Library Thing

I’m importing my books now when I really should be on my way to work.

Lisa had her baby early Saturday morning. She is so pretty. :)

I was able to finish her baby blanket in time to go visit the hospital. I did not finish my present for the shower on Sunday though. It should only take another day or two if nothing else interferes. Julia didn’t finish hers either though so I’m safe.

I’ve been knitting and crocheting like crazy trying to get baby stuff done. Lisa could go into labor any day now and I have another shower on Sunday. So to do this I’ve been watching a lot of movies. I measure how much time it takes to finish something by how many movies I watch during it.

I have so much yarn lined up already for projects to do. Class starts next week and I’ll probably have 2 jobs starting a week or two after that. I’ve tried to figure out a schedule to finish some stuff. I need to finish 2 baby things this week, next month I need to sew my costume, in November I want to finish the shawl for my grandma to give to her at Thanksgiving, and in December I want to make a hat and fingerless gloves for me, although I’m sure it’ll be cold enough for them before then, I just won’t have time. Then I’ll only have yarn for about 10 projects after all those are done. I can’t wait until I’m done with school and part time jobs, and just have one full time job and more free time. That will be so fabulous.

This is really cool:

Philadelphia is smoke free!

I’m going to Corning this weekend. I’m planning on knitting / crocheting a ton while I’m there, and of course I won’t get done what I want to get done. Just like on every break. I think I’ll be taking my uncle to see Little Miss Sunshine. I’ve heard good things. I saw Talladega Nights last weekend and it was pretty funny.

I dropped my car off at the Firestone near campus to get an oil change today. They called because they couldn’t open the hood, I told them how because it’s weird enough that you need two people. They called back and said they still couldn’t get it. I had to go back down there, and I opened it on the first try. Thanks for wasting my time.

I saw a band called Hoots and Hellmouth the other night at the Cabaret. My dad had seen them at the Folk Fest this year and told me to check them out since they’re on Drexel’s label (and also they’re good). So any way it was free and I went. They were really cool, very energetic. Got off the stage and danced around for my favorite song. I didn’t have any extra money to pick up a CD but they’re recording their first actual album now so I can get that later since they play in Philly all the time.

I was at Swarthmore for a work event and wow, is that campus gorgeous. Very green. The buildings themselves were beautiful too, very old but well kept, and clean! It felt like a school. Their student center had awesome fliers for everything from tango lessons for credit to Irish Gaelic language classes. I hate Drexel.

*** YOUNG INVOLVED PHILADELPHIA BULLETIN ***

Smoking Ban Update: Puff, Puff…Pass Already!!

After six years of deliberation and compromise, we are disappointed to inform you that the smoking ban legislation that finally passed City Council in spring is now in jeopardy. Mayor Street has said he’s not sure he’s going to pass the smoking ban and we only have until 10 a.m. this Thursday, September 14th, to persuade him that it’s the right thing to do.

What would you say to Mayor Street to persuade him to pass the bill?

- You could thank him for prioritizing health and fitness in his two terms in office and ask him to demonstrate his continued commitment to that priority by signing the bill…

- You might tell him how much Philadelphia’s image has improved during his administration and that signing the ban will further demonstrate that our city is as progressive as its neighbors?

- Or maybe you just love that Philadelphia’s restaurant and bar scene has flourished in recent years and you feel a smoking ban will encourage even more young people (especially young people with kids) to leave home for a night on the town.

So send the Mayor an email by clicking on http://www.pennenvironment.org/PE.asp?id=1771&id4=ES – ask him to sign the ban, for the health of restaurant employees and customers across our city.

And then pass the link on to your friends.

* A Round of Trailblazers *

Some establishments have already made the right choice— their bar is smoke-free all of the time. Without a smoking ban they’re taking a risk, but if a smoke-free workplace means healthier, happier staff and customers, that’s a risk they’re willing to take. Tell them you love them with your wallet ? go to http://younginvolvedphila.org/smoking_advocacy.htm for our list of smoke-free restaurants and bars.

I picked out this pattern for Halloween:

The floral one reminds me of a dress Madonna wears in Evita during “Eva and Magaldi”, except Eva’s has a pink background.

The green one is really something any 40s actress could have worn to a premiere or something. I have to look for fabric still.

The Gaelic Storm concert last night was a lot of fun. It was only about half full, as opposed to when it sold out last time. I guess because it was a Thursday instead of a Friday? And last time was the end of March too so maybe people were still in a St. Patty’s mood. I forgot to bring my camera but I got a shirt signed. I might have to end up giving it to Laura though. They didn’t have any L so I got a M instead of an XL. I mean it fits but it’s tight. We’ll see if I can stretch it out a little bit.Tomorrow is Lisa’s baby shower. I’m not done the baby slings yet. I almost finished making one yesterday but then my sewing machine couldn’t handle the thickness where I have to sew through a bunch of folds. I’m going to have to hand sew that part I guess.

Camping this weekend was lot of fun. It stopped raining there Saturday after lunch and I stayed until Monday so we had a good bit of sun. Laura got a fiddle while we were there. It was a great deal for $100 including the case. She used to play violin in school before they cut the strings program so she’s really excited to start playing again. I’m going to learn to play the mandolin. We have a round-back one that was my great-grandmother’s. The only thing is my mom told my grandmother she could get it refinished like she wants to so I have to bring it up when I visit this month and I’ll get it back probably at Thanksgiving. So I can’t really play until then. I got a couple of books for it so I suppose I could start now but I only have a week and a half.