Diary of a Mad Fabri-Holic

Time to put my mouth where my money is...

Straight up disclaimer: this ain't a crafty post at all.  In fact, it's about a human rights tragedy right here in the USA, and things I might try to do to counteract it.  If this isn't your cup of tea, I promise quilty content in the next post. Or at least knitty content, as this weekend is in fact Stitch N Pitch...

For anyone still here...  Thanks for sticking around!  In the last few weeks, more and more buzz has been building around a truly horrific statistic.  1 in 3 Native American and Alaska Native women in the USA will be sexually assaulted in their lifetimes.  Approximately 80% of the assaults are committed by non-natives, and thanks to challenges posed by federal law, BIA limitations,  pathetic law enforcement budgets, and more,  very few rapists are ever arrested- or even questioned! I'm not a great or even very good writer.  And I haven't done the original research on this myself.  To learn more about this issue, I'll send you over to Amnesty International, who are working hard to make changes.  The page I've linked to has a great collection of information accessible to you...

Or, go take a listen to a poignant 2 part series at NPR.  I was so engrossed in the car yesterday, I was driving on autopilot.  I showed up at Train Boy's daycare to pick him up- but The Hubby had gotten him 30 minutes earlier. And had told me so on the phone.

Why I am posting this scatterbrained series of paragraphs?  Well, I think it is truly shameful that conditions like this can exist in my own country.  And I'd like to make sure more people hear about this in the hopes that we can be the beginning of a change.  Changes in laws, in funding, in expectations, and in the quality of life for indigenous women.  I've been an Amnesty International supporter for years now, but I'm not certain I've ever been this fired up over an issue.

Tomorrow: back to our regularly scheduled topics...

When the going gets snowy, the snowy get sewing.

As some of you may have heard (I hear our little storm made national news), we here in the Denver area are under a wee bit of snow.  Say, over 20 inches plus drifts up to 4 feet in my backyard.  Really and truly.  Mother Nature taught us all a little lesson about the rush to get things done before Christmas.  Malls: closed. Post Office: can't deliver or pick up.  Brunch with Santa at the Aquarium: canceled.  Dinner party at friends house: canceled.  Team party at work: postponed.  My office is closed, and while I am thrilled at the break, I'm a little heartbroken that we had to postpone the children's gift shop- when our moms get to "shop" the donated new toys and get Xmas gifts for their kids.  We'll still get the toys out, but not until next week.  My folks, who were driving here from SC via Santa Fe, NM, have enjoyed a few extra days down there.  Luckily, they were staying with a friend, and so were happy, safe and comfortable.  This morning they got on the newly-opened road to try and get here.  The Hubby, who is considered "essential personnel" at his work, tried to get in to work yesterday, made it 1/2 a block, and then it took 7 neighbors about an hour to help him get unstuck and back to our driveway!  So we had a quiet night in, watched a movie, made cookies (we added red and green M&Ms), and relaxed.  And we also played outside for a little while... 

For perspective- here's how high the snow came up on our mom and baby reindeer in the front yard:

And of course, I took advantage of a whole day with no real-world obligations.  Remember that fabric Cher shared with me?  Yesterday I cut all the pieces for Princess Girl's Jungle Boogie quilt. There are a lot of pieces.  276, actually.  Not that I'm counting.

These are one section of each of the 24 blocks to make a twin sized County Lines.  Each block is made up of 8 pieces put together in smaller units, and then assembled into the big blocks.  I think it's going to be awesome- esp with the amazing variety of fabric I have to work with.  Thank you again, Cher!

Today, we are sending The Hubby out for groceries.  We hope!  My folks are trying to get here, and, tomorrow, I am really hoping that my birthday dinner our can go on as scheduled.  Cross fingers!  Meanwhile, the kids and I are going to stay in our jammies, be lazy, and enjoy our snow days....

Chapter 2: Wherein I wisely use a stepladder

I think everyone who reads this knows my political leanings are decidedly blue, even if that's really the only type of blue I much like.  It's odd- you'd think I'd be ecstatic right now, what with the blue-i-fication of our great nation. But, as others have noticed, odd things a-happened here in CO.  We voted for blue folks, but we passed supremely conservative constitutional amendments that discriminate against my friends and co-workers and fellow human beings, as well as denying a simple referendum to grant civil rights- not marriage.  It's such an odd mix, it's hard to process.  So instead of trying, I'm just going to send a plea out to the universe: bi-partisan cooperation now, please.  And maybe, peace, too?  If that's not too much to hope for, that is.

Meanwhile, back in quilt land...

(as always, click for a larger, enhanced view...) 

I got back on the horse that bit me, to mix my metaphors.  (Maybe I hit my head when I fell last Sunday?)  I pieced the Kitschy Kristmas Kwilt top, got it off the design wall, and had room to safely layout  Skullz.  I have decided that Skullz is the only possible name for this quilt, no idea why.  But Skullz it is.  Tonight, while watching the Alias Season 4 finale on the new computer with the DVD-ROM drive (!!!) that lives in the sewing room now, I played with the layout.  It's 7x8, which is one row shorter than the Full size in the pattern.  I think I used 13 FQs, but now I honestly can't remember, or tell.  How sad is that?  After last week's dramatic falling incident, followed by the less dramatic but seriously whiny heating pad and ice pack incidents, I used my stepladder tonight.  Ah, why didn't I do that on Sunday night?  Sheer laziness, I think.  But hey, for work next Weds. I am attending a seminar on how to avoid slips and falls, etc., in the workplace. So, in theory, I will be a smarter, safer gal by then. 

Before I retire to bed, and a new episode of CSI, I wanted to thank everyone who weighed in with an opinion on Waldorf schools.  I'm going kind of batty trying to find the right environment for Princess Girl, and (friendly, useful) input is welcome...  I toured the school on Weds., and came out loving part of it, and really not liking part of it at all.  Which leaves me, where?  Calling every other possible school in the area for more info...

Poverty. Plain and Simple.

I continue to be absolutely shocked that anyone can think that the Katrina disaster was natural and had nothing to do with racism. Yes, the storm itself was a natural disaster.  I realize it didn't target New  Orleans specifically to torment poor black people.  BUT- the fact that these same poor black people were unable to effectively evacuate was due to a lack of caring, and institutional racism that led to deplorable conditions.  The fact that the media has portrayed them as looters- yet is letting the government off the hook for not providing food and water- is appalling.  Poor people are not necessarily poor through their own fault.  I'm ranting here, and I realize that I am not the most clear or effective spokesperson for my causes.  I'd like to apologize now, to anyone who reads any of my posts, that I am not more articulate.  If you'd like to hear some incredibly powerful and concise reporting on current socioeconomic conditions in what could be our great country, check this out.

Let's seize the moment and help make our world a better place.  I call myself poor, and The Hubby and I do make miserable wages.  But we can afford to live.  We can't afford to save much, but we can live.  And everyone should have the chance to do that.

Rant done.  I promise not to come back until I am ready to talk about my quilts again.

Oh, no, another Supreme Court Opening

Oh, boy.  The world just gets worse and worse.  Poor Chief Justice Rehnquist finally succumbs to the cancer, and my biggest fear comes true.  Our illustrious President will be picking not one, but 2 new members of the Supreme Court. Everyone, prepare to kiss your civil rights goodbye.  Corporate America, prepare to take over.  Sigh. This was the entire reason Ididn't want Bush in office for a 2nd term.  We all knew this was coming...  The judicial branch of the government has become politcized to a scary degree, and I hate to think of the battles in our near future.

On another note, I learned that 1,000 Katrina refugees are coming to my state.  I'm going to see if I can donate some quilts here instead of sending them to Houston.  There's a few old ones I don't love too much, but they're certainly good quality.  If something I made for my own pleasure can provide comfort to someone in a time of real need, then I'm all for it!