roller derby or setting a new world record. That’s how I talked to Jack when I needed to. I see the littles using their imaginations all the time and it makes me happy. Evan plays super heroes and knows all of the trendy new toys because of his age. He likes video games but they haven’t captured his attention entirely. He can play outside, on the slide tower they have, for hours. Caleb is a dinosaur and can tell you anything (and more) than you ever wanted to know. He set up a Natural History Museum dinosaur exhibit with all of his plastic toys. Belle talks to her babies and has some quite good conversations. She and Caleb love to bring fast food orders out to you. At any time one or all three may have a cape of some sort attached to their backs or maybe a hat or scarf or some such costume.

I’m not sure at what age you stop playing with toys. It varies I’m sure. One of my boys still secretly (or not so secretly) plays with his little cars! Some people never really stop but they don’t play like they did when they were little. People tend to substitute big kid toys for the toys they played with as kids. They cost more but the purpose is the same. What stops, in some cases entirely, is the imagination. Kids are allowed to do things that adults would never do because of social rules and norms. If you see an adult with a cape pinned to his back running around with a plastic dinosaur in hand what would you think? Seeing a child doing just that brings a smile to even the dourest personalities.

Is seems that adults have to work a lot harder at sparking imagination. Often, it’s not anyone’s fault. Daily routines, responsibilities and even habits can frequently cause the imagination to deteriorate. That’s why there are so many ‘bored’ adults around. Try hanging out with or even watching little kids play. You’ll not be able to keep out the power of their dreams. You might even find your dragon.

Lego Dragon at Disney World. Puff?

A dragon lives forever but not so little boys.

Painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys.

One grey night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more.

And Puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar.

Day 350, March 16, and we’re in Orlando. No bus problems today, yet, so we get to look around. We caught the shuttle for Downtown Disney and head out to look around. We found a good place to eat, Captain Jack’s, then shopped around for souvenirs for the littles.

It was humid which made us hot because we’re dessert rats! I checked email and got a message from a blog friend in Ireland, Sinéad, and she said be sure and stop by Raglan Road Pub. I looked around and we were right there. I told Alan it must be an omen so we stopped. It was a nice break.

Wednesday night took us to Epcot. It took a while to get the shuttle so we hurried to the restaurant. We got there to be told we had to have reservations. Thanks for the notice. Anyway, we hurried to another restaurant, on the other side, and were told, and not very nicely, they were closed. It was 9:02 and they closed at 9:00. I realize they’ve worked all day but jeez, she could have been polite. By this time it was late so we headed towards the bus again while the fireworks show started. We didn’t stop to watch but stole glances as we hurried towards the bus. Thank goodness we beat the crowd. We ended up eating in the dining hall at the resort. It all turned out well but we were tired yet again…or still. I chose a red variegated sock yarn.

Day 351, is March 17, and St. Patrick’s day. I had green. We went back to Downtown Disney, ate and did some last minute shopping. Then it was time to get the bus so we went back. Alan and Hector went for the bus and I sat out by the pool in the shade with a couple of the other drivers and listened to them talk while I knitted. It was a relaxing time before the trip back. I’m not sure why but we were scheduled to leave at 8:30 pm. Everyone was exhausted after being on the go all day. And grouchy. I was glad to be in the suburban! I took the first shift driving and we were on the way. I chose a green variegated cotton I was using for some St. Paddy day knitting.

My new shirt

St. Paddy Day knitting

Day 352, March 18, and we are still driving. It’s such a long way. We finally made it to Texas at 11:45 am.

First rest area in Texas

There’s probably at the least 12 more hours to drive. I chose a variegated worsted with pink, green, purple and orange in it. Day 353, March 19, and we’re home. I’m glad to be out of the car. My ankles were starting to swell! Well, one anyway. It was midnight or a little after when we finally got in. Just went straight to bed then sat around and rested all day long. We had steak for supper and started gearing up for the coming week. I chose a pink variegated tape yarn. It was a good trip and I’m glad that the kids get to go. It’s the only time some will have the chance. I hope they remember forever and keep their imaginations. I’m afraid for some it’s already too late.

Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail.

Jackie kept a lookout perched on Puff's gigantic tail,

Noble kings and princes would bow whene'er they came,

Pirate ships would lower their flags when Puff roared out his name. 
Oh Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea...

I'm Driving My Life Away

Well the midnight headlight find you on a rainy night

steep grade up ahead slow me down makin’ no time…

Gotta keep rollin'…

I was wondering, after spending about 36 hours in the car, just how much time I spend (lose?) driving or riding. So, I asked my math whiz husband and he started figuring it out. He always amazes me when he can start figuring that stuff in his head. All I could say was wait, you’ll have to tell me again because I’m never going to remember all that.

He said, well, you spend 2 hours a day driving, for sure, going to work and back. So let’s see, that would be 10 hours a week. Ten hours a week goes to 40 hours a month which would be about 480 hours a year. Each year you spend a full 12 weeks just driving to and from work. That comes out to 60 full work days or three months time. So you spend approximately 1 quarter of your year driving to and from work. That doesn’t count the distance driven for work after I get there. My work area, geographically, is 37,553 square miles! Wow.

When you spell it out like that it seems amazing I could spend that much time just driving to and from work.

Then of course, there’s the ‘leisure’ driving. The nearest large, and that’s a relevant term, town is either 30 or 50 miles away, depending on the town you are visiting. That’s just to the edge of town. If you actually go somewhere it’s further.

When the kids grew up and left, they didn’t leave to anywhere close. The boys went to school in Golden, Colorado, which is a mere 750 miles, one way. Then Bryce graduated and moved to Tulsa. That made him 570 miles one direction and Ty 750 miles the other direction. When Ty graduated he moved to Vernal, Utah. That’s only 954 miles. Callye is the closest because she only lives 100 miles away. That’s nothing!

When we moved to Crane it was from Portales, New Mexico. I had come from Albuquerque and it was 234 miles to Portales. I thought that was far and took forever. Portales to Crane is 226 miles. Crane to Albuquerque is 425 miles.

It’s easy and probably pretty accurate to say that I spend, at the least, another 480 hours in the car. This would be visiting my parents or the kids or just going on a leisure trip. So that’s approximately another three months in the car. That’s half a year driving or riding. It sounds crazy, doesn’t it!

If I ride I usually get to knit. It’s not possible to (safely) drive and knit. I bet you wonder how I know that. But at least riding is a little bit productive. If it’s something simple I can even knit in the dark.

In a couple of days there will be another 36 hour ride back home. It’s straight through, in case I forgot to mention that tiring fact. I’ll get to knit some and I’ll get to drive some too. And hopefully somewhere in there I’ll get to sleep. It won’t be bad. What’s another day and a half in the car when you are driving your life away?

Those windshield wipers slappin’ out a tempo

keepin' perfect rhythm with the song on the radio…

Gotta keep rolling…

Bottle Brush Tree in Kissimmee...Very pretty!

Day 346 of knitayear, March 12, we make a fast trip to Lubbock, for my birthday. We have to get home, pack and do some other things before the trip so we don’t get to do much there. The littles were going fishing and that would have been fun but there’s just not time. I’m rushed but cherish the time we did get to spend together. I choose off white fun fur. It’s March 13, day 347, and I’m still getting everything together for the trip. Alan runs errands, and takes care of a lot of things while I get the rest of our stuff together. We load into the suburban and we’re off on our big adventure. It starts out great but San Antonio brings an unexpected bus breakdown. A solenoid in the transmission went out and we’re rushing to get a U-Haul, unload, reload and make arrangements for the bus to get to a repair shop. The kids from that bus are loaded into one of the other three and we go on. When I say school bus, it’s not the common yellow bus that comes to mind. The school buses these kids are used to are charter buses and the school owns at least four of their own. I choose a lavender color that’s part of the new yarn. Hoping it brings a peaceful feeling! Day 348, March 14, and we aren’t there yet. We are at least 3 hours, and probably even more than that, behind schedule. Everyone is tired. Finally we’re there and we have around 20 minutes to change clothes before dinner. We got to go to Planet Hollywood. It was fun. We were too tired to go anywhere else but back to the room. There’s tomorrow to explore and sleep calls. No, sleep screams! I choose for this day a black sparkly fur, from the first time it was popular. It kind of fits the place! Day 349, March 15, is the day the kids get to march in the parade. One of the other buses is acting a little strange so after the kids are situated we get it checked out. That took most of the day. Then it was time to eat and again, and we went back to the room. Tomorrow we are going to explore. I hope anyway. It’d be a shame to come to DisneyWorld and never see a bit of it! I feel guilty for resting and wasting the chance. I choose a pale gold yarn for this day. It’s my golden opportunity to see DisneyWorld! And to gear up for the long trip back.

Planet Hollywood at Disney World

Welcome CHS Band!

From the fourth floor and we climbed the stairs.

Not our bus!

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlej....

Hey waitress pour me another cup of coffee

pop me down jack me up shoot me out flyin' down the highway…

Lookin’ for the morning…

Oh, I'm driving my life away, looking for a better way, for me.

Oh, I'm driving my life away, looking for a sunny day…