A Laundry Poll

Today I dropped off the dry cleaning portion of my closet-incident-related laundry. I've been handwashing sweaters for days (3-4 sweaters per round, three days for complete drying before beginning the process again), and I think I have my method down pretty well by now, even if it is still pretty tiring. I guess I've found the drawback to having so many lush boucle sweaters, especially because they don't always go back into shape easily.

At the dry cleaners, we had a big discussion on three of my items--

• My quilt made of special occasion fabrics, which isn't in the best of shape and which I told them I'd sign a release for...it has had so much food spilled on it over the years and is coming unstitched so if it gets ruined it gets ruined, but it needs to be cleaned.


• My never-worn turquoise mesh top with beading all over. Once again, signed a release. It's a cute top, and who knows, I might someday go to a club again. This is the top that they sold me a silver strapless top to go underneath, and we all know what a great idea that was. I won't be heartbroken if it doesn't come through well, but I hope it does.


• My Prince Edward Island ivory wool cable sweater. It's too big, but it's one of those sweaters that you wear over a thin sweater in the winter when it's blizzarded and above 30 degrees and you want to walk somewhere. Or you're going skating at an outdoor pond and want to move freely and accessorize with a cute hat, scarf, and gloves. The problem is the sweater got the worst of the water from my neighbor's toilet outflow, and the dry cleaners said they didn't think the stains would come out. This one might be relegated to working outdoors in February clothing.

And here we approach my actual question: How many of you have heard that A: You should not dryclean wool sweaters, B: You should not handwash wool sweaters, C: You can machine wash wool sweaters in a garment bag on cool but should not dry them, or D: Any other washing methods.

I'd read online that handwashing was preferable to dry cleaning, or at least that it was natural to do, that it was heat that shrunk a sweater and not water, but the ladies at the dry cleaners insisted that dry cleaning was the only way to prevent wool from shrinking. Said they'd had some bad experiences. I have a few sweaters that are part wool that have held up fine with handwashing, but I have several sweaters that are giant and are completely wool and often handknit. They are too big for me to do myself, which is why I was asking what the dry cleaners offered.

Now, I want to hear your opinions and methods. What do you do with wool?

It Made Me Laugh.

Pushing Daisies: The Return!

Hang out the Do Not Disturb shingle at 10 pm on the next three Saturdays, because Pushing Daisies is airing its final episodes at last!
Yippee!

Scut Farcus!

I had a weird moment of face deja vu last night. I was flipping channels (honestly, summer TV is terrible) between an NCIS rerun, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, and various other shows, and the guy who played Farcus in A Christmas Story, Zack Ward, popped up in both the NCIS episode and Apocalypse. I wonder if actors ever channel flip to see how many shows that they were in are on at one time.

What's Up?

1. Is anyone else having mad allergies? I can tell this is allergies and not illness because of the twitchy nose and sneezing. I'm just not sure what's causing it.
2. My closet is almost back together. I have lots of handwash and some dry cleaning to do yet, but since most of that is sweaters that will go away for the summer once dry, I don't count those. Except I do count how much room they take up right now. In my new shelving system on top of my bureau, I have some shelves and a drawer yet to put things in because I can't decide what's going to go there. It's very exciting.
3. I was "DC'd" (discharged) from physical therapy this week, with instructions to work on my exercises and increase my activity level a bit at a time, and let them know in a few weeks if I'm good to go.
4. I have a new oven. It is shiny and very white. I am monitoring it to see what is normal, but I gave it a fairly literal trial by fire last night by broiling a steak. It didn't set off my smoke alarm, and that's already an improvement.
5. Go Wings!
6. Has anyone watched The Fashion Show on Bravo? I've peeped in a few times just to see what it's like...I dunno. It feels like a knock-off to me. Since I respect Isaac Mizrahi, this makes me sad. Maybe if I could bring myself to watch a whole episode I'd feel differently, but I just can't. It doesn't capture me, and in some cases turns me off. I did spy a pretty great outfit in the past week's episode. It came in second. Oh well.

Am I the only one who notices an alarming resemblance between Roy Scheider and Basil Rathbone, so much so that when Robin Hood was on this weekend, I knew that it wasn't Scheider playing Guy of Gisbourne, but at the same time I couldn't quite believe it?
Anyone? Honestly, it's downright creepy. Put a mustache on them both and they could be twins. Go do a Google image search, and you'll see what I mean. Let me get you started...

Some things I did to acclimate myself to my first weekend off:

1. Hung out with Stir-Fry the cat.
2. Ate pizza.
3. Ate Arby's.
4. Watched Sweeney Todd (finally).
5. Slept four hours on Saturday afternoon.
6. Went to see Star Trek. Had pretzel bites for lunch at the theater.
7. Rolled some coins. Found out I'm out of penny rolls.
8. Watched Tv. Lots and lots of Tv.
9. Read a Daphne Du Maurier short story in Echoes from the Macabre.
10. Fried up some chicken. And ate it.

On tonight's list, I think I might try some jogging. I have been instructed by my phys. therapist not to run more than a half mile, and to run a bit first then stretch (huh? I know.). I also need to watch the rest of last week's Medium to prepare for tonight's. I think I have a Deadliest Catch to watch, too. And I sort of fancy breaking out the Nintendo 64 at some point.

On a humorous note, I had PT today and my therapist was being shadowed by a guy named Jon from a Toledo high school. His name tag, which he claims had been written for him, said "Jon Rehab Shaddow." So of course I made fun immediately. Later, I told him not to look up my shorts when I was being stretched. It was that kind of morning.

(Addendum: Star Trek was awesome. I hardly ever go to the theater, and I'm really glad I went for this.)

Updates

#1: I am finished with reading my stack of 112 portfolios, and I had ample time to help out in the portfolio room, which I have never done before and which I enjoyed quite a lot.
#2: I am behind on doing 205 portfolios, and with 10 students coming tomorrow and a pedicure keeping me from doing the 4 for the next day, I'd better get home and get cracking right quickly. Especially with new Fringe and new NCIS tonight. Oops, and Deadliest Catch. Oh, dear. Thanks a lot for turning in so many exercises at the last minute, students. Hello, VCR.
#3: I had a better therapy appointment the other day. My therapists, Ann and Amy, are sweet people, and I know they were just getting a little carried away trying to sort out my skeletal and functional unevenness, but (with a little prodding from me, re: my treatment goals (i.e. no pain in my leg)), they finally decided to treat the pain first via massage and ultrasound and then take it from there. Both of these elements seemed to help so far, so that's positive. I have another appointment on Thursday and one on Friday.
#4: Star Trek opens this weekend. Bring it!

PT

Now, you might be asking yourself what a sassy lady wears to Physical Therapy. The answer is posted at left. Yes, that's right, I wore short shorts and knee high socks, and a very fetching hoodie from Carrie.

I figured, if the problem is in my leg, I might as well make my leg...available, you know?

The trouble is, not a lot happened with my leg, and that was the really frustrating part.

At my first appointment, last week, I was analyzed and evaluated; the therapist gave me a few upper back stretches and signed me up to see someone else about my pelvic structure. I arrived to that 9:30 appointment on time. They couldn't find me at first on the sheet. The reason? They'd marked me down for 9 am and given me a no-show. I showed them my slip, given to me by whomever made the appointment, and they kindly reworked the schedule so that I could see the person I was supposed to see.

So, I was in. And spent another forty minutes being analyzed and evaluated. So long, that the therapist's NEXT appointment was already in and ushered to the gym (Said the intercom), and before I'd left the therapist's NEXT appointment was in (a touch early, but still).

Now, let me tell you what it feels like to take more than the usual appointment time while a person tries to figure out what the heck is wrong with your structure. It feels awful. Especially when about five minutes of that time is spent addressing the immediate problem that brought you to that place, the soreness and lack of flexibility in the back of your leg. I know better than most that problems elsewhere in the body might aggravate an injury, and I do want my pelvis straightened back out if possible. But what I really want is for my right leg to heal and quit hurting so that I can stretch and kick properly again.

I'm hoping they're still planning to do the ultrasound therapy, and I am signed up for three weeks of three-times-a-week therapy, sometimes being double-treated by the two PTs I've seen. On Monday, I'm getting the "to be continued" part of my session today, i.e. the answers. An upslip was mentioned. It was questioned whether my left leg is actually longer, or if it's really all in the hips. I was also called out for standing with my knees locked and chest too far back, which is funny because everyone is always telling me to straighten up. The posture I was given to try sucks. I really am going to have to work with these people on not ruining my dance posture in exchange for...whatever.

The best part is both PTs pointed out to me that my back muscles are unusually tight...which I could have told them. Yes, I know I'm compensating for things in dance that my body can't do because I'm not as naturally flexible as I'd like to be. I store tension. It's what I'm good at. I'm like a poised cat almost all the time, ready to jet. I don't relax. I'm type A, what do you want from me? It will be interesting to see what they want to do about that. Again, I have things I need to be able to do in dance, and I don't have time to get completely demolished and rebuilt, so they're going to have to work with me so I can be functional normally and dancefully.

I just hope I'm fixable.

Spare Change for Literacy!

OK, so it's not exactly Votes for Women, but it still sounded pretty cool.
On Tuesday, April 21, the Graduate Writers Club, of which I am the advisor, held their Readathon to support First Book.
It was cold. Oh, my, yes, it was cold. And wet. And blustery.
Over the course of twelve hours, 8 am to 8 pm, members of the organization, students from the Arts Village and my classes, colleagues, and interested parties stood out on the steps of the Education Building and read out loud from their favorite works of literature, while monitors encouraged people to donate their spare change.
I was nervous that morning, when I arrived at 7:45 am with my monitor, trying to set things up in the chilly rain. I began to read my favorite childhood book, Emmy Keeps a Promise, while the monitor worked on posters. I thought, is anyone going to give us money? Will there be enough people out here to get us toward our goal? Will people be annoyed? Will my volunteers get pneumonia?
I knew we were going to be all right round about 8:30, when the rain stopped for a time, and the beautiful sun crept over the roof of one of the buildings. A GWC member was reading in one corner, I in another, and things felt really beautiful. As I watched over the rim of my book, I saw people walking by all frowny, and then smiling a little as they saw us and overheard our literature. The first person besides me to give us money dropped a handful of change in our bucket without even hestitating, and I paused long enough to call a thank you after him.
I was out for about two hours in the morning, then over three hours in the evening (during which I read from Gregory Maguire's Mirror, Mirror. All day, volunteers came in and out for their half hour spots, some staying longer, and everyone contributing. I heard tales, when I returned from teaching, of monitors getting scores of people to throw change in the buckets, and spreading flyers around with facts about what we were doing. Also when I returned, one of the monitors successfully got my sheet-poster (made with muslin and duck and electrical tape) to stay up on a column, billowing like a sail so that everyone could read it clearly.
The weather was excruciating (I think we had every kind of rain possible, and we closed the night at no more than 45 degrees!), but somehow the challenge made it all the more endearing. Everyone worked hard to make this work, and since it was my idea and my planning pouring into it, I felt extra warmed by all their efforts. We all believed in what we were doing. Lots of people, despite the cold, stopped to talk to us and say how cool the event was, and asked us if it would be annual.
The proof is in the pile of change I had in the bucket: We raised $169.35. With that, a donation from my Mum, and a portion from the club, I think we'll be able to send $250. How great is that?
I still don't feel quite right--wind burn!--but I'm so proud of the club and of this event.

Avacious is mad busy, and behind in her work. She will be secluded this evening and much of tomorrow evening.
However, the events are dropping off the list one by one, and there is an end in sight. And then? Bubble bath.

Pretty People

So, yesterday I think I had a taste of what it is like to be a pretty person.
I had big plans to to out to the Franklin Park mall, to go shopping for a few things that I needed, like a light-colored trench coat or similar. I haven't been shopping in a while, so I decided to go fancy. I hot rollered my hair. I wore my lavender boucle sweater with the satin obi. I wore my favorite jeans and my black mary jane heels. Also, I did not wear a coat.
Throughout the day, I kept noticing people looking at me, and I think I overheard a comment that involved "sweater" at one point. I also got several direct compliments on the sweater, including one from a sales girl in Express who was quite glammed up herself. I'm not counting the weird kiosk guy who called me "meess" and who wanted to do my hair because I am "so preetty."
It was most noticeable in Victoria's Secret, where a sales girl complimented my hair. That never happens. Also, all the floor girls were very chatty with me, and I didn't initiate any of the chattiness. Now, I understand it could be because I finally found a bra that I think will work as well as the old Angels Lined Demi with Lace, which they don't make anymore and have replaced with the Miracle fit, which is not miraculous for me in any way. After a bra consultation, and being measured again, I am back to 32B (they can take as much band as they want, but leave my cup size alone!). The gal brought out some options, and we discovered that the Biofit is not only flattering but also the right size for me. So I was all smiles, and some people are of the opinion that this helps one's prettiness. Could be.
In any case, it was a little weird to get that much attention and I'm not sure how I feel about it.
The good news is, I found a coat. I went into every store in the mall where I thought I could find such a thing. Very few stores have any coats right now, even lightweight ones. J. Crew had a few on sale. JC Penney had a few colored vinyly ones. But no, it was H&M that won my dollar, as Carrie will no doubt be glad to hear. They had a number of cute trenches, but very few left in my size, so I got a cute fitted A-line, sand-colored coat of trench length. It was also the right price (since J. Crew's even on sale were $100 and up).
It was an interesting day and one which left me exhausted. I did barely any work, but I guess a girl needs a day off every now and then.

update

My knee is not pregnant.
That is all I know so far. I am still waiting for the real results :)

Popliteal Fossa

So, I've had this pain in my knee/leg for months now. I had thought it was just an old injury reflaring, but then realized as it didn't heal and didn't heal that maybe I should see someone, especially since I've been having mysterious pains in hip and back on the other side that I think are connected to this nonsense.
Saw my CNP today (because I relate to her better than my actual doctor) and demonstrated what I can't do right now very well on that leg that I can do perfectly well on the other (through a duet of dance stretches). Politeal fossa cyst, says she (that's medicalese for knee sac-of-fluid-not-to-be-confused-with-bursitis). That's the working theory.
Lady ordered me an ultrasound, which is where I'll be on Friday morning. I'm hoping she's right, because that means I can maybe get it taken care of for keeps. I know this won't mean much to non-dancer-types, but it would be nice to be able to touch my chest to my thigh again without having to stretch for two hours to do it, or pay for it later. It would also be nice to get my splits back, and get my back stretched properly, none of which I can do with this nonsense.

MSU + Championship Game = Awesome.

Avacious is sorry. She can't hear you over the sound of how awesome MICHIGAN STATE IS!

Blasphemous Shows and Facebook Statuses

Avacious enjoyed being mocked from within Supernatural last night. It wasn't snort-milk-out-of-nose funny, but she definitely laughed aloud in the first fifteen minutes.
Avacious is usually a Sam girl, but she's not sure how she feels about the demon bloodsucking thing.
Avacious is decidedly not a Dean/Sam girl. Ew.
Avacious wonders why Dean told Lilith what was going on; why not just let the archangel blast her?
Avacious thinks Supernatural has been exceptionally blasphemous lately.
Avacious is not sure how she feels about the Winchester Gospel.
Avacious sometimes wonders if she's going to hell because she loves Supernatural so much.
Avacious sometimes wonders if Supernatural is going to hell.
Avacious loves Castiel's edgeways stares, and wishes she could do this effectively to add to her expressions repertoire for striking fear into the hearts of her students.

She had dreams from the grave.

A few days ago I used Poe's poem "To Helen" as a not-good example of a myth poem.
Then, I almost used him again as a not-good example of simile.
Then, I had a dream in which my brother-in-law's cat--named Poe--was hissing at me and attacking me. Coincidence?

This weekend...

I made curry.
I did my taxes.
I watched the Spartans earn their Final Four spot. Spartans, what is your profession?

Go STATE! Elite 8!

As the seconds dwindled to nil, with MSU on top, I did the following:
1. Drained my soda bottle.
2. Said "YEAH" in as fierce a voice as I could muster (that one you say through your teeth and it sounds more like YEE-UH!)
3. Hit myself on the head with the empty bottle.
I'm not proud of it, but it's what happened.

What Say You, Magic 8?

Evidently, BG hockey is saved for another year, which I predicted, silently, but still fretted over.
The Alaskan Mount Redoubt erupted, as predicted.
The Mars Rovers are still in action, as not predicted.
Campus lawnmowers are spitting out massive amounts of grass and whatnot into the air, which I predict will give me a sinus headache and make my eyes itch.
I have no idea what I will have for dinner. Predictions?