Thursday, December 22, 2005

Power

So, I can't sleep. I suspect it has something to do with nerves and the holidays and going on vacation but not really going on vacation from work just leaving the brick and mortar of my office for the case of a laptop. For the record, it is 5am; I’ve been up since 4am, went to bed at 12:30 am. This is an accident waiting to happen.

While I have mentioned my serious need for a lot of sleep before, I am not sure you can truly appreciate how ugly it gets when sleep does not happen. I am a 9 hours of sleep a night kind of girl. Always been that way. Used to be more tolerant of restless nights, it was relatively easy for me to bounce back. Getting older, for me, has meant that I really cannot do without. How ugly can it be? You know the 2-year old in a line at the grocery? Tired and pissed off and throwing a Grade A Tantrum with the harried mom at his side? I'm the 2-year old. Having kids is going to be great for me; we'll all be in strict competition for the Whiner of the Year award.


Rob and I started our official Christmas Week (a little something like Birthday Week) last night with Elisa and Mike. Yay, the Christmas giving season has finally commenced! I love giving gifts when I am able to find "the perfect gift." It is such a joy. This time of the year can be difficult, finding That gift with a deadline and a crowded American Capitalist Machine is not easy and sometimes not fun. For these kids, it was fun.

We spent the better part of the evening at one of our favorite watering holes talking and laughing and talking. And, the best part, I was a recipient of, among other things (including some handmade stitch markers and um, Lorna's Lace sock yarn (Elisa clearly doesn't have a sock yarn buying problem, I swear)), a hand knit piece of clothing. And you know what? This is the first time I have ever received a piece of hand knit clothing. A one-skein wonder. I am in love. Who knew? I woke up this morning at ass crack and HAD to put it on. Wearing a hand knit is like taking all of the power in the world and funneling it through your body. You can do anything in a hand knit. Yarn has been manipulated into a structure that now envelops your body. Anything is possible.


This is exactly the attitude that I took last week when I was faced with a computer that was beeping at me. Incessantly. It then turned all goopy and blacked out on me.


For some background here: my father is an engineer and all things nerdy. He has built all of my computers from day one. Every so often we are surprised with another version of blah, blah because we just have to have blah, blah. A home built computer is sometimes a fickle thing. It has a personality and you learn that all beeps are not the end of the world and things happen and actions must be taken and since dad is hundreds of miles away the fate of the computer rest in your "I am the daughter of an Engineer" hands. Daughters of engineers will totally get what I am saying here. It's like some sick genetic blip in the system. No matter how un-engineer like you are, you are still capable (whether you're willing to admit it to yourself or not) to at least pretend to think like one.

Faced with a dead computer and all the pieces to fix it (we knew it was dying, we were well armed) I had to step up to the plate, clear the kitchen table and perform serious computer operations that involved lots of grunts, oh shits!, and man, do I wish I was better at reading the directions that dad specifically wrote up from his MEMORY of what the inside of our computer looks like.

How did I ever get through this you ask? I went into my bedroom and put on every item in the house that I had hand knit. Socks, scarves, sweater, and hat (the gloves were a bit cumbersome and abandoned at the get go.) The no-sweat pants are still on the needles, which is really too bad. I am clearly going to be one happening girl when those are done.

I figure if I can make these things out of a string of fleece then I can surely repair a silly computer that beeps and turns black on me. And, you know what, through the power of the hand knit, and my trusty assistant (Robby) I was able to operate on my computer. The most amazing part - when we were through it worked. Not all the pieces fit back in the case (not my fault) but it does work!!!

I urge you to feel that power next time you need a bit of a boost. I think you'd be shocked on how much it gives you.



Things may be spottier than usual over here at Bookish Girl Central. We are traveling quite a bit over the holiday season. If you see me in airports, rest stops or strange southern counties say HI! Someday Robby and I will have to document one of our trips to Western Kentucky. Pure comedy.

I wish you and yours Happy Holidays! To me, this time of the year is about the Magic of it all, the time of giving, and the joy in the world. There are lights and love and warm evenings in front of fires where everyone slows down enough to feel the love around them. That is Magic. Enjoy it!

In closing...to answer the debate raised in the comments. I pick Morelli AND Ranger. Dang!

Google-fu yielded this photo slide show of a real tour of the fictional/based on real life setting of the Plum books. Hilarious. Truly.

22 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Awsome slide show. Thanks for the link! Thanks for getting me hooked on those books too. ;D
Your review was so good I've been slowly progressing through the series. I'm on Four to Score now.
Good luck with getting some sleep. Maybe it's something in the air. Our cat decided 1:30am was a great time to wake us up this morning... She's still alive, but she may be sleeping in the basement tonight if she doesn't stop with the early morning routine.

12/22/2005 11:18 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Happy Holidays to you and Rob!! Have a great time with all of your travels, and hopefully you can catch up on some sleep! :)

Jackie

12/22/2005 11:28 AM  
Blogger maryse said...

happy holidays little girl. have a great one!

12/22/2005 11:36 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Safe travel, lots and lots and lots of love. See when you get back sweets!

12/22/2005 11:44 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Beginning Christmas Week by exchanging gifties with you and Rob was really the perfect thing for us. You are sooo right that the holidays are really about taking the time to feel the love. And it absolutely magical.

Safe travels, dearest - I'll miss you and Rob tons!

xoxo

12/22/2005 11:50 AM  
Blogger Vicki Knitorious said...

Happy Holiday Travel Trails to You and Yours!!

12/22/2005 12:04 PM  
Blogger EvaLux said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

12/22/2005 12:08 PM  
Blogger EvaLux said...

(Sorry about the deleted post... made too many typos in it :))

Oh my, you had me in stitches once again... do I know about being the daughter of an engineer hahahaha. Oh and a brother who used to build computers. I've been known to be wielding a screwdriver over the insides of a puter with my phone stuck to my head using a scarf or so (I didn't have a hands free set back then) and trying to figure out just what the heck he's talking about and wants me to do LOL.
Oh, and I once nearly had a fit when my bro handed me the internal modem for my puter... it was some little plastic thingy about 1/5th of an inch square :)

Aren't those books the best? I've been reading them for years thanks to my dad who discovered them. I just adore reading them :) I could see Sandra Bullock as Stephanie, Vin Diesel as Ranger, the people playing Raymond's parents in Everybody loves Raymond as her parents, Sophia from Golden Girls as her Gran. I just don't know who to cast for Morelli hahahaha.

Cheers Eva

12/22/2005 12:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sleep debt is an issue around our house too. The Husband swears by Calms Forte when there's no Amb!en to be had. It doesn't make you sleepy, it just helps you stay asleep once you fall asleep. It's good stuff.
Safe travels and Happy Holidays!

12/22/2005 12:15 PM  
Blogger Liz said...

Happy Happy to you Bookish One. But get some sleep, girl! Tis the season for hibernation. ;)
Go you with the 'puter fix...this daughter-of-an-engineer might not be so lucky.

12/22/2005 12:59 PM  
Blogger Carole Knits said...

Ahhhh, the power of the handknit. And if it's handspun, too, it's even more powerful.
Get some sleep, enjoy your travels or travails! Best!

12/22/2005 1:02 PM  
Blogger claudia said...

You know, all these years of knitting and I've never before thought of the power of handknits. YEAH!

Have a great sleep-filled holiday!

12/22/2005 1:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Have an awesome holiday and I wish you much sleep for the rest of the year.

Morelli ... Ranger... Morelli... Ranger Who could possibly choose? The fair thing is to take them both.

12/22/2005 2:42 PM  
Blogger Gwen said...

As the daughter of a computer nerd/Manager of IS, I too share your pain. I have a home built computer "because it's so much better." And it too has it's quirks...including catching on fire briefly and melting most of the circuits. That one actually demanded a return to my father for repairs, but after the obligatory 9 months "I swear it will be ready any day now" my computer(should I call it baby now?) was finally returned with all new insides and only the old case.

12/22/2005 4:38 PM  
Blogger CynCyn said...

mmm. i see you've finished my favorite Plum book. In which Stephanie has cake and eats it too. Now, me? I woulda had a few more slices. Mmm. Ranger. Morelli. Mmm mmm good!

You were cracking me up with the image of you wearing every handknit possible. Do you have enough neck to wear all those scarves? Did hubby also get dressed up to feel the power? (why weren't pictures taken during this monstrous undertaking?)

Last: my brother is like your dad. Builds my puters. Til he got tired of me using his phone as my personal customer service number and bought me a Dell. (but i still call him when I have a problem, but fewer beeps and blips).

12/22/2005 5:51 PM  
Blogger Katherine said...

As one daughter of an engineer (my dad is in mechanical, but still), I raise my glass to you!

Happy Holidays!

12/23/2005 2:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Happy holidays, safe travels, and warm, loving destinations!

12/23/2005 3:49 PM  
Blogger Chris said...

Thanks for the link to that tour - very amusing.

Ranger, all the way. Love a man of mystery... :)

12/27/2005 12:04 PM  
Blogger Bonne Marie said...

OMG! I hope you had your static bracelet on while you were working on that computer while you were wearin' all that knitwear...

BAM! One tiny spark and it's back to Square One.

Don't ask...

12/27/2005 5:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

HAPPY NEW YEAR MY HONEY! Hope you and Rob and having a great time on the road. Miss you! LOVE!

1/01/2006 12:46 PM  
Blogger Micky said...

Hope you have a very Happy New Year! And beyond!
:)

1/01/2006 2:55 PM  
Blogger Dani said...

I wish you and Rob a very happy holiday season and a New Year! I know what you mean about sleep, I've been there too many times before :)

1/01/2006 8:36 PM  

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