No Left Turns

This bit of news comes to me via Me7of11 who posted a comment on my, Smart Cars and Dumb People .

With gas soaring to $4.60/gal here in San Diego (and no end in sight) and most of us driving gas guzzler cars like, vans and SUV's , it has become increasingly important to do whatever we can to cut back consumption.

The summary report of the short article is that UPS cut its fleets' gas bill by eliminating left hand turns. The cumulative effect of hundreds of cars idling their engines for even a few seconds was significant enough to save a million gallons of gas.

Maybe, if we all cut back it will shave a couple more million gallons and maybe that will help. Google, left turns for more information and please - Share this idea!
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/magazine/09left-handturn.html

Shameka's new Etsy Site

Teal Leopard Stitch Markers and Bracelet

I have always be impressed by the tremendous talent in bloggers - the knitting,writing, photography, patterns, artwork, gardening, etc... the list goes on and on. We seem to grow best when inspired by the work of another. The constant building on a good idea results in the most fantastic things and even better the growth and empowerment of a woman.

I am so very excited to announce that - Shameka, has just opened her own Etsy shop. She specializes in stitch markers and jewelry. Really neat stuff! I want to invite everyone to stop by and visit her site and please tell a friend.

Summer Knitting Goals 2008

Love this new contest I found via Not much of a Knitter ( who of course really is). This is a contest that inspires, motivates, rewards and everyone wins. For the mere price of posting my summer knitting goals I get a chance to win a fun kit for a simple sweater complete with yarn and knitting bag.
Here goes -

1. Finish Isdora, also known as Knit lace border top
2. Finish 'Free Pattern' project.
3. Name 'Free Pattern' project
4. Cast on shawl.

That's it. Summer is only 90 days and that will be plenty for me to knit. I already have a bunch of home improvement and gardening projects on the 'to do' list plus with the kids home from school I'll be plenty busy.

A Red Light Moment

A funny thing happened to me on the way to the store today. I came up to a stop light, glanced down for a moment and then for some reason I looked at the driver next to me and it was a man winking at me. It was a good looking young man flirting with me. At first I stared at him in complete disbelief. You know the moment where you turn around thinking there must be someone behind you that they are looking at. Then I looked at him with a puzzled look on my face, which I hope said, "Ah, are you joking, I'm driving a monster van here, which obviously means- Got Kids" By now he is smiling and so I laugh cause I'm feeling pretty good. I'm thinking, yeah my hair does look good! Finally, I smile at him with a look that I think said,
"Hey you made my day", 'cause he did. Just as the light turned green he gave me another wink and nodded the , Your lookin' good nod. I smiled for at least an hour after that moment and I am smiling now.
Almost as if I had taken a magic pill that erased all my doubts, fears and anxieties, I glowed and walked with a new confidence. The rest of the day unfolded with good moments; I got the best parking space at the store, they opened a cashier for me at Costco (just as I began to put my food on the conveyor a man came by and said ," We're opening another line for you"), I caught four green lights in a row - a grand slam! I got good news from a client and, and, I thought all day about how a good looking man winked at little old me.
It was cool.
I thought as I walked through the store - I should 'Pay It Forward.' I would love to give someone else that magical moment. I saw a young girl who obviously looked like she had just graduated from 8th grade, and I said, "Pretty dress, you look great!" And it was so wonderful to see her smile!!
I wish I could bottle the gift of a compliment because this feeling is great and everyone should be able to have this moment.
Thank you kind good looking man in the sports car next to me, you put a smile on my face that's been missing for a long, long time.

Thoughts

Found a new quote today -

There is an old saying: "It takes an enemy and a friend to hurt you to the core. The enemy to slander you, and the friend to get the 'news' to you."

Smart Cars & Dumb People

Once again the carpool line provides me with material to blog. Today while waiting in line I counting six cars within my sight that were running their engines while waiting in line. What's wrong with that? Well, the bell wasn't going to ring for at least ten minutes and then it takes another five before the line starts to move. These people were idling on $4.20/gal. gas! I dared myself to get out of my car and ask them why, but I chickened out. What could they say?

When do we change our habits? Last year gas was at about $3/gal , only one year later it is over a dollar more. Do you know it took decades for gas to reach $1/gal? This is a big problem and I think every little bit saved makes a difference.

Now here is a nice little email I got that might help you too.

Just enter your zip code in the site below, and it tells you which gas stations have the cheapest prices (and the highest) on gas in your zip code area. It's updated every evening. Just click on the link. You will see a map of your area and then scroll down and you will get a listing of gas prices in your area with addresses and brands starting with the cheapest and going up.

http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=&src=Netx

The Smart Car - $13k & 4o mpg

I actually saw someone driving this car on the freeway. It is shockingly small. Personally, I couldn't fit my knitting bag in the car let alone my knees.

A New Beginning

I have finally learned, through trail and error, how to knit the second sleeve, and alas I have learned the first sleeve is all wrong. Which means that first sleeve will become second sleeve very soon.

The problem is that I can't follow directions, or maybe that I can't read, or maybe that the pattern was poorly written, or probably my husband's fault ( 'cuz he says he gets blamed for everything). Either way I am now happily knitting and dreaming (once again) of how wonderful it will be to wear this beautiful sweater.

The lace pattern on the bottom of the sweater and sleeves is really, really pretty and actually fun to knit. Funny or not funny that I am having all my troubles with the ST st.

I have a theory that knitting is a metaphor for your life. It goes something like this -

When all is well; husband good, children clean and fed, house clean, money $$ and hair okay, then knitting proceeds in an orderly fashion. The yarn stays on the needles when it is supposed to and slips off again when it should. Your hands and yarn and needles act in unison, like a dance and almost as if by magic an image appears that absolutely delights you.

When all is not well; husband yucky, children noisy and hungry, house messy, no money and hair wars, then knitting does not work in fact, Nothing works.

If the metaphor holds to be true then I am about to begin a very nice change.