In my inbox this morning:
"you are worth it and are deeply deserving of whatever love i can give you."
Awww.
I do love that man, even if he does seem to have a vehement opposition to capital letters.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
I'm becoming Georgified.
I said "yes ma'am" to my grandma on the phone last night.
She laughed at me. (and, yay! she's going to come visit me in a few weeks. She is 82 years of spunk and drive, I'm going to be exhausted by the time she leaves!)
Unrelated to Georgia:
Webster's daily dose of reading aloud last night? Elizabeth Zimmerman. Well-informed kitty indeed.
She laughed at me. (and, yay! she's going to come visit me in a few weeks. She is 82 years of spunk and drive, I'm going to be exhausted by the time she leaves!)
Unrelated to Georgia:
Webster's daily dose of reading aloud last night? Elizabeth Zimmerman. Well-informed kitty indeed.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Well-Informed Cat.
I believe I may have an extraordinarily well-informed cat. In fact, in matters relating to Foreign Policy, Webster might possibly be more well-read than the soon-to-be First Puppy (shouldn't First Pets be informed?).
Rather than dense IR theory, I've been reading a lot of documents lately. Documents that I've of course read before, but need to read again to place them in a new context- and there are some words that just need to be read aloud. The "I Have a Dream" speech, the Declaration of Independence, NSC-68... you get the picture. So I read to the cat. He no longer looks at me like I'm crazy, which he most certainly did the first few times. There's still some theory- and when it's dense enough that it needs to be read aloud to be understood, I read that to him too. Or if there's something especially profound or enlightening. Poor cat. He'll know what to say if any Foreign Policy questions ever come up in conversation though. He's getting quite bright, that cat...
Sometimes I think it's a good thing Ranger Man isn't around very often- I would probably drive him batty.
Oh- and the sweater? I'm still stuck. I messaged the designers on Ravelry to see if they can help (thanks Cookie!) but I may have to do the sleeves with DPNs because that's the only way that makes sense to me. Urgh. At least that way I wouldn't have to seam anything, right?
Rather than dense IR theory, I've been reading a lot of documents lately. Documents that I've of course read before, but need to read again to place them in a new context- and there are some words that just need to be read aloud. The "I Have a Dream" speech, the Declaration of Independence, NSC-68... you get the picture. So I read to the cat. He no longer looks at me like I'm crazy, which he most certainly did the first few times. There's still some theory- and when it's dense enough that it needs to be read aloud to be understood, I read that to him too. Or if there's something especially profound or enlightening. Poor cat. He'll know what to say if any Foreign Policy questions ever come up in conversation though. He's getting quite bright, that cat...
Sometimes I think it's a good thing Ranger Man isn't around very often- I would probably drive him batty.
Oh- and the sweater? I'm still stuck. I messaged the designers on Ravelry to see if they can help (thanks Cookie!) but I may have to do the sleeves with DPNs because that's the only way that makes sense to me. Urgh. At least that way I wouldn't have to seam anything, right?
Friday, February 20, 2009
Stuck
Watch out: Knitting talk ahead.
I'm done with the body of the sweater. Yay!
But I'm stuck on the sleeves- there are two options in the pattern, but the first one (the recommended/'easy' one) doesn't say when to pick up the live stitches. That option calls for knitting the sleeves flat (because it's garter stitch)... but if you pick up the stitches first, it won't be flat it would be round, right? And they explicitly mention seaming in this option, so why not say when to pick up the stitches? hm. anyone have any ideas? Is it just too late at night for me to figure this out?
The rest of the pattern was very easy to follow- why am I not understanding the sleeve part all of a sudden? ugh.
I'm done with the body of the sweater. Yay!
But I'm stuck on the sleeves- there are two options in the pattern, but the first one (the recommended/'easy' one) doesn't say when to pick up the live stitches. That option calls for knitting the sleeves flat (because it's garter stitch)... but if you pick up the stitches first, it won't be flat it would be round, right? And they explicitly mention seaming in this option, so why not say when to pick up the stitches? hm. anyone have any ideas? Is it just too late at night for me to figure this out?
The rest of the pattern was very easy to follow- why am I not understanding the sleeve part all of a sudden? ugh.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
My Heart Day. Complete with Camel.
Before he left, I told Ranger Man to keep his eye out for Camel Yarn (i.e. yarn made from camel hair/fur/coat/whatever camels have). It's supposedly soft, and I know it's expensive. I've never actually seen it in person, although I've seen it on websites etc. I was obviously kind of joking because the idea of a bunch of guys in ACUs with big guns hanging out at a market (ah-sooq) looking at yarns... hehehe. That's cute.
He said he got me something for Valentine's Day. What a guy. He also let it slip that it was yarn. That's not too surprising. Christmas and my birthday weren't too long ago, I have wishlists set up at The Loopy Ewe and Woolgirl, which he knows about... and really? me? yarn? no brainer. He's not completely dim.
So I knew I had a package coming, and that it wasn't coming from the far-off-land where he is. None of my letters have gotten there yet, so I've stopped sending him stuff because I am worried there's some sort of mail black hole where he's been- it's been a long time, and I don't think he's that far out in the middle of nowhere that it would take this long. So I'm not sending anything else until he gets something. So I confirmed that he didn't send me something from there because it may never get here.
I got a notice from UPS on my door yesterday that I had a package in the office waiting for me. Yay! My Valentine's Day package. But weird. None of the places that I usually buy yarn from ship with UPS. huh. So naturally I took my lunch break today to come home and pick up my package. It was from yarnmarket.com. I've never shopped from them before- and I kept trying to think if I'd ever even showed him that website before. Nope, I didn't think so.
It's not that long of a drive from the office to our apartment (even though there are 9 speedbumps. 9.), but it was AWFUL! I wanted to know what was in that box so badly! I kept reaching out to touch the box as though I could feel it through the cardboard. Good grief I'm weird some times.
I got home and opened the box immediately! It was two skeins of Snow Leopard Trust "Handspun Camel" in a green color called wasabi. Of course green- my favorite color, even if I can't wear it (probably because I can't wear it). He knows me well. The best part? Well, besides the fact that he actually got me Camel yarn, and spent all the time finding it on his own (I wonder if any of the other Rangers were looking over his shoulder while he was looking at yarn online)- is that the money from the yarn goes back to the community where the camels came from and the yarn was spun. Sweet and socially conscious. I love it. Maybe this weekend if the severe thunderstorms stop, I'll try to get pictures of it.
It was a very sweet Valentine's Day present.
He said he got me something for Valentine's Day. What a guy. He also let it slip that it was yarn. That's not too surprising. Christmas and my birthday weren't too long ago, I have wishlists set up at The Loopy Ewe and Woolgirl, which he knows about... and really? me? yarn? no brainer. He's not completely dim.
So I knew I had a package coming, and that it wasn't coming from the far-off-land where he is. None of my letters have gotten there yet, so I've stopped sending him stuff because I am worried there's some sort of mail black hole where he's been- it's been a long time, and I don't think he's that far out in the middle of nowhere that it would take this long. So I'm not sending anything else until he gets something. So I confirmed that he didn't send me something from there because it may never get here.
I got a notice from UPS on my door yesterday that I had a package in the office waiting for me. Yay! My Valentine's Day package. But weird. None of the places that I usually buy yarn from ship with UPS. huh. So naturally I took my lunch break today to come home and pick up my package. It was from yarnmarket.com. I've never shopped from them before- and I kept trying to think if I'd ever even showed him that website before. Nope, I didn't think so.
It's not that long of a drive from the office to our apartment (even though there are 9 speedbumps. 9.), but it was AWFUL! I wanted to know what was in that box so badly! I kept reaching out to touch the box as though I could feel it through the cardboard. Good grief I'm weird some times.
I got home and opened the box immediately! It was two skeins of Snow Leopard Trust "Handspun Camel" in a green color called wasabi. Of course green- my favorite color, even if I can't wear it (probably because I can't wear it). He knows me well. The best part? Well, besides the fact that he actually got me Camel yarn, and spent all the time finding it on his own (I wonder if any of the other Rangers were looking over his shoulder while he was looking at yarn online)- is that the money from the yarn goes back to the community where the camels came from and the yarn was spun. Sweet and socially conscious. I love it. Maybe this weekend if the severe thunderstorms stop, I'll try to get pictures of it.
It was a very sweet Valentine's Day present.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Sweater in Progress
My first sweater!
I've never knit a sweater before, so this is my first go- is there a good way to take a picture of a sweater-in-progress? Because this picture just looks kind of sad.
The pattern is the Tree Jacket by Zephyr Style, I'm using Cascade 220 Heathers... not sure of the colorway number off the top of my head, but that's a decent replication (at least on my monitor). It will look less pathetic when it has sleeves. Of course... the sleeves are the last part, so when it has sleeves, it will be done! yay! And then it will be 100 degrees outside and I won't be able to wear it but, I'll know if my heart that I have knit a sweater.
Ranger Man's mom bought me the yarn for my birthday, so she can't be all that bad. Even if she wouldn't stop talking about Ranger Man's ex, who went to Wellesley, and is just so smart... Oh, what a fun Christmas I had! At least a pretty sweater will come out of it.
I'm off to spend the rest of the day working on resumes/cover letters, reading and maybe taking a nap. Webster's trying really hard to convince me that a nap is in order, and I'm having a really hard time convincing him that it would be better to read about the impact of race on US imperialism in the Philippines.
I've never knit a sweater before, so this is my first go- is there a good way to take a picture of a sweater-in-progress? Because this picture just looks kind of sad.
The pattern is the Tree Jacket by Zephyr Style, I'm using Cascade 220 Heathers... not sure of the colorway number off the top of my head, but that's a decent replication (at least on my monitor). It will look less pathetic when it has sleeves. Of course... the sleeves are the last part, so when it has sleeves, it will be done! yay! And then it will be 100 degrees outside and I won't be able to wear it but, I'll know if my heart that I have knit a sweater.
Ranger Man's mom bought me the yarn for my birthday, so she can't be all that bad. Even if she wouldn't stop talking about Ranger Man's ex, who went to Wellesley, and is just so smart... Oh, what a fun Christmas I had! At least a pretty sweater will come out of it.
I'm off to spend the rest of the day working on resumes/cover letters, reading and maybe taking a nap. Webster's trying really hard to convince me that a nap is in order, and I'm having a really hard time convincing him that it would be better to read about the impact of race on US imperialism in the Philippines.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Socks, Suds and Decisions
Yay, socks!
I love this colorway. The pattern is Simple Socks in Three Sizes by Cat Bordhi. The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill Sockittome in the Caribou Creek Colorway. I wasn't super crazy about it in the hank, but when I put it on the swift, even Ranger Man (obviously I wound it quite a while ago) noted "wow, that's really pretty!" I was captivated by the colors. It's mostly the mauvey colors, but it's also got pinker sections, blues and greens.
On an unrelated note, I got an answer to one of the deployment questions that has been bothering me:
Yes, I can hear my cell phone ring while I'm in the shower. I had a lovely conversation with Ranger Man yesterday with full-on suds. Webster was looking at me like I was completely nuts as I had a the shampoo lather still in my hair and I was standing in the shower with the door wide open, taking on the phone.
I'm contemplating applying for a different job. At the same school, but not in the library. A position just opened up- it's the on-post coordinator and heres the important part: It's part time. I'd have a chance to actually finish my thesis- so I can teach, which is what I really want to do. So I'm spending the weekend deciding if I want to apply for this other job (I do), and if/how this could adversely affect my current position if I don't get the new one. hm. One more day of weekend before I have to make any concrete "to apply or not to apply" decisions.
More knitting pictures tomorrow
Friday, February 13, 2009
Things I LOVE about Deportment.
I have to do this, otherwise it would be the complete opposite (things I hate), and I'm trying hard to stay positive. So... I give you:
Things I LOVE about Deportment.
1. 1. More knitting/studying time. I hate to lump those together in the same category, but I typically do them together for motivation, and it’s hard to take a whole day of nothing but read a chapter/knit twenty minutes/read a chapter/knit twenty minutes if Ranger Man is there and wants to do something, or even just talk! Plus, I can’t really knit lace if he’s home. He’s distracting!
2.I 2. I am able to be independent and take care of myself. Sometimes he does too good of a job taking care of me, and it is refreshing to be on my own and to have to be independent.
3. 3. If I can’t sleep at night, I don’t have to feel guilty about tossing and turning and keeping someone else up.
4. 4. Webster’s more lovey and snuggly when Ranger Man’s gone. Not that he’s standoffish when Ranger Man is here, but he doesn’t sit on my lap as often… Although that was kind of changing towards the end there- good thing Ranger Men left again, otherwise we might be fighting over kitty snuggles!
5. 5. Ranger Man buys me more yarn when he’s away/been away/going away. Of course, that is most of the time… lucky yarn-getting me!
6. 6. I can watch whatever I want on tv. The corollary to this is that I don’t have to watch Rambo, Steven Seagal (sp?) or any derivative thereof. Unless I want to.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Disappointment
I'm the advisor to the student gov't association at work. Not my dream job, but it comes with the territory and I couldn't turn it down.
The students, when I started were a government in name only, and in the past few months have made incredible turn arounds and have started to actually act like a student organization, and I'm proud of them.
Today, they had a vote. On the table was a motion to spend $35 of their $105 budgeted surplus for the month on a community service project, and they chose instead to either buy t-shirts for themselves, or a controller for their wii.
They went through all the right steps, they raised the right objections, but when it came down to it, they chose not to spend the money on helping the greatest number of people, and while I am glad they are on the right track procedurally, I am severely disappointed. They didn't do anything wrong... but I am so disappointed.
It must be deportment time, because my emotions are all topsy-turvy.
The students, when I started were a government in name only, and in the past few months have made incredible turn arounds and have started to actually act like a student organization, and I'm proud of them.
Today, they had a vote. On the table was a motion to spend $35 of their $105 budgeted surplus for the month on a community service project, and they chose instead to either buy t-shirts for themselves, or a controller for their wii.
They went through all the right steps, they raised the right objections, but when it came down to it, they chose not to spend the money on helping the greatest number of people, and while I am glad they are on the right track procedurally, I am severely disappointed. They didn't do anything wrong... but I am so disappointed.
It must be deportment time, because my emotions are all topsy-turvy.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The end of the Saga
I have to finish this, or at least get further, because someone came to my blog from by googling "I broke up with him before deployment" and- this needs a happy ending, darn it!
But, it has to get worse before it gets better (that is usually the case, isn't it?) He went off to Ranger School, and I was going to regular school with a really hot firefighter. Seriously- it's that cliche. Really hot firefighter. I didn't tell Ranger Man about the Stupid Firefighter until he got back from Ranger School, and of course at that time he wasn't the Stupid Firefighter, he was still the dreamy hot Firefighter.
Shortly thereafter though, he became the Stupid Firefighter - and to this day, all firefighters are stupid firefighters- and Ranger Man was the one I ran to. He's the one I wanted to talk to. But still, I didn't want a real relationship, especially not after the implosion that was the Stupd Firefighter.
Ranger man and I would talk on the phone almost every night, about everything and anything. But I didn't want a relationship. He was too intense, I was avoiding anything commitment related. I would joke that it would be weird (in a nice way) to date someone who didn't want to marry me (ha. if only I knew).
One day, at work, far away from Army land, in to my office (which was shaped like a crane and thus rather fantastical in and of itself) waltzes this guy, older, true, but he was in ACUs and ... drumroll please ... He was wearing Ranger Tabs.
He was buddies with a couple of my coworkers, who had purposefully not told me that they knew this guys, and he was an SF reservist. I honestly didn't know what he looked like- all I saw were the tabs (ack, I just realized I'm one of "those girls"!).
The guy was 40. ew. I went out with him for a few months. LONG story short, it was miserable. ick- did I mention he was 40 and I was 22? so gross. He did have a cute puppy though... But I was closer to his kids' ages than to his. And, as my friend A so kindly noted... "You know his kids are checking you out when you go over there, right" ick, ick, ick.
So I finally (finally!) realized that the only darn reason I was going out with him were those stupid tabs. And that the whole time I was with SF guy, all I really wanted to do was talk to Ranger Man.
So, after having told Ranger Man, twice I believe, that I couldn't be more than just friends and him telling me that he couldn't not be just friends... I ate a bunch of humble pie and called him.
"I'm ready," I said. "You were right, let's do this."
And then, of course, this guy who was supposedly 'non-deployable' deployed. And changed his MOS. and the rest you all know.
Phew, a long entry, but a happy ending to the story, right?
But, it has to get worse before it gets better (that is usually the case, isn't it?) He went off to Ranger School, and I was going to regular school with a really hot firefighter. Seriously- it's that cliche. Really hot firefighter. I didn't tell Ranger Man about the Stupid Firefighter until he got back from Ranger School, and of course at that time he wasn't the Stupid Firefighter, he was still the dreamy hot Firefighter.
Shortly thereafter though, he became the Stupid Firefighter - and to this day, all firefighters are stupid firefighters- and Ranger Man was the one I ran to. He's the one I wanted to talk to. But still, I didn't want a real relationship, especially not after the implosion that was the Stupd Firefighter.
Ranger man and I would talk on the phone almost every night, about everything and anything. But I didn't want a relationship. He was too intense, I was avoiding anything commitment related. I would joke that it would be weird (in a nice way) to date someone who didn't want to marry me (ha. if only I knew).
One day, at work, far away from Army land, in to my office (which was shaped like a crane and thus rather fantastical in and of itself) waltzes this guy, older, true, but he was in ACUs and ... drumroll please ... He was wearing Ranger Tabs.
He was buddies with a couple of my coworkers, who had purposefully not told me that they knew this guys, and he was an SF reservist. I honestly didn't know what he looked like- all I saw were the tabs (ack, I just realized I'm one of "those girls"!).
The guy was 40. ew. I went out with him for a few months. LONG story short, it was miserable. ick- did I mention he was 40 and I was 22? so gross. He did have a cute puppy though... But I was closer to his kids' ages than to his. And, as my friend A so kindly noted... "You know his kids are checking you out when you go over there, right" ick, ick, ick.
So I finally (finally!) realized that the only darn reason I was going out with him were those stupid tabs. And that the whole time I was with SF guy, all I really wanted to do was talk to Ranger Man.
So, after having told Ranger Man, twice I believe, that I couldn't be more than just friends and him telling me that he couldn't not be just friends... I ate a bunch of humble pie and called him.
"I'm ready," I said. "You were right, let's do this."
And then, of course, this guy who was supposedly 'non-deployable' deployed. And changed his MOS. and the rest you all know.
Phew, a long entry, but a happy ending to the story, right?
Monday, February 9, 2009
Not on my "to see" list
I will NOT be going to see this movie. Just thinking about it is giving me the heebie-jeebies.
A film about casualty notification officers. I'm not sure how they can work that into a real, true plot... but I really don't care to find out. I'm sure it's a lovely film. Truly, poignant and "humanist" and just lovely, but I will not be seeing it. I doubt I could even watch it after Ranger Man separates from the Army. Geeze.
I'm curious about how this plays out- but not curious enough to see it for myself. Will people embrace it? Reject it? Interestingly, the article doesn't mention a US release date...
A film about casualty notification officers. I'm not sure how they can work that into a real, true plot... but I really don't care to find out. I'm sure it's a lovely film. Truly, poignant and "humanist" and just lovely, but I will not be seeing it. I doubt I could even watch it after Ranger Man separates from the Army. Geeze.
I'm curious about how this plays out- but not curious enough to see it for myself. Will people embrace it? Reject it? Interestingly, the article doesn't mention a US release date...
Sunday, February 8, 2009
The Saga, part II
Yesterday I wrote about the beginning of our saga.
Ranger Man literally got back from his week-long leave visiting a friend in Germany on my last day living in he same city as him. He called me when he landed on the East Coast for his lay-over, and I remember that kind of freaked me out. The message he left me, after one "date," started with...
"hey, it's me"
And after one date, I was not pleased about that level of familiarity. Not at all. But the fact of the matter was that I had just ended one life and he was the only one from that life that wanted to be a part of my continued life. I'm not sure if that makes sense. Let me try to explain a little better.
The ex (Mike, remember?) had kind of cut me off from everything. As he and I broke up, I started to branch out and have my own life again, but it was a cursory excursion into a life of my own, and then I was moving two hours away (story of my life!). Ranger Man was the only one to bridge the transition. He was the only one that wouldn't let me just leave- he wouldn't let me out of his life (story of his life!).
We talked on the phone, and I finally relented- and said okay to letting him come up North to visit me. I had this grand idea that would go back to school (after already getting my AA and my BA) to get another AA in paralegal studies, so I was doing that. Stepping backwards educationally is not a good idea, in case anyone was wondering.
So, Ranger Man and I would hang out on the weekends- usually about every other weekend, and we'd talk on the phone just about every night. I was adamant, still, that I didn't want to get into another Army relationship, that I was tired of being left alone... and he was adamant that he wasn't gone ery often (ha!). At the time it was true- he was non-deployable.
I was dating another guy at the time also- Flyboy was in the Air Force and was also driving two hours (on the off weekends that Ranger Boy didn't come up) to see me. But it wasn't the same.
Eventually, after a couple months of this, he left for Ranger School. And Flyboy- well, that wasn't going much of anywhere.
The weekend before he left for Ranger School, I told him that as much as I enjoyed spending time with him, he still wasn't my boyfriend, and I still wasn't his girlfriend. That I would be there when he got back, but I wasn't going to wait for him. We're talking about being within three months of when I had broken off my engagement- I don't think it was unreasonable. And I meant every word. According to him though, he didn't believe my words, because my "smooches" told a different story... Why don't boys believe the things you tell them?
Stay tuned for part three... It's a doozy, and I'm not quite in a good enough mood to type it all out right now.
Oh yes- no knitting today. I mean, I did knit today, but I didn't take any pictures (did I mention I wasn't in that good of a mood? I've had a bit of startitis lately- starting a ton of new projects. I'll try to take pictures soon, once I stop feeling crabby.)
Ranger Man literally got back from his week-long leave visiting a friend in Germany on my last day living in he same city as him. He called me when he landed on the East Coast for his lay-over, and I remember that kind of freaked me out. The message he left me, after one "date," started with...
"hey, it's me"
And after one date, I was not pleased about that level of familiarity. Not at all. But the fact of the matter was that I had just ended one life and he was the only one from that life that wanted to be a part of my continued life. I'm not sure if that makes sense. Let me try to explain a little better.
The ex (Mike, remember?) had kind of cut me off from everything. As he and I broke up, I started to branch out and have my own life again, but it was a cursory excursion into a life of my own, and then I was moving two hours away (story of my life!). Ranger Man was the only one to bridge the transition. He was the only one that wouldn't let me just leave- he wouldn't let me out of his life (story of his life!).
We talked on the phone, and I finally relented- and said okay to letting him come up North to visit me. I had this grand idea that would go back to school (after already getting my AA and my BA) to get another AA in paralegal studies, so I was doing that. Stepping backwards educationally is not a good idea, in case anyone was wondering.
So, Ranger Man and I would hang out on the weekends- usually about every other weekend, and we'd talk on the phone just about every night. I was adamant, still, that I didn't want to get into another Army relationship, that I was tired of being left alone... and he was adamant that he wasn't gone ery often (ha!). At the time it was true- he was non-deployable.
I was dating another guy at the time also- Flyboy was in the Air Force and was also driving two hours (on the off weekends that Ranger Boy didn't come up) to see me. But it wasn't the same.
Eventually, after a couple months of this, he left for Ranger School. And Flyboy- well, that wasn't going much of anywhere.
The weekend before he left for Ranger School, I told him that as much as I enjoyed spending time with him, he still wasn't my boyfriend, and I still wasn't his girlfriend. That I would be there when he got back, but I wasn't going to wait for him. We're talking about being within three months of when I had broken off my engagement- I don't think it was unreasonable. And I meant every word. According to him though, he didn't believe my words, because my "smooches" told a different story... Why don't boys believe the things you tell them?
Stay tuned for part three... It's a doozy, and I'm not quite in a good enough mood to type it all out right now.
Oh yes- no knitting today. I mean, I did knit today, but I didn't take any pictures (did I mention I wasn't in that good of a mood? I've had a bit of startitis lately- starting a ton of new projects. I'll try to take pictures soon, once I stop feeling crabby.)
Saturday, February 7, 2009
The Saga, part 1
This is long overdue, and it's going to have to happen in parts, I believe if I want to tell the whole story. The problem is the whole story is... long and kind of ugly. But perhaps it will be cathartic.
Casablanca is on TV tonight, which makes it a perfect time to start telling the story of how Ranger Man and I met.
The story of how we met is straightforward, uncomplicated and easy to tell. The story of how we got together- well, that's different. Here's the first installment.
Short version- I was working at the local climbing gym, and he was climbing as part of his training for ranger school. (I used to call him a 'baby ranger' before he went to ranger school. This never actually was endearing to him, although I thought it was a perfect description. How else do you describe someone who works with the regiment, but hasn't gone through ranger school yet?). There's knitting involved too- I had just re-taught myself how to knit, and my work project was trying to come up with the perfect design for a knitted chalk bag. But that's only sort of related.
When we met, I was engaged. Not very happily engaged, but wearing a ring nonetheless. My ex's name was Mike (that's a common-enough name, I'm not making up a code name for him), and he had just ETS'd a few months previously (gotten out of the Army). He had been regular Army ('big Army,' in Ranger talk), and had separated (gotten out the Army) immediately following a year long deployment- and stop-loss. To leave out the painful details- while Mike wasn't physically abusive, he wasn't the greatest guy to be with. Eventually, I broke up with him, but was still living with him (awkward much?!). I was going to move back in with my parents, in the town I grew up in, 2 hours away from where we were living (and were Ranger Man was), and he was moving to New York to go to school.
At this point, I was NOT trying to get in a relationship. Ranger Man was trying to get me to go out with him- but the last thing I wanted was a new boyfriend, and I wanted even less to go out with another Army guy who was just going to be gone all the time.
But... I was living with a guy that I didn't even want to talk to any more, so I agreed to go out to dinner with Ranger Man one night. It was the night before he was going to Germany on leave, and one week before I was moving (therefore: I was going to be gone when he got back). Probably the best part of the whole night was getting dressed and doing my hair/makeup while Mike was right there... that might make me a terrible person. We had dinner, and Ranger Man dropped me back at my apartment. I honestly (and I don't think he knows this) didn't think of this as a 'date.' I just had to get out of that apartment, and here was this guy who wouldn't leave me alone at work, and I had a good enough time talking with him.
We said goodbye, he left for Germany, and I continued packing and moving my stuff back in with my parents. This was not the high point of my life. Actually, it was probably one of the lows. Webster and I were no longer on our own, we were moving back in with my parents (Webster's Grandparents), unemployed and very defeated. ugh.
Stay tuned for the rest of the saga. Trust me, it is a saga. Tomorrow though, there might be a saga break for some knitting.
Casablanca is on TV tonight, which makes it a perfect time to start telling the story of how Ranger Man and I met.
The story of how we met is straightforward, uncomplicated and easy to tell. The story of how we got together- well, that's different. Here's the first installment.
Short version- I was working at the local climbing gym, and he was climbing as part of his training for ranger school. (I used to call him a 'baby ranger' before he went to ranger school. This never actually was endearing to him, although I thought it was a perfect description. How else do you describe someone who works with the regiment, but hasn't gone through ranger school yet?). There's knitting involved too- I had just re-taught myself how to knit, and my work project was trying to come up with the perfect design for a knitted chalk bag. But that's only sort of related.
When we met, I was engaged. Not very happily engaged, but wearing a ring nonetheless. My ex's name was Mike (that's a common-enough name, I'm not making up a code name for him), and he had just ETS'd a few months previously (gotten out of the Army). He had been regular Army ('big Army,' in Ranger talk), and had separated (gotten out the Army) immediately following a year long deployment- and stop-loss. To leave out the painful details- while Mike wasn't physically abusive, he wasn't the greatest guy to be with. Eventually, I broke up with him, but was still living with him (awkward much?!). I was going to move back in with my parents, in the town I grew up in, 2 hours away from where we were living (and were Ranger Man was), and he was moving to New York to go to school.
At this point, I was NOT trying to get in a relationship. Ranger Man was trying to get me to go out with him- but the last thing I wanted was a new boyfriend, and I wanted even less to go out with another Army guy who was just going to be gone all the time.
But... I was living with a guy that I didn't even want to talk to any more, so I agreed to go out to dinner with Ranger Man one night. It was the night before he was going to Germany on leave, and one week before I was moving (therefore: I was going to be gone when he got back). Probably the best part of the whole night was getting dressed and doing my hair/makeup while Mike was right there... that might make me a terrible person. We had dinner, and Ranger Man dropped me back at my apartment. I honestly (and I don't think he knows this) didn't think of this as a 'date.' I just had to get out of that apartment, and here was this guy who wouldn't leave me alone at work, and I had a good enough time talking with him.
We said goodbye, he left for Germany, and I continued packing and moving my stuff back in with my parents. This was not the high point of my life. Actually, it was probably one of the lows. Webster and I were no longer on our own, we were moving back in with my parents (Webster's Grandparents), unemployed and very defeated. ugh.
Stay tuned for the rest of the saga. Trust me, it is a saga. Tomorrow though, there might be a saga break for some knitting.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Overheard at the library...
What I dealt with today at work:
"What the h3LL are you wearing?" (this comment was addressed to me- that was definitely the highlight of my day... not) Actually, I'm wearing a skirt and some uggs. (ughs?) Because it's cold today and my hand-knit socks don't fit inside my regular work shoes that I got to wear in NORMAL Georgia weather that isn't below freezing. thankyouverymuch. Leave me alone about my dressing habits.
...and...
"Where's the paper that says how you, you know, get online."
To which my response was (in my best, librarian, wtf are you talking about voice) "What exactly do you want to do online?"
"Oh just, you know, get online, you know" right. get online.
This was similar to when a student called on the phone and asked me how to "log in to the website." of course, our school doesn't have just one (or two) log in/password websites- there's a different combination for registration, email, and learning portals... so "that one website, you know, the school one," wasn't so helpful.
Apparently it's getting to be that time in the term, when due dates come knocking and students completely forget that they can think for themselves. Instead they insist that I must do it for them.
(Actually today was a good day, punctuated by the funny. When it's truly discouraging, I can't bring myself to post about it because it is just too sad. Today was funny though)
"What the h3LL are you wearing?" (this comment was addressed to me- that was definitely the highlight of my day... not) Actually, I'm wearing a skirt and some uggs. (ughs?) Because it's cold today and my hand-knit socks don't fit inside my regular work shoes that I got to wear in NORMAL Georgia weather that isn't below freezing. thankyouverymuch. Leave me alone about my dressing habits.
...and...
"Where's the paper that says how you, you know, get online."
To which my response was (in my best, librarian, wtf are you talking about voice) "What exactly do you want to do online?"
"Oh just, you know, get online, you know" right. get online.
This was similar to when a student called on the phone and asked me how to "log in to the website." of course, our school doesn't have just one (or two) log in/password websites- there's a different combination for registration, email, and learning portals... so "that one website, you know, the school one," wasn't so helpful.
Apparently it's getting to be that time in the term, when due dates come knocking and students completely forget that they can think for themselves. Instead they insist that I must do it for them.
(Actually today was a good day, punctuated by the funny. When it's truly discouraging, I can't bring myself to post about it because it is just too sad. Today was funny though)
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
PTG - done.
I just submitted my petition to graduate (PTG). Of course, my thesis won't be complete... but right now, I am not thinking about that. Right now all I'm thinking is that little piece of paper is signed and faxed. Later tonight I'll go back to thinking thesis. Or maybe tomorrow. Right now, I'm riding high knowing that my graduation date is MAY '09! I love it!
Another Scarf?!
I couldn't make a scarf for Josie without making something for my actual Grandma also.
And a hat for my brother (his birthday was last month).
The scarf is the Misti Chunky Ribs & Ruffles scarf (rav link)- I made it a bit wider than the pattern called for, and as I like my scarves wide I would have liked it even better if it was even wider than this. I used some "Knitting Fever Cashmere Luxury" yarn that I got for about $3 a ball at Tuesday Morning some time back, so this a very, very soft scarf. Super quick too- I think it was about a two day venture. Although- those two days were with Ranger Man's parents, so they were pretty full knitting days.
The pattern for the hat is the Hat Fit for A Boyfriend (non-rav link). It took me a few tries to get this one. Total knitting time for one hat is about two days. It took me about a month because, due to dye-lot issues and a case of missing DPNs, and not making the first one big enough... phew. Apparently he likes it though- who wouldn't it's Malabrigo!!
Oh- and yes, that's a towel hanging over the shower door in the background, and it's a very special towel to me. Is it weird that I have a special towel?
I Finally (yes, capital F) got to talk to Ranger Man yesterday for the first time since he's been gone. He's had pretty regular email contact (once ever day or so), but talking on the phone is completely different, even if there are a bunch of MI guys listening and a 5 second delay. It was nice to hear his voice through the static!
And a hat for my brother (his birthday was last month).
The scarf is the Misti Chunky Ribs & Ruffles scarf (rav link)- I made it a bit wider than the pattern called for, and as I like my scarves wide I would have liked it even better if it was even wider than this. I used some "Knitting Fever Cashmere Luxury" yarn that I got for about $3 a ball at Tuesday Morning some time back, so this a very, very soft scarf. Super quick too- I think it was about a two day venture. Although- those two days were with Ranger Man's parents, so they were pretty full knitting days.
The pattern for the hat is the Hat Fit for A Boyfriend (non-rav link). It took me a few tries to get this one. Total knitting time for one hat is about two days. It took me about a month because, due to dye-lot issues and a case of missing DPNs, and not making the first one big enough... phew. Apparently he likes it though- who wouldn't it's Malabrigo!!
Oh- and yes, that's a towel hanging over the shower door in the background, and it's a very special towel to me. Is it weird that I have a special towel?
I Finally (yes, capital F) got to talk to Ranger Man yesterday for the first time since he's been gone. He's had pretty regular email contact (once ever day or so), but talking on the phone is completely different, even if there are a bunch of MI guys listening and a 5 second delay. It was nice to hear his voice through the static!
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