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So there I’ve been, chugging away (some days better, some not) on Book V, and also trying to read outside that box a little because of the BBC panel discussion coming up, and suddenly…I’m on the phone to the lovely folks in London (who have been uniformly encouraging and lovely) to talk about the upcoming program. My day-writing in fantasy has been separated from my night-reading in SF by other things, some of them LifeStuff (like knitting while waiting at the hospital for my husband to be done with a test procedure…even a slow knitter like me can accomplish a fair bit of 2×2 ribbing in 3 hours!), and thus I’ve been able to cope with the difference in cognitive function each requires.
But thanks to the time zone thing, BBC needed to talk to me in my morning, their afternoon–and my morning brain is presently dedicated to Paksworld. So the request to come up with nifty high-tech SFnal entertaining ideas fell on a brain buried deep in late medieval ship construction, navigation, sea currents off the coast of Prealith and eastern Aarenis, the economics of the sea trade between the East, the North, and the South, the possible reasons for the decline in elven populations, sibling psychology in prominent families, etc. All my bright ideas were bubbling up from the wrong substrate.
I had thought that by not actually starting to write in the book before the call came, I would be able to switch on the SF brain, but that didn’t entirely work. I could retrieve stuff I’d already done, but I couldn’t innovate at a speed suitable for an expensive long-distance phone conversation. I felt slow and stupid, in fact. So now I know that to prep myself for next week’s taping, I will have to wake up the SF side and suppress the fantasy side for a few hours.
It’s clearer now what they’re hoping for from me as a participant, and I expect I’ll do OK on the day, but it’s not my natural posture, so to speak.
Meanwhile–entering stuff in the yarn stash file while waiting for the phone to ring–I discovered that I have (as many people probably discover) more yarn than I realized. Just in the yarn bought for socks, I have enough for 10 pairs beyond the two pairs of socks now on the needles. But I also have yarn of types not suitable for socks (it was beautiful, it was on sale, “I’ll find something to do with it…”), yarn that I don’t have enough of for socks (a ball of this, a ball of that), two balls of super-chunky novelty yarn that need to be made into gift scarves before next winter (a long time coming in Texas), and that’s not counting the yarn inherited from my mother. the “I’ll think of something…” yarn doesn’t attract me as much now as it did…it was shortly after I started knitting again and was trying out different yarns to see what I liked…and now I’m committed to worsted wool and lots of socks. (Besides the socks for myself, I have three pairs on request already.) If all I had in the stash was the yarn for socks and the yarn for the gift scarves, I wouldn’t have too much.
Today is music day (voice lesson and choir); the knitting goes along for the period between the two, and the traveling notebook (not electronic–pen & paper) also goes along so that any bright ideas can be set down. Tomorrow should be an all-clear writing day.
Comment by Rosalyn Cronin — May 9, 2012 @ 1:08 pm
I got bumped as I started my last post. I wanted to thank you for continuing the Paksenarrion series. I just finished Echoes of Betrayal. As I finished, it was apparent there was more than a trilogy this time and I went looking – the fourth is finished and a fifth on the way. Joy.
Comment by Kip Colegrove — May 9, 2012 @ 4:02 pm
My wife, who is thrifty and organized, always ends up with much more fabric in her stash than she has plans for. Her fellow quilters and sewers report a similar situation. A superabundance in the stash just seems to go with arts and crafts that use spun and woven materials. I used to knit, just a little, and for years I had enough yarn around to make several good sized scarves, if I ever got around to knitting them. (The yarn was finally adopted by a good home.)
Comment by Ginny W. — May 9, 2012 @ 4:16 pm
I have a stash of fabric that I picked up because it was on sale and I thought I would find something to with. It’s not really so crazy. I live in a three story house that is over 100 years old with about 30 windows. None of the windows are really the right size for ready made curtains. And I inherited chairs that need new seat covers. But my time is limited. And I didn’t have the measurements with me. And the color scheme wasn’t settled. So the conversion to finished product(s) is a lot slower than than I thought.
Maybe this is why kings have palaces. People give them stuff, and then they have to find some craftsperson with the right talents to make it useful. Enter Arian, cleaning house…
Comment by Elizabeth D. — May 9, 2012 @ 8:10 pm
Would it help if you turn your writing clock around this week? The part that concerns knitting: I found that under similar circumstances I would bring something very silly (“Girl Genius”) and read that. I read the Paks books at night when I could focus and when my husband would be asleep. He brought his laptop occasionally to treatments, and that’s fine until he took a nap and then I had to carry it around. But in backpack form it isn’t too bad. I tried to bring pen and paper to jot down ideas, but I found that my typing speed is more than twice my writing speed with much less hand cramping, but I don’t really want to open files on his laptop. My cares about what was going on tended to edge out more brain area than I realized, and we chatted a lot too, so concentration wasn’t really happening. I hope and pray that everything goes well with you.
We had almost nobody in the choir last week, and the director spread the sopranos out because few showed up, and this time of year there is more high music, so I had to sing out. She put the men in the middle; loud and sometimes the right notes. She sang with them, hoping it would help. Singing is a lot of fun, but it is much more fun when there are others who show up and know their music. Are you working on solos in your voice lesson?
Comment by elizabeth — May 9, 2012 @ 9:55 pm
The End of Day Update: I discovered last year that knitting is the right “while waiting” task for me–better than reading or writing or even people-watching–because it requires focus on something practical (and the knitted product makes me feel good.)
Voice lesson: yes, I’m given solos to learn. My two favorites so far are Vivaldi’s “Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris” and Purcell’s “If Music Be the Food of Love”. Today I sang Tschaikowsky’s “Nay, Though My Heart Should Break,” and by next week should have it memorized so we can work on “expression.” And I’ve got another Purcell to learn, “Here Let My Life” which is one sad, sad song. I blundered through the Vivaldi and “If Music…” way, way back when (last summer maybe) and would love to take them up again and see if I can do better.
Comment by Moira — May 10, 2012 @ 3:37 am
My favorite Purcell aria is “When I Am Laid In Earth” from Dido & Aeneas… it’s amazing what he constructs on top of a simple, repeating ground bass. Now that’s a sad piece – very moving, and hauntingly beautiful.
Best wishes for the test results, btw.
Comment by Jenn — May 10, 2012 @ 6:51 am
Yarn does tend to breed when left unknitted for long periods of time. I made a count of the on the go projects and I am at: 1 toy, 2 sweaters, 1 hat. not bad. Usually it is 6 or 7.
Prayers for your medical concerns. Hope it works out well.
Comment by Kip Colegrove — May 10, 2012 @ 5:53 pm
Back in the day, when I was in the Schola Cantorum in seminary, we did Pachelbel’s Missa Brevis. On a good day I was among those who could reach the really low notes in the bass part at the end of the Kyrie. But whether I could plumb the depths or had to take it up an octave, it was great to sing that fine music. So much of what I miss about seminary days has to do with worship and especially music.
Music gives groups a certain qualitly of life otherwise unobtainable–whether it’s Cedars of the Valley or Pachelbel.
Comment by Karen — May 11, 2012 @ 5:32 am
I was a soprano when I started singing (and playing the piano), so I doubt I will ever hear anything but the melodic line, even though I am now a-not-quite Ella Fitzgerald alto.
In other words, I have no conception of how you have unlearned old habits and “come into your voice” — but I have nothing but respect. The simple ability to participate in the chorus of voices that is required to sing just the works you have tackled since Christmas — oh my!
As for your husband, prayers ascend (and I’m sure I’m not the only one who has read your posts). The fact that tests remain friendly is wonderfully reassuring.
On the other hand, I am a third generation hoarder of fabric (forth of yarn) that has been passed to me. I must confess, it is not an illness that has a simple genetics. I have finished with all of my great-grandmother’s yarn (but haven’t begun to finish my own), and have made a start on my grandmother’s fabric (although much is so much smoother than anything I can find today). But much as the Good Book says, “in making many books there is no end,” in making garments there is also no end, “though moth and dust doth corrupt.”
In other words, my advice is hoard while the hoarding is good (and store it all safely), but in the meantime, dream and explore and learn. For such is the stuff of life.
Comment by Ginny W. — May 11, 2012 @ 12:41 pm
Karen: If you can play the piano, you can learn to hear the alto line. Just play it separately, so you get a sense of its ‘melody’, not just what the individual notes do in the chords. It takes some relearning, because alto lines have a different kind of sense to the melodic pattern. It is there though, with the exception of a few pieces that just sit monotonously on the same note forever. (It worked for me)
Elizabeth D.: Our choir has a participation problem too. We are lucky if there are twelve people at rehearsal. We are fortunate to have some strong (and true) men’s voices, but our most faithful sopranos are not the strongest voices. We pray for more (and younger) singers.
How do you learn to sing solos? My choir director would like me to do this because I have a strong voice, but I get nervous looking and can’t breathe properly.
Best wishes for getting the brain to play the right track on demand, and also the test results.
Comment by Linda — May 11, 2012 @ 12:46 pm
Re: yarn stash
Pillows are a great way to use up strange yarn choices … particularly when one takes a number of different types and knits them together … as long as the colors work. I also foresee some simple totes in my future as another way to use up part of the stash … again with yarns of different weights, colors etc.
If I stuff the pillows with balsam needles (recycled from christmas trees and wreaths) they sell well at the bazaar. I’m thinking tiny ones (6×6) from lace and sock yarn to be stuffed with lavender or bee balm.
Living in Texas I dare say wooly hats aren’t the staple they are here. I also have been felting things which have great color but didn’t quite work out. The oversized sweater made a nice vest. The adult hat turned into a kid’s hat etc.
I stick to straight knitting (like pillows and scarves) for stressful times when I’m likely to be distracted and leave the fancy stuff which requires concentration for quieter times. So I may never finish those socks on 00 needles!
If the fabric or yarn really was a bad idea there’s always the rummage sale.
Comment by Nadine Barter Bowlus — May 11, 2012 @ 8:40 pm
Second generation fabric and yarn stasher blessed with daughters-in-law similarly obsessed and having a great time!
Comment by pjm — May 12, 2012 @ 1:18 am
I am married to an excellent knitter with a large stash of wool. I need to get rid of some computer bits…
Comment by Karen — May 12, 2012 @ 2:53 am
Ginny W.,
Thank you so much for the encouragement! Given how much as I love choral music, I really should follow your suggestions, because I truly miss the sense that I could gladden my heart by singing and at least not discourage listeners in the process.
Currently, I frequently sing part of a song in one octave, than shift up or down, as needed, to fit my vocal range. To say that this is disruptive to most peoples’ appreciation is an understatement.
Unfortunately, I don’t currently have a piano (or room for one) — although I’ve been dreaming of a synthesizer that would interact with my computer. I’ve got a Mac, if anyone happens to be savy about using Garage Band with some of the lower end keyboards….
Of course, I always tell myself that, no matter what, it’s the time I’ll have in heaven to make a joyous noise unto the Lord that will matter most, but I confess I miss the ability to make music myself here and now!
Comment by Karen — May 12, 2012 @ 3:00 am
Linda,
Would you please give me a heads up on your next rummage sale involving yarn?
Signed, someone who has absolutely no guilt over the size of her stash because of the pleasure she gains simply petting beautiful fabric and yarn (okay, I have a little guilt because I am squeezed to the rafters, but as I also use it to sew and knit for others, and derive almost as much joy in the process as if I had kept it myself — in fact, frequently more!), I can’t help but feel that my hoard saves me gas money (or postage) when a need arises and I have THE PERFECT SOLUTION!
Comment by Jenn — May 12, 2012 @ 7:35 am
Karen, pick me up on your way over to the rummage sale.