Friday, November 07, 2008

Maybe it's the change in the weather...

I don't know.

I never knit Christmas presents. Well, sometimes someone gets a thing I knit for Christmas, but only if it happens to be ready and done about that time. But I'm not one of those knitters who sets out to make things for a long list of relatives and goes crazy in the process.

First, the whole mid-winter holiday makes me a bit conflicted, which is an essay and a half.

Then my relationship with my extended family (including the in-laws) is a bit laissez-faire, so that throws a little more confusion into things.

And then you have my essentially anti-consumerist mentality.

And I have a hard time knitting for anyone but myself because I always talk myself out of what I think might be a good idea. It'll be a bad choice of yarn or color or style. They'll think it's weird. It'll be too much. and yet, not enough.

But somehow, just now, with the cold air blowing in and snow showers knocking the remaining leaves from the trees, I got the idea of knitting a bunch of presents for folks this year. Not sure where that came from. Maybe I'll see where it leads me.

We've had an interesting time this week. On Wednesday both kids had some troubles related to school. Owen was on the receiving end of harassment on the bus ride home and the Little Emperor was dishing it out to an innocent kid at recess. Mr. SABLE caught the virus we've been passing around, featuring an annoyingly long-lasting sore throat accompanying a cold. And the LE came down with a GI thing yesterday morning. The LE was much perkier this morning but I kept him home today, because I thought it might be bad if the trouble moves south, so to speak, and he were to have a mishap at school. (You know, try to sneak out a little gas and get more than you bargain for... Or maybe you don't know.) So it's been a week of disruptions and grumbling and malaise in our house, even though it's also a week of great triumph and change in the national political scene. Now, we're just hoping for a bit of triumph in the national economic scene. Though that leaves me conflicted, too.

And why should that be? Well, I have this really strong anti-consumerist attitude. And yet, our economy's health is largely judged on the quantity of consumer spending. I know that for our planet's health, it would be much better if everyone tried to stop buying stuff, just for stuff's sake. But as people have done that, because they are living with economic insecurity, then it causes more economic trouble. I'm glad I'm not in charge of solving these problems. They are big and complicated. And the experts are predicting that things will get worse before they get better.

So maybe I'll go cast on a few nice cozy projects that I can give away in December. It seems like a good thing to do on a cold dreary November day, a week before I turn 47.

11 comments:

jpknits said...

Thanks for your hints over on the other page. Didn't do anything differently than I normally do at photobucket, so something must be different there.

Don't know how you do it. Always seem to find some wisdom in your wake. Even if it's just a reminder to look.

Lynn said...

I don't have a great desire to knit Christmas presents this year, but I do very much have a desire to go bury my head in wool, so to speak. In fact, that's what I'm going to go do now...

Bezzie said...

Hee hee, squeegie farts. Of course I know what you're talking about!

Yes, I hate the Catch-22 of it all. I feel a bit guilty about putting $1500 of our Bush Bucks Tax Rebate into a CD back in April...but as times get tighter, I'm glad we didn't spend it. But would times be as tight if we HAD spent it 6 mos ago?

Cindy G said...

I share your amibivalence about juicing the economy by buying stuff. I really don't want a stimulus package that would just be another check sent to us. I would much rather it went to hiring additional teachers or teacher's aids, or to re-building bridges or to subsidizing weatherization projects. Those kinds of things would get money circulating and create jobs. I mean, most of the stuff we buy isn't even made in this country and buying it is just ultimately sending more money to China.

It's sort of like oil prices going down, nice in the short term, but really we would be better off in the long term if they stayed high and forced us into getting serious about energy efficiency and alternative sources.

Anonymous said...

Hi Elizabeth,

There is always such a good touch of dry humor in your blog - it's like a fine dry wine!

Had to laugh about the getting more than you bargain for when passing gas thing - I always carry extra underpants in my purse and my husband keeps extra underwear in his car - prepared for just such unexpected happenings.

Don't worry about turning 47 - I've found that life actually gets better after you turn 50 - it really, really does.

Sammie

Knitaly said...

Ciao Elizabeth, I'm still out there reading, but often I don't feel in the mood for comments even if I share your feelings and your thoughts. Now I just want to stop and say hello!

Sarah said...

You've had quite a week. My 4 yr old gets those toots, she has "issues" though.

I try to make socks for my husband every Christmas. I need to find just the right yarn this time. If he gets them that's great, if not then he probably won't miss them. I quit making my son socks when his feet got to size 14. Too much foot.

I like the excitement that's in the air at our house around Christmas. We're doing lots of crafty fun stuff with the kids, getting the house together and cozy and enjoying each other more. I'm fine with the shopping because we have a very pared down list to buy for after years of deciding no grown ups needed or wanted anything so it is fun for me.

dale-harriet said...

I'm taking a little rest....no. I'm procrastinating. "You can't solve a problem if you don't acknowledge it." Dr. Phil. But I'm with you on the whole bit. (I remember kids with "issues" like that - makes me glad they're on their own now.) And the whole financial thing? The husband raised an interesting question the last time there was a Stimulus Payment...where's that money come from? 'Cause--- I don't think Bush is writing those checks from his personal account. And I'm pretty much with you on the anti-consumerism (aging hippie that I am) and I really RESENT the concept of being "handed" money and told *to go shopping at the Mall*. Well, I think things are looking optimistic overall, and yes - I like the cheaper gas too, but I'd rather pay more and get the honkin' huge vehicles (carrying one little mom and one kid) off the road. Oh but we DO "live in interesting times"....

Leslie said...

I'm knitting a couple of pair of handwarmers for gifts and that's about it. We generally try to keep things simple and I'm hoping to maintain that tradition. Hope you have a better week next week!

Kathy Kathy Kathy said...

I can't think about holiday knitting with all the babies being born around here. Three down, 2 to go until somebody else turns up pregnant. On the economy: Have you seen the price of Koigu lately?

Poops said...

I consider stash enhancement to be doing my part to keep the economy afloat. They can't ask for much more of me.

And I make useful, warm stuff from the yarn in an area where useful, warm stuff is a necessity. So I feel pretty good about myself.

And in my house, it's called a "shart"...