Devine site

A little bit about my day, my family, and my knitting.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Movie Review!!!

Boynton Beach (Bereavement) Club - Run, don't walk.....to see this absolutely wonderful movie. Oh....sorry.....I have a disclaimer to make. If you do not live in South Florida, you might NOT get to see this movie. I checked Manhattan, Ocala and Atlanta theater listings, and it's not there. Sucks to be you That's really a shame, because this is undoubtably one of the best comedies I have seen all year. I came across it quite by accident, while checking the movie listings Friday evening. Of course, seeing the title made me sit up and take notice. For those of you who are not aware, Boynton Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, South Florida, the city that borders where I live (Delray Beach). When I tried to read a synopsis of the story, there was none. However, when we went to movie theater, there was a movie poster on display. I recognized many of the stars: Renee Taylor, Joseph Bolognia, Dyan Cannon, Sally Kellerman, Brenda Vaccaro and more. These are all accomplished performers, and all are 50 (and many into their 60's). The next day there was an article about the movie in the local newspaper. After reading it, I had to see the movie. I took my mom. The theater was packed with seniors. I guess no one else had heard about the movie or even cared about it. Let me tell you....this was one terrific movie. While it had a few sad moments (ok, so it was sad to me...I cry for almost every movie), I laughed and laughed. If you are a senior, or have senior parents, or a relative/friend who lives in a senior community, you would truly apprecitate this movie. I really hope it is expanded to all markets. Everyone needs to realize that while seniors might have difficult issues to deal with such as loss of a long time loved one, they are active, lively, and still have wants and desires, just as us younguns do.



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Friday, March 17, 2006

Better Late Than Never!

I received a most welcome package today from my SP6!!! She had sent me lovely gifts during SP6 time, but contacted me and said that there was still more to come. I got home today, and her it was...an amazingly soft yarn, presently Kate's favorite (Kate was my SP6).It's from  Brooks Farm, Lancaster, Texas. This is a 4 ply yarn blend of 50% fine wool - 50% silk, 270 yds. Kate is making a scarf out of it - I'll have to use it for something wonderful as it's just too beautiful for just a whatever! The colors are shades of beige, brown, and khaki greens. Kate, this was WELL worth waiting for! I just LOVE it! Kate spins and dyes yarn. You can see and order her handiwork here. Her yarns look yummy!!!! (oooo - now I can finally use my swift and ball winder and make a "cake."


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I am looking forward to going to Marietta, Ga in April with my mom, to visit with Alison and Michael. While there (if you recall) Alison will teach me Fair Isle knitting - and get me started on a sweater for her 30th "once again" 29th birthday.In the meantime, I just couldn't have empty needles, so I knitted a sweater for my friend Carla's baby boy, coming in May. It's the basic cardigan from Top Down For Toddlers. I knitted it on my new size 6 Addi Turbos....what a PLEASURE!!! They make the work go so much faster!!...and used Bernat Softee Baby in a lovely Baby Denim Marble, finished off with little white heart buttons awwwww.



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So glad it's Friday. Every day I work late - I ALWAYS have stuff to do in my classroom and it never seems as if I will finish. I had intended to leave on time yesterday, at 3, but got into a meeting with one of our curriculum specialists and finally got out at 4 - and just made it before closing time to get a desperately needed haircut. Today I made sure to have "lunch bunch" with my students, so I could run like hell get out at 2:30.



Every year I buy tickets to see the show at the high school that Becca attended. Olympic Heights puts on musical theater that is close to Broadway standards. The kids are SO talented, the sets and costumes are very professional. This year 14 of us are going to see Mame!! When Becca attended OHHS she was in the theater group, and I used to run the consession during the show, with the help of her father. Now I am just a spectator, but it makes for a very enjoyable evening!

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Goodies and Movies

Today was SP package day. My lovely SP7 from PA sent me some goodies....a skein of REGIA yarn. It's 75% New Wool and 25% Polymid, 100grams, in realy nice shades of black, gray and blue. Plus a set of Bryspun DPs size # 2 - guess I'm gonna make some socks!....a pack of YANKEE Tattoos (LOVE the Yankees - will have to wear a few for opening day)...and....here's the best...she sent me HOMEMADE Raspberry preserves...and yes, SP - it tastes GREAT!!! Raspberry preserves, raspberry anything, is my favorite!!! So...thank you, thank you, thank you (mmmmm, good)!!


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In a previous post I showed the wonderful blanket that Alison made for my husband, Gerry, who is undergoing treatment for melanoma. But our dacshund Rusty seems to have taken it over, at least, when Gerry isn't on the couch! Have to admit, it's a really warm and cozy blanket, right, Rusty?



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I got it!!!! It didn't take long for RENT to come out on DVD. I think it was only a smash hit with RENT fans, of which I am one. Saw the show 3 or 4 times, and even though the movie is slightly different, I love it. So of course, I had to have it immediately!!!



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This weekend Gerry felt pretty good, since he has off from treatment. We did two movies (ah, seems like old times) this weekend. On Saturday we went to the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale to see the new IMAX movie Deep Sea 3D. It was great. You feel as if you are really under the water with all the sea creatures. I love it (uh, Alison....you might want to skip it).



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The movie was followed by dinner out. We were going to go to Dan Marino's Steakhouse near the museum, but Ger wanted steak at J. Alexander's in Boca Raton. What a dumb unfortunate decision, as the wait was 80 - 90 minutes. The Outback was a 70 minute wait, so we settled for (and enjoyed) Roadhouse....the wait was only 30 minutes! Trying to eat out in South Florida this time of year is a big mistake difficult with all of the people who flock here during "season" (snowbirds).



Friday night we did see the movie Freedomland....it was just....OK! Nothing to write home about...so, I won't!



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Thursday, March 02, 2006

Oh, What We Do In The Name of Education

So you thought that education was a serious business? Well, most of the time it is, especially in FL, where the FCAT monster controls most of what teachers do (FCAT is the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test). The test is in a week or so and evreyone is anxious, over worked, exhausted and worried ('cause promotion in grades 3 - 5 in the elementary schools are primarily based on the scores, as is the school's status as an A, B, C, D or F school....mine achieved "A" status last year...woohoo!!). But we took time out today (and we really should EVERY month) for fun! Today we celebrated what would have been the 102nd birthday of Dr. Seuss. We were to show one of the several Dr. Seuss videos being broadcast every hour; read stories to the class - I got to read about 4, even read one sitting outside with my class. Every teacher was given a hat to wear, and we were asked to wear red and white. I was planning to wear black with a red bow, but not one to go completely against the grain, I complied. Several others, however, DID do their thing and so I had to show you how cute they looked. This is Mrs. Pin who teaches Spanish 2 (cultural Spanish, taught completely in Spanish). We are a magnet school for languages, the other being French, Japanese and Spanish 1. I had just finished reading The Cat in the Hat Comes Back to my class, sitting outside. The children then went to Mrs. Pin's group and she just happened to bring in the same book.....in Spanish.


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Pam, one of the teachers on my kindergarten team, always does cute things with her class. Here she is in full garb. She even got her assistant to dress up like the C in the H too. Way to go, Pam!


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As for me, I wore that darn adorable hat all day long. Talk about HAT HAIR!! But it was a really fun day. And I did get to read my favorite Dr. Seuss book Horton Hatches the Egg!! I just LOVE reading it outloud!


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On Sunday Gerry noticed that Cocktail's ear was cockeyed (cockeared???). The last time that he looked as if his ear was sliding down the side of his head, he had been really sick, so Gerry and a friend took C. to the vet. After losing his breakfast all over the vet's floor, and after an examination that C really didn't enjoy, the diagnosis was....really bad ear infection. Poor baby! You may think, in looking at the picture, that his right ear looks low because his head is turned....noooo....it looks that way even if Cocktail is facing you. And don't be fooled thinking he is teeny. He weighs about 43 lbs (7 less than usual...he's too skinny and really old...15 1/2). Every day with Cocktail is a bonus!


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I did knit two hats but forgot to photograph them before sending them off. The first was in Karaoke...Alison's Playful Hat, pattern found on Alison's blog in the sidebar. I sent it off to Gianna, my soon to be 15 yr old niece in CT. The second hat was the Winter Femme Hat shown on Alison's December post, except mine was made with KnitPicks 100% Merino yarn, vanilla. Sent that one to my daughter Becca, who LOVED IT!!! Now I am making a basic top down cardigan in light blue Bernat Baby Softee. Just killing time till April when I go to see Alison and learn fair isle.



Update on Gerry...tomorrow marks the halfway point in his month long interferon IV treatment. He feels horrible...exhausted, as if he hasn't slept in 3 days or more, upset stomach, headache, low grade fever, sometimes earache. It's so sad that this man felt perfectly fine...was not sick....even after the surgery to remove the mass, he recovered and felt fine. But the CURE (if it works!) is making him so sick. I hope that once he gets past this month of treatment and onto the next phase, he'll feel better. To all of you who have been keeping him in your prayers, and especially to Donna S, Sarah HB, Heather, Bethanie, and Kate (former SP) for their comments of encouragement.