The last strip

The other strips had mitered squares set into two sides at a right angle. Now I must join it into the round tube of the sweater. So the square is set into three sides. It's tough the first couple of times through.

And here with the third square of the strip.

Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana

Not so long ago, I would have paid no attention to Fred Child's introduction and commentary about a concert in Lugano, Switzerland. Now it means so much to me.

It features Erich Wolfgang Korngold's Violin Concerto at the end of hour two. The hour begins by Korngold's The Adventures of Robin Hood from Robin Hood and His Merry Men, a swashbuckling favorite.

I wish I were going to college with him.

Back of the room

When I posted about my son's speech contests, I mentioned that I had never heard him. It turns out, I probably never will.

I shadowed my husband while he judged over the weekend so that I could get the feel of it. His second round was judging seven of my son's over two hundred competitors in  "Extemporaneous Speaking". It was in "Make up Room C" behind the auditorium stage, a small, windowless room. There were chairs for three judges and room for the speaker. The rules state that there will be no observers, recording, etc. I guess it makes sense. Later speakers may be addressing the same question.  I left my husband to his task. Not only was I unable to see my son, I couldn't watch any of the competition.

Now I can picture my son presenting his arguments, not to the world, but to three judges in a small, windowless room.

It doesn't seem right.

Snatch of the parade

Here is a tiny bit of small town Memorial Day.

Why two?

Why is he going to two national speech contests?

It wasn't until this trip that it sunk in on me. New York State schedules their Regents Exam week at the same time as the National Speech and Debate Association has their tournament. Most students in our state have to take those exams. Only seniors in competition, like my son, have passed sufficient tests to graduate.

The alternative tournament is presented by the Catholic Forensic League. So we went to Ft. Lauderdale where we were part of the contingent from the Albany Diocese. While my son didn't make the cut, it was great to have the experience of national competition. 

Since my husband won't be able to take the time off work, I will be taking the duties of coach and judge. I was able to sit in on some events to get the feel for it all. While it will be overwhelming, I think I can handle it.

After the good weekend, there is some talk of my husband somehow finding a way to get to Dallas. I will gladly give up my credentials to him.

Do you read these things?

This letter came in the mail detailing the privacy policy for an insurance company. What don't they collect? They know where I buy my coffee, how I take it and who I have it with, no doubt. All in the interest of keeping me healthy.

You can almost make it out now

I'm on the seventh of ten strips in my sweater. I have laid it out so that the back side is up. The last strip connects with the first to form a tube. The top of the sleeves are added. Then cuffs and neckband finish it.

Two things I'm worried about. First, the bottom has too much flare. Since it seems to have a nice drape, I'm hoping that it will hang nicely when I'm wearing it. Second, the skeins of yarn seem to have variations in color intensity. The ball I'm using now is much darker than the previous one. And the hope here is that a few washings will temper the difference. Now that I think about it, washing may help with the first issue since it may shrink up a bit, too.

So my motto now is

Make it work. Enjoy the process. The rest will come out in the wash.