One Stitch, Two Stitch...

I have always wanted to learn how to knit. I never thought I'd get my first lesson in a bar surrounded by people playing poker and drinking beer.

My apartment complex is owned by a company but managed by another apartment complex I call the Mother Ship. The Mother Ship houses the swimming pool, fitness center (I use that phrase loosely), club house, tennis courts etc. They have started this idea of clubs or groups. Residents of any of the complexes that feed off the Mother Ship can start a group that they'd like. The Mother Ship will help with advertising and offsetting any costs. One resident decided to start a knitting group.

Last night was the first meeting. We were supposed to meet in the fitness room but there was a tae kwon do class going on at the time. They were supposed to end at 8:30pm at which time we would start. When our group leader went in to ask about when their class would end, she was told they would be at least 15 more minutes. No one pushed the envelope – after all, she's a tae kwon do teacher. I wouldn't mess with anyone who could injure me with one kick of the leg or punch of the arm and a resounding "hut-he-yah". (I mean no offense to anyone who takes or knows tae-kwon-do and I don't mean to make fun of your discipline.)

So, our only other choice was to meet around a table in the bar area. So there we were – about15 women – sitting around a table in a bar holding our needles and balls of yarn ready to learn. We got some stares (some trying to figure out what we were doing and why and others checking out some of the women walking in) and some comments (one guy wanted to join the group next week after seeing some 'hot' chicks). Screaming as she spoke (to be heard over the music, the table slapping and the lovely words coming from people's mouths), our leader introduced us first to the concept of casting on.

She gave us some diagrams to help us with the process. Now I am a visual learner. However, I just looked at these diagrams with a "huh?" look on my face. Seated next to me was a girl who pulled out her dog sweater that she was working on and started to knit away. Show off. :-)

She came because it was a chance to meet other people who knit or were interested in learning. Regardless of her motivation, she turned out to be a huge help. She saw the look on my face and helped me figure out how to form the correct knot and cast on appropriately. Then she also helped me to figure out the knit stitch. Good grief, people who knit make it look so easy. After a while I finally got the hang of it. Let's hope I don't forget by next time.

I am excited to knit myself a scarf and who knows what else. I thought the scarf was a safe place to start – seems fairly basic and if it looks horrible, I'll just wear it under my coat and no one else has to know.

I am excited to go back next week. We can only hope for an open fitness room or the knitting group is once again taking over the bar.

Thoughts on Joy

This week I was listening to a podcast by Joyce Meyer on joy. It's actually titled Enjoying Everyday Life or something like that. Anyway, she had some thoughts on joy that I found to be good reminders. I thought I'd share a few of them.

Jesus came that we might have life to the full (abundantly). It is God's will that we enjoy life.

The enemy has sold us the lie that we are not to enjoy life.

We ought to enjoy the journey of getting to where we're wanting to go. Joy is a choice. We can enjoy traffic if we choose to.

It's not our situation or circumstances but the joy of the Lord that is our strength.

For many of us we get up and just hope to survive the day. We don't remember that Jesus died for more than us just making it through.

The joy of the Lord is our strength. The enemy knows when he steals our joy he steals our strength.

Contentment is learned (Paul said I have learned to be content) and joy is a choice.

We should be joyous in trials because although the trial drains us joy strengthens us.

Joy is a weapon. Don't let the enemy steal your joy because you don't like your circumstances. Fight back with the fruit of joy. No matter what the circumstance we should say I believe this will turn out for good. After all Romans 8:28 says that God works all things together for good.

Boy did I need that this week. I want to choose joy.

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful....

The Valentine's Day Storm is upon us. Yes, the media names storms; probably in part so they can have some 'cool' logo to go along with it. The snow started yesterday around 10am or so. Somewhere in the afternoon it switched to this freezing rain/sleet mix. It continued with that throughout the night.

Enter this morning. My alarm went off and unlike many in Philadelphia I did not hit snooze and got up and ready for work. I went outside to start and clean off my car. I didn't quite expect what I got when I went out. There was snow, around 4 inches or snow. In addition to the snow there was a 'nice' layer of rain/sleet permenantly attached to all of my windows. Fun times. Okay, so we didn't get 11 feet like some other places say Oswego, NY. But for the AZ girl that I am, any amount of snow is a lot of snow in my opinion.

So, I stood outside trying desperately to clean off my windshield, back and side windows while the freezing rain that was still falling was slapping me in the face. The wind was a whippin'. There were a few times where I literally asked myself out loud what in the world I was doing. I kept looking around and for the longest time there was NO ONE else outside. I kept wondering if they all knew something I didn't. That whole cleaning off the car thing kind of took longer than expected. Then began the journey of driving to the train station.

Once my car was clean enough that I could see out the windows (a very important fact if you ask me), I began driving. I made it down the hill, out the parking lot and into the street. I expected to find the streets plowed. However, I found one big slushy mess. I made it down the street to my turn. I took the right turn slowly, in one of my lower gears. I slowly made my way up the hill. I looked in my rearview mirror, as most drivers do, and found an interesting sight. A mini van was behind me sliding all over the road. Now I don't know if it was a non-snow-experienced driver, someone trying to have 'fun' in the snow or a legitimate slider. Regardless, I gripped the steering wheel a bit harder (as if my knuckles weren't white already) and continued praying that I would not be hit from behind. I continued on my way and continued to see the mini van behind me sliding along the road. We came to a stop light and I braced myself. Luckily for me, the van did not hit me. I managed to make a left turn through that intersection and continue on yet another slushy road. Then came my right onto the hill that would take me down to the train station parking lot. Oh Jesus, here we go.

Okay, so I continued to talk to God and my car along the drive down the hill. As the car in front of me continuously braked (and I was wondering - what are you thinking, down shift don't brake), I managed to make it to the bottom of that hill without being hit or sliding, even when the bus passed me in the other direction (with the plow in front, may I add). Phew!

I also managed to turn left and head up and down that hill to get to the station. Once I got there I now had to turn into the parking lot and actually park my car in the snow covered, icy layered stuff on the ground. I continued to remain white knuckled and managed to even back my car into a 'spot' in the lot. I walked and missed my train by about 30 seconds. Luckily the local was only 5 minutes behind. I sat down and was SO grateful that I didn't slide, I wasn't hit and I made it safely; stupid as it might have been to even go to work. As we decided at work, once you get started it's hard to turn around. You're already up and dressed and out in the mess so why not continue on. In some ways, honestly, it becomes this 'I must go', 'I must make it there' kind of thing. I will get to the station; I will get to the station....

I took mass transit to work and once I emerged from underground the city was not any cleaner. The main thoroughfare through the city of Philadelphia was one giant slush mess. Now it was fun to cross that one. At least I didn't fall on my butt. That would have been fun. Not many people were at work today and we did leave a bit early. It's crazy cold outside and is only going to get colder. Temps didn't get above freezing and won't for God only knows how long. Tomorrow we are supposed to have insane winds and the wind temps will be below zero. So, the snow isn't melting any time soon. I admit that I am a bit nervous about trying to drive in the morning. My parking lot here at my complex is snowed over. Will I get out of my parking spot in the morning (considering I was spinning trying to get in the spot)? Tomorrow has enough worries of its own. Leave it for tomorrow. Tomorrow I will white knuckle it again and make my way in to the city. Look at the bright side - it will be 'sunny' (I use that term loosely having lived in AZ - the sunniest place on earth) for the next two days; we don't have 11 feet of snow; I get to take public transportation so I don't have to drive and park in the city; I have something to write on this blog. All bright spots indeed.

Oh Spring, Spring; where fore art though?

Adventures in Urban Traveling

It's cold. Okay, not Oswego, NY cold but cold nonetheless; especially for this AZ girl. Every morning on my way to work I take the train into the city. I get off and walk about 3 blocks to my building. On my journey I have to walk through what we affectionately call 'the wind tunnel'. It's just your typical city, walk between buildings, get blown away business. Anyway, it can do a number on ya on any given day, especially when it's icy cold wind that whips you in the face. So, I got a bright idea this week. I'd get off my train in Center City Philadelphia and take the underground trolley the rest of the way. This trolley would let me off directly across from my building. Sweet....and warm!

So, Monday comes around and I find the trolley with no problem (after someone at work told me it was kind of complicated to get to. I followed the signs; not too complicated.) There was only one other person on the trolley and the driver was so sweet. I asked if it stopped at 33rd St. before getting on. She let me know that it did indeed stop at my stop. She also was kind enough to let me know that every trolley regardless of # stopped at 33rd. I thanked her, sat down, and got off at my stop. It was fabulous, especially when Monday morning was 9 below 0. That's cold.

Tuesday comes along and I wake up to some snow on the ground. After cleaning off my car and waiting for my train, I got off at the same stop and once again found the trolley station. Since it had snowed over night, everyone in Philadelphia (or so it seemed) had the same idea to take the trolley. Whereas Monday I had a choice of seats and shared a trolley with one other person most of the way, Tuesday the whole city was trying to squeeze in. I happen to get on one and found a seat next to a young kid. Early high school age I think. Now there are people standing everywhere so it's a tight squeeze. The kid needed to get off before my stop. No problem. I got up and attempted to move into the aisle to allow the kid out. Now instead of going to the front where there were less people standing at this point, he decides he wants to head out the back. So, he squeezes past me and others who were standing there. In the process I lost hold of the stuff in my hands and was trying to catch everything before it fell to the ground. I managed to get hold of everything (I'm bent over at this point with my bag up against my leg - but it's not one the ground) and as I was trying to stand up straight to return to my seat the trolley jerked to a start (as it always does) and down went Dawn. I fell backward and luckily fell directly into my seat. That sounds good except for the fact that these are hard seats, I have a boney butt and I fell directly in between two seats - you know that lip that separates the seats. Yeah, that felt good. I was SO grateful not to have fallen flat on my face in the trolley aisle though. If I had to choose I'll take the sore butt.

Wed and Thurs were pretty uneventful in comparison. Although each day I misread which door would be opening and just made it out of the trolley each time before the doors closed. Friday rolled around and I figured I'm going to get it today. I'm going to use the force and choose the right door.

I get on with no trouble. The trolley is kind of light. I sit in a double seater by myself, right by the doors. I stand at the doors as we get to my stop (and managed to keep all my things with me). The trolley stops and neither door opens. So, I stand and wait in the middle, not to miss the correct door this time. Suddenly the driver comes over the loud speaker thing. The speakers make this ding sound when the driver is ready to announce the next stop. Suddenly I hear - ding "step down". Okay, it takes me second to realize that the driver is referring to me and she is also trying to help me get out of the steal cage that I am in at the moment. Her words register and I step down and low and behold the doors open. Who knew!?!

Good times. I do love public transportation. I get to fly by on the train while others are experiencing road rage along the highways and roads. It does make for adventures in traveling though.