Pins and needles

I was jogging on the treadmill at the gym today while Paraguay and Japan battled for victory in today's World Cup Match.

There were audible gasps and whoops with each passing minute of overtime play, followed by even louder cheers and jeers as each team took their turn in the final shoot out.

As the teams gathered themselves pre-shoot out, I found myself running faster with the excitement of the event. If only a goal-less World Cup match were on each time I went to the gym... I'd be in excellent shape by now! In any case, I thought, "I need to pick someone to root for!" (A spectator should always have a team, don't you think? It adds to the thrill.)

So I picked Paraguay.

Why? Because they are an unbelievably hot team. (Roque Santa Cruz, I'm looking at you.) In the heat of the moment, I needed to pick a team and seeing as how I lacked the proper background on each team and their players... I could go by one thing alone: Hotness Factor.

And Paraguay won! So exciting. The way they shot their penalty kicks was so cool and assured, graceful and spot-on. Almost every shooter seemed to visibly wait for the goalkeeper to make his move before they chose where to direct the ball. And this after 120 minutes of grueling, dedicated play. Very impressive.

Apparently, victory by Hotness Factor is a very viable outcome. Let's call it a theory for now, though. Yes, who is to say which team is hotter than another... but let us revisit this strategic theory on July 11th when the final match is played!

Industry

1 : diligence in an employment or pursuit; especially : steady or habitual effort

2 a : systematic labor especially for some useful purpose or the creation of something of value b : a department or branch of a craft, art, business, or manufacture; especially : one that employs a large personnel and capital especially in manufacturing c : a distinct group of productive or profit-making enterprises banking industry> d : manufacturing activity as a whole
3 : work devoted to the study of a particular subject or author

I've done several industrious things this week which has me thinking: I need to strive to be more industrious on a regular basis. JS Bach said, "Whoever is equally industrious will succeed... equally well." My new found appreciation for industry isn't about success or achievement of the public recognition variety so much as it is about saving a buck and using what I've got.
(JS Bach also said, "Bring me a bowl of coffee before I turn into a goat." If you catch me at 6:15am on any given morning, I will wholeheartedly agree with that second quote... that Johann was a smart cookie.)

The "systematic labor" going on around here includes staining an old table, containment-sewing (dirty diapers, plastic bags, beach gear), weeding of the garden, putting up/putting by/preserving strawberries in the form of freezer jam (yum!), using the sun's awesome bleaching and de-fragrancing powers, and in times of inactive-industry: reading a book that suddenly appeals and inspires.

Make Do and Mend. The UK Board of Trade started this campaign in the 1940s to encourage people to use what they had in the name of conservation and frugality. I love this. And I love the posters I've found out there... wonder if I could find one somewhere to hang in my house?!


And how can you not love this? It's a bit of guidance for the homemaker who sews from Singer (the maker of sewing machines) ca. 1949. I don't know about you, but I *never* sit down to sew anything before making the beds and cleaning the dishes and putting on a little lipstick.


My first sewing machine was the very one this lady is holding. In fact, I still use it. Love that Singer Featherweight (though featherweight it certainly is not.)!

A list.

Not as in "The A List" but merely... a list. Because when I'm out with the kiddo thinking of all the fabulous things I want to blog about, I come home and those thoughts have left me and so... here, cobbled together for your enjoyment (in no particular order), I give you...

A list.

1) Graham crackers are GOOD! We were out errand-ing today and needed a quick munchie. When was the last time I had one of these suckers? And can we be honest and call them what they are? Graham COOKIES.
Wonder if I can successfully make any of those graham cracker recipes I see out there online.

2) We are now cloth diapering. It's good for many reasons: I have the time, I have the washer (yeehaw!), it's good for the earth and it's good for my wallet since I'm no longer using quarters for laundry. Yip yip! I tried a few different kinds of pocket diapers, and my favorite brand is FuzziBunz. Mike had a hard time remembering the name for the first week so we heard many variations including FunnyBunnies, FunnyBunz, FuzzyBunnies, etc etc.

3) I miss being walking distance to downtown Evanston. But I love our backyard and our neighborhood. *sigh* Darn car. Maybe we'll hook up the child bike seat this weekend...

4) Christopher crawls like a little bulldozing grizzly bear. A kissable, bulldozing grizzly with sticky banana fingers and cheeks glazed with shreds of pureed spinach and bread crumbs. A 9.5 month old in June is a wonderful thing.

5) We have a baby gate. We'll need to get another one soon. Does this make us old?

6) Fair season and farmer's market season has returned. Excellent!

7) Mike has been jogging with C in BOB a couple of mornings each week. They come back sweaty and happy (there's usually a park-swing break in there, from what I understand), and while they've been out playing with BOB, I've been savoring Joe.

8) Monthly date nights have been initiated in a swap with friends who have a little boy 6 weeks older than Christopher. It's a great set up. Our first evening out was for my birthday last week.. we saw Sex and the City 2. (Hey, it was my birthday, not Mike's.) Mike got major husband points for viewing 2-1/2 hours of Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte in lots of faaaab clothes.

9) Our garden is springing up! The only question is: will it produce anything before the season is over?

10) Hartigan's. It's an 8 minute walk from our front door. Yum.