two knits of ivory

I'm a veteran cynic. Let's face it, any email I receive proffering light bulb! factoids means a browser is soon open and Snopes is being queried. In this day and age, this isn't cynicism, just common sense. However, when I kindly received the following award from the lovely Ms. Blog-Blethers my natural cynicism was not roused. I was just childishly giddy that someone thought kindly of my blog and that I owed her a hearty "thank you" for her generosity of spirit. She nominated me for the Brillante Weblog Premio 2008 award: And I am honored. I have no allusions as to my stature in the blogosphere. My profile is near non existent. I am blessed to have a few people come by and read my musings, and an even smaller few who take time out of their day to write a comment on the things close to my heart. If a blogger wants to shower me with an award, I am pleased as punch. But. There is always a but. This is where looking a gift horse in the mouth comes in. My natural cur...

I actually like memes, but most wind up in my draft folder. This one I couldn't resist for the mere fact the very quiet life I've led for the past 15 or so years is in direct contrast to a crazy childhood. This stroll down memory lane was inspired by Maryse 's posting . Who was your first prom date? I went with a school friend, Eric Barbasso. I was asked the year before at a different school, but I was so shocked to be asked that I said no. The guy was wicked cute too. I am sad to report my interpersonal skills haven't much improved. Do you still talk to your first love? Very rarely, but oddly just two weeks ago. What was your first alcoholic drink? I don't recall but it was probably beer. What was your first job for pay? I started a paper route at age 11. I think the legal age for the job was 12 so I had to get some kind of special dispensation of sorts, but I don't remember what it was. Maybe they just looked the other way? What was your first car? I have ne...

I grew up on a densely settled, flat, barrier island, right outside of Queens, NY, on Long Island's south shore. I lived a stone's throw from the ocean, but we had no view . Between me and the water were six and seven-story apartment buildings that ring the shore, block after block after block. Ever since I can remember, I have loved New England. As a kid I was drawn to the cliche of New England. It was not only the rolling green hills and white steeple churches, but the hardscrabble tenacity of Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome. I already had the hardscrabble background, all I needed was Wharton's austere country landscape to fill out this childhood fantasy of myself. In September 1986, at age 19, I found myself at college in Boston, Massachusetts. A month later the world's most famous ground ball error turned a man, and an entire region, bitter. When the Mets took the Sox in the World Series, the city lost it's breath. I paid no mind, I was a Yankee's fan. Slow...

Shannon over at Minerva Turkey , (who is holding out on us with photos of her clapotis WIP!) tagged me for my first meme. The theme of the meme is 8 random things about yourself. Here goes! 8 Random Things About Moi : 1) Although I took French for a hundred years in school I was never very fluent nor ever able to use it conversationally. However, when I'm writing drafts of my blog posts I often think in French and have to constantly check myself to not include French words. I think it would come across as extremely pretentious. 2) At work I hate not being busy all the time. My work product coincides with the fiscal quarters of the year so I have down times in between that drive me nuts. But at home, I hate being busy. There is nothing more delicious to me than a weekend morning where I can contemplate on having absolutely nothing to do except what I want, like reading a book in front of the fireplace or knitting in the sun on my deck. 3) I didn't learn to drive until I was ...