Multimedia

What have I been watching, or listening to, lately while knitting?

Movies

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is one movie I didn't get a chance to see in the theater so saw it on DVD. There was no knitting during this film. I tried, but abandoned it within the first 30 seconds of the film otherwise I completely lost track of important details. In fact, there were a couple of times we backed up to replay parts of it.  

TV series

Upstairs Downstairs - As an anglophile, this is a must see for me. I'm concurrently watching the 1971 and the 2010 versions. Call The Midwife - this series is quite enjoyable and I'm completely caught up in the story lines of the major characters. The Office. (Do I need to explain myself on this one?) Kingdom. It's enough that Steven Fry stars in this. But add to the mix that he's a solicitor and I'm hooked. Doc Martin - Kooky, stars Martin Clunes. Need more? And if you haven't seen William and Mary, add it to your list. Just the scenes of William carrying out his undertaker duties makes the whole series worth while. 

Podcasts

I seem to be perpetually late to the party. I'm catching up with podcasts that started "broadcasting" long ago. Some favorites knitting podcasts are: The Savvy Girls, The Knitmore Girls, Knitcircus, the now defunct Sticks and String, and Stash and Burn.
I also listen to a number of non-knitting podcasts, mainly from PBS and BBC radio. A History of the World in 100 Objects, Graham Norton, Great Lives, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, and This American Life.

One of the best podcasts, in my humble opinion, is The Moth.

Etc.
Lest you think I'm a more highly-cultured person than I really am, let me assure you that there is chaff amongst the wheat.

I admit, I do watch the Real Housewives of (fill in any city). It's amazing how little class comes with having large amounts of money. I do envy one thing - their shoe racks (which are in "closets" bigger than my living room and kitchen combined) would make great yarn shelves.

What movies/TV/podcasts do you recommend? If you had the money that the pointlessly rich have, what would your yarn room look like?

After All, Tomorrow Is Another Day

While I'm on a leave of absence from my job, I believe I've gotten a small taste of what it will be like when I retire (if that day ever comes). I've begun to see some tendencies surfacing that I didn't realize existed - or what I've begun to call the Rules of the Haus.

First rule. If I've nowhere to be the next day, it is far too easy for me to get caught up in a project and/or what I'm watching while knitting. So caught up that I have to force myself to go to bed even though it's an obscenely late (or early, depending on your point of view) time. We're talking between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. Then I feel like I've wasted the next day by sleeping in until 9 a.m. or later.

Second rule. I thought I was a procrastinator before...but without a set schedule, it's even easier to procrastinate (if that's possible). "I've got time...I can always do this tomorrow...oooooo! bright, shiny new thing!...squirrel! Any self-imposed deadline gets pushed back or I have an internal negotiation with myself which eventually falls to pieces. Without  real, essential deadlines it's too easy to get distracted by other things. When I have events scheduled, I'm much more productive that day.

Third rule. Having more time means more time to cast on new projects, not finish old projects.

Fourth rule. There's still not enough time to do everything I'd like to do.

Fifth rule. I'd much rather be knitting or other crafts than doing household chores. Which then leads to the second rule.

I have caught up on some essential paperwork due on a deadline, so hopefully I will get pictures taken of the latest projects on the needles. More to follow...

just when I can't say.

Lethal Weapon 5?

Have you ever read the fine print on the packaging your needles came in when you purchased them?

I didn't even realize there was fine print.

In fact, it's not just fine print, but a warning.

I hope you're qualified to wield those knitting implements.

And I quote, "This needle or item should be used only for the purpose it was designed for: NEEDLE WORK.

If used improperly and or by untrained persons this tool may cause bodily harm. Always use caution and store your tools in a safe place inaccessible in particular to children."

A few thoughts come to mind as I read that warning:

How much training do I need before I'm qualified to use these needles?

I think of my cross stitch as "needle work" but not my knitting. Do you put knitting in the category of "needle work"? 

"May cause bodily harm" makes me feel like Ralphie in A Christmas Story - "you'll shoot your eye out, kid". 

Are Addi Turbos intrinsically more dangerous than other needles? Should they be licensed? James Bond, licensed to knit. 

In my line of work, "bodily harm" is an element of a crime. This wording sounds more like part of a script from CSI: Special Knitters Unit.

Thank goodness yarn doesn't come with a warning label.

Then again, maybe it should.

What would your yarn warning label say?