I apologize most heartily for being so negligent with this wonderful way to 'talk' with friends....The new semester started, of course, on the 11th, and I am feeling a bit like a skindiver struggling to find air under a thick layer of ice. What a time these first few weeks always are! Yesterday, a new student wrote me an e-mail to tell me, after one class period, that she "doesn't think much of history," and to ask, "What will you be doing to help?" Now, this gives pause. This is part of the idiotic assertiveness training (so-called) that students are getting, in a quite distorted form, in some of our public schools. When you're feeling unhappy, make it someone else's burden. So I had to write back and ask her please to come visit during an office hour -- at which point, I'll ask her how she knows that she doesn't think much of history -- certainly not from any experiences of MY classes. I also have to say, don't I, that the work will be hers to undertake, not mine. I get so weary of this kind of thing. Time to retire. I love teaching too much to get jaded.
On the fiber front: I think I'm going to go to the rapidly growing Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Show in mid-February -- not a long drive, an opportunity to be alone with myself and my unfinished book chapters (motel or hotel evenings are prime writing time with a laptop), and a vendor list that contains maybe 7 or 8 dyers that I've never met. I might even take a workshop -- though I can't quite decide which ones. Maybe I'll bone up on color work. It's been awhile and I have listed a colorwork class at the studio. It wouldn't hurt to take a refresher course!
In the meantime: I'm more and more into disencumbrance. Wouldn't it be FUN to have a wide open loft, or some such space, full of a handful of precious books (instead of 12,000 books), piles of yarn, the cats, the husband, and necessary furniture? I want OUT of this huge, expensive, drafty house. Why do cats, one man, and one woman need 3,200 square feet? So I have sold the baby grand piano to a reputable piano company. And I"m selling spare books steadily on Amazon.com. I'm also hauling bag upon bag of yarn that I'll never use out of the third floor (two more huge bags found their way out the door today) to sell in our infamous Stash area in the studio. People don't quite believe that it has mostly come from my attic. But it has. If it weren't so funny, I'd be embarrassed!
More later. I need to rest awhile and maybe work a bit more on the wonderful men's sweater I"m cooking up from three shades of Naturally Vero in half-linen stitch. Tomorrow, two classes, two office hours, and a meeting. Sigh. svb
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