There’s been a mighty break between posts folks, and some travel has been at fault. A loooong weekend in our nation’s capital with my dear mother. Here are some highlighted photos of the trip:

Mom and I tour the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument.

The Capitol, bright and early in the morning.

Inside the Library of Congress, a fascinating surprise of a museum.

The last Native American reservation in DC.

Taking a break from taxes…..

Overall, we had a great time. We hit a little bit of rain, but otherwise it was a great way to start the spring season. We missed out on the cherry blossoms, they were kinda brown by the time we got there. Fortunately they’re just beginning up in Brooklyn, so they won’t be missed. The best museum was the International Spy Museum. If you go, pay the extra for Operation Spy!! It’s very life-like and worth the extra time and cost. Katie, a former resident and Colleen, offered some great places to visit and eat, thanks for all the ideas, we had a great time.

Quite a bit of knitting content took place on this trip, I made some serious headway on Bianca’s Jacket, but you can shake a stick at me, since I have not yet taken pictures. This baby’s gotten too big to carry around anymore, so I’ve started some secret baby knits for some pregnant friends, and that is all we’ll say about that…

Shortly after returning, I took advantage of the good weather and friends with a car to plant some herbs in the backyard of my building.

This litle spot is not as small as it looks. I’ve got chives, parsley, peas and bean pods to start. There’s another area, not photographed, with tomatoes and basil. I can’t wait for pesto!!! My friend (and neighbor) and I have spent quite a bit of time cleaning out the backyard, which has been a landmine of dog poo and beer cans. We’ve been cleaning up and the building is behind us! This weekend there is a tenants meeting to make plans to fix up the rest of the area, build a shed and start a compost! I love my building!!

Between the garden and work this week, there was a slight mishap with the kitties. Big A picked up a bag of XXX cat food (not their normal brand) which they did NOT like. Dizzle ended up throwing up quite a few times over the weekend, and the rest of the gang stopped eating altogether. We switched back to their regular food, got out their favorite wet food, but nothing worked, these kitties were not eating! I brought Dizzle to the vet on Monday and she lost a pound just from dehydration. The vet gave her fluid and some Zantac to ease her stomach. The other kitties got Zantac to for their upset tummies. As of last night everyone is eating again, (Amen!) but not at full capacity. So from this expensive and stressful lesson, Ye Shall Neva Change Ye Cat Food Without Warning.

11 times. I meant it only 3. Austin and I had a little tiff one night, it didn’t seem fair to leave him out in the cold.

Other times it was an automatic response and I cringed as soon as it slipped out. Doh!! I noticed more often the speech of others, mostly women, who said I’m Sorry, also, well too often.

Do apologies mean anything if you don’t mean them at all? I think I’m going to continue with this little experiment, and keep curbing the sorry’s. It may have slipped up a few times, but that can be contained. I’d like to try this with thank you’s, but it’s likely I’d feel more of an ass than not.

And onto the knitting content….an FO!

The String Bag. Free pattern available here.

Modeled by the lovely Dawn and Jack, this string bag has arrived just in time for spring time trips to the farmer’s market. I think this bad boy is going to stretch to fit lots of fruits and veggies!

I used the leftover mystery cotton from this project. I wasn’t sure if I was going to have enough, but I ended up with just a few oz left. This pattern was very easy to work on, but the needle exchanges were a bit rough. I ended up needing to switch between magic loop and tight stitches on the circular needles, but as it got longer, it get easier.

I also ended up shortening the strap slightly. I used cotton and 16″ is going to stretch quite a bit. I think this is going to be a excellent, functional knit.

In 2007 I participated in Knit from Your Stash, and it was really fun to be a part of it, but I didn’t destash too much. I think the rules were too fun to break. I ended up really getting into socks, since it was pretty much the only yarn I could buy. I’m not participating this year, but I am making an effort to use up more of the yarn that I have. Or when I make a purchase, to have a particular project(s) in mind. Really-I’m embarrassed, have you seen my stash? Sheesh!

So when I happened upon the Circle of Friends pattern, I thought it was a perfect opportunity to use up some yarn that’s been hiding under the bed, and make something pretty for myself. My first blanket attempt was quite unsuccessful, and I’m ready to redeem myself. I realize that the point of the design is that this is knit with a group, but I think it’ll be just as pretty on my own.

Here are the colors I’ve got going:

The yarn is a mix of brands, but its all worsted weight. Mostly wool, maybe an acrylic blend. I do have more red, but I doubt it will be enough for the entire blanket. I may have to pickup more or dig deeeeeep to find a close replacement.

I don’t like saying superfluous words. I really dislike phrases like “Please let me know if you have any questions”; “Basically, the thing is is that….”; “Please feel free to contact me”; you get the idea. I’m no better than anyone else. I sit in my cube as type these phrases that I hate because it’s part of the common courtesy of corporate communication.

I feel that these phrases impair my freedom. Really, have you ever been afraid to contact a colleague, or needed permission to contact them? Maybe if your long lost parent from a closed adoption was suddenly the new accounts coordinator, you would be hesitant to contact them, and you wouldn’t feel free at all. In reality the workplace probably wouldn’t change one bit, because you wouldn’t know that was your long lost parent, though you might feel some strange connection by having the same nose, or strange neck mole.

The most superfluous phrase I hate is: I’m sorry. Throw down the magic word even when you don’t even mean it, hearts will melt. Apologize, apologize. I’m a sap, it makes me feel better. Leave me stranded in the rain with no umbrella, and when you remember to come and get me that better be the first words out of your mouth. Empathy, people. That’s what matters, right?

Who are these people that never apologize? You know them. Some of us are related to them. Some of us married them. They are often hated, but respected. It occurred to me the other day when I was on the subway. Someone tried to pass me in a crowded car, and as she shoved her elbows into my back and I lurched forward to make room for her, guess who was the one to apologize. What am I sorry for? My existence? Why not say “watch out” or “excuse your elbows, please.”

I’m calling a stop to this, I’m stopping the apologies right now. For one week I’m not going to say I’m sorry, even when I really am. I’d go ahead and apologize to the people I might offend in the next week, but that would defeat the purpose of this exercise. So I’m not sorry for not saying I’m not sorry. Already it feels pretty foreign, I gotta say. Do you get where I’m going with this? I can’t tell if it’s the word or the lack of integrity in my language that’s bothering me. Let’s cut it and see what happens. I’m watching my language for the next seven days, tomorrow morning I start counting.