Currently
The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World
By A. J. Jacobs
see related

At least I'm consistent, I've completed two more machine knit prayer shawls in two days. The workshop this morning was nice.  Without going back through my blog archives, I sort of remember that I was hesitant at the beginning of this prayer shawl odyssey. I wasn't sure how involved I wanted to get but I did know that I wanted to faithfully contribute shawls. The ministry seemed like the perfect outlet for my need to create and to have someone to give my items to that would appreciate them. My family and acquaintances had become saturated with too many handmade items.

Regarding these shawls there isn't anything different to report.  These are machine knitted at 60 stitches wide and about 300 rows long.  The yarns are a thick 'n thin type of unlabeled cone yarns and I crocheted the borders.  Both shawls were steam blocked to aid in getting the stockinette to lay flat. 

I'm still reading A.J. Jacobs book - The Know It All  and it's a fun read.  It's been a long while since I've been able to read anything more than short devotionals and grief books since my husband's death so I'm savoring the light humor of A. J. Jacobs. 

Oh, the craft class on Friday with the fabric wrapped styrofoam ball did not go as well as I envisioned.

True to form, the students whined and complained the whole time.  They felt that it was too hard to push the pins into the styrofoam balls.  I did not bring thimbles because I didn't use one when I made mine.  They also couldn't understand the concept of where to place the pins so they were just sticking the fabric squares randomly.  Although I counted how many squares I used I should have known better and brought extra fabric. The students were not as careful or neat with their fabric square placement and they ran out of squares.  I take blame for my shortsightedness.

The students don't appreciate the value of learning these different craft mediums and I'm stuck with them in the class.  I showed them the finished item (my examples) and I give them full instructions with diagrams/pictures and I'm there demonstrating the techniques. 

Remember these projects?  I told them that these things are decorative items and they said that they don't have cheap decorative items in their homes.  They looked at me and asked, "do you have decorative things in your house?"   YES

So despite my efforts at doing the job to the best of my ability, I feel that it's all a waste of time, money and energy. I don't get paid extra for the classes and I was assigned to do this because they discovered that I was crafty. I did not tell them that I knit/crochet/craft, someone else spilled the beans.  Now I'm stuck with this job assignment. This is NOT my "calling."   Maybe I should start looking into illegal ways to earn a living...there I've said it out loud, not very smart but then again, if I was smart I don't think I would be in this situation.  

It was also one of these students that called me a "b*tch."  So this is what my life has become...

And to round out the week, the oldest car FAILED the smog test. Without a smog certificate I can't get the car registered.

  It's days are numbered.

The repair construction work is delayed again because the contractor ordered the wrong item.   Apparently, I also live in a sort-of strict city and they want permits and inspections for E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.  A person would think that this is a snobby neighborhood because of all the restrictions and regulations but I just think it's a way for the city to collect more fees.  It always comes down to money.

Currently
The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World
By A. J. Jacobs
see related

Hey look, I found the button that let's me add "currently" reading books to the blog.   Guess it's like everything else around here,  if I need to have something done I have to do it myself.  As for the cars...there is no longer a person living in my household that is able to work on or maintain the vehicles.  I have to pay someone to take care of the cars.  This is expensive.  I don't know what my next step will be.  I'm treading carefully because I cannot live in the moment anymore.  I have to think long term.

Here is another fabric folded/wrapped styrofoam ball.  I really want to just say "balls" but I'm not sure I want the spam comments from the immature mass of humanity that roams the internet. 

Oh what the heck...here is a bowl of BALLS.   I purchased the Temari balls from Etsy back when I toyed with the idea of making some.  I failed miserably because I discovered that making Temari balls require some math skills in measuring by marking off the balls in equal increments.  I'm more of the "eyeball" measurement type of person and slap it together.